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The government has dissolved the current board of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and appointed Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman Md Anwar Hossain as the Administrator. The move follows allegations of irregularities in the August 24 board restructuring and fraud in BGMEA elections.
The Commerce Ministry issued a circular under Section 17 of the Trade Organizations Act, 2022, mandating Hossain to hold fresh elections within 120 days and transfer control to a newly elected board. The dissolved board faced accusations of failing to address complaints and unrest in the RMG sector, despite factories recently resuming normal operations.
Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Managing Director of Designtex Group, had been elected BGMEA president after the resignation of SM Mannan Kochi, who had led the organization since March. Kochi, linked to the former Awami League government, resigned amid protests, with allegations of fraud and political interference in the February BGMEA elections.
Md Anwar Hossain, a seasoned government official, previously served as EPB vice-chairman and wing chief in Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division. He will now oversee BGMEA’s upcoming election process.
Driven by the PM MITRA mega textile parks and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for man-made fabrics (MMF) and technical textile products, the textiles sector in India is poised to attract investments worth Rs 95,000 crore over the next 3-5 years, reveals Rachna Shah, Textiles Secretary.
In addition to these two key initiatives, foreign direct investment (FDI) and other channels will also contribute significantly to the sector’s growth, with a focus on ‘sunrise sectors’ such as MMF, apparel, and technical textiles, she highlights.
Emphasising on the government's high expectations for Bharat Tex 2025, scheduled for Feb 2024, Shah anticipates, the event will not only lead to signing of new MoUs but also attract substantial investments and business generation.
Each of the seven textile parks being developed by the government is likely to attract an investment worth around Rs 10,000 crore, totaling Rs 70,000 crore, says Shah. Additionally, the PLI scheme for technical textiles and MMF is expected to attract another Rs 25,000 crore in investments, she adds. Some investments under the PLI scheme have already been initiated, and the full scope of these investments will materialise within the next 3-5 years, Shah anticipates. Alongside these initiatives, further investments would be driven by FDI and other sources, she adds.
The seven mega textile parks under the PM MITRA scheme will be established in Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalburgi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow/Hardoi), and Maharashtra (Amravati).
The upcoming Bharat Tex 2025 will generate concrete business and investment opportunities, rather than just MoUs, Shah affirms. Launched in 2021 with a budget of Rs 10,683 crore, The PLI scheme will to promote the production of MMF and technical textiles over a five-year period, she adds.
P Kumaran, Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, notes, to be held from Feb 14-17, 2025, Bharat Tex 2025 is expected surpass the previous edition in scale. This event offers an unparalleled chance to experience the dynamism and creativity of Indian textiles and gain access to both domestic and global markets, he adds.
The Ministry of Textiles hosted an interactive session with over 30 foreign missions in India at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, to promote Bharat Tex 2025. Countries represented included Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, and Vietnam. Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, was the chief guest, alongside key officials like Rachna Shah, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles.
Margherita emphasized Bharat Tex 2025 as India’s largest textile event, designed to consolidate the entire textile value chain under one roof. He urged foreign diplomats to engage actively in the event, highlighting India's strong position as a reliable and sustainable sourcing destination. He also emphasized the event’s potential to boost employment and innovation in the sector, with a focus on sustainability and the Prime Minister’s 5F vision – Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
Scheduled for February 14-17, 2025, Bharat Tex will take place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and India Expo Centre, Greater Noida. The event aims to attract over 5,000 exhibitors and 6,000 international buyers from more than 110 countries. The exhibition will feature pavilions for textiles, apparel, machinery, and more, with live demonstrations, cultural showcases, and sustainability workshops.
Shah encouraged participation as partner countries, underscoring the government’s policy support and incentives for the textiles sector. Bharat Tex 2025 aims to enhance India’s standing in global textile markets while focusing on resilience, sustainability, and innovation.
Fifth edition of Pakistan’s premier textile and leather exhibition, Texpo 2024is set to generate an impressive $800 million in export orders, nearly double the $420 million achieved at last year’s event.
Scheduled from Oct 23-25, 2024 at the Expo Centre, largest textile exhibition in Pakistan is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif .This mega event will be a game changer for the country’s textile industry as it will present a significant opportunity for international buyers and fostering new business partnerships, emphasizes Zubair Motiwali, CEO, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).
Organised by TDAP’s Textile and Leather division, Texpo will highlight Pakistan’s dynamic and innovative contributions to these sectors while providing a platform for global collaboration. The exhibition is set to be attended by a record-breaking 550 foreign delegate, representing key international markets. Among thesewill be delegations from the Netherlands and South America, each with 50 members, eager to explore the opportunities within Pakistan’s vibrant textile and leather industries.
One of the event’s highlights is a much-anticipated fashion show featuring designs from 25 of Pakistan’s top fashion companies, showcasing the latest trends in line with global fashion movements.
With the continuation of Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status, the country is positioned to benefit from tariff-free access to European markets, a crucial advantage for boosting textile exports.
Addressing concerns about power tariffs, Motiwala mentioned that the government is working to introduce a local electricity supply tariff under 10 cents per unit, which will further enhance the sector’s competitiveness.
Several joint ventures are expected to be signed during the event, strengthening international partnerships and investments in the textile sector. Industry experts see Texpo 2024 as a key opportunity for Pakistan to increase textile exports from $16 billion in FY24 to $19 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
Having reached $800 million last year, leather exports are projected to grow to $1 billion by the close of FY24. One exhibition hall will be dedicated exclusively to leather exhibitors, underscoring the industry’s potential and its commitment to expanding globally. With textile exports experiencing a 14 per cent growth last month, Texpo 2024 is poised to highlight the industry’s successes and pave the way for future growth.
The Bursa Textile Machinery Fair, taking place from November 19-22, 2025, will bring together leading textile machinery manufacturers and industry professionals at a 17,000 square meters venue in Turkiye. The event will feature over 150 companies and more than 250 brands showcasing cutting-edge textile machinery, production solutions, and automation systems.
This major fair will attract global participation, with exhibitors from Turkiye and beyond presenting innovative weaving, knitting, yarn, dyeing, and textile printing technologies. The latest advancements in smart production, digitalization, and sustainable solutions will also be highlighted, offering attendees a glimpse into the future of textile and apparel production.
Thousands of professional visitors, including textile manufacturers, engineers, designers, and investors, are expected to attend, providing an ideal platform for networking and forming new business partnerships. The event promises to create significant opportunities for collaboration, technological integration, and industry growth.
With its focus on innovative technologies, the Bursa Textile Machinery Fair 2025 will be a key meeting point for industry leaders shaping the future of the textile sector.
The fashion industry continues to lag in addressing the ethical and environmental issues, as perthe 10th edition of Ethical Fashion Report by Australian non-profit, Baptist World Aid. The report evaluated460 brands, based on supplier relationships, sustainability, worker empowerment, risk management, and governance. Each company received a score out of 100, with factors like ‘supplier relationships’ and ‘worker empowerment; carrying more weight.
On average, apparel brands scored 32.9 points, while footwear companies lagged behind at 24.2, reflecting weaker safeguards against labor and environmental exploitation in the footwear sector. A significant finding show, that 89 per cent of companies still do not pay a living wage in their final-stage facilities. Only 10 per cent of companies paid a living wage in some facilities, and there was a slight decrease from 2022 in the number of companies committed to addressing this issue.
Sustainability records modest improvements. The use of sustainable fibers has increased from 15 per cent of brands in 2022 to 21 per cent in 2024, and 68 per cent of brands now offer consumers advice on reducing environmental impact, up from 57 per cent. However, half of the companies assessed in 2024 lacked any commitment to climate action. Brands like Temu, Stussy, and Nine West scored 0 in the sustainability assessment.
Despite this, some major brands performed well. Patagonia and Inditex (Zara’s parent company) earned the highest scores of 69 and 66, respectively, followed by Adidas (63), Puma (61), New Balance (60), and Lululemon (58). Interestingly, fast fashion giants H&M and Levi Strauss scored 57 and 56, despite not participating directly in the assessment.
While fast fashion brands like Inditex and H&M ranked in the top 20 per cent, researchers acknowledged criticism, explaining that the report evaluates companies based on their systems to mitigate risks, not their contribution to broader fashion culture. The report will now be released bi-annually to reflect the slow pace of industry progress.
On October 8, 2024, the ANSI National Accreditation Board, LLC (ANAB) revised its suspension of Intertek’s certification services, extending restrictions across all Textile Exchange standards at Intertek’s India office and imposing limitations on the Organic Content Standard (OCS) globally. This action follows a review of Intertek’s voluntary suspension initiated on July 31, 2024, which initially affected only OCS services in India.
ANAB’s updated suspension prohibits Intertek’s global offices from accepting new OCS clients. However, existing clients in India can still be serviced by approved Intertek offices outside India for certification renewals, excluding scope extensions or updates.
Transaction certificates already issued by Intertek remain valid unless otherwise noted. Other Textile Exchange standards outside India remain unaffected by this suspension.
Intertek’s voluntary suspension and ANAB’s expanded measures highlight strict compliance and accreditation requirements within Textile Exchange's assurance program, aimed at maintaining the credibility of certified fibers and materials globally.
Compared to the same period in 2023, apparel imports by the European Uniondeclined by 3.63 per centduring Jan-Aug’24 period as global slowdown hit apparel consumption.
A key apparel supplier to the EU, Bangladesh registered a 3.53 per cent decline in exports with shipments falling to $12.91 billion, according to Mohiuddin Rubel, Director, BGMEA. This decline aligns with the overall reduction in EU apparel demand but raises concerns about evolving dynamics in global supply chains.
EU’s largest apparel supplier, China witnessed a 4.10 per cent dip in apparel exports with shipments contracting to $15.62 billion. Exports by other major suppliers likeTurkeydeclined by 7.52 per cent to $6.84 billion. India’s apparel exports fell by 2.73 per cent to $3.34 billion, while Vietnam’s shipments declinedby 2.09 per cent to $2.65 billion.
In contrast, apparel exports by Cambodiaincreased by 12.78 per cent. Pakistan's apparel exports to the EU also expanded by 7.3 per cent while Morocco's exports rose by 6.09 per cent, indicating a potential shift in sourcing preferences within the global apparel market.
These varied performances among key suppliers suggest subtle but significant changes in global apparel supply chains as countries like Cambodia, Pakistan, and Morocco emerge as resilient players.
Karl Mayer has launched an innovative range of sun protection textiles using the HKS 2-S machine with a new fineness, E 44. These innovative fabrics deliver an impressive Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) while ensuring exceptional wearing comfort. With a production capacity of 200 kg daily, the HKS 2-S is set to redefine outdoor fashion trends, highlighted at the recent ITMA ASIA + CITME 2024 in Shanghai.
Xu Ying, Regional Product Owner for Tricot Machines at Karl Mayer (China), noted the high interest in the E 44 machine’s products, emphasizing their excellent UVA protection. As global temperatures continue to rise, effective sun protection during outdoor activities is increasingly crucial. Research indicates UV radiation increases by 2-3 per cent with every meter gained in altitude, making sun protection essential for mountain sports enthusiasts.
The demand for UV protection products is booming, with projections for the Chinese market to grow from $10.3 billion in 2023 to $95.8 billion by 2026. Notably, sales of women's sun protection clothing on the e-commerce platform Taobao represented a significant portion of total turnover in May 2024.
The new warp-knitted fabrics provide notable advantages over circular knit alternatives, including 30 per cent higher breathability and a UPF more than twice as high. With luxurious, lightweight, and durable qualities, these fabrics promise to enhance outdoor experiences, making them an exciting prospect for customers and international sportswear brands alike.
On October 23 and 24, 2024, Tonello will return to Amsterdam at booth #22, Blue Area, to unveil ‘Metamorphosis - True Italian Workwear,’ an innovative concept that reimagines workwear as a form of art. This striking collection highlights how functional garments can be transformed through responsible technological innovation.
Tonello focuses on the ability to reinvent iconic pieces of Italian tradition, such as overalls and work clothes, emphasizing their significance in daily life. By utilizing DyeMate and the Laundry (R)Evolution technologies, these everyday garments are reinterpreted into modern designs. DyeMate, a patented indigo garment dyeing technology, combines sulfur and indigo dyes to achieve a vintage look reminiscent of classic workwear. The Laundry (R)Evolution employs The Laser and the All-in-One System to create unique, responsible finishing effects.
In Amsterdam, Tonello will also feature collaborations with renowned artists. The Sake project marks the second episode of a creative partnership involving designers Sadia Rafique and Matt Duckett, under the artistic direction of Mohsin Sajid. This initiative merges creativity with technological innovation, resulting in a collective work where denim meets art, showcasing a fusion of style and responsibility.
Additionally, Tonello will present the One Denim collection, created in collaboration with Kingpins, Piero Turk, and Cone Denim. This spectacular collection demonstrates the versatility of a single fabric, showcasing how it can be transformed through advanced washes and finishes.
The MSP - Most Sustainable Product collection, developed with Denim House and Kingpins Show, exemplifies how responsible finishing technologies can achieve high standards of style and innovation while minimizing environmental impact.
