FW
German sustainable denim brand, Dawn Denim has launchedmaiden men's collection for F/W 2024-25 in stores across the country.
The collection was launched in collaboration with the Peek & Cloppenburg Conscious Fashion Store in Berlin for this. The brand’s partnership with this store holds prominence as the store focuses on conscious consumption, says Ines Rust, Co-founder
Along with this launch, Dawn Denim is also collaborating with other menswear partners committed to sustainable trade. Among these include are German retailers including Dear Goods, Hubert und Therese, Grünschnabel and Mode Weber in Switzerland.
The new Dawn menswear collection is sold at prices that range between €139 for a pair of jeans and €159 for a jacket.
A pioneer in the field of sustainable denim, Dawn Denim was founded in 2015. The brand is committed to fair fashion production. It manufactures jeans at its own factory in Saigon, Vietnam, under ethical working conditions and with a focus on resource conservation.
Dawn Denim is also the first German jeans brand to join the Denim Deal sustainable denim manufacturing project, announced during the Sep’24 edition of Munich Fabric Start.
Bangladesh's cotton consumption is expected to rise slightly to 7.8 million bales in Marketing Year (MY) ‘24-25, which began in Aug’24, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Of this, 7.7 million bales will be imported.
As the second-largest RMG exporter and the largest importer of raw cotton globally, Bangladesh plays a crucial role in the international cotton market. The USDA initially forecasted in Apr’24 that Bangladesh's domestic cotton consumption for MY25 would reach 8 million bales, but in Sep’24, it revised its estimate to 7.7 million bales. In its latest ‘Cotton: World Markets and Trade’ report, the USDA slightly increased its projection to 7.8 million bales, further solidifying Bangladesh's position as a major player in the global RMG industry.
In the 2023-24 period, Bangladesh's primary suppliers of raw cotton were West African countries, along with India, Brazil, and the US. Notably, Bangladesh recently lifted the requirement for fumigation of US cotton upon arrival after nearly 50 years, a move welcomed by Bangladeshi apparel exporters. This change is expected to streamline the import process, reducing time and costs.
Bangladesh has repeatedly requested the US to grant duty-free access to RMG items made from US cotton, a preferential export treatment that has been denied. Apparel exporters believe that granting duty-free access would open up more opportunities for the Bangladeshi apparel industry, given the significant potential for US cotton growers and exporters to further tap into this market. In 2023, Bangladesh was the fifth-largest export market for US cotton, with export values exceeding $339 million, according to the USDA's Foreign Agriculture Services (FAS).
Global cotton prices, as reported by the World Bank's ‘Pink Sheet’ for July-Sep’24, declined by 15 per cent to $1.79 per kilogram from $2.11 during the same period in 2023. Despite the challenges posed by rising energy costs, a gas crisis, and the availability of US dollars for opening letters of credit (LCs), yarn production is expected to increase this year, driving higher cotton imports and domestic consumption.
In MY25, Bangladesh consumed 7.6 million bales of cotton, though domestic cotton production remains minimal, covering just 0.55 per cent of the country's 8.1 million hectares of arable land and accounting for less than 2 per cent of total consumption.
Singapore-based fashion retailer Love, Bonito has laid off 6.9 per cent of its global workforce, affecting 29 corporate employees, including 14 in Singapore.
CEO Dione Song confirmed the layoffs, explaining that impacted staff will receive a compensation package, including payouts based on service length, encashment of pro-rated annual leave, and extended medical insurance. The company is also collaborating with local agencies to offer career transition support.
Love, Bonito, which began as a blogshop, has grown into a prominent fashion brand with 26 stores across Asia, including in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. In 2021, the retailer raised US$50 million (RM237 million) to fuel its expansion into international markets, including the US.
Texcare International 2024, taking place from November 6-9, will focus on critical issues in the textile care industry, including automation, energy conservation, circular models, and textile hygiene. The event, supported by industry partners like DTV, VDMA, EFIT, ETSA, and Hohenstein Laboratories, promises to provide forward-thinking solutions through its robust programme.
The Texcare Forum, which runs throughout the fair, offers free expert-led lectures on themes such as automation, sustainability, and textile hygiene. Panels by VDMA and EFIT will address automation, including robotic advancements and digital product passports, while Hohenstein will focus on hygiene in healthcare textiles. The ‘Energy and Resources’ panel, hosted by VDMA, will explore carbon dioxide neutrality and energy management innovations. ETSA’s contribution will spotlight textile recycling, logistical challenges, and circular economy advancements.
An added highlight is the exhibitor-led presentations, where industry leaders like Ecolab and Electrolux will showcase innovative products. Texcare Forum’s ‘International Market Updates’ will feature expert insights into markets like North America and Scandinavia, while Texcare France will explore developments in the €3 billion French textile market.
New additions to Texcare 2024 include guided tours of top innovations and the ‘Young Competence’ initiative aimed at addressing the skilled labor shortage by engaging vocational students. Industry association events, such as CINET’s PTC World Congress and Global Best Practices Awards, further enhance Texcare’s international relevance.
Daily networking events, including a happy hour, will offer attendees opportunities to forge new connections and exchange ideas, rounding out the four-day trade fair.
Arthur Hoeld, adidas AG’s Executive Board member responsible for Global Sales, will step down earlier than planned. Initially set to serve until March 31, 2026, his mandate will now end on October 31, 2024. Hoeld’s departure was mutually agreed upon with the Supervisory Board, concluding his 26-year career with the company.
Effective November 1, 2024, Mathieu Sidokpohou, currently Managing Director for Europe, will take over as Executive Board member for Global Sales. A French national, Sidokpohou joined adidas in 2020, holding leadership roles as General Manager of Adidas France and later overseeing the Cluster South Europe before managing the entire European market.
Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden praised Sidokpohou’s role in driving 20 per cent growth in Europe and expressed optimism about continuing business growth under his leadership. Gulden also acknowledged Hoeld’s extensive contributions to the brand during his long tenure.
Thomas Rabe, Chairman of Adidas AG’s Supervisory Board, also expressed gratitude to Hoeld for his leadership and praised Sidokpohou’s strong omnichannel experience, highlighting his valuable retail background.
As of November 1, 2024, Adidas AG’s Executive Board will comprise Bjorn Gulden (CEO and Global Brands), Harm Ohlmeyer (CFO), Michelle Robertson (Global Human Resources), and Mathieu Sidokpohou (Global Sales).
Karl Mayer Warp Preparation has secured a new contract following a successful showcase at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024, highlighting its focus on sustainability and efficiency. Among the top attractions were its latest-generation beam warping machine, capable of speeds up to 1,200 m/min, the new Cascade system, and the innovative Smart Size Box, which drew interest from visitors, including Pinhua Garments Co.
Pinhua Garments, based in Shijiazhuang, China, specializes in recycled staple fibres and has invested in Karl Mayer's new Prosize with VSB Size Box, marking the solution’s debut in the Chinese market. Already using Karl Mayer's earlier sizing machines, Pinhua Garments was impressed by the Smart Size Box's predictive maintenance capabilities, which reduce downtime and maintenance costs.
The VSB Size Box, with its advanced sizing technology, reduces sizing additive usage by up to 10 per cent, saving on costs and energy, and is particularly beneficial for processing cotton. The investment reflects Pinhua Garments' confidence in Karl Mayer’s continuous innovation.
Gabriel Chiu, Regional Sales Manager, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, emphasizing the company's long-standing relationship with Pinhua Garments.
Levi’s Strauss has signed the International Accord, a legally binding agreement for garment worker safety, following years of pressure from unions and advocacy groups like the Clean Clothes Campaign. The decision comes after a deadly explosion at Levi’s supplier factory, Combined Fabrics, in Pakistan, which killed one worker and injured four others.
The Accord was established after the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, ensuring safety inspections and hazard remediation in factories. Levi’s participation marks a significant step in protecting workers in Pakistan, a country with a notoriously unsafe garment sector. The International Accord expanded to Pakistan in 2023, with further country programmes expected.
Levi’s had long resisted joining the Accord, opting instead for the Nirapon initiative in Bangladesh, which lacked binding commitments and strong union involvement. However, persistent campaigning by unions, including Workers United and Clean Clothes Campaign, highlighted the brand’s inadequate safety monitoring. A petition signed by nearly 70,000 people and years of protests finally pushed Levi’s to sign the Accord.
Zehra Khan of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation in Pakistan expressed relief that Levi’s took responsibility but mourned the lives lost while the company delayed action. The Clean Clothes Campaign now urges Levi’s to extend the Accord to Bangladesh and calls on other major brands like Nike and Amazon to join the safety agreement for Pakistani workers.
The International Accord includes provisions for inspections, remediation, worker training, and a complaint mechanism, ensuring that Levi’s supplier factories in Pakistan will now meet safety standards, while safeguarding workers' rights to voice concerns without fear of retaliation.
Despite global headwinds and continued inflationary pressure, India’s garment exports rose by 8.5 per cent to $7.5 billion during the Apr-Sep’24 quarter, data from the Commerce Ministry of India indicates.
As per data from the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), India registered a 17.3 perincrease in its RMG exports to $11.1 billion during the quarter. In Sep’24 alone, India’s RMG exports grew by 17.3 per cent to $1.11 billion
Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman, APEC opines, India benefits from its low dependence on imports, existence of the entire ecosystem from fiber to fashion, and abundant and young labor force which offers it an unlimited scope for growth
This year, garment exporters from India will not only participate in many big international fairs but also host the Bharat Tex 2025 expo, Sekhri adds.
The council will also conduct international roadshows in Spain and New York this month, to showcase the best of trade, technology and tradition, he notes.
Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General, AEPC avers,despite geo-political challenges and supply chain disruptions, India has been logging impressive double-digit growth in RMG exports since the past few months.It mainly exports its garments to the US, UK, Germany, Spain, and Netherlands, he adds.
Driven by a double-digit growth in the Americas and Asia, Italian luxury group Brunello Cucinelli recorded a 12.7 per cent rise in revenues at constant exchange rates during Q3, FY25 spanning Jan-Sep’24.
Revenue of the Italian luxury group increases as global demand for luxury goods slows as the company not only focuses on higher-end consumers but also limits its exposure to China compared to its rivals.
In Q3, FY25, the group’s revenues rose by 9.2 per cent to €300 million ($325 million), a little above the €298 million forecast by Equita Analysts.
The company’s sales in the Chinese market also grew during the quarter ending Sep’24. Best known for its cashmere clothing, the luxury brand projects,its sales will rise by around 10 per cent during 2025 and the following year.
Earlier this week French luxury giant LVMH registered a 3 per cent decline in Q3, FY25 sales as demand in China and Japan weakened.
The Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) has banned five Indian cotton companies for two years after uncovering fraudulent practices in their certification process. GOTS, a German-based organisation responsible for certifying the organic quality of textiles, discovered that these firms used fictitious shipping companies to falsely demonstrate the transit of goods.
Among the banned companies, two are based in Odisha, while the other three operate from Gujarat. Investigations revealed that the Odisha-based companies submitted forged National Organic Program (NOP) transaction certificates with QR codes leading to fake websites, further confirming the fraud.
GOTS highlighted that no actual cotton purchases were made, and no material transfers occurred. It was also revealed that the fraudulent transactions violated GOTS rules, with cotton allegedly transported over 800 kilometres, far exceeding the 500kilometre limit set for organic cotton.
The certification ban prevents these companies from claiming GOTS organic certification for two years. GOTS emphasized that it conducted a thorough investigation before imposing the penalties. The organisation has taken similar actions previously, banning four other Indian companies in September for fraudulent organic cotton activities.
