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South Korea has announced a comprehensive strategy to address key industry trends, including accelerating the growth of the industrial textile market, increasing demand for eco-friendly practices, and integrating digital technologies across product planning, production, and logistics.
Elaborating on the strategy, DukgeunAhn, Trade, Industry, and Energy Minister, says, the strategy aims to increase South Korea’s share in the global industrial and eco-friendly textiles market from the current 2-3 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030. Additionally, it seeks to elevate the level of digital transformation in the industry from the current 35 per cent to 60 per cent.
Central to the strategy is the development of world-class technologies in high-performance materials such as aramids, carbon fibers, and electronic textiles by 2030. A KRW 2.9 trillion fund will be established to support companies that integrate industrial textiles into their products. The plan also includes the creation of an Industrial Textile Alliance and a Tech Textile Product Certification Evaluation Support Center.
The strategy emphasiseson eco-friendly practices, with ₩31 billion being allocated for initiatives like fiber-to-fiber recycling, plant-based vegan leather, and biodegradable fibers. The government also plans to provide waste heat recovery facilities to over 200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and introduce carbon emissions standards and eco-design guidelines.
To foster AI and digital transformation, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) plans to develop an AI system that can reduce product design times by over 80 per cent and establish a Connected Micro Factory for high-speed production. Automation facilities will be provided to over 250 companies by 2028, and the expansion of Meta Fashion Playgrounds will further support digital innovation.
The strategy also includes training 1,000 professionals in eco-friendly and digital technologies by 2028 and pursuing global sustainability certifications, ensuring that South Korea remains competitive in the rapidly evolving textile and fashion industry.
Currently operational under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), has been awarded with the prestigious Oeko-Tex certification for its Eri Silk. Directly awarded from Germany, this certification marks a significant milestone for the region’s traditional craftsmanship and its growing global influence.
Renowned as the world’s only vegan silk, Eri Silk is known for its ethical production process. Unlike other silks, the silk moth in Eri Silk is allowed to naturally emerge from its cocoon, leaving the silk threads intact. This compassionate and sustainable method resonates with the increasing global demand for eco-friendly and ethically produced textiles.
The Oeko-Tex certification is globally recognised as a rigorous standard as it ensures textiles remain free from harmful substances, and are produced under environmentally friendly conditions. Strongly endorsingEri Silk’s sustainability credentials, the certification strengthensEri Silk’s status as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Assam, enhancing its authenticity and regional importance.
The certification also helpsEri Silk establish itself as a leading eco-friendly fabric. The recognition also highlights NEHHDC’s commitment to promoting Assam’s rich cultural heritage while embracing sustainable and ethical practices within the textile industry.
The Global Sourcing Expo will return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 19-21, 2024, featuring over 900 exhibitors from 20 countries, including India, Vietnam, and Brazil. The Expo aims to broaden sourcing opportunities for designers, retailers, and importers, providing a unique platform to connect with international suppliers.
A highlight of the event is the co-located Footwear & Accessories Show, which will showcase a diverse range of products, from leather boots to fashion-forward sneakers. This segment, featuring exhibitors from Turkiye, India, and China, promises to be a key attraction for those looking to expand their footwear offerings.
Key industry associations, such as the Handloom Export Promotion Council of India and the Taiwan Textile Federation, will be present, offering crucial connections for brands new to sourcing. According to Marie Kinsella, CEO of International Expo Group, these associations play a significant role in promoting their respective sectors and providing valuable guidance to their members.
In addition to the exhibition, the Expo will host a Global Sourcing Seminar series, featuring industry leaders like Paul Zahra, CEO of the Australian Retailers Association, and Patty Huntington from Harper’s Bazaar Australia. The seminars will cover topics such as AI, sustainability, and supply chain management, offering attendees actionable insights into the latest trends and regulations in the industry.
The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is seeking a new Executive Director as the organization approaches its centennial. The Board of Directors has established an Executive Search Committee to identify suitable candidates.
Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills, with a background in managing business operations. Prior experience in textile processing, association management, and marketing is highly desirable. Candidates should demonstrate proficiency in both written and oral communication, and be well-versed in accounting systems, Windows software, and social media.
Educational requirements include a BS in Textile Chemistry, Chemistry, Textile Science, or Engineering, with an MBA preferred. Familiarity with AATCC's operations, including prior membership or committee involvement, is highly advantageous.
The Executive Director will work from the AATCC Technical Center in Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, and report directly to the Board of Directors. Compensation will be based on experience.
Global shipments of textile machinery saw mixed results in 2023, according to the 46th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS) report by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). While some segments experienced growth, others faced significant declines. The report, which includes data from over 200 textile machinery manufacturers worldwide, highlights key trends across spinning, draw-texturing, weaving, knitting, and finishing machinery.
Spinning machinery: Mixed regional performance
The spinning machinery segment saw varying performances in 2023. Global shipments of short-staple spindles increased by 155,000 units, reaching a total of 9.78 million. The majority of these shipments (85 per cent) were destined for Asia & Oceania, where deliveries remained stable compared to 2022. However, shipments to Europe (including Turkiye) and North and Central America dropped by 13 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively. In contrast, Africa and South America saw substantial growth, with shipments to Africa rising by 120 per cent and to South America by 140 per cent. Egypt emerged as the largest recipient in Africa, accounting for 85 per cent of the region’s deliveries.
In the open-end rotor category, shipments declined by 17 per cent, totaling 1 million units. Asia & Oceania continued to dominate, receiving 85 per cent of global shipments, although deliveries in the region dropped by 19 per cent. China, India, and Turkiye remained the top investors, despite facing declines. Notably, Brazil and Mexico bucked the trend with increases of 20 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively.
Long-staple (wool) spindle shipments increased by 5 per cent, driven by higher deliveries to Europe and South America. China, Turkiye, and Iran were the primary recipients, with China alone receiving 31 per cent of the total shipments.
Texturing machinery: Declines across the board
The draw-texturing machinery segment experienced a sharp downturn in 2023. Global shipments of single heater draw-texturing spindles, used mainly for polyamide filaments, plummeted by 33 per cent to 43,000 units. Asia & Oceania continued to dominate this market, receiving 97 per cent of shipments, with China being the largest investor.
Similarly, shipments of double heater draw-texturing spindles, primarily used for polyester filaments, fell by 27 per cent to 550,000 units. Asia maintained its lead with a 97 per cent share of global shipments, with China accounting for 91 per cent.
Weaving machinery: A significant surge
The weaving machinery segment recorded significant growth, particularly in the shuttle-less loom category. Global shipments surged by 52to 171,000 units. The increase was driven by strong demand for air-jet and water-jet looms, which saw growth of 34 per cent and 96 per cent, respectively. Asia & Oceania remained the top destination, receiving 96 per cent of all shuttle-less looms. China was the largest investor in air-jet and water-jet looms, while India led in rapier-and-projectile looms.
Knitting machinery: Stronggrowth in circular and flat knitting
The knitting machinery segment also witnessed robust growth in 2023. Global shipments of large circular knitting machines rose by 17 per cent to 33,000 units. Asia & Oceania, and particularly China, dominated the market, with China alone accounting for 63 per cent of all deliveries—a remarkable 86 per cent increase from 2022. India and Turkiye followed as the second and third-largest markets.
The flat knitting machinery category saw an even more significant rise, with shipments increasing by 61 per cent to 177,000 machines. Again, Asia & Oceania was the leading region, receiving 92 per cent of global shipments, with China maintaining its position as the top investor.
Finishing machinery: Stability with mixed results
In the finishing segment, the overall number of deliveries remained stable. The "fabrics continuous" category saw a 3 per cent increase in stenters shipments, while other machines in this category reported mixed results, ranging from a 42 per cent decrease for relax dryers/tumblers to a 103 per cent increase for bleaching lines. In the "fabrics discontinuous" segment, shipments of jigger/beam dyeing and air jet dyeing machines declined by 8 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively, while overflow dyeing machines saw a 4.2 per cent increase in deliveries.
The ITMSS report for 2023 paints a varied picture of the global textile machinery industry, with strong growth in some areas, particularly weaving and knitting, while other segments such as draw-texturing and open-end rotors face significant challenges. Asia and Oceania continue to dominate as the leading destination for textile machinery, particularly China, which remains a critical market across multiple categories.
Textile and clothing (T&A) exports from Pakistan contracted by 3.09 percent in July’24, signaling potential struggles for the sector in the face of stringent new tax measures introduced this fiscal year.
As per the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the textile and clothing sector, which accounts for over 60 percent of the country’s total exports, experienced a decline for the second consecutive month. This follows a 0.93 percent drop in June, despite the government's recent budget measures aimed at promoting exports—a move that top textile exporters have criticised. The sector had shown a significant rebound in May with double-digit growth after two months of sluggish performance. However, the rising costs of energy and high taxation are now contributing to the downturn.
Despite having an installed capacity of $25 billion, Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports have remained stagnant over the past two years, according to industry exporters. They cite structural issues as a primary reason for this lack of growth.
In absolute terms, textile and clothing exports from the country declined by 10.13 per cent to $1.27 billion in Julyfrom $1.31 billion in the same month last year.
The government's decision to increase the tax rate on exporters' personal income in the 2024-25 fiscal year is expected to have a more pronounced impact in the coming months.
According to the PBS data, the value of readymade garment exports increased by 7.57 percent increase in July, along with an 8.47 percent rise in quantity. However, the value of knitwear exports dropped by 1.88 percent and volume by 6.37 percent. Bedwear exports posted a slight decrease of 1.20 percent in value but grew by 4.07 percent in quantity.
Towel exports dropped by 3.67 percent in value and 2 percent in quantity, while cotton cloth exports decreased by 0.56 percent in value and 4.72 percent in quantity.
Yarn exports experienced a significant drop of over 42.54 percent compared to July last year. The exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, declined by 5.84 percent, while exports of tents, canvas, and tarpaulin rose by 14.22 percent Y-o-Y.
In terms of imports, synthetic fiber imports fell by 33.23 percent, and synthetic and artificial silk yarn imports declined by 17.68 percent. However, other textile items saw a notable increase of 53.20 percent during the same period. The import of raw cotton decreased by 20.60 percent in July, whereas the import of second-hand clothes increased by 13.47 percent.
Overall, total exports in July grew by 11.75 percent, reaching $2.31 billion from $2.06 billion in the same month last year.
Building on its rich heritage in denim design and innovation, Levi’s is set to introduce a fresh array of silhouettes for men and women, blending comfort, style, and versatility. After a successful Spring/Summer 2024 women’s collection that featured baggy and wide-leg jeans, Levi’s continues to cater to the growing demand for looser denim fits.
For women, the brand has introduced XL Straight, a wide-leg style that features a mid-rise and a relaxed fit through the hip and thigh. Crafted from 14 oz. cotton denim, the XL Straight is available in a variety of washes, ranging from a light wash with a ripped knee to dark indigo and black. This style also includes a removable self-belt, adding a touch of customisation.
Levi’s is also emphasising utility and comfort in its new men’s fits. It has launched the 555 Relaxed Straight jeans that are inspired by the roomy straight cuts popular in the 1990s. These jeans, which sit at the waist, stack at the hem, and maintain a relaxed fit through the seat and thigh, are available in a range of clean washes with a utility-inspired design.
In addition to its denim offerings, Levi’s is expanding its innovative Levi’s Tech program. It has launched the 511 Tech Pant and XX Chino Tech Pant that feature slight adjustments to the rise of their base silhouettes, the 511 Slim Fit and XX Chino Standard, respectively, providing better coverage during active movement.
These 100 percent polyester tech pants are designed for performance, offering moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and reliable sun protection. Each style is equipped with a secure zip pocket on the right back side for convenient storage on the go. The tech pants are available in classic utilitarian colors, including olive, brown, black, and charred gray.
Fabric manufacturer Shrijee Lifestyle Group aims to achieve a turnover of Rs 1,200 crore by 2030. Of this, the company plans to achieve a turnover of Rs 500 crore in 2024-25.
To achieve this, the company plans to expandits product portfolio while also continuing to expand its brands both in India and internationally. The company has brands including 'Shrijee' for blouse and fancy ladies' wear fabrics, 'Avant Moda' for high-end digital printed and piece-dyed shirting and suiting for men and women, 'Cranberry' for creative shirting and kurta fabrics, 'Gizanni' for pure Giza yarn-dyed and piece-dyed fabrics, and 'Linen Villa' for pure linen and innovative Lyocell linen blends.
Founded in 1970 by DeshbandhuKagzi, the Shrijee brand initially gained recognition for its blouse fabrics, especially the 2x2 Rubia. It later expanded across India and into international markets such as the UK, EU, Middle East, and Latin America. Over the years, Shrijee Lifestyle Group has become a recognised force in shirting, women’s wear, and kids’ wear, known particularly for its value-added and digitally printed fabrics.
A prominent US-based online second-hand fashion company, ThredUp plans to exit the European market as its revenues from this market declined by 18 per cent to $13 millionduring Q2, FY24.
The company’s gross profit from European operations declined by 25 per cent to $3.6 million during the quarter while gross margin decreased to 27.3 per cent from 29.8 per centreported in the same period in 2023.
Overall, ThredUp’s sales during Q2 2024 dropped by 4 per cent Y-o-Y to $79.8 million. However, the company’s gross profit improved by 1 per cent compared to Q2 2023, with a gross margin rising to 70.4 per cent. The net loss for the quarter narrowed to $14 million from a net loss of $18.8 millionin Q2 2023.
ThredUp also reported an improvement in its adjusted EBITDA loss to $1.5 million from $5 million in the same quarter the previous year.
Looking ahead, ThredUp’s anticipates consolidated revenue to increase to $298 million -$302 million in FY24, with US sales projected to rise to $247 million-$251 million.
ThredUp has also introduced certain AI-enabled search tools such as enhanced search, image search, and style chat, to improve the customer experience. These features will customers to more efficiently navigate ThredUp's extensive inventory of over 4 million single-SKU items.
Leading technical textiles manufacturer, Garware Technical Fibers reported a 9 per cent Y-o-Y growth in its net profit to Rs 46.8 crore during Q1, FY25. The company’s profits before tax during the quarter rose by 9 per cent, affirms VayuGarware, Chairman and Managing Director.
The company’s net sales during the quarter increased by 3 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 336.3 crore from Rs 325.7 crore in the same period the previous year. Profits before tax increased to Rs 62.1 crore as compared to Rs 57.1 crore in Q1 FY24.
During Q4, FY24, all the plants of Garware Technical Fibers had operated near full capacity. However, this did not affect the company’s results for Q1 FY25 as much of its production was shipped to Norway and Chile, with billing scheduled for the second quarter.
The company’s domestic business continued to grow in Q1 FY25, with the geosynthetics division poised for a strong performance this fiscal year, states Garware. The firm anticipatesa stronger profit growth in Q2 FY25, which would set the stage for robust results in the first half of the year, he adds.
