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Global blue denim fabric imports by the US during the January-February 2017 period witnessed a marginal growth in volumes of 0.05 per cent over the same period last year. But in value terms there was a fall of 7.33 per cent over the corresponding period last year.
China and Mexico were the top exporters of blue denim fabric to the US. China recorded a boost in volumes while it noted a decrease in values during the period. On the other hand, Mexico was down both in value and volume exports to the US.
More than 98 per cent of total US denim apparel imports are jeans. Men’s and boys’ represent the largest segment. Bangladesh is the US’ third largest source of denim apparel. Vietnam’s denim exports to the US are rising. Men’s jeans imports are dominated by Mexico and women’s jeans imports are dominated by China. However, the share of jeans in total cotton trouser imports by the US is falling.
T he US import market for denim apparel is extremely tough and competitive. This market is characterized by extremely competitive pricing structures. Denim skirts account for approximately one per cent of total denim apparel imports of the US. Denim jackets and coats account for 0.38 per cent of total denim apparel imports of the US.
The global textile industry waste management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 11 per cent from 2017 to 2021. The market is characterized by many well-diversified players competing intensely with one another. Global players increase their footprint in the market with their huge infrastructure and R&D support, and regional vendors are mainly restricted to developing economies. The competitive environment in the market is likely to intensify further over the forecast period due to an increase in product/service extensions, technological innovations, and mergers and acquisitions.
These are top vendors in the global textile industry waste management market. For example, ChemTreat is an industrial water treatment company with a line of over 1,200 products. The company provides the direction in new product formulations and the development of R&D projects, as well as training materials for the sales force.
Similarly, General Electric develops water, water recycling and reuse, wastewater treatment, and process solutions. The company provides water treatment, wastewater treatment, and process systems solutions. And Lenntech provides water treatment solutions for all applications.
Pall Corporation is involved in the manufacturing and marketing of filter separation, water purification products, and integrated system solutions. It is a global leader in the rapidly growing field of filtration, separation, and purification. Veolia provides drinking water treatment solutions and technologies for municipalities and industries in France.
India may soon have to phase out its export subsidy regime, according to WTO rules. Least developed countries and developing countries whose gross national income per capita is below a certain level are allowed to provide export incentives to any sector that has a share of below 3.25 per cent in global exports.
In case a sector in such a country crosses the 3.25 per cent threshold for two consecutive years, it has to phase out export subsidies for that sector within eight years. India’s textile exports crossed the 3.25 per cent mark in 2010, requiring it to end its export incentives to the sector by December 2018. Schemes such as the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme, Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme and Interest Equalization Scheme for the textile sector are likely to get impacted.
Though India is likely to seek two to four years’ extension, the country has to move toward WTO-compatible, production-based subsidies from export- based subsidies. It needs to provide support for technology upgradation, capacity building and resolve infrastructure bottlenecks and move away from direct incentives to exporters. Simultaneously, India is also set to face the larger challenge of completely phasing out export incentives for all sectors.
Mexico-based Tavemex, has become the second denim producer in the world to install a Monforts Eco Denim Line, and the first to use the technology for finishing denim fabrics of up to 300 g/sq. m. Tavemex completed installation of the Eco Denim Line early this year. The company now reports an 80 per cent reduction in water usage after one month of operation.
For Tavemex, the investment comes at a time of fundamental change for the company. Previously known as Tavex, the company was part of a multinational enterprise that originated in Spain and had denim-manufacturing plants there and in Morocco, Brazil and Argentina, as well as Mexico. Now, Tavemex is an independent Mexican-owned concern, with the US as its prime market.
Tavemex’s capacity is now 2 million mt. per month, and part of current production is gradually being moved from the existing stenters to the new Eco Denim Line. The equipment was delivered from Monforts in Germany via the manufacturer’s distributor in Mexico, Sattex-Mexico.
Talking about using less water, Arturo Ornelas Elizondo, Tavemex’s Industrial Director says the major reason for investing in the Eco Denim Line was to satisfy customers who have been requesting us, more and more, to use less water in dyeing and finishing. The company uses its own well for water, so cost is relatively low, and is saving more than 80 per cent on water usage.
Eco Denim Line is projected to save energy. The new installation includes a Monforts Eco Applicator, which applies the chemicals, replacing a conventional padder. This is said to reduce the drying needs and, therefore, energy consumption, due to the fact that the eco applicator applies less moisture to the fabric. On this Elizondo commented that this will further give the company a opportunity to improve our wastewater plant to the latest European standards.
HKL Magu, managing partner of Jyoti Apparels, has started work as the new Chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) for 2018-20. Before assuming charge as the chairman of AEPC, he was Vice Chairman of the Council. He took over from Ashok Rajani at the conclusion of the Council’s executive committee meeting.
With over 40 years of experience, Magu is a veteran of the apparel and textiles industry in India. He is one of the few who freely gave their time, devotion and allegiance for the growth of the industry. He has been instrumental in getting various incentives and subsidy schemes from the Central and State Governments.
Explaining his vision for the apparel industry, Magu says these are challenging times for the industry with global headwinds blowing over us. The industry has not been able to cope-up with the sudden dilution of DBK and RoSL rates and is still reeling under the adverse impact of the move. “The apparel sector has been recognised as one of the most important sectors for employment generation and for furthering the growth of the sector, our PM has given the ‘5F’ Formula - Farm to fibre; fibre to fabric; fabric to fashion; fashion to foreign, but 2017 has been an extremely difficult year for us and the export data of the last two months indicate a trend of declining exports. We are hopeful that in the new year the Government will extend the necessary support to the sector in the form of continuation old DBK rates and RoSL rates till June 2018 which would help us in making the Indian apparel industry the most competitive industry globally. Only then, the vision of our PM would be realised.”
Over a career spanning four decades, Magu has held various positions such as the President of Garment Exporters Association (GEA), Chairman of Finance & Budget sub-committee, AEPC and he has also served on the Board of Governors of Apparel Training & Design Centers (ATDC). He has been a recipient of Certificate of Merit from President of India for doubling exports during 1993-94 and has also served as the Member of the Grievance Committee of DGFT.
Marshal Cohen, Retail Snalyst at NPD Group says shoppers are placing a higher value on where their clothing comes from and how it’s made. They will even spend 10 to 15 percent more on ethically produced clothing. The younger generation, in particular, is willing to pay for the responsibility factor because they’re not buying as much stuff in the first place.
Patagonia has been leading the way by encouraging people to repair, reuse and consider the environmental impact of its apparel. In late 2016, it launched re-collection, an apparel line made from recycled fabric. Cory Bayers, Patagonia’s VP, Marketing says the brand is sold amazingly well so far and customers are more educated about materials, and this is the reason they are buying more of our products.
Patagonia also provides repair guides so people can get more mileage out of their clothes, and they also can send the company damaged clothing for free repairs or recycling. Students could bring garments, regardless of brand, to a vintage wooden camper truck for repair. Transparency is being adopted by ecommerce sites as well. Take Everlane for example, for every piece of clothing sold on its site, Everlane lists the materials, hardware, labor and transportation costs, and provides info on production, including photos of the workers and factory floors in China where yarn is spun or silk is woven. Michael Preysman, CEO and Founder of Everlane says, people are more aware how clothes are made today because of social media, and, as a result, they know what the dark side is.
Mainstream brands like New Era, which recently launched a cap for NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers made with recycled plastic bottles, also are embracing the trend. People have a lot of hats in their closet, so when they’re purchasing another one, it really helps that materials are making a difference says Chi-Kay Lam, Senior Category Manager, at New Era.
According to Marshal Cohen, retail analyst at NPD Group the current trends in food consumption, shoppers are placing a higher value on where their clothing comes from and how it’s made. They will even spend 10 to 15 percent more on ethically produced clothing.
The younger generation, in particular, is willing to pay for the responsibility factor, because they’re not buying as much stuff in the first place says Cohen.
Patagonia has been leading the way by encouraging people to repair, reuse and consider the environmental impact of its apparel. In late 2016, it launched re-collection, an apparel line made from recycled fabric.
Cory Bayers, Patagonia’s VP of marketing commented that the brand is sold amazingly well so far and customers are more educated about materials, and this is the reason they are buying more of our products.
Patagonia also provides repair guides so people can get more mileage out of their clothes, and they also can send the company damaged clothing for free repairs or recycling. Students could bring garments, regardless of brand, to a vintage wooden camper truck for repair.
“ One of those brands is ecommerce site Everlane. For every piece of clothing sold on its site, Everlane lists the materials, hardware, labor and transportation costs, and provides info on production, including photos of the workers and factory floors in China where yarn is spun or silk is woven.
Michael Preysman, CEO and founder of Everlane says that people are more aware how clothes are made today because of social media, and, as a result, they know what the dark side is.
Further PACT organic makes its underwear, T-shirts and dresses from organic cotton, which uses 71 percent less water and 62 percent less energy than conventional cotton, and its products also are produced in safe working conditions that pay living wages, with no child labor. PACT logged $500,000 in sales in 2011, and is expected to hit $20 million this year.
Mainstream brands like New Era, which recently launched a cap for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers made with recycled plastic bottles, also are embracing the trend.
People have a lot of hats in their closet, so when they’re purchasing another one, it really helps that the materials are making a difference says Chi-Kay Lam, senior category manager, brand partnerships at New Era.
Textiles India will be held in Gujarat from June 30 to July 2, 2017. This will be a mega trade event for the textile and handicraft sectors, showcasing the entire range of Indian textile products from farm to fiber to fabric to fashion.
Textiles India 2017 will also provide an opportunity to participants to hold B2B meetings with around 2500 international buyers, international and Indian exhibitors, and 15,000 Indian buyers. Over 33 round-tables will also be held on issues of concern for the various segments of textiles and handicrafts with prominent international speakers and industry leaders.
The three-day event will also include global conferences on the last day with six different themes related to the textile sector. Textiles India is the first ever global B2B textile and handicrafts event in India. It holds the promise of becoming a landmark annual trade event for the Indian textile and apparel industry at the global level. It is celebrating the significant achievements of India's textile industry and the enormous promise of spectacular growth over the next few years.
India’s textile sector is a major contributor to overall industrial production, exports and employment. The textile sector is also rising on the new digital wave with players vying with each other to grab a higher share of online fashion.
In the past two years, Egypt has taken measures to restore seed purity and cotton quality. Egyptian cotton’s reputation and quality had deteriorated significantly due to the seed companies’ lack of effective quality assurance systems that resulted in inferior, mixed-variety output.
Egyptian cotton’s length, strength, firmness, color, trash count and maturity have all improved in 2016-2017 compared to 2015-2016. This development has increased demand and the prices for Egyptian cotton in local and international markets. Egypt’s cotton exports jumped 63.9 per cent during the first quarter of the planting season of 2016-17.
Internationally, retailers have begun to more closely monitor their products labeled as 100 per cent Egyptian cotton, many requiring manufacturers to provide attestation for products labeled as such. About 90 per cent of global supplies of Egyptian cotton last year were fake.
In an effort to crack down on fraudulent practices and ensure quality, the Cotton Egypt Association started licensing the use of the Egyptian cotton logo to suppliers and manufacturers all over the world. Carrying the logo means that the association certifies the authenticity of the Egyptian cotton. If Egypt’s cotton industry returns to its previous glory, the economy would flourish, the spinning and textile industries would boom, and stalled factories would reopen.
Australian Wool Innovation is set to undertake a major strategic research direction change to address rapidly rising wool harvesting costs. Only about 10 per cent of AWI’s annual harvesting investment portfolio is currently spent on alternatives to manual shearing and in-shed sheep handling. Shearing costs are rising faster than efficiency gains from in-shed shearer training.
AWI also wants to use savings achieved in a recent round of staff redundancies to explore alternatives to the manual shearing of sheep. Additional research in wool harvesting could involve combining robotic, chemical and previous platforms or chain shearing technology to provide cost-saving in-shed alternatives for growers and shearers.
AWI will look at some of the industry’s bigger problems, such as the issue of shearing heavier sheep efficiently and safely. Shearing costs continue to rise while increasing numbers of growers are shearing sheep twice a year or every eight months to assist cash flow, minimise flystrike and cut crutching costs.
More than 80 potential harvesting technologies have been assessed by AWI, identifying promising areas for development including hand piece technology, parallel, modular, upright shearing platforms and alternative shearing technologies.
The aim is to find a replacement for manual shearing like robotics, laser and deal with the cost of shearing.
