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In a defining moment for the regional apparel landscape, Youngone Corporation has crossed the $1 billion export milestone from Bangladesh, becoming the first foreign industrial entity to achieve this feat. This breakthrough marks a strategic pivot from high-volume basic garments toward high-margin technical textiles and Man-Made Fiber (MMF) products. While traditional exports are facing margin pressures, Youngone’s focus on complex outerwear and functional gear - fetching an average unit price of $23, significantly higher than the industry average - has fortified its market position. The group's vertical integration strategy, particularly its massive investment in polyester fabric manufacturing at the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ), provides a blueprint for the ‘backward linkage’ model required for Bangladesh’s post-LDC graduation.
Institutionalizing growth through skill and solar innovation
The corporation’s roadmap extends beyond manufacturing to structural sector upgrading. Kihak Sung, Chairman recently announced a plan to establish a dedicated textile and fashion college in Chattogram, aimed at bridging the technical skill gap as the industry transitions to automation. Concurrently, the group is finalizing a 40 MW rooftop solar project, the largest of its kind globally, to decarbonize its industrial footprint. These initiatives address the dual challenges of rising energy costs and Western ‘masstige’ brands' stringent ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mandates. By aligning large-scale industrial infrastructure with human capital development, Youngone is transforming Bangladesh from a low-cost assembly point into a sophisticated, world-class textile hub capable of sustaining billion-dollar annual growth.
Founded in 1974 by Kihak Sung, Youngone is a premier global manufacturer of outdoor apparel and footwear. Employing 70,000 workers in Bangladesh, it operates the flagship Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ). With annual global revenues of $2.5 billion, the group is aggressively expanding into synthetic fibers and high-tech sportswear to lead the world’s performance-driven fashion markets.
A century after outfitting the first American ascent of Mt Everest, the retail arm of Eddie Bauer LLC has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the District of New Jersey as of February 9, 2026. Involving over $1 billion in debt, the filing marks a critical bifurcation of the brand: while the 180+ physical stores in the US and Canada begin liquidation sales, the Eddie Bauer intellectual property and digital operations remain shielded under Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and its licensee, Outdoor 5 LLC.
Strategic wind-down amid margin compression
The bankruptcy follows a challenging fiscal period where the ‘gorpcore’ fashion trend failed to offset rising operational overheads. According to Marc Rosen, CEO, Catalyst Brands (the joint venture managing the retail footprint), high inflation and ‘ongoing tariff uncertainty’ exacerbated a structural decline in mall-based traffic. While the global outdoor clothing market is projected to reach $20.95 billion by year-end, legacy retailers like Eddie Bauer have struggled to match the technical prestige of rivals like Arc’teryx, which saw double-digit growth in 2025.
Transitioning to a digital-first ‘Harvest’ model
The restructuring aims for a ‘going-concern’ sale by March 12, 2026, though analysts suggest a full transition to an e-commerce and wholesale-only model is the most probable outcome. By separating the high-cost physical stores from the profitable IP, ABG continues its ‘capital-light’ strategy. This shift mirrors a broader 2026 retail trend where established brands sacrifice their storefront legacy to preserve brand equity in the digital and multi-brand wholesale space.
Founded in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer pioneered the quilted down jacket. Today, Authentic Brands Group owns the IP, while Catalyst Brands (a JCPenney/SPARC JV) operates the retail stores. It focuses on outdoor lifestyle apparel across North American and German markets.
Following the 2026 Chapter 11 filing, the brand is transitioning to a digital-first wholesale model. By offloading roughly 180 underperforming physical locations, the brand aims to return to profitability by leveraging high-margin licensing fees and e-commerce through partner Outdoor 5 LLC.
The high-level official visit of the Central Silk Board (CSB) to Vietnam marks a definitive shift in the Indo-Pacific textile trade, moving beyond simple raw material exports toward deep structural integration. Led by Dr Naresh Babu N, Joint Secretary (Tech), the five-day delegation focused on harmonizing India’s upstream strengths in natural fibers with Vietnam’s high-velocity manufacturing capabilities. By engaging with the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) and local craft villages like Van Phuc, the mission established a roadmap for joint R&D and technology transfer. This collaboration is strategically timed to address global supply chain realignments, where Indian silk entrepreneurs are increasingly viewed as essential partners for Vietnam’s $46 billion garment export economy.
Strengthening regional resilience against global volatility
The partnership aims to mitigate the risks posed by emerging global trade policies, including shifting reciprocal tariffs in the US market. While India recently secured a 0 per cent duty access for silk under a landmark agreement with Washington, Vietnam remains a critical ally in building a resilient regional supply chain that reduces dependence on single-source inputs. Strategic discussions centered on establishing bilateral innovation funds to develop green technologies and recycled materials. Indian expertise in shuttleless loom technology, which remains significantly more cost-effective than European alternatives, offers Vietnamese manufacturers a pathway to enhance production efficiency while maintaining competitive pricing for international luxury and ‘masstige’ brands.
Sustainable growth and sericulture-tourism synergy
A pivotal takeaway from the visit involves the cross-pollination of the sericulture-tourism model, where traditional weaving clusters are transformed into integrated cultural hubs. India is looking to replicate the successful Vietnamese model that links embroidery, fashion design, and market access with tourism. This engagement balances tradition with modern industrial excellence, creating a multi-category ecosystem that supports both rural artisans and large-scale exporters, noted a delegation representative. With India's textile industry valued at $170 billion, these institutional linkages are expected to culminate in significant participation at Bharat Tex 2026, solidifying the two nations as the primary architects of the future Asian apparel corridor.
Established in 1948, the CSB is a statutory body under India's Ministry of Textiles tasked with the holistic development of the silk industry. It oversees research, technology transfer, and quality certification for silk categories including Mulberry, Tasar, Eri, and Muga. With India as the world's second-largest silk producer, CSB’s current growth strategy focuses on high-tech reeling and international R&D collaborations to enhance global competitiveness and achieve sustainable production targets by 2030.
The conclusion of the ninth Istanbul Fashion Connection (IFCO) on February 7, 2026, marked a definitive shift in Türkiye’s textile strategy from volume-based competition to a design-led, high-tech export model. While total apparel exports for 2025 faced a 7.4 per cent decline due to weak EU demand and rising energy costs, IFCO February 2026 successfully engaged 29,746 professional visitors from 134 countries. This attendance underscores a renewed sourcing interest from the Middle East (39.4 per cent of visitors) and North Africa, providing a vital counterweight to the stagnant 0.7 per cent contraction in EU-destined textile shipments.
Navigating the ‘Twin Transformation’ and margin pressures
Turkish manufacturers are currently implementing an EU-backed €7 million green transformation project to mitigate the impact of the European Green Deal. With production capacity in the apparel sector stabilizing at 74.2 per cent, firms are deploying AI-driven defect detection and digital printing to offset labor-intensive overheads. We are no longer just a link in the supply chain; we are a strategic partner chain, stated Mustafa Gültepe, President, TİM. This shift is evident in the growth of technical textiles, which grew 4.5 per cent last year, and the introduction of the E2B (Experts to Business) program to accelerate e-export scaling.
Securing market share through craftsmanship and tech
The debut of Linexpo within IFCO highlights Türkiye's aggressive move into the intimate apparel and seamless technology segments, where short lead times offer a 2 per cent tariff-equivalent advantage over Asian rivals. By showcasing AI-generated environments at The Core Istanbul, designers demonstrated that Türkiye’s 10-year low in cotton supply is being countered by a 6.5 per cent rise in the use of high-value synthetic fibers and organic blends. This ‘farm-to-foreign’ integration, supported by the PM MITRA-style mega-park logic of the Istanbul Expo Center, remains the primary vehicle for achieving the industry’s long-term $40 billion export target.
İHKİB represents Türkiye’s $26 billion apparel and textile sector, serving as the EU’s third-largest supplier. With a focus on ‘twin transformation’ (digital and green), the association manages global hubs like IFCO to transition 6,500+ member companies toward value-added, sustainable manufacturing and branded exports.
In a significant shift toward industrial self-reliance, a high-level technical committee has reached a consensus to increase cash incentives for garments manufactured with locally produced yarn.
The proposal aims to raise the incentive from the existing 1.5 per cent to as high as 5 per cent, a move designed to decouple the $45 billion Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector from its heavy reliance on imported raw materials. This strategic recalibration, discussed during a recent inter-ministerial evaluation, is viewed as a critical lifeline for domestic spinning mills, which have seen nearly 50 textile units shut down and others operating at just 50 per cent capacity due to high energy costs and competitive import pressures.
Boosting compliance and regional competitiveness
The incentive hike is strategically timed as Bangladesh prepares for its November 2026 graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. Industry leaders, including representatives from the BGMEA and BTMA, argue, a 5 per cent support level is essential to make domestic yarn commercially viable against cheaper imports. Raising the incentive would enable us to revive over 350 idle apparel units, transforming them back into tax-contributing entities, noted Shehabuddoza Chowdhury, Vice-President, BGMEA. Beyond fiscal relief, the move strengthens ‘backward linkage’ transparency- a growing requirement for Western ‘masstige’ brands demanding verified, sustainable supply chains.
Institutional deadlines and fiscal sustainability
While the government has initially consented to the increase, the Ministry of Finance remains cautious regarding the fiscal impact. The 10-member technical committee is tasked with submitting a final impact report by February 16, 2026, analyzing the budgetary cost versus the projected gains in employment and export revenue. This policy intervention serves as a preemptive measure to safeguard market share in the EU and US, where Bangladesh faces evolving tariff regimes. By incentivizing local sourcing, the administration hopes to transition from a low-wage assembly model to a vertically integrated, high-value textile ecosystem capable of sustaining long-term global dominance.
The textile and apparel industry accounts for over 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s exports and 13 per cent of its GDP. Comprising thousands of factories, the sector is shifting from basic cotton knits to high-value technical textiles and MMF. With a target of $100 billion in exports by 2030, the industry is prioritizing green energy and local value addition.
Nike is executing a decisive return to its technical roots, reintroducing All Conditions Gear (ACG) as a standalone outdoor performance brand on February 3, 2026. A part of Elliott Hill, CEO’s ‘Sports Offense; strategy, this maneuver seeks to capture a larger share of the global outdoor clothing market, which is projected to grow to $20.95 billion by the end of 2026. Central to this offensive is the inauguration of the ‘ACG Base Camp’ in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun, a dedicated retail destination serving as a physical manifestation of the brand’s rugged identity.
Consolidating performance and elite testing
In a significant structural shift, Nike has folded its specialized Nike Trail category entirely into the ACG umbrella. This integration leverages Nike’s legacy in road-running technology -specifically the ZoomX foam and carbon-plate architecture found in the new ACG Ultrafly - to deliver high-speed performance for the trail. To validate this technical gear, the brand has expanded its All Conditions Racing Department, a 22-athlete elite squad tasked with prototype testing. This is a recommitment to the wild, stated Scott LeClair, Vice President and General Manager, ACG, emphasizing a focus on three core pillars: hiking, trail running, and exploration.
Strategic market positioning and partnerships
The relaunch coincides with a 4.5 per cent rise in technical textile demand as consumers move from urban ‘gorpcore’ fashion toward authentic outdoor participation. Nike is securing this enthusiast base through title sponsorships of premier independent races, including the Broken Arrow Skyrace and the Chongli 168 Ultra Trail. While Nike's overall direct-to-consumer revenues faced a 9 per cent decline in Q2, FY26, the high-performance running segment grew over 20 per cent, providing a clear financial mandate for the ACG pivot. By aligning with events like the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Nike aims to restore its identity as the premier innovator for athletes navigating the world's most demanding environments. Launched in 1989, ACG is Nike’s specialized division for all-weather, all-terrain apparel and footwear. It targets high-performance trail runners and hikers across key markets in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Growth and financial outlook
Under the ‘Win Now’ action plan, Nike is diversifying its portfolio to reach a $40 billion long-term export and retail target. ACG serves as the primary vehicle for high-margin, technical apparel growth, aiming to reclaim market share from specialty outdoor rivals.
The global textile and apparel ecosystem is entering a decade marked by unprecedented capacity expansion and evolving sustainability imperatives. Industrial projections indicate that polyester fiber, a core material in modern fashion will see global production climb from 75.13 million tons in 2025 to 103.67 million tons by 2035. Valued at $135.10 billion in 2025, the market is on course to more than double, reaching $274.58 billion within a decade. For multinational retailers and apparel brands, this means both a logistical lifeline and a challenge, as companies must navigate the twin pressures of low-cost sourcing and intensifying circularity mandates.
Polyester reigns supreme in global apparel volumes
Polyester continues to dominate the retail rack, forming the backbone of the modern fashion industry. Accounting for 52 per cent of global textile and apparel volumes, the fiber’s versatility and cost-efficiency have cemented its role across mass-market and premium segments alike.
Within this, Polyester Filament Yarn (PFY) is particularly critical, comprising 60 per cent of total polyester volume in 2025. PFY underpins the explosive growth of athleisure and performance apparel, where high-tenacity, moisture-wicking, and shape-retaining properties are increasingly demanded by consumers. Retailers are responding to these preferences by positioning PFY-based garments as investment pieces, products that justify higher price points through durability and functional performance, aligning with the broader shift toward quality over quantity in global consumption patterns.
The rPET bottleneck and the emergence of green premiums
While virgin polyester continues to dominate 78 per cent of global supply in 2025 remains fossil-based recycled polyester (rPET) is emerging as the fastest-growing segment in the fiber market. Over 150 global brands have pledged to integrate 40-100 per cent rPET into their supply chains by 2030, creating a surge in demand that outpaces the current supply of high-quality bottle-to-fiber recyclates.
This scarcity has led to new commercial dynamics. Brands are increasingly entering into long-term offtake agreements with producers to secure rPET volumes, and retail price structures are beginning to reflect the green premium associated with sustainably sourced fibers. The pressure is particularly acute in high-performance applications, where recycled fibers must meet stringent technical standards without compromising durability or aesthetic qualities.
Asia Pacific dominates as western markets specialize
Geography remains a defining factor in global polyester production. The Asia Pacific region continues to anchor supply chains with a 72 per cent volume share in 2025, a figure expected to rise above 75 per cent by 2035. China and India remain the primary hubs, with India now ranking as the third-largest exporter of polyester yarn globally. Indian exports are growing at a CAGR of 7.6 per cent, catering to markets as diverse as Brazil, Turkey, and Southeast Asia.
In contrast, North America is carving out a niche in high-value, technical applications, including automotive and medical textiles. Advanced grades like PCDT polyester are gaining traction due to their high-heat resistance and long-term durability, enabling brands to differentiate on functionality rather than volume.
Table: Global polyester market outlook 2026-35
|
Metric |
2025 (base year) |
2035 (forecast) |
CAGR (%) |
|
Market Value |
$135.10 bn |
$274.58 bn |
7.35% |
|
Market Volume |
75.13 mn tons |
103.67 mn tons |
3.27% |
|
rPET Volume Share |
12.50% |
Projected >25% |
High |
|
Top Region (APAC) |
72% Share |
75%+ Share |
4.50% |
The table reflects, the market is expected to more than double in revenue terms, with demand for both mass-market apparel and premium performance fabrics on the rise. Production growth reflects capacity expansions in Asia Pacific and rising adoption of specialty fibers. Recycled polyester adoption is increasing due to brand sustainability commitments, but supply remains constrained.
Reliance Industries benchmarking integration and circular strategy
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) remains the global bellwether for polyester production. Operating fully integrated petrochemical hubs in India, RIL controls the value chain from paraxylene feedstock to branded fibers such as Recron. The company is aggressively scaling recycled polyester capacity, aligning with the global pivot toward circularity, and cementing India’s position as a top-three polyester exporter.
Financially, RIL’s strategy is tied to the projected $350 billion Indian textile market by 2030. Beyond apparel, the company is targeting specialty segments such as high-tenacity fibers for automotive, industrial, and technical textiles, leveraging its production scale and research capabilities to capture both mass-market and high-performance opportunities.
Implications for global retailers
The growing polyester market offers retailers both opportunity and challenge. On one hand, stable production hubs in Asia and integrated supply chains provide reliable access to volume and cost efficiency. On the other, the rapid shift toward recycled materials and high-performance fibers demands long-term planning, investment in supplier partnerships, and an agile response to pricing dynamics.
Brands that successfully navigate this duality balancing scale with sustainability stand to benefit from a decade of transformative growth in both revenue and consumer loyalty. For global fashion retailers, polyester is no longer just a commodity input; it is a strategic lever for competitive advantage.
Japan’s digital textile printing market is surpassing a critical $50 million valuation in 2026, marking a transition from experimental prototyping to a dominant production standard. As the global fashion industry grapples with a volume slowdown, Japanese luxury labels and street-fashion houses are leveraging inkjet precision to capture high-margin demand. By 2035, the market is forecasted to double to $99.6 million, expanding at a steady 7.2 per cent CAGR. This growth is primarily concentrated in the premium apparel segment, which currently commands a 38 per cent market share and relies on the exclusivity afforded by small-batch, digital runs.
Technological resilience against water scarcity
Environmental regulation is the most potent catalyst for this shift. With Japan aiming to cut apparel waste by 25 per cent by FY2030, traditional wet processing is under scrutiny. Digital printing reduces water consumption by up to 95 per cent, a factor that has led to the rapid adoption of Direct-to-Garment (DTG) technology, which is expected to hold nearly 48 per cent of the market by 2035. Industry leaders like Kyocera have recently introduced pigment-based systems that eliminate pre-treatment entirely, saving millions of cubic meters of water. ‘Digital is no longer just for designers; it is a necessity for corporate compliance,’ states one Tokyo-based textile analyst.
High-value ‘Glocal’ customization and MMF shift
While mass-market screen printing remains cost-effective for high volumes, Japan’s ‘precision manufacturing’ mindset is favoring Pigment Ink, projected to reach a 40.6 per cent share. This ink’s compatibility with both natural and recycled polyester (MMF) blends allows brands to navigate the rising demand for technical, eco-conscious apparel. As urban youth and luxury consumers increasingly reject ‘off-the-rack’ homogeneity, the ability to deliver high-color accuracy and intricate detailing on-demand is positioning Japan as a global hub for sophisticated, sustainable textile innovation.
An ISO-certified research organization, Future Market Insights specializes in the digital transformation of the APAC textile landscape. FMI provides data-backed forecasting for global luxury and technical textile markets, helping brands navigate the shift from analogue to high-precision digital systems. Their 2026 outlook highlights Japan as a key driver for sustainable inkjet adoption.
As the European textile market approaches a projected valuation of $193.12 billion in 2026, the industry is pivoting from mass production to high-margin, circular models. Returning to Barcelona this May, Fespa Global Print Expo 2026 arrives at a critical juncture where regulatory mandates - such as the EU’s 2025 separate textile waste collection law - are forcing a radical overhaul of garment manufacturing. The event is set to debut a dedicated ‘Textile’ showcase, specifically addressing the infrastructure gaps in fiber-to-fiber recycling and waterless production.
Digital transformation and the customization mandate
The shift toward personalization is no longer a niche trend; it is a structural market requirement. In 2026, the global custom clothing market is expected to reach $65.74 billion, with over 55 per cent of consumers preferring tailored garments over off-the-rack items. Valued at $4.3 billion this year, digital textile printing is the primary enabler of this ‘on-demand’ economy. The goal for 2026 is to automate where possible and simplify everywhere else, notes Michael Ryan, Head, Fespa Global Print Expo. By integrating AI-driven sizing and inkjet technology - which now holds a 72 per cent market share - manufacturers can reduce water usage by up to 95% while maintaining the agility needed for fast-fashion prototyping.
Scaling sustainable chemistry and circular logistics
Supply chain resilience is being tested by volatile energy costs and new environmental standards. The digital textile ink market has expanded to $2.04 billion in 2026, driven by the adoption of water-based pigment inks that satisfy stringent VOC emission regulations. However, the sector faces a significant ‘capex hurdle’; a standard 20,000-ton recycling plant currently requires nearly $87 million in investment. FESPA 2026 will serve as a commercial bridge, showcasing the automation and predictive maintenance tools necessary for SMEs to remain compliant and profitable within the EU’s emerging Digital Product Passport framework.
Fespa is a global federation of national associations for the screen printing, digital printing, and textile imaging community. With a footprint in 40+ countries, it provides essential market intelligence and technical exhibitions. The 2026 Barcelona expo serves as a premier launchpad for automation and sustainable ‘glocal’ manufacturing solutions across the EMEA region.
The Bangladesh RMG sector is navigating a complex fiscal transition, with export earnings for H1, FY2025–26 (July–December) contracting by 2.19 per cent to $23.99 billion. This softening follows a high-growth period in FY25 and reflects a cooling global appetite in traditional Western strongholds. Data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) highlights a particularly sharp downturn in December 2025, where shipments plummeted 14.25 per cent Y-o-Y. While the industry has historically relied on volume-driven growth, current market dynamics are forcing a shift toward specialized, high-margin categories to offset rising domestic overheads.
Knitwear contraction and home textile resilience
Structural shifts within the apparel basket show knitwear under significant duress, with exports declining by 3.22 per cent to $10.48 billion in H1, FY25-26. In contrast, Home Textiles emerged as a rare bright spot, posting a 2.93 per cent growth to reach $423 million. This segment’s resilience is attributed to a strategic focus on value-added bedding and towels, where Bangladesh maintains a distinct price advantage over rising-cost hubs like Vietnam and India. However, manufacturers face a ‘margin squeeze’ as global buyers demand lower unit prices while domestic production costs - fueled by a 30 per cent rise in energy and wage expenses over recent cycles - continue to climb.
Strategic competitiveness and the LDC graduation hurdle
The sector’s immediate challenge is maintaining its edge against India, which recently secured a reduction in US tariffs to 18 per cent, effective February 2026. Meanwhile, Bangladesh faces an average combined duty of 35 per cent in the American market. As the country approaches its 2026 graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the looming loss of duty-free access to the EU is accelerating the adoption of AI-driven sizing and automated cutting to enhance efficiency. Industry leaders emphasize, the ‘low-value trap’ of basic cotton tees is no longer sustainable, necessitating a pivot toward man-made fibers (MMF) and high-fashion technical apparel.
The RMG sector is Bangladesh’s economic backbone, contributing over 80 per cent of total export earnings and employing 4 million people. Key markets include the EU and the US, with a strategic focus on expanding into China and the Middle East. Following a record $48.28 billion in FY25, growth plans for 2026 center on high-value MMF diversification and sustainable green factory certifications.
