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Weak international orders caused China’s garment exports to decline by 8.8 per cent between January and October this year, as per the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles.
As per the report, in the first 10 months of the year, China exported clothes worth $133.5 billion. It the first six months of the year, its exports sank by 6.1 per cent Y-o-Y. In October, apparel exports dipped 0.7 per cent from the same period in 2019, compared with a surge of 17.6 percent in the first six months from 2019
China’s apparel exports to the Western Countries declined by 15.3 per cent during the first ten months of the year ended October 31, 2023 from $77.3 billion during the same period last year. This accounted for 57.9 per cent of the country’s total clothing exports, a contraction of 4.5 percentage points from the previous year.
China’s garment exports to countries along the Belt and Road route surged by 3.1 per cent Y-o-Y from January to Octobe $38.3 billion. Its exports to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan increased by 70.8 per cent and 45.2 per cent, respectively, while those to Africa soared 15.7 per cent to $7.3 billion.
Richard Cheruiyot, Chairman, Export Processing Zone (EPZA), says, Kenya plans to increase the value of its apparel exports to the US and European Union to $2 billion by 2030. By 2025, the country will increase the value of these exports to $1billion. It currently exports $544 million worth of apparel to the two markets.
To achieve this target, Kenya plans to revive its textile factors to benefit cotton farmers, grow local industries and create jobs for the youth. The US is also providing $55 million for the expansion of the EPZA
The sector also benefits from the use of advanced technologies and development of the Green Energy Park in Olkaria Naivash. The Green Energy Park will provide a stable and renewable energy source for industries within the park, including those involved in apparel production.
EPZA also plans to increase its land under cotton cultivation from the current 40,000 acres 100,000 acres next year, with a target of 300,000 acres in the next 3 years. It is negotiating with a South Korean company to produce synthetic fibers.
ERCA Textile Chemical Solutions, through its revolutionary REVECOL range, continues to redefine sustainability and circularity in the textile industry. Following successful collaborations with industry giants Patagonia and YKK at ITMA last June, REVECOL maintains its commitment to responsible innovation. The company, driven by a 100% Made in Italy, end-to-end certified production process, ingeniously transforms discarded vegetable oils into a comprehensive suite of cutting-edge chemical auxiliaries.
In a bid to communicate the ethos of responsible innovation, REVECOL adopts a visually striking image symbolizing its core values as essential "bricks." This innovative approach not only communicates the brand's commitment but also reflects its unique attributes, including circularity, safety, high performance, and versatility across textile fibers.
The latest additions to the REVECOL range, comprising 18 new-generation chemical auxiliaries, have garnered critical certifications such as GRS, RCS, ZDHC Chemical Gateway, bluesign, and GOTS. Impressively, the bluesign Academy collaborates with REVECOL to establish Product Carbon Footprints (PCF), certifying a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional chemistry.
ERCA's relentless pursuit of environmentally friendly processes earns them the prestigious European Responsible Care Award 2023 from Cefic. This accolade acknowledges ERCA TCS' dedication, embodied in the REVECOL range, to climate neutrality, circularity, and the transition to safe and sustainable chemicals. With a focus on sustainability and carbon neutrality, REVECOL emerges as a transformative force, turning environmental challenges into certified, high-performance solutions for textiles across all fiber types.
Registration has commenced for the highly anticipated Spring Fair 2024, a premier marketplace in the UK encompassing Home, Gift, Fashion, and Everyday categories. The event, scheduled from February 4th to 7th, 2024, at NEC Birmingham, boasts the return of renowned brands such as Suck UK, Oli Olsen, Paladone, and many others.
The Spring Fair, a testament to the resilience and dynamism of the home and gifting industry, promises a magical experience centered around product discovery. Soraya Gadelrab, Event Director, expresses excitement about the return of established brands and emphasizes the show's dedication to showcasing a diverse array of products across 13 sectors.
In the Gift category, SUCK UK LTD is set to unveil its fresh wellness range, 'mello,' while Oli Olsen anticipates introducing 15 new products and presenting brands like Helio Ferretti and The Gift Label Amsterdam.
Home, Living & Décor will feature the comeback of Turner Bianca and Riva Home, offering sought-after brands such as Catherine Lansfield and Hyperion. Meanwhile, Moda welcomes back Rock Luggage and Primehide, showcasing stylish luggage and premium leather goods.
Spring Fair, with its rich history of over 70 years, remains a vital platform for industry players to explore the latest trends and products. The 2024 show promises an efficient layout focused on enhancing the buyer's experience across key destinations - Home, Gift, Moda, and Everyday - and 13 distinct sectors. Attendees can anticipate a vibrant showcase of returning and new brands, embodying the essence of discovery and innovation in retail.
Birla Cellulose, a leading Man-Made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCF) producer under Grasim Industries Ltd., has clinched the top spot in Canopy's Hot Button Report 2023. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Birla Cellulose has received the prestigious 'Dark Green Shirt' rating, highlighting its unwavering commitment to preserving ancient and endangered forests and championing circular solutions. The Hot Button Report, issued annually by Canopy, a non-profit environmental organization, serves as a crucial tool for fashion brands in evaluating MMCF suppliers' forest fiber sourcing practices.
H.K. Agarwal, Managing Director of Grasim Industries Ltd., expressed pride in Birla Cellulose's recognition, emphasizing the company's dedication to sustainable wood sourcing, forest conservation, innovation, and transparent operations. The company actively collaborates with global MMCF producers to support the Convention on Biological Diversity's goal of conserving 30% of terrestrial ecosystems by 2030.
Birla Cellulose remains a leader in industry collaboration, working closely with key stakeholders, including Canopy, Fashion for Good, and Circular Fashion Partnership, to drive circularity in the fashion sector. Nicole Rycroft, Executive Director of Canopy, congratulated Aditya Birla for their consistent efforts in removing ancient and endangered forests from the MMCF supply chain.
Canopy's Hot Button Report is recognized as an essential guide for fashion brands seeking responsible sourcing from MMCF producers committed to biodiversity and deforestation mitigation. With over 550 global brands prioritizing partnerships with environmentally conscious producers, this signifies a significant industry shift towards sustainability, reflecting a collective annual revenue of over US $1 trillion. The 'dark green shirt producer' ranking, achieved by Birla Cellulose, underscores the highest adherence to CanopyStyle requirements, emphasizing conservation, transparency, traceability, and next-generation solutions.
Birla Cellulose, as the pulp and fiber business of the Aditya Birla Group, operates 12 environmentally efficient sites globally, employing closed-loop technologies and recycled materials for sustainable MMCF production. The company's fibers, derived from renewable wood, contribute to a lower carbon footprint and resource consumption. Active collaboration with upstream and downstream partners further amplifies Birla Cellulose's positive impact on the sustainability of its value chain.
Concerns arise among textile and garment manufacturers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur as investors shift away from Tamil Nadu to other states. This migration not only poses a risk of losing investments and capacities but also threatens the expertise within the textile industry, warns Palaniswamy, a garment manufacturer.
Integrated garment units in Tamil Nadu are expanding to states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, while some significant players outsource orders to cut production costs, redirecting business to West Bengal and other northern states. Rising power and labor costs, coupled with the need to procure raw materials externally, make Tamil Nadu's textile industry less competitive, notes K Selvaraju, Secretary General of the Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA). He suggests that these factors might lead to the closure of 30% of textile mills in the state in the future.
To counter these challenges, Prabhu Dhamodharan, Convenor of the Indian Texpreneurs Federation, emphasizes the need for the state government to modernize the textile industry and enhance competitiveness. Reducing production costs is also crucial for the industry to reclaim its share in the yarn export market, he adds.
Spanish clothing retailer Mango is set to double its US store count to 40 in the coming year, as revealed by Cesar de Vicente, Global Retail Director. The National Retail Federation anticipates a 4 per cent growth in US retail sales during the November-December holiday season, with shoppers benefiting from significant promotions and bargains.
Mango experienced double-digit sales growth during the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday events, leveraging its expansions in the US, Italy, and India, along with the global 50 per cent discounts both in-store and online. Anticipating similar growth during upcoming Cyber Week sales, Mango relies on its in-house design, a strong focus on party wear, and retail expansion to compete with emerging players like Shein, as stated by de Vicente.
Exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 13per cent, Mango reported sales of €2.68 billion ($2.8 billion) last year. In the first half of this year, the brand's sales grew by 30 per cent over pre-pandemic levels, reaching €1.4 billion.
The forthcoming International Abit Congress, scheduled for November 2024, will take place in Salvador, Bahia. The previous edition, held from November 8-9, 2023, at the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina (Fiesc), attracted over 400 attendees. The Congress delved into the significance of fostering new collaborations to enhance competitiveness within the industry.
Themed 'Networks, Connections, and Boundaries,' the event focused on diverse strategies essential for the industry network's growth. Topics included discussions on the 'future of retail,' 'emerging technologies,' and 'ESG initiatives.'
Cem Allan, President of IAF, led the opening panel discussion, outlining plans for the sector and delivering a lecture on the theme 'Market: From Boundaries to Bridges.' This session featured insights from Henry Costa, Director at Renner, and Tiago Inácio Peixoto, CEO of Cataguases.
The first day concluded with the launch of the Fashion and Climate Guide, a collaborative initiative between Abit, ABVTEX, and SENAI CETIQT, aimed at decarbonizing the textile and apparel industry.
The second day commenced with a lecture by Luiz Alberto Marinho, Managing Partner at Gouvêa Malls, discussing the consumer at Omniera. The closing lecture, emphasizing the shared responsibility of sustainable practices in the industry, was delivered by Rachel Maia, CEO of RM Consulting.
The 81st Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is set to draw over 400 delegates from 35 countries. Hosted by the Ministry of Textiles at Mumbai's Jio World Convention Centre from December 2 to 5, 2023, the event is held in collaboration with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), and the Cotton Association of India (CAI). Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, will inaugurate the meeting.
The four-day event will bring together government representatives, industrialists, business delegates, scientists, and researchers from various cotton-producing and consuming nations. Themed "Cotton Value Chain: Local Innovations for Global Prosperity," the Plenary Meeting will foster discussions on productivity, climate resilience, circularity, and locally developed cutting-edge technologies for sustainability.
Topics on the agenda include 'Technologies to Increase Productivity,' 'Climate-smart Innovations as Game Changers for Cotton Production,' 'Recent Impactful Technological Advances,' 'Industry 4.0 for Textiles: Smart Manufacturing,' 'Global Efforts in Branding Sustainability and Quality Assurance,' 'Genetics, Diversity to Enhance Cotton Productivity,' 'Cotton and Climate Resilience,' and 'Technological Innovations for Global Collaborations.'
The event provides a platform for the Indian industry to showcase its strength, growth, and resilience. Case studies, success stories, and innovative practices of small and marginal farmers will be shared, emphasizing local initiatives to enhance productivity and sustainability, including breakthroughs in carbon sequestration, pest management, advancements in water management, quality assurance, and traceability. The Plenary Meeting will be followed by a Technical Tour in Ahmedabad from December 06-08, 2023, showcasing the industry's journey from farm to fashion.
Hyosung, alongside leading seamless companies Tefron and Santoni, unveiled a new line of sustainable sportswear and seamless garments at the ISPO Munich trade fair (November 28-30, 2023).
Santoni showcased a new collection crafted with Hyosung's certified, eco-friendly yarns, including creora® Bio-Based elastane and 100% recycled creora® regen elastane. Additionally, they introduced their new SM8-TOP2ST machine for advanced seamless design and sculpted terry patterns.
Susie Barak, Business Director at Tefron, emphasizes the synergy of their seamless knitting expertise with Hyosung's yarns, leading to innovative designs and styles. Simon Whitmarsh-Knight, Global Marketing Director-Textiles at Hyosung, highlights the collaboration's benefits: not only does it offer traceable, certified fibers, but it also unlocks new possibilities for design innovation and versatility.
