FW
Textile exhibition Collection Premiere Moscow will be held from August 31 to September 3. Taking a prominent place in the exhibition would be textiles products from Indonesia. This exhibition will also see the presence of renowned Indonesia designers along with their like: Itang Yunasz Ready to Wear, Ardistia New York, Alleira Batik, and Warnatasku.
According to Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono, Director General of Chemical Industry, Textile and Miscellaneous Industry Department, this is an effort to strengthen Indonesia's textile industry. Sigit rued the fact that development of textile industry in the last three years has come down significantly. One effort to push it is through the fashion industry. The Ministry of Industry noted that the textile sector investment accounted for 3.68 per cent of foreign direct investment (FDI) and 3.06 per cent of the investment, domestic investment (DCI).
In addition, the data of Creative Economy also shows a 4.9 per cent economic growth in the country every year. Based on this, it is assumed that 31 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from the fashion industry. Sigit also hopes that through these activities, Indonesian textiles and fashion could be popularized worldover.
Durst and Technijet have jointly developed a digital textile system called Swiftjet. Swiftjet is a spraying and drying unit which is connected upstream in actual printing machine and depending on the desired printing result, takes over the chemical pre-treatment of the textile thread. Swiftjet offers process optimization for increasing economic efficiency in textile printing.
Durst is an industrial inkjet specialist. Technijet is a manufacturer of industrial high-pressure cleaning systems. Technijet's long-term experience with high-pressure jets comes in useful when ensuring the exact application of the composition on the material surface. Durst has continuously striven to optimize the economic efficiency and environmental safety of inkjet print production.
Durst’s soft pigment ink system (Alpha P) can be printed on standard material like cotton and polyester without additional binders and wet processes. Alpha P has soft grip and color brilliance and at the same time it reduces water and energy consumption in production.
With the Swiftjet solution, flexibility is further increased, since pre-treatment can be added upstream depending on material and need. Previously independent processes can thus be consolidated and automised, which also contributes to an environmentally friendly production.
The Swiftjet pre-treatment system is adapted for the Durst Alpha Series high-performance inkjet printer and can process print widths of up to 330 cm. Durst will also offer the pre-treatment system as a standalone solution for existing third party technologies.
Santoni is a leading Italian seamless knitting machine builder. Now, it has created new stretch denim products using its seamless circular knitting machines. New Santoni machine has been used for developing a total fresh look capsule collection that offers body hugging, comfortable, sporty, chic and trendy denim items from head to toe.
This is an indigo-based concept, not seen previously on seamless garments. This product concept further enhances the idea of innovative knit denim as a counter-point to the traditional woven denim fabric. It’s a stretch indigo denim concept that brings new innovation to athleisure wear.
In addition, Santoni, with its green label seamless technology, guarantees to have fewer machines involved in the production flow chart, lower energy costs, smaller machine footprint and a shorter production process. The design, flexibility and styling options that come with seamless technology make Santoni and indigo knits an ideal partnership.
Santoni was born in 1919 as the first Italian socks machine manufacturer. Since then it has become a leader in the production of electronic knitting machines for garments without seams. Today Santoni meets 97 per cent of the worldwide demand for seamless machines used for making underwear, sportswear, hosiery, beachwear, outerwear and medical wear.
Picanol’s turnover grew 27 per cent in the first half of 2016 compared to the first half of 2015. The balance sheet increased by 11 per cent from December 31, 2015, to June 30, 2016. Picanol makes high tech weaving machines, based on the airjet or rapier technology. The turnover of the industries division increased 19 per cent in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. Thanks to continued cost-control combined with improved productivity, the industries division achieved an operating result of 8.9 million euros compared to 4.9 million euros in the first half of 2015.
Moreover, the industries division realized a turnover increase of seven per cent to other customers with a strong focus on castings and machining (Proferro) and its controller capacities (PsiControl) to attract new projects.
During the first half of 2016, Proferro was able to further expand its customer portfolio, both in terms of casting and in the finishing of castings. PsiControl achieved further growth with existing customers and also undertook a number of new customer projects, including projects in the engineering industry and in healthcare. The turnover of the weaving machines division grew by 30.4 per cent due to the increasing demand for quality and technology and backed by the favorable exchange rate of the euro.
Acreage under cotton in India during the 2016-17 crop year is expected to be lower by about 10 per cent than that of the current year. However, productivity is likely to be higher during the 2016-17 season due to better weather conditions across all cotton-growing regions of the country. Therefore, output for 2016-17 season is expected to be similar to that of the 2015-16 season. Total cotton supply for the 2016-17 season is estimated at 400 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is estimated at 308 lakh bales, thus leaving an available surplus of 92 lakh bales.
Maharashtra is expected to contribute 87 lakh bales, Gujarat 88 lakh bales and Madhya Pradesh 20 lakh bales. In the south, Karnataka is expected to contribute 21 lakh bales, while Telangana is expected to be the highest at 49 lakh bales. About 42 lakh bales are expected from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Except for Maharashtra, rains have not been good in the other cotton-growing states, including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh bore the brunt of pest attacks last year.
Cotton planting in the country may fall to the lowest in seven years in the 2016-17 marketing season, thanks to pest attacks, the late onset of monsoon and the shift to pulses and oilseeds by farmers.
Economic and trade experts at the China-Pakistan CEOs forum have urged Chinese companies to open their businesses in Pakistan to overcome the high labour costs they facie in China. Also, Pakistan has huge youth population, they could be utilised for economic development. The experts were participating as panelists in a discussion during the second session of the CPEC Summit and Expo. The summit was organised by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms.
Moderating the session, chairman of Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Bashir Ali Mohammad said that since the West had failed to share globalisation opportunities, China had to come forward with a new strategy and vision to promote growth. Ali Mohammad was accompanied by two Chinese and a Pakistani panelist who discussed the opportunities and benefits of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Mohammad was of the view that 21st century belongs to Asia due to the vast opportunities and potential it had been offering. However, he stressed the need for having regional connectivity to take advantage of this potential. He said that the CPEC would boost growth as it would create connectivity in the Asian region. He said that China was still exporting the world's 36 per cent of textile. So if the Chinese shifted this industry to Pakistan, it would benefit them as well as Pakistan.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal stressed on the need for undertaking proper homework before initiating any project. He said that the CPEC projects had been fundamentally based on three principles - scientific planning, step-by-step approach and easier part first. More than 150 leading Chinese businessmen and investors attended the Summit and Expo.
Bangladesh’s apparel exports to some 11 non-traditional markets slowed last fiscal when the export performance to nine East European countries remained unimpressive. Factors like higher duty, complex rules of origin and the absence of continued efforts to promote products and explore markets were responsible. Devaluation of currencies against the dollar in the importing countries and the aftermath of a couple of tragic industrial accidents followed by the country's post-election political turmoil also played a part in the lackluster export performance.
Bangladesh’s non-traditional export markets are: Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Turkey. Traditional export destinations are the US, Europe and Canada. These buy more than 84 per cent of Bangladesh's readymade garment products.
Apparel exports to the non-traditional markets witnessed more than 20 per cent growth during the period from the fiscal year 2011-12 to 2013-14. But the growth slowed down to 10.48 per cent in fiscal year 2015-16. In the previous fiscal year the rate stood at 8.90 per cent.
Germany is the second largest single export destination for Bangladeshi garments after the US. Swedish retailers also plan to increase their sourcing volume from the country.
Bangladesh has the world’s lowest wages, after Myanmar and Sri Lanka, a skilled workforce, and also the upper hand owing to China becoming less competitive in recent years.
To help garment factory owners secure loan easily, the Bangladesh government has fixed a new rate of interest and services charges under the donor-assisted refinancing fund. Charges have now been capped at 7.0 per cent, which used to be between 9-10 per cent earlier, according to a guideline issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The new rate comes as the Bank of Bangladesh (BB) is yet to start disbursing money from the remediation fund on a full scale basis because of high interest rate and service charges levied by the government agencies. A fund of over Tk 3.18 billion (U$38-40 lying idle after poor demand from the owners due to unfavourable interest rate, it is pointed out.
So far, the country's apparel entrepreneurs avoided accessing to funds at 9-10 per cent interest from the facility that has a cheap foreign-aided component. It may be remembered that the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has repeatedly been demanding to bring down the interest rate and service charges between 3.0-5.0 per cent.
Willow, the once dominant but troubled Australian fashion label, is to wind up by end of September. Giving this information, the company’s website says its online store would not trade after August 29 while its four physical stores in Melbourne and Sydney would down shutters on September 30. In its hey days, the label was reportedly worth $20 million and had 20 physical stores nationwide.
After a strategic review of its brands that also include JAG, Sportscraft and Saba, the Apparel Group had announced that Willow was for up for sale, last April. But nothing transpired. The brand, which became famous for its directional tailoring, was launched under Kit Willow Podgornik in 2003. But after a majority takeover in 2011 by the Apparel Group, things went sour between the company and the founder. Later, Podgornik left the brand in 2013.
Since, Podgornik started her own ethical fashion label, KitX which is also stocked at David Jones and is celebrated as one of the store's latest success stories, if its billing at the recent spring launch is any indication. The label is also a personal favourite of David Jones ambassador Jesinta Campbell, who recently posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing a KitX shirt.
"The domestic textile and garment industry in China is facing a major downturn in traditional retail along in online retail sales and exports. With the domestic demand witnessing a decline, the performance of major players has also fallen sharply. Especially menswear business has suffered most. In fact, Busen shares and Hasson shares revealed in first half 2016 net profit 2308.44 Wan yuan and 53.6832 million yuan, respectively, down 298.21 percent and 37.44 percent."
The domestic textile and garment industry in China is facing a major downturn in traditional retail along in online retail sales and exports. With the domestic demand witnessing a decline, the performance of major players has also fallen sharply. Especially menswear business has suffered most. In fact, Busen shares and Hasson shares revealed in first half 2016 net profit 2308.44 Wan yuan and 53.6832 million yuan, respectively, down 298.21 percent and 37.44 percent. The performance of BAOXINIAO also suffered during the first half of the 2016 as quarterly show in the first quarter showed net profit 9,492,700 yuan, down 86.16 %.
Men’s wear brands see lower profits
Various key players in men wear business have witnessed a revenue loss. Brands like Angelo, Hazzys have registered decline in revenue. According to the company the decrease was mainly caused by low retail earnings and retail sales which suffered due to the increase discounts. The company’s net income declined due to reduction in sales, inventory, returns along with increased operating expenses. The growing trend of online shopping also poses a major threat. Recently, Carbene Clothing stores closed its underperforming entities after their newly opened retail outlets slowed pace. As of June 30, 2016, Carbene has 1,012 apparel shops after closing its 47 non performing stores.
The economic downturn and weak demand, continue to hover over China’s domestic textile and garment industry. Over the past two years, the domestic industry for menswear has been in decline. According to the industry analysts, the decline has been primarily in traditional retail due to changing consumer behavior and buying patterns. Quite a few retail store had to opt for consolidation. However it seems not just the menswear business but the overall e domestic retail industry may take a long time to complete re-balance supply and demand.
And the crisis is not only in men's wear business, the textile and garment industry as a whole is facing tough times, say experts. The overall downturn in the Chinese retail industry may take a long time to re-balance supply and demand, the overall domestic consumption of upgrade, segmentation and personalization needs of the market. Therefore, on the supply-side brands that fail to meet consumer demand, will exit the market, while other brands and channels will get an opportunity to adjust and reposition, products and services, marketing and channels to adapt to consumers and improve market share.
