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Registration is now open for the upcoming Source Fashion event, slated to unfold at Olympia London from July 14th to 16th, 2024. Boasting a comprehensive showcase of over 350 makers and manufacturers hailing from more than 25 countries, this edition promises an amplified spotlight on UK manufacturers. Notably, the expansion into the National Hall's upper balcony will accommodate Source Luxury, underscoring the event's commitment to upscale offerings.
Functioning as a vital conduit for the UK fashion procurement landscape, Source Fashion facilitates seamless connections between international suppliers and domestic brands, wholesalers, and corporations. With a diverse array of audited exhibitors, attendees can peruse an extensive range spanning from white-label products to bespoke creations.
Director of Sourcing Suzanne Ellingham emphasizes the event's facilitation of range creation and manufacturer discovery. She underscores the event's evolution, highlighting enhanced diversity, additional pavilions, and an augmented presence of high-quality luxury producers. Notably, Source Luxury will spotlight meticulously crafted, enduring fashion pieces, reflecting the ethos of slow fashion and responsible production.
Source Fashion's geographic inclusivity is underscored by the participation of over 20 producers from Bangladesh, alongside debut pavilions from Ghana and other nations. Additionally, the event fosters connections between global manufacturers and buyers, offering a platform for transformative discussions on ethical fashion practices.
Beyond its expansive showcase, Source Fashion augments its content program for the July edition, featuring discussions led by industry luminaries on pressing topics like the circular economy, regulatory compliance, and sustainable materials.
With the previous February 2024 edition marking its largest gathering yet, Source Fashion attracts a cadre of influential attendees from renowned brands and retailers, affirming its status as a pivotal event in the fashion industry's calendar.
Renowned Japanese retailer, Uniqlo will soon inaugurate its second Italy store in Rome, marking a significant stride in Fast Retailing's strategy to boost growth across Europe and North America. One of five slated openings for the spring-summer season, this new store signifies a pivotal moment for the company, states, Mark Barnatovic, COO, Uniqlo Italy.
The upcoming expansions, encompassing locations like Nice, Edinburgh, and additional outlets in Milan and London, underscore Fast Retailing's ambitious global aspirations. Despite facing stagnation in more mature markets like Japan, the company anticipates record performances in Europe and North America this year, propelled by robust revenue and profit figures.
Uniqlo's European presence has been further fortified by its top-selling stores, with Milan notably ranking among the group's best performers. As the company sets its sights on Rome, it prepares to navigate a competitive landscape, contending with established players like Zara, H&M, and local Italian brands.
Nestled within a historic arcade along Via del Corso, the store in Rome promises vast potential akin to its successful Milan counterpart. Spanning over 1,300 sq m across three floors, it will cater to both local residents and tourists, offering an immersive shopping experience.
Moreover, Uniqlo has embraced collaborations with local artists and designers, unveiling exclusive clothing lines tailored for the Roman clientele. By tapping into the essence of Romanita, or the Roman way of life, the brand seeks to resonate deeply with the local community, elevating its presence and resonance in the vibrant city of Rome.
In a bid to revolutionize textile recycling and combat the growing apparel waste crisis, Eastman, a specialty materials company renowned for its Naia cellulosic fibers, has forged a strategic alliance with Debrand, a leading next-life logistics firm specializing in sustainable solutions for apparel waste.
This collaboration aims to leverage Eastman's cutting-edge molecular recycling technology alongside Debrand's expertise in waste management to recycle 5,000 pounds of pre- and post-consumer apparel waste.
Through molecular recycling, Eastman disassembles apparel waste into its molecular components, which are then utilized to produce Naia Renew fibers. These circular fibers, comprising 60 per cent sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40 per cent recycled material, adhere to the Global Recycled Standard, ensuring the highest standards of sustainability.
Claudia de Witte, Eastman's textiles sustainability leader, emphasized the partnership's commitment to driving circularity within the fashion industry. By repurposing textiles reaching the end of their lifecycle into valuable resources for new fibers, the collaboration underscores a pivotal step towards sustainable fashion practices.
The collaboration between Eastman and Debrand showcases the transformative potential of molecular recycling technology in addressing textile waste. This partnership sets a new benchmark for sustainability in the fashion industry by offering circular solutions for apparel waste.
Prior to joining forces with Eastman, Debrand secured strategic investment from Waste Management, further solidifying its position as a leader in circular solutions across North America. Lina G Londono, Debrand's vice president of sustainability, expressed enthusiasm for the innovative pilot project, emphasizing its scalability and potential for future industry participation.
Eastman's ongoing collaborations with key industry players, including Patagonia, highlight its commitment to advancing sustainable practices and infrastructure within the textiles industry. Through such initiatives, Eastman continues to pave the way for a more sustainable and circular economy in fashion.
Projecting a slowdown, Bain & Co forecasts,China’s luxury sales will decrease by 12 per cent from 2023, with sales primarily being driven by high-net-worth individuals possessing investible assets exceeding 10 million yuan ($1.4 million).
This shift emphasises a renewed focus on catering to key clientele, as highlighted by Tan, a representative from Bain & Co. This reorientation comes in response to a concerning trend, a surge in product returns, prompting luxury brands to reevaluate their strategies within the Chinese market.
During China's major shopping event last November, renowned luxury labels such as Ralph Lauren Corp, Burberry Group Plc, and Richemont SA's Net-A-Porter faced an unprecedented wave of returns and cancellations, with some experiencing up to 75 per cent of sales value being reversed.
The exceptionally high rate of returns, well beyond the norm of 20 per cent to 30 per cent in the luxury industry, persisted even after China transitioned from its strict COVID Zero policies over a year ago. This trend poses a challenge to fashion labels operating in the world's second-largest economy, particularly as the middle class now seeks discounts or refrains from high-end purchases amid economic headwinds.
The situation worsened in the first quarter of the current year, with Tmall return and cancellation rates soaring for several luxury brands compared to the same period in previous years. This included notable names like Brunello Cucinelli SpA, Marc Jacobs, Chloé, Ralph Lauren, and Mulberry Group PLC.
Mark Tanner, Managing Director, China Skinny, suggests, the softening of luxury demand may encourage opportunistic behavior, with individuals leveraging luxury items for status before returning them at no cost.
While Tmall plans to continue collaborating with luxury brands, the return issue persists, exacerbated by shoppers exploiting promotional campaigns to secure discounts, even if they intend to return purchased items later. This behavior inflates initial sales figures but doesn't translate into sustained revenue.
However, luxury labels at the highest echelons, such as Hermes International SCA, Chanel, and Dior, are limiting their reliance on e-commerce channels and refraining from extensive sales campaigns, instead focusing on cultivating relationships with affluent clientele.
Nevertheless, the allure of Tmall's extensive reach continues to attract some luxury brands, despite the risk of tarnishing their image through frequent participation in promotions. With online orders accounting for a significant portion of China's high-end market revenue, premium brands are compelled to navigate the challenges posed by e-commerce platforms, investing in personalised services and exclusive experiences to nurture long-term relationships with wealthy customers.
A leading additive manufacturer Stratasys will apply its newly launched Direct-to-Garment (D2G) solution on its J850 TechStyle printer for the Urban Tattoo denim collection to be launched at the Texprocess exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany on April 23.
The D2G technology enables manufacturers to incorporate full-color, multi-material 3D printing directly onto fully assembled garments, including denim, cotton, polyester, and linen. Through this innovation, fashion brands can create personalised and bespoke designs, catering to individual preferences, sizes, and styles.
Zehavit Reisin, Senior Vice President, Commercial Solutions, Stratasys, says, the technology enables brands to infuse more character into their clothing lines while adopting sustainable business practices that resonate with consumers.
Enabling customisation of various garment types and sizes, the D2G tray kits are available in two sizes. This technology aims to reduce material waste and streamline the production process.
A result of collaboration with renowned designers such as Karim Rashid and Travis Fitch, the Urban Tattoo collection transforms everyday garments into unique pieces of wearable art. According to Naomi Kaempfer, Creative Director, Stratasys, the collection enhances the emotional connection between the clothing and its wearer by adding layers of stories and symbolism to garments.
Data from InvestingPro shows, with a market capitalisation of approximately $694.02 million, Stratasys navigates through a challenging period with a negative P/E ratio of -5.48, reflecting the company's current lack of profitability. Despite this, the company's gross profit margin remains strong at 44.53 per cent, indicating a robust underlying business in the last twelve months as of Q4 2023.
Launched on April 17, 2024 in Barcelona, the Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week (BBFW) 2024 will showcase the latest creations in bridal fashion. To run till April 21, this year’s edition has reported a 14 per cent rise in the number of participants. It features 400 brands from 35 countries.
The event commenced with the inauguration of an eye-catching artistic installation created by theater group La Fura dels Baus. Named, 'Barcelona goes Bridal!, the six-meter-tall rotating structure on Maria Cristina Avenue has 30 wedding dresses from Catalan brands hanging off it.
The first collection to appear on the runway was from Jesús Peiró, with 37 international designers featuring from Wednesday to Sunday.
In parallel to the catwalk, BBFW is also hosting a trade show at the Montjuïc site. This trade show has reported a 14 per cent rise in attendees with 400 exhibitors from 35 countries participating in it. The fair is expected to generate an economic impact of €61.5 million.
Stoll, a leader in textile machinery, has launched the CMS 503 ki L, a 50" knitting machine tailored for the volume market. In an industry marked by rapid fashion shifts and intense price competition, manufacturers face the challenge of meeting diverse demands economically.
The CMS series by Stoll has long been recognized for its cost-effective solutions, catering to high-volume production while maintaining flexibility in design. The latest addition, the CMS 503 ki L, boasts a wider working width, denoted by the "L" for "Large," allowing for the creation of extensive motif formats and accommodating an extended size range.
Michael Händel, Vice President Sales & Service at Karl Mayer Stoll Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH, highlights the significance of this development in response to the global trend toward larger sizes, particularly in markets like America, Asia, and Europe. The machine's enhanced capabilities position manufacturers to meet evolving consumer preferences efficiently.
Technological advancements, including the Multiflex take-up and spring-loaded latch needles, ensure optimal fabric width fixation, reduced waste, and improved cost-efficiency. Additionally, as part of the Knitelligence machine generation, the CMS 503 ki L is equipped to meet the demands of the digital era, offering automation possibilities, transparency, and shorter production cycles.
With a proven track record of reliability and performance, Stoll's CMS series continues to garner praise, with representatives boasting over 100,000 working hours. The unveiling of the CMS 503 ki L will take place at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 in Shanghai, where it will demonstrate its capabilities at the Karl Mayer Group booth, showcasing its potential to revolutionize high-volume knitting production.
Sympatex, a global leader in sustainable membranes, is showcasing its latest innovations at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland (booth 312) from April 17th to 18th, 2024.
The company, renowned for its commitment to environmental responsibility and high-performance materials, is unveiling a diverse range of sustainable solutions aimed at transitioning the textile industry towards circularity. A focal point of Sympatex's presentation is its dedication to PFAS freedom, acknowledging the environmental risks associated with these chemicals and advocating for their elimination from non-essential applications.
Sympatex's membranes have been PFAS-free since its inception in 1986, with a transition towards fluorine-free C0 DWR since 2008. Annual tests and random sampling consistently confirm the absence of PFAS residues, aligning with the company's commitment to delivering PFAS-free products.
At the forefront of its innovations is a collaboration with e.dye, introducing solution-dyed polyester fabrics that significantly reduce water consumption, chemical usage, and carbon dioxide emissions. Kim Scholze, CSO of Sympatex, describes this partnership as a paradigm shift in textile dyeing, emphasizing the environmental benefits of solution dyeing.
Anja Palic, Product Management at Sympatex, highlights the advantages of solution dyeing, including exceptional color fastness and reproducibility. Additionally, Sympatex presents Tokyo Fiber2Fiber Spring AS, a sustainable alternative to traditional bottle recycling, crafted from chemically recycled waste.
With impending regulations from the European Commission mandating the use of recycled plastic components, Sympatex's innovations address the industry's need for premium-quality recycled fibers.
Functional Fabric Fair Spring serves as a premier sourcing destination for the outdoor and activewear industry, offering a glimpse into the future of performance fabrics and trends shaping the 2025/2026 Spring season. Open exclusively to industry professionals, the event underscores the industry's collective efforts towards sustainability and innovation.
The world's leading technical textiles and nonwovens manufacturers and technology providers will gather at the Hightex 2024 Exhibition in Istanbul, Turkey, from June 4th to 8th, 2024. This premier event, the first and only of its kind in Turkey, is expected to attract a record number of attendees, including industry representatives and global buyers.
Technical textiles, despite their unfamiliar name, are woven into the very fabric of our lives. From medical applications and automobiles to clothing and agriculture, these versatile materials play a crucial role in diverse sectors. In fact, technical textiles now account for a staggering 45-50 per cent of the traditional textile industry.
Experts predict continued strong growth for technical textiles. A recent report by Grand View Research Inc. forecasts the global technical textile market to reach a value of $272.33 billion by 2030, reflecting a healthy compound annual growth rate of 4.7 per cent.
The high level of interest in Hightex 2024 underscores the sector's dynamism and the emphasis placed on innovation. Technical textiles are poised for even deeper integration into various industries and our daily lives. This exhibition presents a unique opportunity for industry leaders to shape the future of this exciting field.
Hightex 2024 will bring together leading manufacturers and suppliers with industry professionals. Attendees can expect to see the latest advancements in technical textiles across a wide range of applications, including medical, automotive, aerospace, hygiene, agriculture, food, construction, smart textiles, and geotextiles.
Hightex 2024 goes beyond simply showcasing products. It fosters collaboration and networking opportunities for exhibitors. Visitors will gain valuable insights into the latest trends, enabling them to develop innovative products and craft future-proof strategies.
American consumers are opening their wallets again, with retail sales experiencing a modest uptick in recent months. According to the US Census Bureau, sales rose 0.7 per cent in March 2024 compared to February, and are up 4.0 per ent year-over-year.
However, the picture within the fashion sector is less clear. While overall retail sales data lumps fashion in with other categories, anecdotal evidence suggests a mixed bag. Some retailers report strong demand, while others continue to grapple with excess inventory from pandemic shutdowns.
Growth drivers unclear
The reasons behind the overall retail growth are multifaceted. Some economists point towards pent-up demand as consumers return to pre-pandemic spending habits. Others cite rising wages and increased household savings as factors. For the fashion sector specifically, it's difficult to pinpoint exact growth drivers. There could be a delayed response to reopening, with people refreshing their wardrobes after staying home for so long. Additionally, a focus on comfortable and casual attire, a trend that boomed during lockdowns, might be persisting. Moreover, wage growth in some sectors could put more money in consumers' pockets, boosting spending. With increased focus on travel and social gatherings, there could be a rise in demand for new clothes. Also, e-commerce continues to thrive, offering convenience and potentially boosting sales.
Fashion's foggy future
However, the outlook for the fashion sector is uncertain. While some reports suggest increased spending on apparel, others indicate a cautious consumer opting for essentials over discretionary purchases. Rising inflation and economic concerns could further dampen spending on non-essential items like fashion.
The impact on garment imports is difficult to predict. It's possible that rising sales could lead to increased imports to meet demand. However, it's also possible that retailers are simply selling through existing inventory built up during the pandemic.
Short-term vs long-term outlook
The short-term outlook for retail sales remains cautiously optimistic. With rising gas prices potentially dampening discretionary spending in other areas, consumers might shift their budgets towards apparel. However, inflation and potential interest rate hikes could act as headwinds later in the year.
The long-term picture is even more uncertain. The global supply chain continues to face disruptions, which could impact both the availability and cost of clothing. Additionally, consumer spending habits could evolve as economic factors change.
Overall, the US retail sector is showing signs of recovery, but the fashion segment presents a complex picture. While some growth is likely, the full extent and its drivers remain to be seen.
