FW
Bangladesh’s garment exports to major markets, namely the US and the EU, declined during the latter half of the current fiscal year.
As per data from the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), in the first four months of the 2024, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the US declined by 14.44 per cent to $2.31 billion compared to $2.70 billion in the same period last year. Additionally, the combined textile and garment exports from Bangladesh to the US fell by 14.15 per centY-o-Y to $2.38 billion.
Factors contributing to this decline included inflationary pressures, increased production costs, lead times, and an energy crisis. Increased lead times caused shipment delays, a significant disadvantage compared to competitors like Vietnam and Cambodia. In the past, Bangladesh had mitigated this issue with cheap labor and large-scale production of low-end apparel products. However, inflation and the energy crisis exacerbated the challenges in garment exports.
Meanwhile, Vietnam's exports to the US grew by 0.31 per cent during the period with the country becoming the largest RMG exporter to the US. US apparel imports from Cambodia also increased by 7.92 per cent to $1.03 billion compared to $951.93 million in the same period in 2023.
The situation in the EU is similarly troubling. from Jan-Apr’24 Bangladesh's RMG exports to the EU fell by 9.85 per cent to €6.01 billion as against €6.67 billion in the same period in 2023, according to Eurostat data. Despite slightly reducing negative growth, Bangladesh still underperformed compared to competitors in the EU market due to an energy crisis, high utility costs, increased production costs, long lead times, and cumbersome customs procedures. Knitwear exports to the EU dropped to €3.38 billion from €3.88 billion, and woven garment exports declined to €2.64 billion from €2.79 billion during the same period.
Exporters note that despite a recent increase in US demand for apparel and growing EU imports, Bangladesh failed to capture a larger market share due to factors like longer shipment times and higher production costs. Buyers have been placing more orders with Vietnam and China, primarily due to shorter delivery times. Exporters report that lead times for importing and processing exports have increased to 70-80 days from the previous 50-55 days.
Lead time is a significant deterrent for importers placing work orders with Bangladesh. Equally important issues include logistical and infrastructure limitations and an unstable energy supply. One way to reduce lead times is by increasing the local supply of raw materials and accessories. Despite substantial investment in the textile sector to meet export demands, unstable energy supply has led most mills to operate below capacity.
Gas and power shortages, ongoing for about a year, now threaten almost the entire industrial sector, including textiles, RMG, light engineering, fertilizer, and cement. Textile mills are particularly affected, operating at 60-70 per cent capacity due to energy shortages, causing buyers to redirect orders to China and Vietnam for quicker deliveries. Around 300 textile mills in various regions are struggling to remain operational.
Artistic Garment Industries (AGI) Denim, a B Corp with over 30 years in denim manufacturing, is advancing its offerings through innovation and sustainability. AGI Denim oversees the entire production process, from yarn spinning to garment finishing, ensuring quality control and efficiency.
This year, AGI Denim launched The Agency, an in-house creative service providing clients with tools such as trend decks, fit catalogs, wash stacks, and rapid prototyping in both digital and physical formats. Lizzie Kroeze, AGI Denim's director of product development and marketing for the EU and UK, emphasized The Agency's role in supporting brands with market intel, fiber and dye technology, fit and sustainable wash development, and marketing materials.
In line with its sustainability commitment, AGI Denim partnered with Green Story in April to implement Digital Product Passports, which offer clients transparent sustainability data through QR codes. This initiative helps brands meet new regulatory requirements and promotes trust with consumers.
AGI Denim also launched the Regenerative Cotton Farm Project in May, collaborating with the Rural Education and Economic Development Society (REEDS) to promote sustainable agricultural practices in Sindh, Pakistan. This project aims to provide Regenagri-certified, traceable regenerative cotton, grown with minimal water and chemicals, enhancing biodiversity and soil carbon-sequestration.
Kroeze envisions a future where the denim industry adopts regenerative agricultural practices and makes informed decisions to minimize environmental impact. AGI Denim aims to lead this transformation by fostering strong partnerships and creating innovative, sustainable solutions.
Lenzing Group has introduced its new Black Towel Collection, featuring LenzingEcovero and Tencel branded black fibers. This collection includes a range of essential personal care items—makeup removal pads, towels, gym towels, bath towels, hand towels, hair bonnets, and beach towels—all designed to meet the increasing demand for sustainable, high-quality daily essentials.
Unlike traditional disposable products and conventional reusable towels prone to staining, the Black Towel Collection is crafted from responsibly produced fibers. These towels combine LenzingEcovero Viscose and Tencel Modal fibers with cotton, offering exceptional softness, durability, and color vibrancy.
The unique spin-dyeing process used for these towels reduces energy and water use by 50 per cent, significantly lowering carbon emissions by 60 per cent compared to traditional dyeing methods. This process ensures long-lasting color and minimizes discoloration, even with repeated washes.
The collection's fibers, sourced from certified wood, use 50 per cent less carbon and water, and the LenzingEcovero Viscose fibers are biodegradable and compostable. The towels' chlorine-resistant properties extend their lifespan, making them an ideal choice for both everyday and specialized use.
EbruBayramoglu of Lenzing highlights this collection as a sustainable alternative to traditional cotton towels, addressing the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly personal care products.
Europe's premier responsible sourcing event, Source Fashion, will be held at Olympia London from July 14-16, 2024. This major fashion sourcing show highlights the UK’s top manufacturers, suppliers, and fashion industry leaders.
Event Director Suzanne Ellingham highlights the UK's strong reputation in fabric and garment manufacturing. She underscores that the event aims to support the UK fashion industry by linking visitors with local manufacturing options. Source Fashion will present a diverse lineup of exhibitors from different sectors, showcasing innovative products and sustainable practices.
Among the key exhibitors is Figastore, a Leicester-based womenswear supplier renowned for its quick sample turnaround and full design services. With factories in the UK, Morocco, and Pakistan, the company looks forward to engaging with new brands and retailers. Design Manager Rosie Clarke expresses excitement about returning to Source Fashion to broaden their network and highlight their capabilities.
TS Knitwear UK, a family-run business established in 1976, will showcase its high-tech knitwear and jersey collections. Leveraging advanced knitting technology and dyeing facilities in France, the company offers flexibility and innovation in its products. Director CharanjitBiring expresses enthusiasm about presenting their latest designs and sustainable manufacturing processes to a global audience.
Varsity City, the UK’s leading supplier of authentic American varsity jackets, is also set to make its mark. Founder Syed Kazmi expresses enthusiasm about showcasing their products in London and meeting international buyers.
A standout innovation at the event will be BoomerangTag, a solution for lost property management using digital nametags. Founder Charles Braham aims to address global lost property issues and promote a circular economy.
Other notable exhibitors include Shirley, offering expert testing and Oeko-Tex certification services, National Weaving, specializing in woven and printed labels, and Trade Fabrics, with its extensive range of knitted and printed fabrics.
Source Fashion will also feature pavilions from global powerhouses like China, India, and Turkey, as well as representatives from countries including Peru, Cambodia, and Greece, making it the most diverse sourcing show in the UK.
Karl Mayer has introduced the RE 4-1 Raschel machine, designed to enhance efficiency in producing highly elastic textiles. This new model expands the company's Elastomeric series and complements the existing RE 4-1 machine, focusing on the volume business with a compelling price-performance ratio. It promises to match the speed and quality of its premium counterpart.
The RE 4-1 is designed to be highly appealing to price-sensitive markets, including China and Turkey, by offering cost-effective production of standard Power net articles. The 170-inch model has already achieved notable success in China, and a new 190-inch version will be introduced to global markets starting in July 2024. Sascha Muller, Product Owner Global Lace &Raschel at Karl Mayer, highlighted the machine's effectiveness in these markets.
Equipped with E 28 and E 32 gauges, and optional features like yarn tension sensors and LED lighting, the RE 4-1 is optimized for producing elastic and non-elastic fabrics, primarily for the lingerie market. It excels in manufacturing Power net, a key material in bras, sportswear, and swimwear, as well as other fabrics like RaschelLocknit and Satin net.
The machine’s debut at ITM 2024 in Istanbul was well-received, reinforcing Karl Mayer's strategic direction in the market.
In a significant step towards fostering eco-consciousness in fashion, Eastman’s Naia partnered with ESDI Escola Superior de Disseny in Sabadell, Barcelona, for an educational project. This collaboration enabled students to design garments using Naiafibers for a fashion competition inspired by Dante Alighieri's "The Divine Comedy."
The event, held on July 1, 2024, at Alliance Francaise in Sabadell, featured a jury of renowned fashion and textile industry leaders, including Abel Ortiz of Textiles Ortiz, SitaMurt of Montserrat Figueras, designer Claudia Ligari, and Eastman's Carolina Wilches. The project aimed to enhance students' understanding of sustainable practices and the fashion industry's dynamics.
Eastman supplied Naia Renew fibers, made from 60 per cent sustainably sourced pulp and 40 per cent certified recycled content. The recycled component is created using Eastman’s patented carbon renewal technology, which converts hard-to-recycle waste into molecular building blocks. These fibers are biodegradable and compostable, promoting a circular economy in textiles.
The resulting fashion collection, EKOS, was created by ten third-year ESDI students. EKOS explores themes of inner struggle and emotional balance, reflecting the complexity of existence and the search for clarity and peace. The collection was curated by students Mariona Garcia, Ines Borrego, AndraCriado, Julia Escudero, Aurora Gallardo, Claudia Gomez, Ingrid Sala, Sila Sanchez, QueraltTurull, and Aina Vila.
This initiative aligns with Naia's commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing leadership in reducing environmental impact through advanced recycling technologies. Carolina Wilches highlighted Eastman's belief in the power of education to foster sustainability, emphasizing the importance of equipping future designers with tools for responsible innovation. Jorge Zuazo, head of ESDI’s Fashion Design Department, praised the collaboration for providing students with a professional, team-based project experience.
Materra, a British startup founded in 2019, has won the 2024 Avantex Fashion Pitch award for its innovative cotton cultivation solutions. Specializing in climate-adapted, fair-trade cotton, Materra connects fashion brands like Mango and Ecoalf with its producers through a Cotton-As-A-Service model, ensuring full supply chain transparency and traceability.
Frederic Bougeard, President of Messe Frankfurt France, noted that Materra's ambitious approach to a critical issue in the fashion industry greatly impressed both Messe Frankfurt and the jury.
The competition, organized by Messe Frankfurt France, showcases the most innovative and sustainable fashion projects. Eleven finalists, including Darwie, Drippy, Finds, and GoldenEye Smart Vision, each had five minutes to present their ideas to a distinguished jury of industry experts.
Materra's victory comes with significant rewards: a €2,800 stand at Avantex Paris 2025, €2,000 from Texpertise Network, and a year of incubation at Foundry courtesy of IFA Paris. The jury, including Claudia Cesiro, ElodieLemaireNowinski, Jayne Simone Esteve-Cure, and Yoobin Jung, recognized Materra's potential to address urgent environmental challenges in fashion.
With its Austrian operations now insolvent, Esprit's European branch is facing severe financial challenges. The company attributes the insolvency to significant planning issues at its headquarter. Recently, unrest was sparked at the Hong Kong headquarters due to the sale of brand rights for the Greater China region.
Espirit currently does not plan to sustain operations in Austria. This may lead to the potential loss of approximately 170 jobs for the company. The Austrian subsidiary filed for bankruptcy at the Salzburg Regional Court, affecting 173 employees (at peak times, more than 600 were employed).
Esprit still operates twelve of its own branches in Austria, and an additional 23 stores are run by franchisees under the Esprit brand name, although they are not legally affiliated with Esprit HandelsgesellschaftmbH.
According to StapfNeuhauserRechtsanwälte, representing the company, there is no feasible option to continue operations in Austria. Pending the insolvency administrator's decision, remaining stock will be liquidated quickly, shops will close, rental agreements terminated, and the company will undergo liquidation.
Esprit has been present in Austria since 1995, at its peak employing 610 people and operating 26 of its own shops alongside 60 partner stores in 2010.
A tech-enabled fabric sourcing platform based in Jaipur, Fabriclorehas successfully raised $1.6 million in a funding round led by Bengaluru-based PeerCapital and UAE-based Regal Fabrics.
The funding will enable Fabriclore to expand its presence in key markets, including India, the Middle East, Europe, and the US. The startup aims to invest in technology to streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and scale its international market reach.
RajuShroff, Managing Director, Regal Group, avers, with its tremendous potential Fabriclore is poised to extend its reach to several international markets.
Founded in 2016 by Vijay Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, and AnupamArya, Fabriclore is a tech-enabled fabric sourcing platform catering to fashion businesses worldwide. The startup offers made-to-order fabric solutions, including fabric discovery, design, dyeing, printing, and quality inspection, all at a single point of contact. This approach provides lower minimum order quantities (MoQs) for D2C fashion brands and multi-brand retailers.
In six years, Fabriclore has grown into India's largest modern retail brand in its segment, with a catalogue of 10,000 SKUs from over 550 suppliers across the country. In 2023, the company pivoted to enter India’s $20 billion fabric supply chain market, establishing a network of fabric processing units supported by a 10,000-square-foot in-house design, inspection, and testing facility.
Being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from July 02-05, the 15th edition of the bi-annual home textiles and homeware trade show, HGH India, showcases around 2,500 product launches from nearly 700 Indian and international brands.
With around 40,000 pre-registrations from over 600 cities and towns across India, visitorsto the show are expected to surpass the 41,240 attendees from last July, says ArunRoongta, Managing Director. The trade show has become a platform facilitating industry growth, trade, design, and innovation, he adds
Inaugurated by RoopRashi, IA&AS, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, the show is spread across four halls and 50,000 sq ft. Featuring participants from 32 countries, the event focuses on the domestic market in India.
Highlighting India's significant role in the global textile industry, Rashi says, platforms like HGH India are crucial for uniting the home textiles industry in India as the Ministry of Textiles aims to not only produce the best quality products for both domestic and international markets but also increase employment opportunities in the country.
HGH India caters to home retailers, architects, interior designers, distributors, and institutional buyers. The next edition will be held from Dec 03-06, 2024 in Bengaluru.
