SPG Prints will have a stand at Itma, Spain, June 20 to 26, 2019. For printing companies who are ready to embark on a digital textile printing journey, a visit to Itma will definitely be worthwhile. In terms of conventional printing systems, SPG Prints will take the opportunity to showcase its latest generation of the nine color Pegasus EVO rotary screen printing machine. SPG will give live demonstrations of its second generation Pike single-pass digital textile printing machine printing on viscose fabric with reactive inks. Pike combines the industry’s highest resolution of 1200 dpi with the smallest droplets and lowest ink consumption, while producing the best deep black blotches ever created in the industry.

Also, from the established Javelin multi-pass printing machine, a second generation will be showcased at Itma. Besides the extension with an acid and a direct sublimation application, this new Javelin will have additional functionality that boosts both the top printing speed as well as the average speed to print every design, resulting in a higher print capacity per day or month. The BestLEN direct laser engraving machine helps printing companies worldwide produce a consistent level of high-quality screens with minimum interference of their operators. Since the BestLEN has a dry process, a minimum amount of water is used and the engraving process is very short, while human interference is brought to a minimum.

Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG will demonstrate a range of new innovations in Industry 4.0 techniques at ITMA 2019 in Barcelona, Spain, from June 20-26, 2019. These innovations will include ‘digital twin’ capability, which is now being made available for all Monforts machine systems and the latest advanced sensor technology through which comprehensive technical machine data can be virtually mapped in the cloud in real time.

The data can be easily accessed using the new Monforts Smart Support and Smart Check apps for an instantaneous status overview. All specifications related to the machine’s performance and the production process can be mapped, to enable vastly simplified and targeted analysis for controlled planning and production. Insights harnessed from such analysis can be used to optimise the actual production process. At the same time, potential sources of error can be anticipated and eliminated, enabling improved machine availability while considerably minimising downtime.

In addition, the digital twin system provides information on the individual wear parts of a system, such as converters or gears. Operators and mill managers are informed by Smart Check sensors when maintenance or the replacement of key components will be required, well ahead of time.

On request, Monforts can also virtually monitor machine performance and pro-actively alert customers to the need for preventative action. In such cases, however, data is only ever called from the cloud by Monforts when customers have given their full consent, in the interests of data security. Data from Smart Check, for example, can even be used to analyse a system’s energy requirements, allowing machine operation to be optimised by tailoring production runs to the peaks and troughs of electricity costs.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement may hurt India’s export competitiveness. The free trade agreement could lead to flooding of goods from member countries into the Indian market. India’s imports may increase during the post-RCEP period, implying a revenue loss by as much as 1.3 per cent of GDP. For India, issues of tariff rate are as important as other areas under negotiations, mainly because India does not have trade agreements with all the countries involved in RCEP. For instance, India does not have a trade agreement with China, and the negotiations with Australia and New Zealand have not come into effect. RCEP could have a negative impact on sectors like steel, pharma, e-commerce, and food processing. India is already facing challenges from Singapore, Australia and New Zealand in the agriculture and dairy sectors. On the services front, India may have to negotiate its proposals such as greater mobility for professionals through measures like visa fee waivers. India had registered a trade deficit in 2018-19 with as many as 11 RCEP member countries.

RCEP comprises 10 Asean members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six free trade agreement partners - India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Stefan Larsson has been appointed to the newly created role of President at PVH Corp. In his new position, Larsson will oversee all of PVH Corp's brand and region leaders and will report to group CEO Emanuel Chirico. Following successful stints at H&M, where he spent close to 15 years, and Gap, where he served as the global president of the group's Old Navy brand for three years, Larsson joined Ralph Lauren in 2015. However, he quit the American brand after only 18 months due to difference of opinion with the company leaders on how to evolve the creative and consumer-facing parts of this business.

PVH's portfolio includes brands such as Speedo, Van Heusen and Izod. The company announced revenues of $9.7 billion in 2018.

Milan Fashion Week Men’s will be held June 14 to 17, 2019. New arrivals include Youser, the South Korean streetwear brand known for its customisable apparel, and Spanish label David Catalan, an innovative brand specialising in comfortable clothing, founded in 2012 by the designer of the same name and Almudena Bretón. The third newbie is emerging Italian gender-neutral fashion label Edithmarcel, launched in 2015. Milano Moda Graduate will showcase talent from Italian fashion schools. This will involve a runway show featuring the work of the country’s best student designers. Eight finalists have been selected with a winner set to be chosen by a jury. The fashion week’s Japanese partner, zip specialist YKK, will pick the best of 11 finalists seeking to create the most interesting zipped design. Four young Italian brands – M1992, Magliano, United Standard and Vitelli – will participate in a musical project. A series of cultural events will also be offered by Gucci throughout the week.

One primary aim of the event is to kick start the country’s menswear industry. The Italian menswear industry saw 0.2 per cent sales growth over the first three months of 2019, while over the decade 2008 to 2018, it grew annually by three per cent.

M&S’ yearly group revenue fell three per cent. Pre-tax profit dropped 9.9 per cent. Post-tax profit was up 28.2 per cent. Customer response was very strong with its new denim launch producing an initial 20 per cent sales uplift and sales of women’s jeggings up 30 per cent. M&S improved its clothing e-market share by 0.3 percentage points. But creating a new range architecture in a business with weak processes, a slow supply chain and where buyers are building their confidence proved challenging. Many popular lines sold out prematurely because of the failure to increase the depth of buy and the slowness of the stock flow. The range was too wide splintering its buying scale and making shops challenging to navigate.

Despite teething problems, the company expects to deliver a more marked reduction in options and range duplication, with a substantial improvement in size ratios, a further focus on style and fashion and additional investment in value. This will be reinforced by the update of the sub brand strategy, including the relaunch of the Per Una range. This new approach will also come along with a revamp of its stores for a more contemporary in-store environment. A renewal brand format and modernisation will be piloted in the year ahead.

The standalone revenue of Kitex Garments grew 12.38 per cent in 2018-19. PAT for the whole year grew 16.32 per cent. By 2025, the target is to attain a total revenue of Rs 2165 crores from Kitex Garments and Rs 1000 crores from Kitex Children’s Wear.

Kitex has been a leading supplier of infant wear to global brands and retail giants such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Carter’s, Gerber, Oshkosh, Buy Buy Baby, Sam’s club etc. The company aims to increase its manufacturing capacity to 22 lakh pieces a day by 2025. Besides, a new fleet of baby products, socks, diapers, baby wet wipes, are being planned to be manufactured at the Kitex factory at Kochi, eyeing the global market. Established in 1992, Kitex is the world’s third largest manufacturer of children’s apparel. It manufactures clothing for infants up to 24 months, primarily targeting the US market. Six lakh pieces of infant apparel are manufactured at Kitex a day. Almost 90 per cent of the export is to the US and the rest to European countries. Having an integrated and traceable value chain which meets global standards at various stages of the product supply chain is the key differentiator at Kitex.

Africa is the new frontier for luxury fashion. There has been a marked improvement in economic growth in Africa since the turn of the century, driven forward by an improvement in the business environment and investment climate. As a result, a number of industries have thrived, one of them being the fashion sector, in particular, the luxury end.

African luxury brands are catching the eye of international consumers. Maxhosa by Laduma is making waves with luxury knitwear. African creators, designers, entrepreneurs and innovators are beginning to take advantage of the new access to international markets whether through e-commerce or social shopping or international travel. They are beginning to gain a footprint in the international market. A Luxury Connect Africa conference pulled together some of the biggest names in the African fashion industry and luxury sector. The event featured panel discussions, a meticulously curated three-day B2B trade exhibition and a tasteful mixer of industry stakeholders. Eight of Africa’s most prestigious brands exhibited their products and shared their extraordinary journeys, across the range of African luxury.

But this is just the beginning. Though African luxury is on the move, brands lack the fundamental business acumen and the necessary mentorship and leadership to position themselves properly.

A delegation of business executives representing 30 Indian companies led by the chairman of the Indian Silk Export Promotion Council met their Vietnamese counterparts at the Buyer-Seller meet held in HCM City recently. The event, aimed to promote silk exports from India, will enhancing connection between businesses of the two sides in the sector.

Visitors included companies producing silk, fabrics, ready-made garments, silk scarves, stoles, shawls evening wear etc. Though trade relations between Việt Nam and India in the garment and textile sector have increased significantly, they are still modest compared to the potential of the two countries. Vietnamese garment and textile companies aim to establish stronger co-operation with Indian counterparts.

Within just 24 hours of its online booking opening, India ITME 2020 received tremendous response with over 15,000 sq meters of its area already booked & 100 percent payments received from participants. The 11th edition of the ITME Series shall be spread across 235,000 sq m area with over 1,800 companies participating and over 150,000 visitors expected. The exhibition will be held from December 10-15, 2020 at IEML, Greater Noida.

Industry stalwarts such as LMW, LCC, Alidhra, Kirloskar Toyota, Voltas, Toyota Industries, Picanol, Talleres Ratera, Balkan Tekstil Makina along with many Domestic & International exhibitors from Italy, Turkey, China, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Taiwan, South Korea have already ensured their presence in this mega textile technology and engineering exhibition.