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The New York Textile Week will be held from January 19 to 21, 2015. The aim is to establish New York as a destination for textile and sourcing professionals in the global fashion, home and related industries.
Three established textile and fashion trade shows will take place alongside Textile Week. These are: Texworld USA, Kingpins USA and MRket. MRket is a global menswear trade show.
New York is considered America’s textile industry hub. It is one of the nation’s most important employers in the manufacturing sector. With more than 2,30,000 workers, the textile industry represents approximately two per cent of the US manufacturing workforce. The industry, which includes manufacturers of textiles, raw materials, yarns, fabrics, apparel and home furnishings, represents investments above $1.2 billion in total capital expenditures.
Until now, there had been no synergy among textile, sourcing and apparel shows. By inviting other textile sourcing and wholesale garment shows to participate, NYC Textile Week organizers hope to create more opportunities for textile and fashion industry professionals to experience New York City.
Another partner and co-organizer of NYC Textile Week is cellulosic fiber manufacturer and chemical specialist Lenzing. Lenzing is supporting NYC Textile Week to bring the textile and sourcing community together while authenticating NYC as a global sourcing center.
US apparel imports continued to grow in October. Three of the top 10 supplier countries: Vietnam, Honduras and India saw strong double digit growth, but Bangladesh tumbled for eighth month in a row. Apparel imports from all sources were up 6.8 per cent. Imports from China was the highest. It was four times as large as the second largest exporter to the US, Vietnam.
While the two largest apparel suppliers to the US continue on their upward trajectory, the picture is less positive for Bangladesh, which is at number three in the top 10 league. Imports from the country, which have been hit by a number of issues surrounding worker and factory safety in the last year, declined 15.8 per cent in October, deeper than September’s 11 per cent drop.
It also represents the eighth consecutive month of decline this year for Bangladesh, having started its fall in February, dropping 10.2 per cent. When it comes to imports from the US' other largest suppliers, year-on-year gains were during October was by Honduras, up 19.8 per cent, India up 19.4 per cent, and Mexico up 4.8 per cent. Indonesia, which rebounded in September, continued to grow with a 5.3 per cent gain.
Hong Kong and India have enjoyed robust bilateral trade relations on several products and services over the years. India was Hong Kong’s 7th major trading partner in the first 10 months of 2014, and trade performance between Hong Kong and India reached 20.7 billion dollars (over 1,29,000 crores). Hong Kong’s total export to India in the same period was 10.2 billion (over Rs 63,600 crores) while Hong Kong’s total import from India is 10.5 billion dollars.
To further strengthen trade-ties, Rajesh Bhagat, Mumbai Consultant of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the global marketing arm for Hong Kong-based companies, has announced seven international fairs covering toys, baby products, stationery, fashion and jewellery industries. These will be held in Hong Kong in January and March 2015. They which will offer ideal platforms for traders and suppliers from India to expand their businesses into new markets.
Hong Kong is a positive economy which expanded by 2.4 percent year-on-year, in real terms, in the first three quarters of 2014, after growing by 2.9 percent in 2013. For 2014 as a whole, the economy is forecast to grow by 2.2 percent. Hong Kong’s merchandise exports saw an increase of 3.8 percent year-on-year in the first ten months of 2014. Exports should continue to expand, despite sustained challenges. Adding to Hong Kong’s business advantages, its year-round trade events bring together buyers and suppliers from both economies to develop their business.
Bhagat says last fiscal during April 2013-March 2014, HKTDC’s 30 fairs attracted over 35,000 exhibitors from 85 countries and regions, up around 3.8 percent. Over 755,000 buyers from 189 countries and regions visited the fairs, up 10.5 percent year-on-year. In 2014, over 760 exhibitors and 12,000 buyers from India participated in various HKTDC fairs.
The HKTDC organises more than 30 world-class international trade fairs in Hong Kong each year, four of which are the largest marketplaces of their kind in the world: the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show cum the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show, as well as the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) cum electronic Asia.
The Russian nonwovens and technical textiles industries is facing a decline in demand in the domestic market. The biggest rates of decline have been observed in the middle and high price segments. One reason for the decline in demand is the rapid devaluation of the national currency.
During January to October this year, the volume of production of technical textiles and nonwovens in Russia declined by about 15 per cent compared to the same period last year. And the decline is expected to continue until the end of the current year. In the case of technical textiles, the increase in prices for raw materials, in particular synthetic fibers and yarns, has resulted in a significant increase in prices for finished products and there is a possibility that prices will continue to grow during the next few months.
The industry is facing growing production costs, in particular for energy and labor. In contrast to many European Union and Asian states, where governments often subsidize building of large facilities for the production of technical textile and nonwovens, Russia’s industry gets small support from the government.
The situation is aggravated by the reluctance of national banks to provide loans to domestic producers of nonwovens and technical textiles.
China the world's second biggest cotton grower will probably have lower output than expected. Its estimated 2014-15 production is 6.51 million tons, down 4.3 per cent from its August forecast and 6.9 per cent less than last year. Early in the growing season, farmers were plagued with dry conditions that stunted plant growth. That was followed by a period of unusually heavy rains in September, which hurt crop quality along the Yellow River Basin. A smaller domestic crop means the country, the top consumer, may buy more from overseas, helping to erode global inventories that have swelled to a record.
So China may import more cotton than is currently estimated. However, China has so much cotton inventory waiting to be sold that the output reduction almost doesn’t matter. Prices slumped 29 per cent this year as global production is set to exceed demand for the fifth straight year.
After China’s stockpiles swelled to an all-time high, the government scrapped policies aimed at building inventories and instead is offering a subsidy to farmers if prices fall below a pre-set target. The country is one of the main buyers of fiber from the US, the biggest exporter. India is the largest cotton producer in the world.
Import of denim apparels by the US fell by 7.5 per cent from January to October '14 compared to the same period in 2013. The average price has also fallen by about 8.6 per cent. Import of denim into the US increased in 2013 by over four per cent compared to 2012.
Denim sales in the US have been under pressure. Women prefer yoga and athletic wear, which are versatile and comfortable. Form fitting garments like stretchy pants that look like denim are stealing consumers away from denim. So denim companies are fighting back and coming out with products to compete with yoga wear. High stretch abilities going up to 100 per cent with strong recoveries and high comfort quotient are being brought out by innovative companies.
But it will take time before denim can recover lost ground. Sales of active wear in the US have climbed seven per cent while denim sales have fallen. Top retailers are increasing their offerings of athletic and leisure apparel.
Heimtextil India 2015 will be held in New Delhi, June 25 to 27, 2015. The organizers have decided to focus on technical innovations, upcoming talent, knowledge sharing as well as home furnishing and textile market developments.
The event creates healthy competition by bringing the best in the industry on one platform. The fair will be 40 per cent bigger than the previous one. Major Indian brands are expected to participate along with international manufacturers of home furnishing and contract textiles. It will feature home planners, interior designers and buyers, especially bulk buyers and retailers, from various segments across the country.
The fair will bring modern home textile and furnishing products from India and across the globe within the reach of Indian buyers. Among the products on display will be a vibrant line of plush velvets, digital prints and exquisite embroideries as well as a new digitally printed bed sheet collection in exquisite designs and colors.
Growth of modern trade outlets, retail revolution and the move towards luxury and premium products are reflecting the vibrancy and upbeat mood of the Indian home textile industry. The business is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate of around 8 per cent during 2013-2018.
heimtextil-india.in.messefrankfurt.com/
Esprit and Puma have announced a series of steps to clean up the supply chain and introduce responsible production practices. Esprit has announced that it has achieved the removal of all poly fluoro carbons from its supply chain four months ahead of schedule. The company also said that in the past 18 months, it has tested and evaluated the discharge from 33 of its core facilities in China and Bangladesh, reporting the results of 42 per cent of these on the IPE web platform.
It is committed to training all its suppliers in the Manufacturers Restricted Substance List, use of positive formulations and delivery of responsible use of chemicals. As a part of its own detox agreement, Puma said it will ensure all its products are poly fluoro carbon-free by no later than the end of 2017. Puma is committed to eliminating all long-chain carbons by January 2015 and all other fluoro carbons by December 2017.
Esprit in 2013 invested in modern in-house test equipment. It’s one of the few fashion brands with its own in-house laboratories where it can check its products for restricted substances as they arrive at the warehouse. It uses these facilities in addition to independent test reports.
The Dhaka Apparel Summit 2014 was held from December 7 to 9. It was hosted by the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association. The event provided the country’s readymade garment exporters an opportunity to present Bangladesh as a strong and reliable brand before participating stakeholders. Its aim was to highlight the recent progress achieved in fire and electrical safety and the sound working environment that has been established in factory units.
Bangladesh hopes to reach a milestone of $50 billion in exports by 2021. Right now it is contributing five per cent share to the total global apparel demand. This endeavor is to open and frame a sustainable roadmap on building responsible supply chains in the textile and garment sector by regaining the positive image of the industry in the global apparel market.
The summit was attended by around 57 global speakers, along with representatives of the governments of home and partner countries, international organisations, employers, private sector employers and workers. Among the issues discussed were business and investment trends, global sourcing dynamics, compliance issues, coordination between different government agencies, product and market diversification, resource efficiency and its social, financial and economic benefits, environmental health and safety.
The International Wool Textile Organisation held a two day roundtable in Belgium recently. It was attended by 90 stakeholders. The discussions centered around how to shape and strengthen international policy for a more sustainable wool industry. The event highlighted the many knowledge gaps and misconceptions attached to wool fiber. It presented some of the latest technology for a closed loop business model, including the microwave destruction of sewing threads, and computer-aided sorting in a session on wool and recycling.
IWTO is the international body representing the interests of the world's wool textile trade and industry. Its membership covers wool growers, traders, primary processors, weavers, garment makers and retailers of wool and allied fibers in its member-countries as well as all kinds of organizations related to wool products and the wool business in general. Its mission is to connect all parts of the wool supply chain in order to strengthen wool’s credentials as the world’s leading sustainable fiber and represent the wool industry at international level.
The organization communicates the benefits and value of wool to both internal and external stakeholders; documents and disseminates the science that supports wool’s unique natural properties; links members and international agencies and organizations; governs the trading standards and regulations for wool across the world and supports a platform for information and knowledge-sharing.
www.iwto.org/
