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India will be the fastest growing apparel market in eight years, expanding at a CAGR of 11.8 per cent. The export market too will be favorable for India. Developed markets will continue to provide huge opportunity to textile exporters with their large size despite moderate growth in demand. Apart from the US and Europe, China too will become a market for Indian exporters as Chinese textiles manufacturers have lost the co¬m¬petitive advantages of lo¬wer cost of production in the last few years.
China’s competitiveness in cotton texti¬les is dropping rapidly while India’s competitiveness is improving steadily. India’s apparel exports with an expected CAGR of 21 per cent are likely to play a major role in deriving gro¬w¬th in total textile exports. The Rs 6,000 crores package to increase employment and investment in the textile and apparel sector may boost competitiveness of Indian ap¬parels in the world.
Growing urbanisation and rising per capita income in India and China would result in increased purchasing power and change in lifest¬y¬le. China and India will be key markets for the growth of textile and apparel. However, India will have to add¬r¬ess challenges to ach¬ieve a higher market share. India does not have duty free access to the European Union.
India's exports in February 2017 grew 17.48 per cent compared to February 2016. However, imports during the month under review increased by 21.76 per cent. Non-petroleum and non-gem and jewelry exports in February 2017 grew by 20.15 per cent compared to February 2016.
Oil imports grew by a massive 60.02 per cent. Non-oil imports in February were up by 13.65 per cent. For the April-February period, exports rose marginally by 2.52 per cent. Imports fell 3.67 per cent.
The merchandise trade deficit cumulatively for April-February, however, declined by 16.65 per cent against the same period the previous year. The overall trade deficit for April-February is estimated at $41.8 billion, which is a 24 per cent fall from the level of $55.02 billion during the same period last year.
For December 2016, exports to the US grew by 5.61 per cent, grew by 1.68 percent to EU and grew by 10.87 percent to Japan but fell by 6.20 per cent to China over the corresponding period of the previous year. Services exports during January 2017 were valued at $13.57 billion while imports stood at $8.4 billion, resulting in a positive trade balance of $5.16 billion.
Ethylene prices declined sharply in the first week of March in Northeast Asia as demand dropped for downstream styrene monomer while other derivatives like poly ethylene weakened significantly. The European ethylene market was bullish as the material remained tight amid firm demand.
Paraxylene prices declined in Asian markets amid weakness in both up and downstream sectors. In the US, paraxylene spot was down as mixed xylene slipped. European paraxylene contract price for March was fully settled at a roll over while spot declined on the week.
Mono ethylene glycol prices dived in Asian markets on urgent sales with sellers lowering offers to avoid incurring port costs. In China, port inventories continued to swell while the supply in the domestic market was abundant this week. European MEG prices also fell as demand softened and March contract price settling at a rollover, thus ending the huge price increases. US MEG prices retreated from their 21-month, pushing the assessment of its highest level since July 2, 2015.
Polyester staple fiber prices moved down further in China with raw material costs dropping continuously while they remained stable in India and Pakistan. Polyester filament yarn prices declined in China while they rose in Pakistan. In India, partially oriented yarn offers were generally held stable amid thin spot trades as downstream buyers purchased on a need basis to maintain production.
The cotton market in India seems to be stable. Domestic demand and prices are firm. Cotton prices vs yarn prices have settled. Volatility is more or less absent. Spinners, ginners and farmers are realising reasonable prices since February. Spinning mills suffered over the last two years and many closed doors due to cotton price volatility and weak yarn prices. This trend seems to have reversed.
In India, 65 per cent of the season’s cotton crop has arrived and if the price stability is maintained it will be a win-win for the cotton and textile sectors. However, if cotton prices skyrocket, spinners would face difficulties. The view from the spinning mills is that yarn prices are stable and there is demand for yarns and made-up goods such as bedspreads in export markets. This increases cotton demand and helps push up the price of cotton.
Indications are that cotton price this March is going to be steep when the peak arrival season ends in India. Overall, the agriculture market is expected to be bullish in the coming months. Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam are key buyers of Indian cotton. Textile mills in southern India have contracted cotton for shipments in March and April.
As much as 70 per cent of the cotton crop in India is believed to have already hit the market.
As arrivals rose cotton prices indicated a softening trend from their initial peak levels. But prices are again on an uptrend after the temporary dip.
The main export destinations are Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia. This is expected to further fuel the bullish sentiment.
Yarn demand from China is expected to increase this year. So mill consumption in India will be more than expected, which will further put pressure on prices.
Fears of El Nino will also keep cotton prices higher.
Prices at procurement levels may scale up to touch Rs 6,500 per quintal while processed cotton prices are expected to jump to levels as high as Rs 48,000 per candy of 356 kg.
Farmers continue to realise a better price for their produce since cotton prices have remained firm. Cotton arrivals are in full swing now and the gap of arrivals as compared to last year has narrowed considerably in the preceding period.
Farmers have got prices as high as Rs 6000 per quintal for raw cotton.
The opening stock was about 4.5 million bales at the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
Outlook Plus Latin America was held in Brazil fro, March 7 to 9, 2017. This event covers the nonwoven personal care industry. There were presentations on market, product, and technology intelligence for hygiene and personal care. Market leaders in the nonwoven and film markets for these products shared their vision of the future. Regional demographic and consumer trends of relevance to the industry were highlighted. A session was dedicated to the use of nonwovens in healthcare and infection prevention applications and future opportunities.
More than 270 participants joined the conference and more than 25 companies took the opportunity to promote their products and services through tabletop exhibits. Nonwoven fabrics are broadly defined as sheet or web structures bonded together by entangling fiber or filaments (and by perforating films) mechanically, thermally, or chemically. They are flat, porous sheets that are made directly from separate fibers or from molten plastic or plastic film. They are not made by weaving or knitting and do not require converting the fibers to yarn.
Nonwoven fabrics provide specific functions such as absorbency, liquid repellency, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, flame retardancy, washability, cushioning, filtering, bacterial barriers and sterility. These properties are often combined to create fabrics suited for specific jobs. They can mimic the appearance, texture and strength of a woven fabric, and can be as bulky as the thickest paddings.
The global luxury apparel market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 13.2 per cent up to 2024. The market is segmented into leather, cotton, denim, silk, and others. Cotton holds a dominant share of 35.87 per cent. Cotton is ideal for hot and humid weather. The fiber has high absorbency, comfort, and is breathable. High cotton production in India and China has made Asia Pacific a frontrunner in the global market.
Leather is the next emerging segment in the global market. This material is being preferred due to its durability and ability to myriad designs that characterize high fashion. The expensive nature of leather also makes it a fit for luxury brands, who work on the premise of premium pricing. Silk is also gaining significant momentum due to its smooth texture, softness, and the elegance it bestows on the overall design. Production of silk in India and China has lent an impetus to the luxury apparel market of the Asia Pacific.
Europe has a strong footing in the global market due to the presence of several luxury brands and houses that have been in the business for several decades. Some key players operating in the global luxury apparel market are: Versace, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Ralph Lauren and Hugo Boss.
About 2.5 million workers in India’s leather industry toil and suffer. They work long hours with toxic chemicals for poverty wages, making shoes and clothes for western brands. Leather industry hubs like Agra, Tamil Nadu and Kolkata supply hides, leather, garments, accessories and footwear for export.
Employment is created through the growth of large-scale export centers. But accidents regularly occur. Machine operators get trapped. Workers cleaning underground waste tanks suffocate from toxic fumes or drown in toxic sludge at tannery premises. The workers include women and children.
In small, unregulated factories, workers have no social security cover such as state health insurance or pension and earn a tiny fraction of the products' global price. India is the world’s second largest producer of footwear and leather garments and almost 90 per cent of India's footwear exports go to the European Union.
Tannery workers often suffer fever, eye inflammation, skin diseases and cancer as they work with toxic chemicals and rarely have any safety training or protection. Dalits and Muslims make up the majority of the workforce. It’s necessary for brands to increase the traceability and transparency of their supply chains up to the level of tanneries and subcontractors.
"Business program of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has been set up as a two-day international conference Fashion Futurum. Panel discussions, workshops and presentations were launched in several zones of the Central Exhibition Hall Manege."
Business program of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has been set up as a two-day international conference Fashion Futurum. Panel discussions, workshops and presentations were launched in several zones of the Central Exhibition Hall Manege.
In the conference room Craig Arend, founder of Altamira NYC (USA), VR and AR expert, told the audience how VR technologies could be applied in retail. 3D videos and augmented reality bring new consumer experience: one can look at the product, try or test it and imagine it in different conditions. VR device that literally gives an opportunity to taste a meal without actually tasting it is already a reality. All you need is the objects printed on 3D printer, virtual environment, diffuser with an aroma and imitation of the effect of moving jaws. The speaker pointed out that virtual reality would soon become as simple and mundane as the use of telephone. Obviously, these technologies will be in demand in on-line stores for a detailed but distance introduction of a product to the client, and in demand with those retailers who look into the future and search new ways of interaction with the audience.
The next on the agenda was the panel discussion Future Jobs in Fashion: Fashion Professions Foresight, Expectations and Requirements. Representatives of the European institutions educating specialists of fashion industry discussed what contemporary education should be like and what professions would be in high demand in that field. Among the participants of the panel discussion were Sylvie Ebel, Executive Director, L’Institut Francais de la Mode (France); Danilo Venturi, Dean, Polimoda (Italy), Covadonga O’Shea, Founder, ISEM Fashion Business School, best-selling author (Spain). Tatiana Rivchun, Associate Dean, School of Design, Higher School of Economics (Russia), moderated the discussion. Speakers shared the view that the most productive studying method was the project work. Particularly participation in the project gives an understanding how production works, how to improve in communications, how the team work with other professionals is constructed. Bright personality and a good team player are what the employers are looking for. Apart from designers and production experts, the profession of fashion manager is in high demand and large companies offer opportunities for their professional development.
David Monteith, Fashion & Apparel Director at Flextronics (USA), devoted his workshop to the possibilities of synthesis of technologies and fashion. Studying fashion in a broad sense, as an array of prestigious objects, we can see that new technologies are already a part of it: smart accessories, fitness wear, watches and jewelry. Wearable technologies are one of the profiles of the company represented by David. The second direction, but not the least important one, is the technological advancement of the production process. Fast fashion, increase of production costs for clothes in China, demand for an individual approach in producing fashion for every particular client, set new tasks for the world of technologies. Many acute issues that fashion is facing today could be solved by production robotization. Hi-tech fabrics and accessories that can be status indicators and at the same time make one's life easier - it can all become a part of Haute Couture fashion provided experts in technologies and experts in aesthetics interact correctly and efficiently.
The innovations topic was continued by Giusy Bettoni, CEO at C.L.A.S.S. Eco Textile Library (Italy). Eco Textile Library was established by a group of companies from different countries. It works with the fashion houses and factories, aligns communication between them for the sake of ecological production of fabrics. Recycling of waste ends and use of newly discovered raw materials can save water resources and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Sustainable development as well as eco-production is something that should be supported, something that should be described to the clients for them to become aware of the new value. Guisy also advocated the increase of transparency in the production cycle: the consumer must know what he or she buys, consumers have the right to make a conscious choice.
The following experts participated in the discussion Fast Production for High-End Fashion: How does it Change the Industry: Geoffrey Willis (CEO, Trigon Select Ltd (UK), Mark Jarvis (Managing Director at World Textile Information Network (UK), Svetlana Andrianova, President of Company FARADEI CJSC, Filippo Ceroni, CEO of the Italian company Grazia Bagnaresi (Italy). Evgeny Kovnir, Deputy Director at Young Professional, ASI (Russia) conducted the talk with participants. Smart management can speed up the production processes; it includes the use of 3D printing and work in several directions simultaneously. Mark Jarvis expressed his assurance that the reverse process was also inevitable presupposing the slowdown of fashion and growing demand for customized products.
Giualia Pirovano, Group Market Director at Instituto Marangoni (Italy), told the audience about Talent Sourcing in the Fashion Industry. Setting Italian fashion industry as an example, the speaker shared how to succeed in the world of marketing and how talent sourcing and promotion of young talented designers was proceeded in Italy. She also responded to the question about the possible partnership of Russian designers with Italian market. 'Russian fashion has deep roots in spite of the fact that it is not so famous. We are ready to cooperate and share experience with the young Russian designers', underlined Pirovano. 'We invite them to come either to Milan or to Paris to the French school.' Natalya Pochinok, Rector of the Russian State Social Studies University, talked with Giulia.
The question about possible support of the young designers was brought up and the speaker gave a detailed answer: 'It is rather hard to get into the world of fashion because it is very competitive. We motivate young designers to take part in international events. There is a large number of festivals and fashion weeks but is hard to get through. National Chamber of Italian Fashion coordinates such events and arranged three of them: within 10 years we have been selecting the best designers among 200 people and proceeded with their promotion. We selected 30-35 designers and covered expenses for showroom rent, placed funds for advertising, provided contacts of the fashion houses, fabrics manufacturers and suppliers.' Apart from that, Pirovano highlighted the importance of support of the young designers on the state level.
The dialogue was followed by another public talk with Mark Jarvis, Managing Director at World Textile Information Network (UK). It was devoted to technologies and technology disruption in value chain. In the presentation, Mark Jarvis showed how digital technologies were applied in the fashion industry and gave a brief overview of the brands that offered their clients the opportunity to personalize the selected garments. 'What we observe is the perfect storm: there are demands coming from people and computers and technologies offer possibilities to respond to those demands. At the moment digital technologies exist apart from each other but soon they will be united in one space, it will happen, it is just a matter of time,' said the speaker.
David Monteith, Fashion & Apparel Director at Flextronics (USA), Amanda Parkes, Chief of Technology and Research at Manufacture NY (USA) and Dmitry Kolobov, Director of the Department on Development of the Industry of Socially Minded Goods in the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation discussed the following milestone in the fashion industry: Smart Clothing for People with Disabilities. Sergey Karnaukhov, Head of the Federal Project Alliance of Russian Art Engineers, Associate Professor RANEPA (Russia) was the moderator of the discussion. In this fashion direction, the focus is not only on the aesthetics but also on comfortable characteristics and usability. Companies dealing with clothes production for people with disabilities work very closely with the clients. Manufacturing of special clothes requires attention and precision. Embedding electronic devices (for diagnosing the health state and improving mobility) into costumes is the issue that manufacturers of such brands are trying to solve. However different approaches are possible in design: from modelling familiar visual volumes to decoration of artificial limbs. Positioning issues are also still on the agenda.
The panel discussion Fashion is Next Hot Spot for Investments included the following participants: Alexander Korchevsky, Partner at 12BF Global Ventures, Irina Dyadyunova, CEO at Russian Fashion Council and Kirill Tischenko, representative of Investment Dept at Skolkovo Foundation. Speakers talked on the subject of financing designers, about the necessity to forecast risks and analyze fashion markets independent of the scale of the project. The investor should be aware of the market niche to be occupied by designer and the brand so that he could see the perspectives. Irina Dyadyunova raised an issue about financial support to Russian designers with small production facilities, mentioned the specifics of work with such designers and common competition rules.
The question - Why Retailers Should Have an Innovation Program? - was answered by Scott Emmons, Head of the Innovation Lab, Neiman Marcus (USA). A great number of applications was created to simplify communication between the world of fashion and consumer. For instance, Memory Mirror, Snap. Find. Shop, Alerttec or the brand new application Inside by Powerfront. 'I would like to use this project to change the communication paradigm with the Internet client,' shared Scott Emmons. He also touched upon the subject of customized approach to shopping and advantages of the innovation programs that give the client an opportunity to get detailed information in the shortest possible span of time in regards of the appealing brand.
General Director of Be-in.ru Alexey Bajenov talked with Michael Burke, Head of Industry, Fashion, Sports & Toys, Google (USA) about the correlation of the role of glossy magazines and social networks in creating an image and in retail. Speaker provided statistical data and mentioned that today 75% of all purchases were done under the influence of Internet. Contemporary consumer cannot simply come to the store, talk to the sales manager and try on an item. He/she avoids consultants, conducts a search and makes a decision before going into a store. Images from glossy magazines are far from real desires of a particular consumer that is why they use search systems. Google became a tool for direct sales; it helps in collecting information about interests of the user, besides there is search engine advertising. Instagram has also become an important tool with the critical mass of popular bloggers. Now it is an image platform, one cannot shop there but can study the brands closer. Social networks provide opportunities to build a direct connection with the client at the same time pushing out the gloss and reducing costs on retail.
During the panel discussion Incubation of Fashion Tech the following experts shared their experience: Don Lim, Head of the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (South Korea), Garry Stewart, Director at Wayra (UK) and Arseniy Uralov, CEO at Steelup.ru (Russia). Moderator of the discussion was Ekaterina Inozemtseva, Vice-President at Skolkovo Foundation (Russia). Don Lim shared his vision and told that technology should first be launched, then offered and only afterwards the demand growth could be expected. Fashion industry has good chances to become a platform for launching new technologies. Garry Stewart pointed out the possibility of cooperation with big players of the market that can draw attention of the audience to the new smaller companies. Arseniy used his infrastructure project as an example and demonstrated how incubator can assist in finding the sales market and in attracting investors.
COO Dr. Claudio D. Martelli told about the work of his company Trigon Select, Ltd (UK). In conditions of fast fashion managers have to deal with multiple types of demands. There is no time left for selecting the right suppliers. Trigon Select unites experts who have been working in the field of clothes manufacturing for a long time. Company deals with standardization of evaluation processes of production. Experts from Trigon Select go to a factory to any part of the world, study the economic profitability, equipment, qualification of employees and many other important aspects. The result of their work is regularly refilled global rating of suppliers. After completing the research and establishing the rating value, the company conducts SWOT-analysis and gives development recommendations.
Panel discussion System Disruption: Do Fashion Weeks Have a Future completed the first day of the international conference Fashion Futurum. The following experts were on board: Pascal Morand, Executive President, French Federation of the Haute Couture and Pret-a-porte (France), Xiaolei LV, Vice Secretary General of Shanghai Fashion Week (China) and Alexander Shumsky, Executive President of Russian Fashion Council (Russia). Pascal Morand noted that fashion weeks are icon events that reflect the state of the Russian fashion industry. Xiaolei LV underlines the importance of constant reinforcement of market positions and the importance of finding the target audience. Alexander Shumsky talked about the establishing of a business model and importance of a concept. He also mentioned how critical it is to calculate the process, which will give the designer opportunity to arrange individual fashion shows.
Fifth day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia started with the fashion show from Tako Mekvabidze. Fall-Winter collection 2016/17 was devoted to the Beautiful Era. DNA of Tako Mekvabidze brand is complicated structure of the looks and multiple garments. Perfect female dresses with ruffles rich in genuine patterns and glittering waist band, gleaming satin, delicately sparkling in the light, beads, the thinnest lace on half-transparent blouses, deep neck lines - exceptional monochrome color palette and textures of the fabrics once again highlighted the fragility of the female nature.
Fifth day of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia started with the fashion show from Tako Mekvabidze. Fall-Winter collection 2016/17 was devoted to the Beautiful Era. DNA of Tako Mekvabidze brand is complicated structure of the looks and multiple garments. Perfect female dresses with ruffles rich in genuine patterns and glittering waist band, gleaming satin, delicately sparkling in the light, beads, the thinnest lace on half-transparent blouses, deep neck lines - exceptional monochrome color palette and textures of the fabrics once again highlighted the fragility of the female nature. Fashion shows from Tako Mekvabidze are the mixture of the past and the present.
In the Fall-Winter collection, Anastasia Dokuchaeva denies common standards. Brave design goes hand in hand with bright colors, metallic finishing, jacquard fabrics as well as combination of sport and chic - glamorous jackets with belts, baggy shoulders, pajama costumes, flowers scattered on certain elements, all represent extraordinary ideas of the new world brought into life.
Collection SENSUS COUTURE is the constant search for something new. Every look takes you to a separate transcendent space and offers to try unexplored facets: space half-transparent cloak dresses, gleaming bombers, sparkling masks intermixed with mystic images and contemporary vision of the real world - neat lace jumpsuits, black and white two-piece suits, along with the coats and jackets with delicate details - bright and monochrome embroidery. The collection however follows the precise proportion and is performed in the calm color shades - emerald green, brown, white and black.
Fall-Winter collection 2016/17 from designer KSENIASERAYA was made in collaboration with the artist Anna Mokhova and inspired by the history of discovering of the Arctic region and nature's phenomena so typical for that territory. It can be traced in the geometric shapes, reserved colors and textures - imitation of crystallization of sea salt on dresses, patterns of local inhabitants as well as in cozy sweaters with 3D knitting patterns. Color palette of the collection is the smooth shift from the colors of soil and water to light shades - dark brown, airy blue, beige, powder beige and natural white.
Artem Shumov Fall-Winter 2016/17 male collection openly manifested military themes. Designer approached Russian history and break of the society. Hence, the face paint on his models. Loose shapes, draping, emphasized neglect - these attitudes could be seen in the outwear, jumpsuits, sport chic costumes. Man in clothes from Artem Shumov is the universal trendy soldier, serving the high style.
In the Fall-Winter collection the conceptual brand I V K A dressed the girls into familiar baby doll garments with the queen's hems. Childish dresses, transparent, pink with tender sleeves in flounces, shoes imitating tip-toeing, all this is just a foundation for a dramatic contrast. Models walked the catwalk fast, with crosses hands and looking from under the brows. Rebellious and childish attitudes are mixed in the white flowers on black net fabric, in loose sleeves of fur and feathers, attached to the straight simple dresses.
Collection from sisters Macharashvili for their brand MACH&MACH was distinguished by the garnish shades of pink - from the explosive fuchsia to strawberries with cream. Among the details - fur slippers, futuristic heals and glittering suitcases in grapes green and canary yellow with a steel ring holder that highlighted the gleam of leather skirts. Real thrill came with the half-transparent floor-length dresses and 3D patches in shapes of flowers on the coats and jumpsuits made of aquamarine blue jersey.
Designer IGOR GULYAEV employed theatrical performance for his show. The collection featured hallmark of the brand - provocative fur that perfectly creates a never-forget fatale image. Every fold in the multi-layered look referred to the luxury chic. Maxi dresses complemented with luxurious hats, bowlers and top hats, suits in colors of fluid gold and silver as well as garments with initials of the designer.
The presentation corner featured brand YULIA KRASNYANSKAYA and two new collections - fragrance and tulip. The designer uses pearls and Swarovski crystals to bring her design fantasy into reality, the shapes and colors build a delicate aesthetic look.
A separate venue, State Historic Museum, hosted a presentation from TSIGANOVA - 20 Shades of Red. In the foundation of the collection - garments from natural fabrics, united by the familiar designer's style, embroidered with the use of precious and semiprecious stones, beads, pearls, golden and silver threads. Apart from the fashion show, the exhibition of paintings by Russian traveler Fodor Konykhov was organized in the museum.
