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Representing garment exporters, the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP), is urging the government to support the establishment of new textile factories in anticipation of increased demand once the Philippines enters a free trade agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU).
Emphasisng on the need for swift action, Robert Young, President, FOBAP, emphasises, construction of a pilot commercial-scale wearable textile factory will help attract foreign investors.
Currently, Philippine garment exports face tariffs of up to 12 per cent due to strict rules of origin, which require a certain percentage of value-added inputs to originate from beneficiary countries under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). Young highlights a preference for locally sourced fabric by the EU, necessitating domestic textile production.
With FTA negotiations with the EU expected to resume, Young stresses on the urgency for local textile manufacturing capabilities to meet anticipated regulatory requirements. He cautions, failure to comply could result in industry players achieving only 80 per cent of their targeted garment and apparel exports this year.
In addition, FOBAP also requests the government to formally petition the EU for permission to utilise imported materials while still qualifying for zero duties during the construction phase of such facilities.
StudioSuits has introduced its latest collection of Italian Limited Edition Suits and Jackets, to celebrate Italy's illustrious textile heritage. Made from opulent and refined fabrics, these suits and jackets have been made from materials sourced directly from esteemed mills in Biella and other renowned regions.
StudioSuits extends the allure of premium Italian fabrics at affordable rates to a wider audience by employing a savvy bulk purchasing strategy. This strategic maneuver helps the brand boost the collection's popularity and spur brisk sales.
Devoted to delivering garments that exude luxury and sophistication, StudioSuits offers a diverse range of styles within this collection, catering to both classic business attire and casual wear. Furthermore, customers enjoy the opportunity to personalise every aspect of their suits, from fabric choice and color to patterns and button selections, ensuring a bespoke fit and a unique aesthetic tailored to each individual.
Specialising in bespoke tailoring, StudioSuits places a premium on superior craftsmanship and customisation in men's fashion. Committed to sustainable practices and unwavering quality, the company strives to offer every discerning gentleman the pleasure of owning a tailor-made wardrobe.
Leading chemical company, Hyosung TNC has secured a $1billion investment approval for its ambitious ‘Hyosung BDO Project; in Vietnam.
The project, which entails establishing a state-of-the-art Bio-BDO plant with an annual production capacity of 200,000 tons, was approved by the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Provincial Government during a prestigious ceremony held in Phu My 2 Industrial Park on March 30.
By investing in multiple Bio-BDO production facilities, Hyosung TNC aims to capitalise on the increasing demand for eco-friendly alternatives. Derived from fermented sugars sourced from sugarcane, Bio-BDO promises to replace traditional fossil-based raw materials entirely, marking a significant stride towards sustainability.
Partnering with Geno, a pioneer in sustainable materials and technology, Hyosung TNC is set to fast-track its Bio-BDO project. The company plans to leverage Geno's proven technology to commence production with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons by the first half of 2026.
The cornerstone of Hyosung TNC's endeavor lies in establishing the world's first fully-integrated production system for bio-spandex. By vertically integrating the production process from raw material to fiber, the company aims to set new standards in sustainability.
Looking ahead, Hyosung TNC aims to significantly expand its sustainable textile sales, targeting over 20 per cent by 2030. With regen™ BIO spandex at the forefront of its offerings, the company seeks to drive positive change in the fashion and textile industry by prioritising natural resources, reducing environmental impact, and fostering a more sustainable future.
A Lectra Group company, TextileGenesis has launched the enhanced 2.0 version of its software platform to improve traceability in the fashion industry. This upgrade version of the platform enables brands and manufacturers to digitally track their textiles, from raw materials to finished products, thus ensuring the authenticity and sustainability of their garments.
The new version boasts of several key features like risk management by identifying potential issues within the supply chain using publicly available databases.
The system provides a comprehensive picture of the entire supply chain by tracking materials through over 300 different production stages. It integrates with over 90 per cent of major material certification standards allowing third-party verification of sustainability claims.
The platform also enables TextileGenesis to verify the source of materials from Tier IV and V suppliers, thus ensuring responsible practices throughout the production process. Further, it simplifies communication between brands and suppliers by offering a standardised data exchange through APIs and SFTPs.
Along with an enhanced user interface and increased data integrity checks, these improvements make TextileGenesis a powerful tool for promoting transparency in the fashion industry. Currently, the platform is being used by over 8,000 users across 70 countries to achieve greater traceability within their supply chains.
Global home textile exports surged by 9.9 per cent Y-o-Y to $84.61 million in Feb’24, compared to $77 million in the same month of the previous fiscal year, as per data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
However, over the past 18 months, the sector’s export income has been fluctuating, ranging from a low of $1.04 billion in September 2021 to a high of $1.74 billion in April 2022, for FY’21-22. Unfortunately, in the subsequent fiscal year of 2022-23, exports plummeted to nearly half their previous levels across all months.
This decline was not exclusive to Bangladesh; it was a global trend. According to the International Trade Center, China, the leading exporter of home textiles, saw a 10 per cent decline in exports to $37.66 billion in 2022. Similarly, India's exports dropped by 9.88 per cent to $6.02 billion, while Pakistan managed to buck the trend with a 2.17 per cent increase to $5.64 billion. The global home textile export market, valued at $122.90 billion in 2020, dwindled to $91 billion the following year, and further to $85 billion last year.
Entrepreneurs attribute this multifaceted decline to various factors, chief among them being the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war a year and a half ago. This geopolitical turmoil dampened demand in key markets such as the European Union (EU) and the United States. Moreover, domestic factors like the 3 per cent increase in gas prices exacerbated the situation, leading to a rise in production costs by approximately half a dollar per kilogram.
Led by Apan Kanti Ghosh, Commerce Minister, Bangladesh aims to pursue a free trade agreement (FTA) with China by 2026. The date of the FTA finalisation coincides with Bangladesh's transition from a least developed country to a developing one that would lead to reduced duty benefits, necessitating proactive measures from the government.
Emphasising on the need to navigate the challenges post-graduation effectively, Ghosh stressed on the urgency to finalise FTA talks with China before 2026. In advent of failure to achieve this, Bangladesh plans to request interim duty-free market access from China.
The foundation for this agreement was established during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Bangladesh in 2016, which saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct a joint feasibility study. Subsequent meetings of the joint working group, including one in Beijing in 2018, have advanced the feasibility study reports.
Yao Wen, China's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, affirms, the FTA has the potential to boost Bangladesh's exports to China. He says, it would expand investment opportunities for China. Highlighting Bangladesh’s reliance on importing textiles and machinery from China for its apparel exports, Wen expressed a keen interest in investing in Bangladesh’s key sector.
A leading global provider of advanced weaving solutions, Itematech will showcase its comprehensive product portfolio tailored to weave technical fabrics at Techtextil Frankfurt from April 23- 26, 2024.
Founded in 2019, Itematech offer weaving solutions that efficiently manage the complexities of technical textile fabrics.
The exhibition enables visitors to explore Itematech's diverse weaving machine portfolio including Single Positive Rapier, Negative and Positive Rapier, Airjet, and Projectile weaving machines.
Known for its abiltyb to weave a wide range of high-tenacity yarns, the UniRap, Itematech's Single Positive Rapier Weaving Machine can also weave carbon tape, fiberglass, aramid fibers, etc. Its open platform design allows for versatility, with two versions available: UniRap | P for effective insertion of carbon tapes and tape-shaped yarns, and UniRap | G for weaving various technical yarns.
Additionally, these versions offer the flexibility to switch between weft insertion systems seamlessly.
Hercules, the Negative and Positive Rapier Weaving Machine, boasts a reinforced structure and textile flexibility ideal for producing demanding technical textiles. Its unique weft transfer system allows for easy switching between positive and negative rapiers, enhancing textile efficiency across a broad range of yarn counts and configurations.
The P7300HP V8 Projectile Weaving Machine is renowned for its reliability and versatility in weaving high-specialty materials such as agrotextile and geotextile, thanks to its efficient weft insertion system driven by a projectile.
The R9500EVO Rapier Weaving Machine offers customised versions tailored for various technical applications. The machine is equipped with the innovative iSAVER®tech to help reduce waste, contribute to cost reduction and ensure sustainable weaving practices.
Lastly, customisable with dedicated devices, the A9500EVO Airjet Weaving Machine, excels in weaving very high-density fabrics. The recently launched A9500 iLENO for Secondary Carpet Backing has quickly gained popularity for its productivity and return on investment.
Techtextil 2024 allows ndustry professionals to explore Itematech's weaving solutions and engage with experts to address their specific weaving needs.
Despite increased scrutiny on ‘greenhusing’ leading to many fashion companies are quietly retreating from their sustainability claims, Sephora plans to strengthen its ‘clean’ and ‘green’ labels for brands whose products meet specific environmental criteria or are free from certain ingredients.
To provide clarity and consistency on the issue, Sephora aims to expand its climate-conscious and clean labeling initiatives globally. Like Sephora, fast fashion giants Asos and Boohoo have also pledged to improve their sustainability claims, particularly in labeling schemes, after being scrutinised by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority.
Similarly, German e-tailer Zalando has agreed to remove ‘misleading’ sustainability icons following an investigation by EU officials.
Regulators are emphasising the importance of transparency and precision in labeling schemes to avoid misleading consumers. With regulations on sustainability marketing tightening, companies are facing an increased pressure to substantiate their claims.
The ongoing investigation into Unilever by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority underscores the growing scrutiny on greenwashing. Despite the complexity, advocates like Lindsay Dahl view clearer definitions and increased transparency more positively, indicating a growing shift towards more informed consumer engagement.
Planet Tracker’s new report highlights the growing concerns regarding water-related risks among leading global fashion brands and retailers such as Adidas, Gap, H&M, Inditex, Levi Strauss, Nike, PVH Corp, Ralph Lauren, and VF Corp.
The report emphasises potential significant indirect impact of these risks on the viability of these brands. It delineates water risks into three primary categories including physical risks to operations and supply chains due to water scarcity, regulatory risks affecting water costs and access rights, and reputational risks stemming from negative publicity regarding water usage.
The analysis underscores acute water stress in key regions supplying apparel and warns of an aggravating scenario, particularly for North American brands facing an upsurge in water stress levels. The financial stakes of ignoring water risks are substantial; a mere 1 per cent increase in the cost of goods sold (COGS) from water disruptions could lead to a 3 per cent decline in operating profits for a brand operating at a 55 percent gross margin and 15 per cent EBIT margin.
Highlighting the water-intensive nature of apparel manufacturing, the report urges industry players to o openly discuss and disclose their water usage and exposure to related risks. According to it, factors like climate change, inefficient usage, and untreated disposal exacerbating water scarcity in essential manufacturing locales are increasing the risks of supply chain disruptions in the industry. .
The report expects, apparel supply chains, predominantly situated in regions already facing moderate to high water stress, to deteriorate, impacting sales and profit margins for brands and retailers. It encourages financial institutions to factor water-related risks into their investment decisions and promote transparency and mitigation strategies among companies, including the adoption of science-based targets for water.
It is essential for companies to develop plans to manage and reduce this risk over time, says Richard Wielechowski, Senior Investment Analyst (Textiles), Planet Tracker.
Western fashion has long held a dominant position on the global stage, but is the tide turning? But are Western brands overpowering ethnic garments in different parts of the world? The answer, like a well-tailored suit, is not a simple one.
Western wears global reach
Western wear's global reach can be attributed to several factors, according to a McKinsey & Company report. Its focus on comfort and casual styles resonates with a younger, globalized generation. Additionally, aggressive marketing campaigns and widespread availability through large retail chains fuel their growth. Affordability, mass production too has boosted the growth of Western brands, particularly in developing nations. Consumers are often drawn to the perceived "modernity" associated with Western styles
However, ethnic garments are experiencing a resurgence driven by a growing sense of cultural identity. A Euromonitor International report highlights the rise of "national pride" clothing, particularly in emerging economies. Consumers connect with heritage and tradition through locally-made garments. Moreover, ethnic wear often boasts intricate designs, high-quality materials, and traditional craftsmanship, attracting consumers seeking individuality and a connection to artisanal practices.
Despite the global strength of Western brands, regions like South Asia and Southeast Asia continue to witness a thriving ethnic garment market. The Indian ethnic wear market is expected to reach $72.7 billion by 2023, driven by factors like festive occasions, weddings, and a growing preference for sustainable, hand-crafted clothing.
The brand factor
Brands play a crucial role. Western brands are increasingly incorporating ethnic elements into their designs, blurring the lines. “We're seeing a fusion trend,” says leading fashion analyst, Marie Laveau. “Global brands are using ethnic prints and motifs to cater to a wider audience.” These brands leverage celebrity endorsements, influencer marketing, and social media trends to create a sense of aspiration and community around their products.
However, strong ethnic brands are also emerging. Anita Dongre, a renowned Indian designer, emphasizes, "Luxury and heritage can co-exist. We're showcasing Indian craftsmanship to a global audience." Ethnic brands that focus on quality, innovation, and cater to a modern aesthetic are carving a niche in the international market.” Ethnic wear focus more on storytelling, highlighting the cultural significance and heritage of their garments. Ethnic designers are keeping traditions alive while adapting them to contemporary tastes. “We need to reinterpret heritage for the modern world,” says Senegalese designer, Aisha Sy. “By using traditional techniques and fabrics in contemporary silhouettes, we can make ethnic wear relevant to a global audience."
The bottomline is, the future of fashion lies in a harmonious blend. Western brands can learn from the rich heritage of ethnic clothing, while ethnic designers can leverage modern trends to reach a wider audience. Ultimately, consumers benefit from a diverse range of options, ensuring the world's fashion tapestry remains vibrant and ever-evolving.
