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Clariant’s sales for the first quarter were Rs 264 crores as against Rs 258 crores for the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Ebitda for the quarter was Rs 24.81 crores as compared to Rs 7.20 crores in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Clariant Chemicals is India’s leading specialty chemicals producer. Clariant has invested in a state-of-the-art regional innovation center in Mumbai, with an aim to co-create tailor-made solutions with customers for the industry.
Profit before tax grew to Rs 15.30 crores for the quarter ended June 2018 as compared to loss before tax of Rs 2.30 crores for the quarter ended June 2017. Effective cost management and resource optimization, with a better product portfolio, enabled the company to improve profitability.
Clariant, based in Switzerland, employs 18,135 people. The company reports in four business areas: care chemicals, catalysis, natural resources, and plastics and coatings. Clariant’s corporate strategy is based on five pillars: focus on innovation through R&D, add value with sustainability, reposition portfolio, intensify growth, and increase profitability. It is with several external sustainability initiatives such as the Global Product Strategy and the United Nations Global Compact. Clariant is one of the top European chemical companies being part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.
Messe Frankfurt is merging its two sustainability-focused fashion fairs, Ethical Fashion Show Berlin and Greenshow, under the new name of Neonyt. The shows, alongwith the FashionSustain conference, the #Fashiontech event organised by Premium Group and other Berlin Fashion Week events and showcases, will form a new global hub for future-oriented fashion and sustainable innovations. The name Neonyt comes from the ancient Greek word ‘neo’, meaning ‘revolutionary’ and the Swedish word ‘nytt’, meaning ‘new’, and refers to the technological and sustainable forces driving the fashion and textile industry today.
The hub will focus on the themes of business, inspiration, knowledge and community. Additionally, it will focus on curating its shows based on social and environmental factors. The ‘style worlds’ of Moderncasual, Craft, Urbanvibe and Greenshowroom will be continued and complemented with further product areas such as Beauty.
Messe Frankfurt has been involved with the Ethical Fashion Show brand since 2010, when its Paris-based business acquired the trade show following its launch in 2004. In 2012, the company founded the Ethical Fashion Show in Berlin, and bought the Greenshowroom in 2011.
"UK Sportswear Market 2017-2022 report predicts 8.7 per cent growth this year, on top of estimated UK sportswear sales of £2.5bn in 2017. And the sector is changing swiftly to cater to ever-evolving consumer demands as the market matures. Global Data’s report reveals as a sector focussed on lifestyle, the latest developments in the market chime with growing wellness trend and the increasingly mindful consumer decisions of younger shoppers. As with fashion in general, activewear shoppers and brands are turning their attention to sustainable design in a new way."
UK Sportswear Market 2017-2022 report predicts 8.7 per cent growth this year, on top of estimated UK sportswear sales of £2.5bn in 2017. And the sector is changing swiftly to cater to ever-evolving consumer demands as the market matures. Global Data’s report reveals as a sector focussed on lifestyle, the latest developments in the market chime with growing wellness trend and the increasingly mindful consumer decisions of younger shoppers. As with fashion in general, activewear shoppers and brands are turning their attention to sustainable design in a new way.
Nick Paulson-Ellis, Founder, The Sports Edit, points out it’s sustainability in an innovative way with no compromise for consumer. There used to be an eco-friendly, sustainability angle within yoga wear that compromised performance. Now, it is about having no compromise on fashion, performance or function – and still being sustainable. Ellis says, recycled, sustainable materials both in clothing and activewear accessories (such as yoga mats or water bottles) as a focus, noting in particular legging brand Teeki’s recycled plastic leggings and Adidas’ Parley for the Oceans range, which uses recycled ocean plastics across clothing and footwear designs.
For brands and retailers looking to set themselves apart in the increasingly competitive sector, sustainable and
ethical credentials can provide a much-needed point of differentiation. For Olivia Mcguire, head of design, London-based Jilla Active, sustainability is really important to customers. There’s so much competition in the sector, and it’s difficult to stand out. For Jilla Active, there is a big focus on sustainable fabrics and ethical practices. The consumer definitely wants to know more about what they are wearing.
Seamless activewear
The rise of seam-free activewear has been a recent shift as it evolves to a more multifunctional approach. Seamless is super comfortable as the fabric is really soft. The stretch factor is important too. Seconded Camille Roegiers de Silva, co-founder, Fashercise that there have always been certain brands that specialise in seamless, but now many other brands are introducing it into the mix. It is super-flattering, it offers compression. It’s a very cool look and is probably one of the biggest trends.
Streetwear is increasingly seeping into mainstream fashion with the merging of fashion and function, as bold logos and colours appear across collections. For activewear brand Ivy Park, streetwear meets sportswear with a performance element. Product that looks great out and about, but still functions really well. Ivy Park is really keen to push the performance elements of the range. It is not just about the casual collection any more.
Plus-size push
Many retailers have been lately witnessing a surge towards plus size and that’s precisely the reason they are expanding their size range, moving beyond XS to L. Roegiers de Silva says, in the past brands that offered plus-size were not necessarily the most fashionable. Fashercise launched a dedicated ‘Curve’ section on its website in January, offering brands such as Day Won, Rainbeau and Ivy Park in a wide range of sizes.
Emily Gordon-Smith, Head of fashion, Stylus says this change is ‘long overdue’. Inclusive sizing is going to be bigger and bigger in times to come. A couple of standout players who are doing extended sizing in active really well are Nike and Asos. For autumn 18, Asos expects to see inclusive skiwear, maternity yoga pieces, as well as a full range of low-, medium- and high-impact (exercise) bras that cover Asos Curve and fuller bust. With the growing expanse, smaller labels are fast emerging in this segment to cater to niche demands and big-name brands shift to reflect and accommodate evolving consumers’ lifestyles, both in terms of practicality and ideals. Increasing sustainability and diversity are the highlights of the collection and athleisure is leading the way as brands aim to keep their competitive edge for demanding consumers.
Vietnam plans to build product chains to increase the value of the goods and cut out middle men to improve competitiveness. The country has witnessed strong exports in both scale and production. The total export turnover of the country reached $214 billion in 2017, a 21.2 per cent year-on-year increase. Exports this year are also expected to increase as the government has implemented commitments for international integration, reducing import-export taxes.
Government efforts have provided a favorable business environment and aided export activities. Total import-export turnover in the first seven months of this year rose by 12.7 per cent from the same period last year to reach $264.3 billion. Of which, export turnover was $133.6 billion.
Exports continued to maintain high growth of 15.3 per cent in the period, meeting 56.5 per cent of the year’s targets. In addition, the country’s exports depended on foreign directed investment (FDI) enterprises, which accounted for 70 per cent of total turnover.
However, the sector has mainly performed cutting and sewing in the global garment and textile supply chain. Vietnamese garment and textile firms have participated in simple outsourcing and lack the ability to provide packaging, resulting in low added value. The garment and textile industry has also relied on imported materials. The local companies had to import up to 86 per cent of cloth for production and exports.
Vietnam’s export turnover has increased 21.2 per cent year-on-year. Commitments for international integration have been implemented, helping reduce import-export taxes. Favorable business environment had aided export activities. Total import-export turnover in the first seven months of this year rose 12.7 per cent from the same period last year. Exports continued to maintain a high growth of 15.3 per cent in the period, meeting 56.5 per cent of the year’s targets.
The country’s garment export turnover makes up four per cent of the world’s total turnover. However, the sector has mainly performed cutting and sewing in the global garment and textile supply chain. Vietnamese garment and textile firms have participated in simple outsourcing and lack the ability to provide packaging, resulting in low added value.
The garment and textile industry has also relied on imported materials. It has to import up to 86 per cent of cloth for production and exports. Vietnam’s exports depended on foreign directed investment enterprises, which account for 70 per cent of total turnover. This is because Vietnam does not have an export value chain. Most Vietnamese firms are small-scale and can’t afford to invest in material areas and modern processing and packaging equipment.
For the first half of 2018, Turkey’s apparel and clothing exports increased 7.7 per cent compared to the same period of 2017. From January to June 2018, the share of clothing and apparel exports in Turkey’s total exports was 10.8 per cent. The figure was 11.1 per cent in the same period of 2015; 12.3 per cent in the January-June period of 2016, and 10.7 per cent in the January-June period of 2017.
In ready-to-wear garment exports Germany led followed by Spain and the UK. Exports to Germany increased 7.2 per cent while to Spain it increased 26.8 per cent. Exports to the UK increased 1.9 per cent. The Netherlands came in fourth place and France ranked fifth.
The most exported product group in the first six months of 2018 was knitted garments. Exports of knit garments increased by 6.3 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year. The second largest group – woven apparel goods and accessories – increased 9.7 per cent. Exports of other readymade goods, including home textile products, rose 7.6 per cent.
In the first six months of 2018, unit prices for apparel and apparel sector exports increased 3.2 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.
Lenzing’s revenue in the first half of fiscal 2018 declined 6.4 per cent compared to the first half of the previous year to €1,075.4 million. The decrease was due to less favourable currency exchange rates. EBITDA decreased by 28.1 per cent to €194.8 million, especially due to price increases for key raw materials and higher energy prices. The EBITDA margin fell from 23.6 per cent in the first half of 2017 to 18.1 per cent in the first half of 2018. EBIT declined by 37 per cent to €128.7 million, leading to a lower EBIT margin of 12 per cent (H1 2017: 17.8 per cent).
Net profit for the reported period dropped 39.3 per cent from €150.3 million in the previous year to a total of €91.3 million. Earnings per share equaled €3.44 (H1 2017: €5.55). The Lenzing Group t is very well positioned in the market environment with its corporate strategy score TEN and will continue its consistent focus on growth with specialty fibres.
Indonesia and the United States will strengthen trade relations. They have agreed to develop a road map to realize increased trade. The two countries will further enhance bilateral relations by building strategic partnerships amid the current dynamics of global trade. The arrangement will involve the private sector of the two countries.
In particular textile and textile products businesses have agreed to increase trade. The proposed target is 50 billion dollars. The total value of Indonesia's trade with the US reached $25.9 billion in 2017. Of this, Indonesia’s exports was $17.79 billion and imports amounted to $8.12 billion. Thus Indonesia’s trade balance against the US surplus was $9.67 billion. Indonesia is committed to making textile and garment industry a top export priority.
One of the points of cooperation in the field of textile and textile products is the opening of market access for both countries. The US will export cotton to Indonesia as raw material for textile products. And Indonesia will increase exports of textile products to the US. The assumption is that the US can export more cotton to Indonesia if the latter exports more garments and textile products to the US.
Vietnam is emerging as a denim fabric manufacturing center. Indian fabric investors are showing interest as they search for potential suppliers of denim fabric. Denim goods account for 20 per cent of the textile sector’s export revenue in Vietnam. Although the sector is facing bottlenecks in its supply chain, denim fabric production is a strong point of local producers with a localisation ratio of about 60 per cent, spurred by heavy investments in production lines and technologies.
The impressive growth of Vietnamese garments and textiles in recent years has persuaded the choosiest customers worldwide, including Indian firms. The Vietnamese garment and textile sector with its enhanced production capacities is a magnet for foreign investors. Indian companies are looking to collaborate with Vietnamese partners in producing denim fabric. Many are planning to move their plants from China as more benefits are expected when having production facilities in Vietnam, including larger order volumes and skillful workers.
Currently, India has invested $814 million in 176 projects in Vietnam, ranking 28 out of 126 countries and territories having investment in the country. Last year, India’s garment and textile exports to Vietnam increased 44 per cent year on year.
Bangladesh will raise cash incentives for readymade garment exporters from three to four per cent for markets other than the US, Canada, and the European Union. New export markets, also called non-traditional markets, contributed 15.26 per cent to Bangladesh’s total apparel exports in the last fiscal year. The European Union contributed 64.12 per cent, the US 17.48 per cent, and Canada 3.15 per cent.
Non-traditional export markets for Bangladesh’s garment sector include: China, Russia, Japan, India, South Africa, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, South Korea, Malaysia, and New Zealand. And among these Japan, China, and India are potential markets for Bangladesh. In financial year 2017-18, Bangladesh’s earnings from exporting apparel products to non-traditional markets rose 9.92 per cent.
As a new market, Japan is showing a lot of potential for Bangladeshi apparel goods. In the last fiscal, garment exports to Japan from Bangladesh rose 13.73 per cent compared to the previous year’s earnings. In fiscal ’18 Bangladesh’s readymade garment exports to India rose 115 per cent compared to the previous year.
The search for new markets has been prompted by the realization that increasing production by itself cannot increase export earnings and that markets would have to be diversified.
