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China’s textile and apparel makers are going through a painful industrial restructuring. While the country is still the world’s largest clothing exporter with an enormous production capacity, oversupply at home, high labor costs, and rising global protectionism have all eroded its competitiveness.
China’s market share by value in the global textile and clothing industry fell from 38.6 per cent in 2015 to 35.8 per cent in 2016.
Since 2014, exports of Chinese textiles and clothing to major apparel importing regions such as the US, European Union and Japan have declined sharply.
Exports of clothes and accessories fell by 0.4 per cent last year from 2016 while textiles exports saw an annual growth of 4.5 per cent last year.
Fewer US brands are looking to China for products even though the country remains the top sourcing destination for the industry worldwide. For many US brands, a third of their products now come from China, a third from Vietnam, and the rest is from other countries.
However China is playing an increasingly important role as a textile supplier for apparel exporting countries in Asia. Bangladesh’s textile imports from China, measured by value, rose from 39 per cent in 2005 to 47 per cent in 2015. Similar trends can be seen in Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and other developing countries in Asia.
The US has renewed GSP for Cambodia.This allows Cambodian exporters access to duty-free privileges.
The renewal is retroactive, allowing exporters from beneficiary nations to claim refunds for transactions made after the GSP scheme expired last year. Eligible GSP merchandise entering the US between December 31, 2017, and the effective date of the extension, April 22, will be eligible for refunds of duty.
However, refunds will not be automatic. The law stipulates that importers need to file a refund request.
Cambodia is one of 120 nations included in the US’s GSP program, which was established in 1974 with the aim of promoting economic growth in the developing world.
Cambodia feels the program needs to be extended to products like garments and footwear following improvements in working conditions and the protection of labor rights made in recent years.
In July last year, the US granted duty-free benefits to Cambodian travel goods, including suitcases, backpacks, handbags and wallets.
Cambodia’s exports of travel goods increased from 53 million dollars in 2015 to 100 million dollars in 2016.
The country expects purchasing orders in the garment sector in 2018 to be higher than in 2017.
Foreign purchasers appear to be satisfied with what Cambodia has achieved when it comes to worker welfare. There is now a stable environment, a good relation between players in the industry.
A two-day international exhibition on denim products Bangladesh Denim Expo will take place at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka on May 9-10.
The theme of the exhibit this year is “Equality,” aimed at mobilizing global brands and retailers, manufacturers, governments and development partners to establish a more equitable global apparel supply chain.Over 14,000 visitors have preregistered for the eighth edition of the mega event.61 exhibitors from 14 countries including Bangladesh have already confirmed their participation at the event.
The event will also focus on equal responsibilities for all stakeholders in the apparel supply chain to ensure safety in the workplace, sustainable work practices, environmental considerations and transparency.
The expo is going to highlight issues concerning equality and the progress that has been made within Bangladesh in this regard.
Mostafiz Uddin, founder and CEO of the expo, Bangladesh Denim Expo has already become an internationally acclaimed one-stop sourcing platform for all aspects of denim wear from fabrics to the finished products, which would instigate healthy debate on the topic and increase awareness of any issues and the situation regarding equality in Bangladesh itself.
The show will offer a unique experience for exhibitors and visitors who will be able to gain a comprehensive insight into the denim industry of Bangladesh and discover the latest trends.
The seminars in the expo will serve as a platform for knowledge and sharing ideas, featuring some of the top experts and leaders from the best companies and organizations of the global denim supply chain.
Brands are generally paying less for garments from Bangladesh today than they did before the Rana Plaza disaster.
The price of cotton boys’ and men’s trousers going from Bangladesh to the US has fallen 13 per cent in the years since the disaster. In the same period, the price paid for T-shirts exported to the European Union has fallen about five per cent.
The US accounts for about 18 per cent of Bangladesh’s clothing exports, while nearly two-thirds go to Europe. That happened even as cotton prices went up more than 20 per cent between 2015 and 2017.
The price drop over the last five years underscores the dynamics at play in the global garment supply chain. As clothing sales have become increasingly concentrated in the hands of massive multinational retailers who place gigantic orders, the buyer’s power—and ability to get cents shaved off the cost of an item of clothing—has become increasingly concentrated too.
This fact underscores the power amassed by one end of the supply chain—an imbalance that is inherently dangerous to workers. Previously, manufacturers saved costs by working out of spaces that weren’t purpose-built for that. After Rana Plaza, that may not happen as much. Instead, as price pressures continue, they’ll look to save from more negotiable costs, like wages, or how often maintenance crucial to safety is carried out.
Arunachal Pradesh Textiles Minister Tamiyo Taga has advised the centre to make efforts to encourage textile industries in Arunachal.
During a textile ministers’ meeting in the national capital to boost the handloom-handicrafts sector, Taga requested Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani to set up hosiery and apparel manufacturing units in every district of Arunachal Pradesh.
She also emphasized on establishment of power looms, yarn dyeing processing units, raw material banks, silk spinning mills, and crafts villages with modern wayside amenities in each district, besides a one-time grant of infrastructure development fund and a one-time fund for installment of improved technology inputs.
Taga explained Irani of the pending schemes in the textile ministry which are assured but not yet approved.
The Union Minister informed that some schemes are drafted slowly “due to new guidelines and rules” but assured that all the schemes would be sanctioned soon.
Products from Mozambique will have access to the European Union market without the imposition of quotas or payment of customs duties. The Mozambican government and the European Union (EU) delegation in the country launched on Friday the implementation plan of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between six countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the EU.
Mozambique exports to the European Union mainly aluminium, agricultural products such as sugar, tobacco, nuts and vegetables, as well as fish products, notably shrimp and imports manufactured goods, machinery, means of transport and chemicals. The APE guarantees access to the European market without customs duties or quotas, for all goods coming from Mozambique, except for weapons and armaments.
Under the new agreement, a textile product can enter EU tax-free if at least one phase of its production, such as weaving or knitting, has occurred in one of the countries.
Over a period of 10 years, Mozambique will gradually remove customs duties on about 74 per cent of its imports from the European Union.
The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) is hopeful of the Union Government reducing the hank yarn obligation for textile mills soon as demand for the yarn in hank form has reduced after implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and SIMA submitted a memorandum to the Union Textile Minister Smriti Zubin Irani.
The associations pointed out that under GST, hank and cone yarn attract uniform 5 per cent duty. Earlier, hank yarn attracted 0 per cent duty. Handlooms can take input credit of the duty paid on yarn.
The government can give the subsidy to the National Handloom Development Corporation directly for the hank yarn purchased and supplied to the weaving units.
The number of handlooms in operation in 2002 was 31.37 lakh and in 2017 it is estimated to have reduced to 21.46 lakh. The proportionate obligation is almost 16 per cent.
The obligatory quantity of yarn required is 929.04 million kg in 2002 and 1596.23 million kg in 2017.
In 2002 the number of handlooms in operation was 31.37 lakh and in 2017 it is estimated to have reduced to 21.46 lakh. The proportionate obligation is almost 16 per cent. The obligatory quantity of yarn required is 929.04 million kg in 2002 and 1596.23 million kg in 2017. A study by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in 2008 showed that 38 per cent of hank yarn is diverted to the power loom sector. So there is no need to continue with 40 per cent obligation. The associations had appealed to the Ministry to reduce it to 10 per cent.
Myntra has come up with Avengers collection inspired by the upcoming American superhero film “Avengers: Infinity War” that will be exclusively available on Myntra. The collection consists of a line of exclusive graphic tees celebrating fandom with superheroes from the Marvel universe coming together to create the biggest and most exciting movie merchandise for Avengers Infinity War. The Infinity War collection is set to make a mark in fashion and will be exclusively available on Myntra.
All the powerful characters gel together with a strong graphic handwriting offering a special collection for the superhero followers. Mostly in shades of black, white and blue, it covers individual characters like Iron Man, Spider-Man and Thanos to logos, quotes and statements. The collection is much more than plain graphic tees and through this range the fashion quotient gets geared up to the next level with the execution of specialized techniques.
Myntra is India's leading platform for fashion brands and pioneer in m-commerce play. Myntra has partnered with over 2000 leading fashion and lifestyle brands in the country to offer a wide range in latest branded fashion and lifestyle wear. Myntra services over 19,000 pin codes across the country. Myntra at present the preferred shopping destination in India.
Canadian denim brand Triarchy has become a fully sustainable jeans brand. Triarchy is dedicated to educating the world on the waste and pollution caused by global denim production. With a mission to reduce the amount of water used in the creation of denim, Triarchy successfully produces a globally accessible contemporary ready-to-wear collection of sustainable denim pieces for men and women. Using repurposed materials, recycled goods and sustainable washing and bleaching processes, Triarchy has saved over 1,000,000 gallons of water to date.
Triarchy is continuing offer denim jeans, jackets and dresses using over 85 per cent recycled water during production. Relying on nature, Triarchy’s production unit in Mexico City uses natural bacteria, which consume the indigo before re-introducing it to the wash process. Triarchy’s Atelier Denim line is made exclusively of vintage denim and Triarchy jeans are made from sustainably sourced and washed material.
The brand’s mission is to shine a light on irresponsible denim manufacturing practices and forge a new way in making jeans. The brand’s labels are recycled leather and its woven labels are made from recycled water bottles. Triarchy has been made fully sustainable. The brand switched from cotton denim to cotton-tencel denim, which reduces water consumption to 1,300 gallons per pair.
Global Sources Fashion is on in Hong Kong from April 27 to 30. This is Hong Kong’s largest fashion sourcing event. Attendees can source fashion accessories, fabrics and apparel all under one roof. Global Sources Fashion features verified suppliers from major fashion manufacturing hubs including mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
The show hosts the largest collections of bags and luggage, footwear, and sports fashion in Hong Kong and Asia's largest scarves pavilion. Dedicated pavilions highlight quality fashion products from countries and regions including Vietnam, India, Jiangsu, Hunan Shaodong and Xiamen.
In addition to showcasing a wide range of products and suppliers from across Asia, the show is seeing growing participation from branded companies. It will host more than 500 exhibitors promoting their own designs and brands. Amazon and other online sellers will find a variety of products with more than 65 per cent of exhibitors able to accept small orders.
Thousands of buyers are expected to attend the show including Adidas, Avery Dennison, Colette, eBay, Fossil, Gap, Mothercare, Potpourri, Ralph Lauren, S Oliver, Sears, Target Australia, Tiffany, United Colors of Benetton and Vivarte. There is a dedicated area for fashion startups and up and coming designers to introduce their creations. Models will wear the hottest designs from exhibitors and rising designers.
