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As per DHL Global Trade Barometer figures, India’s trade growth in the third quarter will continue to exceed that of the world’s largest economies at 79 points despite a slight decrease in the pace of growth. This growth is driven primarily by air imports in high technology, machinery parts and industrial raw materials, and air exports for chemicals & products and consumer fashion goods are expected to also perform well. Ocean trade shows robust growth on both the import and export fronts, with industrial raw materials driving the positive outlook for ocean exports. Basic raw materials and high technology chemicals & products are expected to drive the import demand.
Developed jointly by DHL and Accenture, the DHL Global Trade Barometer provides a quarterly outlook on future trade, taking into consideration the import and export data of seven large economies: China, South Korea, Germany, India, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Together, these countries account for 75 percent of world trade, making their aggregated data an effective bellwether for near-term predictions on global trade. The DHL Global Trade Barometer, which assesses commodities that serve as the basis for further industrial production, predicts that global trade will continue to grow in the next three months, despite slight losses in momentum.
The European Union (EU) Commission is investigating the proposed acquisition of Solvay’s global nylon business by BASF, under the EU Merger Regulation. The Commission is worried as the merger may reduce competition in supply of key inputs in the nylon production chain. The proposed transaction involves Solvay and BASF, two companies active in the nylon industry, where both manufacture nylon compounds and nylon fibres.
The transaction is likely to create an important player in the nylon compounds market with a market size almost double that of the closest competitor. The merged entity would also control substantial parts of the merchant markets and of the production capacities at all levels of the nylon production chain. Moreover, no other player would be similarly fully integrated in the production chain. Competitors will thus depend on the merged entity to continue to supply them with one or more essential inputs.
A steady flow of store closings and unenticing merchandise is battering specialty apparel and department store stocks. Recently, Goldman Sachs analyst Alexandra Walvis initiated coverage of Tapestry Inc., Tiffany & Co. and VF Corp. with a buy rating. Several days before that, UBS had initiated coverage on a basket of nearly two dozen apparel and accessories stocks, including buy ratings on the likes of Nordstrom Inc. and American Eagle Outfitters Inc.
And earlier in June, Omar Saad of Evercore ISI closed short positions in Kohl’s Corp. and Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc, and offered a rosy view on the prospects of Macy’s Inc.The biggest challenge for apparel retailers in recent years hasn’t been a failure to adapt to Amazon.com rather it’s a different kind of online challenge. Social media and live-streamed runway shows have meant that shoppers see new styles faster than ever before.
As per a Euromonitor forecast, China is expected to overtake United States to become the largest apparel market by 2019 globally. Keeping pace with this, Bangladesh has been making steady inroads into China. In 2016-17, the country’s apparel export to China witnessed a significant rise of around 14.77 per cent Y-o-Y to reach around $400 million.
However, from July to March 2018, earnings slipped marginally by 5.65 per cent to touch $269 million, compared to what was $285 million in the corresponding period of previous year. China slashing tariffs on imports from five Asian countries is seen as a move to strengthen its defence in the ongoing ‘trade war’ with the United States. But Beijing’s move has opened up a new window of opportunity for Bangladesh. While Macro Style has prominently included China in its future scheme, BGMEA hopes to find some space in the Chinese market.
Birla Cellulose has partnered Ankur Textiles, women’s wear division of Arvind Limited, to launch a wide range of Liva fabrics with 100 per cent modal and 100 per cent viscose blends for womenswear. This multi-fibre fabric is an alternate to the traditional fabric for new age Indian women who deserve high position as well as comfort in her apparel needs.
Liva range of fabrics is introduced under Ankur Textile fabric brands - Zoya, Blossom and Glam & Glory. This range has been carefully crafted to meet the requirement of western and ethnic womenswear. These fabrics will be available across retail points throughout the country in a range of colours, textures and prints. This will enable not just the retail consumers but boutique owners, designers, small retailers to access Liva’s fluid fabric to create their own fluid designers.
Bangladesh readymade garment workers and labour leaders are optimistic about the new wage board becoming a reality. The government is expected to form the Minimum Wage Board for reviewing remunerations of the workers by the end of this month. Additionally, Bangladesh Labour Ministry is scheduled to hold a meeting on July 8 to finalise the process while factory owners’ associations and workers’ organisations have already sent names of their representatives to the Ministry for the Board.
The workers’ representative at the board are expected to place recommendation for a new minimum pay structure which is unlikely to be less than Taka 16,000 as per demands surfacing through the last six months, since the formation of the wage board on January 31.
Meanwhile, Clothing and Garment Workers League President Kamrul Anam urged buyers to share the responsibility to ensure fair living wages for the readymade garment workers so that they can live a decent life. BGMEA previously said the new pay structure would reflect both the requirements of a garments worker and the capacity of an owner. They have already ruled out the possibility of Taka 16,000 as the new wage structure, saying it is an impossible demand.
Avantex Paris, a trade fair for sustainable development technologies, will be held at Le Bourget from September 17-20, 2018. The trade fair, to be organised by Messe Frankfurt France, emphasises on innovation and sustainable development in services, materials and technologies for textiles and clothing. Avantex has become a real network, an aggregator of ideas, a lab that goes beyond the world of fashion in the strict sense. The show, in its seventh edition, will be well represented by high-tech technical textiles from China and Taiwan. South Korea will be present its myriad skills in outdoor materials from Bosung Textile, and the best in applied research and experimental development from the international Korean Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)
Avantex aims aim to demonstrate the links between technology and clothing through a series of presentations and roundtables moderated by experts on the inherent issues in the market and which make up the exhibition: materials and components, clothing and accessories, prototype studio, smart retail.
Archroma has entered a partnership with Carlin. The aim is to promote the use of Archroma’s exclusive color inspiration tools among fashion designers and stylists in France. Archroma is a global leader in color and specialty chemicals. Archroma offers a suite of services and tools that are both practical and instantly available. Carlin is the world’s very first trend forecasting agency founded in 1947.
Carlin will also use the color atlas during its color workshops, and Carlin and Archroma will organize regular conferences and events for fashion brands in major French cities. Carlin will be Archroma’s sales agent for its color management products in France, including the color atlas by Archroma and related tools. Archroma’s color management services will continue to be sold through the existing channels.
The color atlas is a color library for the textile industry. It is an essential and inspirational reference that gives creatives options that they had never dreamt of. By partnering with Carlin Archroma will be able to share its color atlas and its passion for color with a new audience.
The color atlas uses complementary tools to enhance creative possibilities for designers and brands. It incorporates the six-volume library with over 4300 colors on cotton poplin, the two-volume color atlas compact for improved portability; and the color atlas online, which enables one to take an image with a smartphone and identify the closest color atlas shades.
Bangladeshi apparel exports to Japan have been increasing over the years, thanks to entrepreneurs' relentless efforts to meet buyers' quality requirements and policy support from the government. Another reason for the rise in exports is 'China-plus policy' and relaxation of rules of origin. Locally-made knitted items have been enjoying duty-free entry in Japanese market since April, 2015 and woven items since April 2011, even though raw materials are imported.
As per Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, the country exported apparel items worth $787.13 million during July-May of fiscal year (FY) 2017-18, a 13.04 per cent growth over the corresponding period of previous fiscal. Apparel exports fetched $744.48 million in FY 2016-17, up from $572.27 million in FY 2013-14. RMG export was only $74.33 million in FY 2008-09. Overall exports reached a billion-dollar mark in FY 2015-16 for the first time and maintained the same trend during the last two fiscal years.
Cool Visions dyeable polypropylene fiber is proving to be a versatile, all-performance partner in a raft of new hybrid developments for the outdoor market. A disperse-dyeable polypropylene, Cool Visions fiber provides mills and brands with the means to create differentiation in fabric structure, pattern, and coloration.
The lightweight, moisture-wicking, thermally-regulating polypropylene staple fiber is perfect for spinning with merino wool or cotton, creating yarns that combine polypropylene’s performance attributes with the comfort of natural fibers, without the use of additives or topical enhancements.
The latest development in Cool Visions products comes in an inspired odor-control yarn from Fil Spec called Fresh Fil. The Canadian-based technical spinner has combined a polyester fiber impregnated with zinc oxide with Cool Visions staple.
Fresh Fil yarns with Cool Visions provide freshness and UV protection in lightweight apparel, adding to polypropylene’s inherent performance benefits such as moisture management, breathability, thermal regulation, and durability. It’s the best of both worlds for outdoor and active brands. Hard-core performance brands will benefit from new Cool Visions dyeable filament. Da Fon in Taiwan has created a range of moisture-wicking, quick-drying, breathable knits combining Cool Visions filament with polyester.
Grupo Miro from Mexico has launched Virtu-Scan Apparel, a line of thermally-regulating performance safety apparel featuring Cool Visions + Cotton. The gear features a logo that can be scanned to confirm the wearer’s identity.
