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The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has strongly endorsed the Senate confirmation of Jamieson Greer as the next US Trade Representative (USTR), highlighting his role in tackling trade challenges.
NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas emphasized the urgency of addressing predatory trade practices that have contributed to 27 US textile plant closures in the past 20 months. She expressed optimism about working with Greer and the Trump administration to strengthen domestic manufacturing and the US - Western Hemisphere supply chain.
Glas also called for ending the de minimis trade provision, which allows 4 million packages daily to enter the US unchecked, often containing harmful or illicit goods. She stressed that Greer’s leadership is crucial in advancing policies that protect US textile jobs and manufacturing.
“Jamieson is an exceptional choice for USTR, and we look forward to collaborating on policies that expand the textile sector,” Glas stated.
Greer’s Senate confirmation is expected soon, marking a significant step for the US textile industry amid ongoing economic pressures.
During a Buyer-Seller Meet in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (APCO) and the Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (Co-optex) signed a deal to boost handloom textile sales in their respective states.
According to this agreement, the two organizations will sell each other's handloom products in showrooms across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Together, these two organizations will sell products worth Rs 9.20 crore (approximately $1.1 million) during the year as part of this initiative.
Tamil Nadu's handloom textiles will be sold at APCO, outlets and other businesses in Andhra Pradesh. Likewise, Andhra Pradesh's handloom textiles will be sold through Co-optex showrooms and various textile stores across Tamil Nadu.
Government officials from both states also signed agreements with multiple organizations from regions including Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, Erode, and Salem in Tamil Nadu, and with several firms in Andhra Pradesh.
The agreement will significantly benefit handloom weavers in Andhra Pradesh, states S Savitha, Minister. Following the signing of this agreement, she opened a buyer-seller conference organized by the Tamil Nadu government and visited handloom textile booths at the event.
Traditional handicrafts and handlooms exports from Kashmir are projected to rise to nearly Rs 3,000 crore by FY2025-end. Over the past two years, these exports increased to almost Rs 2,567 crore, as per a report by the Kashmir Handicrafts and Handloom Department.
Kani and Sozni shawls remained the top exported items with sales reaching Rs 1,105 crore over the past three years, according to a report by The Tribune. Exports of another signature product, hand-knotted carpets rose to Rs 728 crore during the same period. Other significant exports include chain stitch goods, wood carvings, and crewel embroidery.
To further boost exports, the Kashmir Handicrafts and Handloom Department operates a design studio at the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology and collaborates with the School of Designs and Craft Development Institute to create prototypes for contemporary products. Artisans can access these modern designs and packaging models to enhance their products for high-end markets, according a spokesperson of the department.
In addition to economic development initiatives, the region has implemented numerous welfare programs. It has trained 17,182 women in various handicraft techniques. The department also runs an education program for the children of craftspeople and provided 100 weavers with free, modern steel carpet looms under the National Wool Policy.
The EU has reached a provisional deal to cut textile waste and tackle fast fashion. Under the new rules, textile producers will be responsible for funding the collection, sorting, and recycling of their products.
This will apply across the EU, including e-commerce sellers, 30 months after the directive takes effect. Micro-enterprises will have an extra 12 months to comply.
The rules cover clothing, accessories, footwear, linens, and curtains, with EU countries also allowed to include mattresses. Member states must address ultra-fast fashion practices when determining financial contributions to waste management schemes.
Rapporteur Anna Zalewska highlighted the Parliament’s success in ensuring producers contribute to separate textile collection while minimizing administrative burdens.
Each year, the EU generates 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste, with clothing and footwear accounting for 5.2 million tonnes. Currently, less than 1 per cent of textiles worldwide are recycled into new products. The deal is now set for formal approval before becoming law.
Isko joins forces with Blanche to launch Kokoro, the brand’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, blending timeless design with responsible fashion. Featuring Isko’s premium recycled denim, Kokoro reflects Blanche’s commitment to sustainability without compromising style.
A leader in denim innovation, Isko continues to redefine fashion with cutting-edge, eco-conscious textile solutions. The Kokoro collection embodies this vision, utilizing Isko fabrics to craft high-quality, fashion-forward pieces with a reduced environmental impact.
“Real change happens when innovation meets integrity. Our collaboration with Blanche proves that great design and responsibility go hand in hand. This is the future of denim -sustainable, stylish, and inspiring,” said Keith O’Brien, Senior Global Marketing & PR Manager at Isko. The Kokoro collection will be available online and in stores starting February 2025.
Lululemon is opening a 8,923 sq ft flagship store in Regent Street, London besides collaborating with designer Saul Nash during London Fashion Week.
This is Lululemon’s largest store in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. The store features an expanded range of men's and women's apparel and accessories designed for yoga, running, training, and everyday wear.
A few of the stores’s features include the largest ‘pant wall’ in Europe, the most extensive Lululemon menswear selection in EMEA, the brand's latest store design concept, a water bottle personalization station, and a dynamic staircase light feature that changes color throughout the day.
Lululemon emphasizes, the store will serve as a community hub, building on the brand's 11-year history in London. The store will include a newsstand offering a special Lululemon newspaper.
The newsstand will also host DJ sets and surprise performances by Lululemon ambassadors, such as Olympic gold medalist Phil Wizard.
Further community events include movement sessions at The Vinyl Factory Soho, culminating in a disco-house dance party. Lululemon has also partnered with the Runna running coach app for an 8 km run through London, starting at the new store. Highlighting the store’s rile in Lululemon’s international growth strategy, Sarah Clark, Senior VP of Lululemon EMEA, states, it aims to quadruple the brand’s international sales by 2026.
Simultaneously, Lululemon and Saul Nash unveiled their new ‘SLNSH’ collaboration, which launches globally on March 11, 2025. The SLNSH Spring 2025 collection, blending Nash's refined activewear aesthetic with Lululemon's technical innovation, was showcased at an event at
The Boiler House in East London. Spanning menswear, womenswear, and accessories, the collection blurs the lines between performance and lifestyle.
In a major boost to employment and industrial growth, Texport Industries (TIPL) plans to launch its readymade garments unit in the Sircilla Apparel Park. To open with an initial capacity to employ 2,000 women, this would be the second major apparel unit in Sircilla, following Green Needle (Gokuldas unit).
KT Rama Rao, Working President, BRS says, at full capacity, the Sircilla Apparel Park unit will generate 25,000 jobs. He attributes the launch of this initiative to the visionary leadership of K Chandrashekhar Rao, Former Chief Minister, Telangana.
The Telangana Government has allocated 7.42 acre in Peddur Apparel Park on Sircilla outskirts for the park. It has also announced a Rs.64 crore investment in the development’s of the unit’s infrastructure. To be spread over 1.77 lakh sq ft, the unit aligns with the previous BRS government’s push to transform Sircilla into a textile hub, offering large-scale employment, particularly for women.
A specialist manufacturer of underwear and T-shirts, Bengaluru-based TIPL has completed the construction of this unit and will launch operations shortly.
A potential setback for the online fast-fast retailer as it prepares for a planned listing on the London Stock Exchange, Shein’s net profit declined by 40 per cent to $1 billion in 2024, as per a report by the Financial Times.
Shein's sales increased by 19 per cent to $38 billion during the year. This is notably lower than the projections of $4.8 billion in net profit and $45 billion in sales made by the company earlier.
Recent reports indicate, Shein plans to lower its valuation for the London IPO by almost 25 per cent, aiming for approximately $50 billion. Further reports suggest, the company might be under pressure to accept an even lower valuation of around $30 billion.
The timeline for the London listing may also be affected. Reports have noted that a change in US policy regarding a tax exemption enjoyed by Shein could impact the company's profitability and pricing within the United States. This potential development might lead to a postponement of the London listing to the latter half of the year.
South Asia's leading apparel manufacturer, MAS Holdings has commenced construction on its first venture at the MAS Apparel Park-Bhuinpur in Khurda district, Odisha. This 60-acre facility is expected to focus on value-added products for both local and international markets. It will begin production by 2026.
Malik Ahamadeen, CEO, MAS India, states, the project will help create create employment opportunities in the state, thus contributing to its broader economic growth and long-term development, he adds.
Approved by the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA), led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the integrated textile facility will be developed with an investment of Rs 1,211.87 crore (over $140 million). It will also generate 10,000 jobs within the next decade.
Noting this investment as a significant milestone for the company, Suren Fernando, Group CEO emphasizes on India's integral role in their operations and its importance to both the global supply chain and the rapidly expanding domestic retail sector.
The ground-breaking ceremony was also attended by Subhendra Kumar Nayak, Special Secretary and officials from Idco and IPICOL.
Dior has roped in Hollywood actress Monica Barbaro as its new brand ambassador for women's fashion. The announcement follows Barbaro's Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Joan Baez in ‘A Complete Unknown’ and highlights her rising prominence in Hollywood. She will represent the women's collections designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri.
According to Dior, Barbaro embodies the elegance and audacity of Dior style, a continually reinvented femininity. The partnership aims to strengthen the brand's connection to culture and creativity.
This appointment further strengthens Barbaro's relationship with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, as she was also named a Bulgari ambassador in July.
The announcement comes amidst recent changes at Dior, including the earlie
r announcement of Kim Jones, Artistic Director, Dior Homme, stepping down from his position at the brand after seven years. This new announcement reflects Dior's ongoing strategy to align with influential figures in the entertainment industry and reinforce its brand image.
