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Alibaba Group reported significant sales growth during this year’s extended Singles' Day event, which wrapped up on November 11. While the company did not disclose total revenue, it noted that 45 brands, including Apple, Haier, Midea, and Xiaomi, surpassed 1 billion yuan ($138.62 million) in gross merchandise value (GMV).
JD.com, China’s second-largest e-commerce platform, also saw a more than 20 per cent increase in shoppers compared to last year, though it did not release sales data. Data provider Syntun estimated that sales across major platforms rose 2.08 per cent last year to 1.14 trillion yuan, with third-party estimates for 2024 still pending.
Initially a 24-hour event, Singles' Day has expanded into weeks of promotions. This year's event, which began on October 14, was the longest edition to date. Despite a subdued economic environment, with low consumer confidence amid a property downturn, larger-ticket household items performed well. JD.com reported a 200 per cent year-over-year increase in home appliance sales, driven by a 150 billion yuan subsidy scheme.
Additionally, collectible toys, especially anime and gaming-related products, experienced surprising growth. Brands like MiHoYo and Pop Mart surpassed 100 million yuan in GMV. Young shoppers, such as Shan Yin from Hangzhou, spent on gaming merchandise and collectibles to cope with stress, reflecting shifting consumer trends during the festival.
The second edition of the Brands of India apparel trade show, organized by The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), was inaugurated on November 12, 2024, by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India to the UAE. Held at Za’abeel Hall 4 in the Dubai World Trade Centre, the exhibition presents over 150 Indian apparel brands, highlighting a broad selection of Men’s, Women’s, and Kids’ fashion. From casual and formal wear to athleisure, winterwear, and accessories, the event serves as a unique sourcing platform for international retailers, wholesalers, agents, and e-commerce companies.
In his opening remarks, Sivan highlighted Brands of India as a strategic initiative for Indian apparel manufacturers to capitalize on the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which facilitates duty-free apparel imports. He noted the opportunity for Indian manufacturers to attract global buyers amid supply chain challenges in other manufacturing hubs like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China, emphasizing Dubai’s role as a vital gateway to global markets.
Santosh Katariya, CMAI President, praised India’s position as a preferred sourcing destination known for low labor costs, flexible order sizes, competitive pricing, and on-time delivery. He noted that this year’s event brings together manufacturers from key production hubs such as Mumbai, Jaipur, and Tirupur, showcasing India’s manufacturing diversity and quality.
The show has drawn more than 1,500 pre-registered visitors from 60+ countries, including buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern and African nations. Notable retailers like Lulu Group, R&B and Landmark Group are among those in attendance. CMAI has extended exclusive privileges, including hotel accommodations and business matching services, to enhance buyer participation.
Running for three days, Brands of India is positioned as a comprehensive sourcing opportunity, with on-the-spot buyers also expected to attend.
American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists(AATCC) has reintroduced its hands-on textile testing showcase, now called the AATCC Textile Test Zone, at the Functional Fabric Fair Portland Fall 2024. Building on the successful spring debut of its AATCC Testing and Standards Exhibition, the revamped Test Zone highlights new testing stations and methodologies for textile professionals.
Visitors at the Test Zone can engage with seven dedicated stations covering critical textile attributes-Color Acuity, Color Fastness, Moisture Management and Water Resistance, Laundering, Dimensional Stability, Stain Resistance, and Fiber Fragment Testing. Each station provides practical insights into maintaining high-quality standards and compliance.
Color Acuity testing includes tools like the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test and specialized lighting to support accurate color assessments. Color Fastness, essential for textiles in apparel and protective gear, examines resistance to factors like perspiration and washing. Moisture Management highlights tests such as Spray Testing and Pro Dry for fabric drying time, crucial for performance textiles.
AATCC’s focus on Laundering, Dimensional Stability, and Stain Testing reveals the impact of washing on appearance, shape, and stain resistance. The Fiber Fragment station addresses microplastic concerns with AATCC TM212, which measures fiber fragment release.
The AATCC Textile Test Zone allows attendees to gain a deep understanding of these testing processes, essential for advancing quality and sustainability in textiles.
APTEXPO 2024 kicked off today at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore, inaugurating a three-day event focused on advancing the textiles and apparel supply chain. Organized by the Singapore Fashion Council (SFC), the summit brings together industry leaders to highlight sustainability, technology, and partnerships.
Sharon Lim, President of SFC, welcomed attendees, emphasizing SFC’s commitment to collaboration across the supply chain to foster resilience and agility in the textile sector. Key industry representatives, including Poh Chi Chuan from the Singapore Tourism Board, Albert Tan of the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries, and Sun Ruizhe from the China National Textile and Apparel Council, addressed global trends and regional cooperation.
Moderated by SFC CEO Zhang Tingting, the first panel examined regional collaboration’s role in building sustainable supply chains, featuring executives from Weave, Browzwear, Jeanwest, Shanghai Challenge Textile, and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles. A second panel, led by Regina Leong, explored strategies to strengthen Asia-Pacific’s production capabilities, with experts from AFTEX, SEMBCORP, and other associations.
Two plenary sessions focused on global textile challenges and supply chain restructuring through technology and branding. Industry experts, including ITMF's Christian Schindler and EURATEX’s Dirk Vantyghem, discussed sustainability, while Jonas Wand of Foursource highlighted AI’s role in value chain transformation. The event continues through November 16, featuring more insights into textiles’ future.
Facing a challenging apparel market, US-based activewear brand Vuori has secured an investment of $825 million, boosting the company’s valuation to $5.5 billion. Led by General Atlantic and Stripes, alongside other investors, this latest funding round signals a strong confidence in the brand’s future.
Structured as a secondary tender offer, the investment positions the key investors as strategic partners, aligning them closely with Vuori’s vision for future growth.
Joe Kudla, CEO and Founder. Vuori, says, the expertise of the new investors will help accelerate the company’s expansion while ensuring sustainable global scaling. The brand will continue to produce high-quality activewear that creates lasting connections with consumers, he affirms.
This investment follows Vuori’s previous $400 million funding in 2021, which had valued the company at $4 billion. The latest financial boost underscores the brand’s momentum in the competitive athleisure market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7 per cent in the US through 2028.
The new funding will likely propel further innovation and expansion by Vuori in the global market.
ITMA ASIA + CITME, scheduled for October 28-31, 2025, at the Singapore Expo, has attracted a significant response from global technology providers, aiming to support textile modernization in South and Southeast Asia. As of the November 12 application deadline, 98 per cent of the 60,000-square-meter exhibit space has been claimed by 731 applicants representing 32 countries.
Organized by CEMATEX, the China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), and CCPIT TEX, this year’s event is hailed as the region's premier platform for showcasing textile technology advancements. Lieven Beke, Marketing and Product Manager at Picanol, emphasized the importance of the exhibition, noting its influence on the Asian market for introducing cutting-edge innovations.
CEMATEX President Alex Zucchi noted that demand for the 2025 exhibition has exceeded expectations, emphasizing that the event’s focus on automation and sustainable solutions aligns well with the region's rapid growth and modernization. CTMA President Gu Ping added that the exhibition will provide a vital opportunity for manufacturers in South and Southeast Asia to access advanced technologies.
North Asian industry leaders, including Japan Textile Machinery Association (JTMA), Korea Textile Machinery Association (KOTMA), and Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), are also actively participating, further reinforcing the exhibition's regional impact.
Among the various sectors represented, finishing technologies lead in participation, followed by spinning and knitting, reflecting a strong emphasis on sustainability in textile manufacturing. John Wu, Marketing Director at Texpro Precision Technology, shared his enthusiasm for showcasing digital dyeing and finishing solutions designed for sustainable production, recognizing the event as an essential venue to meet regional demand.
The exhibition is expected to provide a platform for meaningful industry connections and advancements tailored to the unique needs of Asia’s growing textile hubs.
Powerloom weavers in Tamil Nadu have urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to address their concerns regarding a proposed Quality Control Order (QCO) on viscose rayon staple spun yarn with the Central Government.
According to the Tamilnadu Federation of Powerloom Associations, no other country imposes QCOs on textile products. The entire viscose textile chain has been negatively affected since the introduction of the QCO on viscose fibre last year.
Tamil Nadu houses nearly 25 lakh powerlooms, with two lakh transitioning from cotton to viscose weaving in recent years. These powerlooms utilise around 70 per cent of the viscose staple yarn produced by over 80 textile mills in the region.
Due to the state’s monopoly in the production of viscose rayon staple cut fiber, mills have faced shortages, compelling them to import fiber costing Rs 25 per kg less than domestic options. However, last year's QCO on viscose fiber restricted these imports, slowing down the entire viscose textile industry.
In Sep’24, the Central government announced plans to extend the QCO to viscose yarn. With an already sluggish market, many powerlooms have been sold as scrap, and the QCO on yarn threatens to deal another heavy blow to weavers in the state.
The Federation has called on the Chief Minister to appeal to the Central government to remove QCOs on textile products to support the struggling powerloom sector in Tamil Nadu.
To boost the company’s production capacity by 4,550 tons annually, Bangladesh-based textile manufacturer Envoy Textiles plans to set up a new spinning unit with an investment of Tk97 crore. Slated to complete by Dec’25, the expansion will help the company meet the rising demand for cotton-polyester-spandex core-spun yarn.
The new unit will feature advanced ring spinning production facilities with machinery sourced from Europe and Japan. Approximately 60 per cent of the yarn produced in this expanded facility will be used to produce denims while the remaining 40 per cent will be designated for exports.
Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director. Envoy Textiles, states. the new spinning unit will more than double the company’s blended yarn capacity from 4,380 tons per year (12 tons per day) to 9,125 tons per year (25 tons per day).
For Q1, FY25 spanning July-Sep’24, Envoy Textiles increased its profit by 134 per cent Y-o-Y. The company’s net profits rose to Tk25.33 crore, up from Tk10.82 crore in the same period last year. The company’s revenues also increased by 40 per cent to Tk439.94 crore during the quarter.
At the 132nd SLSWCA meeting led by the Chief Secretary, the Odisha Government approved a landmark initiative by Odisha Textile Manufacturing (OTM) to set up the first Greenfield spinning mill in decades in the state. The development will not only support the local cotton sector and address the mounting issue of textile waste but also position Odisha as taking a significant step towards toward environmental sustainability.
Launched with an aim to manage post-industrial and municipal textile waste, this advanced facility reduces the dependency on landfills and incineration. OTM plans to incorporate innovative recycling technologies in partnership with Balkan Textile Machinery of Turkey and Trützschler of Germany—leaders in textile waste recycling and spinning preparatory equipment, respectively. Additionally, the company is negotiating with the Switzerland-based Saurer AG to introduce the latest rotor and ring spinning technology, ensuring state-of-the-art operations.
Trützschler recently developed a ring yarn made of 60 per cent pre-consumer waste with a fashion company, a milestone OTM aspires to replicate in Odisha. The spinning mill will also benefit Odisha’s farmers by boosting demand for locally grown cotton and adding value to a resource that has long been underutilised in the region. This initiative not only supports the textile industry but also contributes to the agricultural sector by sourcing cotton directly from local farmers.
The project is expected to play a pivotal role in building an environmentally responsible and sustainable textile industry in Odisha, while providing essential support to local governments grappling with waste management. By creating jobs and stimulating growth across the textile and agricultural sectors, it will also contribute significantly to Odisha’s economic development.
While China's economic growth slows, international fashion brands are setting their sights on new Asian markets. India and Japan, with their unique strengths and growing economies, are poised to become major players in the global fashion scene.
India: The mid-market's new darling
India's rapid economic growth and burgeoning middle class are making it a focal point for fashion brands, particularly in the mid-market segment. With a projected growth rate of 12 to 17 percent in 2025, India's fashion market is set to outpace the global average significantly.
"India is a unique country which has both sourcing as well as consumption capacity," says Nandita Sinha, CEO of Myntra, India's leading fashion e-commerce platform. "This is where the value for international brands becomes extremely lucrative, where they can reach out to this large base of customers in a manner that taps into the supply potential of the country as well."
However, entering the Indian market requires careful consideration. International brands must overcome infrastructure challenges, navigate complex regulations, and adapt to local consumer preferences, which often favour traditional wear and fusion styles.
Japan: The luxury market's shining star
Japan's luxury fashion market is experiencing a remarkable boom, fuelled by a weak yen and a surge in tourism. In the first half of 2024, the market grew by 25 to 30 percent, attracting luxury shoppers from around the world.
"The crucial point here is we try to find the customers again and again that fit our model," says Michael Kliger, CEO of Mytheresa, a leading online luxury retailer. "In-person events for top customers are one of Mytheresa's primary sales drivers."
With tourism spending expected to reach almost $100 billion by 2030, Japan's luxury market is set for continued growth. However, brands must adapt to local preferences for personalized services and curated experiences to fully capitalize on this opportunity.
|
Retail Sales Growth |
India |
Japan |
US |
Europe |
China |
|
Non-luxury |
12 to 17% |
3 to 4% |
2 to 4% |
2 to 4% |
|
|
Luxury |
15 to 20% |
8 to 12% |
3 to 5% |
1 to 3% |
-3 to 0% |
A new era for fashion in Asia
As India and Japan take centrestage, the fashion industry must rethink its approach to these dynamic markets. Localizing go-to-market strategies, building robust omnichannel capabilities, and understanding the nuances of each market will be crucial for success.
The rise of India and Japan presents a unique opportunity for the global fashion industry. By embracing these Asian growth engines, brands can unlock new avenues for growth and innovation, shaping the future of fashion in Asia and beyond.
