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The summer 2020 edition of Texworld USA, being held from July 21-23, will bring together professionals working in sourcing, fabric buying, research and development, merchandising and design on a digital platform. The show will enable attendees and exhibitors to access an artificial intelligence-powered matchmaking tool that will guide them on who to meet, what sessions to attend and which virtual booths to visit. The participants will be able to leverage this networking platform for 45 days even after Texworld USA closes through a chat function.
Additionally, Texworld USA will also offer browser-based video conferencing facilities for one-to-one meetings. Through this, companies will be able to customize a page with product listings and brochures, website links and promotional videos. This hub can also be used to set up meetings and manage scheduling.
Meanwhile, Texworld USA will also broadcast live sessions. Textile Talks and Lenzing Seminar Series will allow viewers to chat with other attendees. After the event, registrants can access the 400-plus exhibiting global suppliers as well as these talks for 45 days to learn more about topics ranging from climate change to what sustainability will look like after COVID-19.
The virtual edition will bring together textile mills and manufacturers from 15 countries.
Turkey’s leading e-magazine textilegence.com states, though the country’s textile and raw materials exports were hugely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020, they soon managed to enter a rapid recovery process. Turkey’s textile exports during January-June ’20, declined 17.4 per cent to $4.1 billion compared to the same period previous year. However, in June, the country’s textile exports increased by 19.8 per cent to $766 million compared to the previous year. Its overall exports in the first half of the year increased by 15.8 per cent to $13.5 billion
Turkey’s quantity-based textile exports during the January-June period decreased by 14.3 per cent to 999,000 ton. However, exports in June increased by 16.3 per cent. The country exported the highest amount of textile and raw materials to 28 EU countries during the month. However, its exports to the EU fell 18.5 per cent to $2 billion Exports to other European countries increased by 114.9 per cent to reach $11 million in June. Its exports to the Old East Bloc Countries increased by 37.2 per cent in June to $87 million dollars. In the context of the January-June period of 2020, its textile exports to this market decreased by 10.9 per cent to $431 million.
Technical textiles were the most important product exported by Turkey during the January-June 2020 period. Turkey’s export of technical textiles increased by 43.9 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year to reach $1.1 billion. The export of technical textiles products in June was calculated as $318 million with an increase of 202 per cent.
Two-thirds of consumers surveyed by McKinsey in April 2020 believe amid the COVID-19 crisis, it has become even more important for fashion brands to limit impacts on climate change. Additionally, 88 per cent respondents believe that more attention should be paid to reducing pollution. Around 67 per cent of consumers consider the use of sustainable materials to be an important purchasing factor, and 63 percent consider a brand’s promotion of sustainability in the same way.
Additionally, surveyed consumers expect brands to take care of their employees, as well as workers in Asia, during the COVID-19 crisis. Around 70 per cent of the respondents plan to stick with brands they know and trust during the crisis. Of surveyed consumers, 75 per cent consider a trusted brand to be an important purchasing factor. However, younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, are more likely to experiment with smaller or lesser-known brands during the crisis.
More than 60 per cent consumers report spending less on fashion during the crisis, and approximately half expect that trend to continue after the crisis passes. However, consumers are likely to cut back on accessories, jewelry, and other discretionary categories before reducing their spending on apparel and footwear. Approximately 50 per cent of the younger consumers are willing to buy cheaper versions of products they normally buy.
The COVID-19 crisis has recruited new consumers to online channels with 43 percent of surveyed consumers now using online channels for shopping. Around 65 percent of consumers supported fashion brands who delayed the launch of new collections as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, 58 per cent respondents were less concerned about the fashion of clothing than other factors following the crisis. Around 65 per cent respondents plan to purchase more durable fashion items, and 71 per cent plan to keep the items they already have for longer. Additionally, 57 per cent of respondents are willing to repair items to prolong usage.
Younger European consumers are more interested in purchasing secondhand fashion items following the COVID-19 crisis. Of surveyed consumers, around 50 percent of Gen Z and millennials expect to purchase more items secondhand.
As per General Administration of Customs of China stats, India is the second largest sewing machine importer during the January-May ’20 period while Vietnam secured the top rank. The other major importers of the Chinese sewing machines during the first five months of 2020 included: Turkey, Japan, USA, Singapore, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran and Brazil.
However, Vietnam’s imports fell by 27.30 per cent to $111.34 million worth of sewing machines, while, India’s imports declined by 39.68 per cent to $68.20 million. On the other hand, Turkey noted a significant rise of 73 per cent in sewing machine imports from China and import valued at $38.58 million. Egypt and Iran were two other countries in top 10, which reported growth in their respective sewing machine import from China by 9.52 per cent and 60.50 per cent.
Japan’s import value from China was $36.54 million which is 20.86 per cent less than what it had imported a year earlier. Chinese sewing machine exports to US stood at $30.65 million, noting a 30.33 per cent yearly drop.
Imports by Bangladesh, a growing destination of the Chinese sewing products till 2019, fell in 2020 by a massive 47.23 per cent to $22.53 million worth of sewing machines from China.
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has assured Bangladesh it will support the South Asian country in adapting to circular economy in the changed development scene. The two deltaic countries plan to enhance cooperation in various sectors such as climate change, women's development, sustainable manufacturing, technology, economy, and more. According to the circular economy work plan, people will be provided with high quality and safe products at economical prices. The products will be more sustainable than past products and can be remanufactured too. The focus will be on improved living, creative employment, and ensuring higher knowledge and skills. Both of the two countries could benefit equally from such cooperation.
European Union (EU) countries are first implementing circular economy themselves. Re-manufacturing is important to circular economy particularly, for the sake of maintaining environmental balance. By means of circular economy, the aim of the EU is to reduce carbon emissions to a specific level by 2030 and cut expenditure by at least €60,000 billion, as well as to ensure a minimum 80,000 jobs.
According to the EU website, the bloc has been working in accordance to a work plan drawn up in 2015. In the continuity of the concept of 'green growth', Europe and the rest of the developed world are now placing emphasis on circular economy. From 2025, EU countries plan to export goods to 27 EU countries will have to follow that system of production in order to remain in the competition. It will be compulsory to make it possible to remanufacture one-fourth of a product of countries exporting to the EU.
A report by Intermarket Securities (IMS) predicts Pakistan’s textile exports will fall by only 5-10 per cent in the FY 2021 rather than the 20 per cent predicted earlier. The report states, Pakistan’s textile industry will recover quicker from the crisis compared to competitors. This can be attributed to the country’s largest export market Europe coming out of the lockdown, its home textile exports going strong, and the added benefits it may receive from global orders being rerouted out of China.
The government has already taken measures to both protect exporters during the present crisis and remove longstanding barriers to competitiveness. Several input costs have been subsidized and Pakistan’s currency is no longer overvalued.
The IMS report predicts home textiles and healthcare segments will recover earlier than garments. There is an emerging demand for pandemic-related textiles such as masks and PPEs. The sector has corrected 9 per cent since the onset of the pandemic while expected upcoming demand of back-to-school and winter clothing can be key catalysts in further reviving the industry. Pakistan’s export-to-GDP ratio has shrunk from 17 per cent in 2003 to 9% in 2020 due to weak policy incentives, tough local business conditions and the rise in competitiveness of regional countries.
According to the report, though the pandemic and its socio-economic impacts have led to the worst global crisis since the financial crisis of 2008-09, massive government stimulus packages along with the lifting of lockdowns globally have led to a recovery in retail sales during May-June.
Based on order backlog of approximately CHF 490 million, an improved cost base and the signs of market recovery mentioned above, Rieter expects a stronger second half of 2020 compared to the first half of the year in terms of sales and profitability. The Rieter Group received building permit for its CAMPUS project in June 2020. The project involves building of a new customer and technology center and an administration building on an area of 30 000 sq m at the current site in Winterthur.
Order intake for the Rieter Group in its Business Group Machines & Systems in the first half of 2020 declined by 34 per cent. Its order intake in the Business Group Components also declined 34 per cent while that in the Business Group After sales declined 32 per cent. The group’s order backlog as of June 30, 2020, was around CHF 490 million
The group’s sales declined by 39 per cent to CHF 254.9 million compared to the previous year period. Machines & Systems sales decreased 46 per cent. This was due to the low order intake in the first three quarters of the previous year and deferred deliveries. Sales at Components fell by 29 per cent and at After Sales by 34 per cent.
Rieter noted signs of a market recovery in June 2020. At the end of June 2020, its proportion of producing spinning mills improved to 80 per cent from 40 per cent in April 2020.
Around total of 115 exhibitors participated in the debut Yarn Expo Shenzhen that was held from July 15-17 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. The new edition of Yarn Expo provided the yarn and fibre industry with the ideal gateway to capture the potential of the strong apparel market in South China and Southeast Asia, it helped the industry recover and reconnect from the COVID-19 pandemic disruption, the co-organisers, Messe Frankfurt says. Some of the exhibitors at the exhibition included:
Consinee Group: One of China’s leading natural cashmere yarn suppliers to high-end fashion brands, Consinee introduced a series of sustainable and traceable cashmere products, such as their classic yarns of pure cashmere 12-gauge, antibacterial cashmere yarn, as well as a recycled yarn series.
Nantong Doublegreat Textile Co: The company showcased its newly developed polylactic acid blended yarn. Blended with combed cotton and polylactic acid, the product is naturally degradable and antibacterial, and will make knitted fabric smoother, lighter, softer, resistant to fluff and with good hygroscopicity.
Yarn Expo Shenzhen was organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK); the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; China Cotton Textile Association; China Chemical Fibers Association; and China Knitting Industrial Association. Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2020 will be held concurrently with Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics, as well as CHIC and PH Value.
One of the most technologically advanced knitting mills and fabric suppliers in the United States, Texollini recently launched T19 Performance face masks made with Lycra fibre. The fashionable masks were designed with protection, durability, comfort and breathability in mind.
The California-based company leveraged its 30 years of textiles experience and portfolio of more than 5,000 fabrics during the design and development process, eventually landing on the proprietary micro denier 3-dimensional scuba performance fabric. The multi-layer material is said to deliver a relaxed, comfortable fit for professional or recreational wear.The T19 masks, which are knitted, printed, cut and sewn in Los Angeles, are hand and machine washable. Multiple patterns are available.
Spread over 250,000 square-foot, Texollini’s state-of-the-art, vertically integrated knitting mill and textile manufacturing plant is located in sunny Long Beach, California, just minutes south of the fashion mecca that is Los Angeles, California. A fully automated, computer-monitored knitting mill, dye-house and printing plant capable of operating 24-7, allows ‘Made in America’ Texollini to turnaround orders quickly and efficiently.
Ijaz A Khokhar, Regional President, International Apparel Federation (IAF) and Chief Coordinator, PRGMEA informed that a large number of its members participated in ‘Digital Global Apparel Sourcing Expo' that started from July 15.
The event was organized by PRGMEA in collaboration with International Apparel Federation (IAF), Fourscore and Sourcing Journal. He said the Global Apparel Sourcing Expo is the world's largest and 100 percent digital trade show.
The PRGMEA members participated in a digital expo for the first time which would be an experiment for the members. PRGMEA was making hectic efforts for exploring more traditional and traditional markets for bring a big boost in exports of the country.
The PRGMEA members focused attention on visiting traditional and non-traditional markets in their personal capacity for assessing the demand of Pakistani products in these markets as well as trying to develop direct B2B links with their counterparts.
