The University of Huddersfield will host The 92nd Textile Institute World Conference (TIWC) from 3-6 July 2023.

The conference theme, "Sustainability of the Textile and Fashion Supply Chain – Transitioning to Zero Carbon and Zero Waste," focuses on identifying sustainable practices throughout the entire textile and fashion supply chain, from raw materials to end-of-life phases.

The conference will address strategies to manage the impact of the textile and fashion supply chain on the environment and climate change, aligning with global initiatives to move towards zero carbon emissions.

Academic and industrial experts will cover sub-themes such as Future Fashion, Composites, Green Skills, Dyes, Pigments, and Polymer, Nonwovens, and Technical Textiles.

The conference aims to benefit the industry through the triple helix model of academic-industry-government dialogues and create a roadmap for achieving zero carbon ambitions before 2050.

UK's textile industry continues to experience fluctuations in imports and exports, influenced by various factors, including economic conditions and global demand, according to the latest data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

UK’s clothing imports declined by 11.51% in February 2023, reaching £1.294 billion ($1.62 billion).This is a significant drop from the £1.443 billion recorded during the same period in the previous year. The decline was also observed on a month-on-month basis, with January 2023 imports standing at £1.384 billion.

Despite the recent decrease, UK's clothing imports had experienced a surge in 2022, amounting to £21.256 billion ($25.86 billion), a 23.50% increase compared to the imports of £17.034 billion in 2021. However, it remains to be seen if this trend will continue in the coming months.

In addition to clothing, the UK's textile fabric imports also recorded a decline of 4.94% in February 2023, amounting to £462 million, down from £486 million in February 2022. These imports also experienced a month-on-month decline, with January 2023 imports at £469 million. ONS data shows that textile fabric imports reached £6.359 billion between January and December 2022.

Furthermore, the UK imported £39 million worth of textile fibres in February 2023, compared to £45 million during the same month in 2022. Textile fibre imports were also lower in January 2023, at £35 million. The total textile fibre imports for 2022 amounted to £545 million.

On the other hand, the UK's clothing exports decreased annually, reaching £3.931 billion in 2022 compared to £4.263 billion in 2021. In February 2023, the country exported clothing valued at £296 million, a decline from £323 million in February 2022 and £306 million in January 2023. Meanwhile, exports of textile fabrics and fibres were recorded at £2.716 billion and £616 million, respectively, in 2022.

The recent decline in clothing imports in February 2023 highlights the need for continued monitoring of the industry's performance to identify future trends and potential opportunities for growth.

Consumer spending in the US has taken a hit for the second consecutive month as the latest retail sales data from the US Census Bureau shows that consumers pulled back on their spending in March.

The decline in spending is seen across several categories with clothing and accessories stores being hit the hardest, slipping 1.7% month on month and 1.8% from a year ago. Spending on electronics and appliances was also down 2.1% month over month, while furniture and home furnishings dropped by a respective 1.2% and 2.4%.

Overall, spending declined 1% month over month on a seasonally adjusted basis, following a 0.2% decline in February versus January.

The research from PYMNTS suggests that this pullback in consumer spending is due to the average consumer not expecting inflation to return to normal until the end of 2024.

Representatives from BGMEA and Bangladesh Garments Executive Association recently visited Tamil Nadu to discuss the possibility of sourcing yarn and fabric from the state. Bangladesh is exploring increased sourcing raw material from India to achieve its ambitious annual export target of USD 100 billion, jumping from its monthly garment exports currently valued at USD 3.9 billion.

Over 85 Indian textile entrepreneurs from the Federation attended the meeting and discussed the demand for blended fabrics and value-added yarns, sustainability-related certifications, sustainable practices, sourcing more from India, ready-to-cut processed fabrics, and demand for woven fabrics in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh wants to source more woven fabric and processed, ready-to-cut fabric of different fibres from India. Furthermore, about 40 spinning mills and 60 fabric companies in the state of TN are already supplying to Bangladesh. Earlier, the Bangladesh delegation had also visited clusters such as Surat and Delhi to explore additional sources.

This move by Bangladesh also comes as part of its efforts to reduce its reliance on China for textile imports, amid concerns over the supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

India, with its abundant supply of cotton, polyester, and other raw materials, is a natural alternative source for Bangladesh. Moreover, India's textile industry has been actively promoting sustainable practices and certifications, which aligns with Bangladesh's growing emphasis on sustainability in the garment industry.

The growing trade relations between India and Bangladesh in the textile sector are expected to further strengthen their economic ties and benefit both countries in the long run.

US government accuses Chinese-backed fast fashion digital platforms Shein and Temu of posing risks to data privacy and engaging in unfair market practices, according to a report by the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC).

Shein has outpaced competitors, including Zara and H&M, to take a dominant position in the US market, which other Chinese firms are seeking to replicate. The report alleged that these firms exploit trade import exemptions and pose challenges to US regulations, laws, and principles of market access. Shein's business model relies on tracking and analysing user data to discern emerging fashion preferences and patterns. Temu has also replicated Shein's process of quickly manufacturing and shipping clothing to US consumers.

Other established and emerging Chinese e-commerce firms seek to penetrate the US market by modelling their strategies on Shein and Temu's businesses.

The report stressed that the government should ensure that these firms adhere to US laws and regulations and are not granted unfair advantages over US firms.

China's textile and apparel exports showed an unexpected surge in March, with a year-on-year increase of 19.7%, leaving industry experts to wonder about the reasons behind the growth.

This positive development is particularly noteworthy given the concerns expressed by the industry in the first quarter about the significant drop in export orders. The growth is primarily attributed to a 31.9% increase in the export of garments and accessories, while yarns, fabrics, and related products also experienced a modest rise of 9.1%. However, the exact factors contributing to this unexpected rise are not entirely clear.

Some market observers believe that the epidemic prevention and control policy, which led to an increase in orders, played a role in the rise. However, the outbreak of the virus in December and the Spring Festival in January affected domestic production and overseas orders, which might not have been reflected in the data until March.

On the other hand, some experts believe that the stock of fabric and apparel enterprises was not extensive, and there was demand for replenishment overseas, which further stimulated the downstream production in China. It is also possible that the downstream fabric mills resumed works after the Lantern Festival, leading to a wave of hot sales.

Furthermore, cross-border e-commerce orders also received positive feedback, providing a significant boost to terminal exports. However, it is difficult to account for the 32% growth in apparel exports, despite the above-mentioned reasons. As a result, industry experts believe that it is essential to monitor the trend in the coming months to see if the growth continues or if it was a temporary phenomenon.

The monthly export report and detailed data of exports issued by China customs in late March will provide a better understanding of the situation. Additionally, China's future textile and apparel exports to Europe, the US, and Japan will help confirm whether the export growth will sustain or not.

Walmart is selling its direct-to-consumer menswear brand, Bonobos, to brand management firm WHP Global and apparel retailer Express Inc. for a combined $75m, six years after acquiring it for $310m.

WHP Global is paying $50m for the Bonobos brand, while Express will acquire the operating assets and assume the related liabilities of its business for $25m.

Analysts suggest that Bonobos may have a better chance of thriving under its new owners, given Walmart's lack of development of the brand since acquiring it in 2017.

For Express, the acquisition provides a chance to diversify from its core, middle-market business, and for WHP Global, the deal enables the company to expand its portfolio.

The deal is expected to close in Express' second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

The latest fire broke out in the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, when most of the complex's nearly 1,500 shops were shut. Firefighters and military personnel finally extinguished a blaze that swept through a three-story shopping complex over the weekend, causing injuries to 30 people.

The majority of stores were fully stocked ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid later this month, and shopkeepers were seen trying to salvage their stocks amidst the devastation.

This is the second such incident in just two weeks, following a massive fire that destroyed 5,000 stores on April 4.

Lax regulations and poor enforcement have been blamed for industrial fires that have plagued Bangladesh in recent years, with the country and international clothing brands that manufacture there coming under intense scrutiny after several disasters that killed over 1,200 workers.

While the garment industry has made strides to improve safety, fires continue to occur in other sectors.

Superdry, a UK-based fashion brand, is now anticipating lower profits and lower sales between $771-$796 million. The factors cited for the shortfall include the "cost-of-living issue" and poor weather impacting demand for spring and summer items. The company's wholesale division has not performed as well as the rest of the company.

To address the situation, the company is considering various funding options, including a potential stock raising of up to 20%, the company's stock price has fallen 37% over the past year, and it has retracted its profit forecast of "broadly breakeven" for the coming year.

Superdry has identified cost savings of over 35 million pounds. The clothing chain currently has 104 shops across the UK, including in major cities like London, Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff and 198 abroad.

Last month, Superdry reached an agreement with South Korea's Cowell Fashion Company to sell its intellectual property holdings in most of the Asia Pacific area for $50 million, subject to shareholder approval.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is calling for the waiver of the 7.5% and 15% VAT imposed on locally recycled fiber to attract more foreign investment in the industry.

The tax applies to the collection of raw materials used by locally established recycled fiber production mills and their supply to local spinning mills. Additionally, the BGMEA is urging the establishment of an HS code and duty-free facilities for importing textile waste, clips, and mutilated garments from the textile industry.

Recycled fiber is an emerging 100% export-oriented backward industry that is growing in importance for achieving new laws and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the EU and the West. However, locally sourced 5,77,000 tons of textile waste are not enough to meet demand from buyers. To address this, the BGMEA is recommending the import of textile waste and mutilated garments to meet demand.

Producing recycled fiber adds value at the local level, is chemical-free, and emits no CO2, making it a unique solution for protecting the environment. Using recycled fiber as an alternative to virgin cotton saves Bangladesh at least 30% of foreign exchange on total imports of virgin cotton, which is worth an estimated $1 billion.

As international consumers shift towards circular fashion and recycled products, the BGMEA believes it is crucial to focus on reusing post-industrial waste or jute cloth as raw materials. The European Union's new law requires cotton fabrics to include at least 50% virgin cotton, organic cotton, or polyester with a comparable rate (recycled fiber) by 2025.

To encourage foreign investment, increase the use of recycled fiber in the industry, and ensure access to the European market for apparel items made from recycled fibers, the BGMEA has suggested the exemption of the 7.5% and 15% VAT charged on the gathering of raw materials used by locally established recycled fiber manufacturing mills and their supply to local spinning mills.