Market leader in wood-based specialty fibres, The Lenzing Group, hosted the ‘The Lenzing Conclave’ at Salem in Tamil Nadu. The conclave is an India-first initiative by Lenzing group, aimed at empowering the textile industry with best global practices in sustainable textile. The conclave featured insightful discussions with industry experts and leaders with a focus on the regional traditional wear market. India is among the top markets for Lenzing Group and ‘The Lenzing Conclave’ represents commitment to partner with all stakeholders in achieving its overall Sustainable Development Goals.

The conclave witnessed participation from Indian traditional wear manufacturers, traders and spinners who utilized the opportunity to absorb from the experiences of some early adaptors of sustainable traditional wear products in India. Insightful panel discussion on adoption of new age fibers in traditional wear and its overall scope featuring experts from design, retail and supply chain received much appreciation from attendees. Lenzing also displayed their latest range of product innovations which included sarees, dhotis and shirts made from TENCEL™ fibers. The new innovations incorporate the globally sought after attributes of TENCEL™ fibers, like superior softness, comfort, elegant aesthetics and high environmental standards, into the traditional wear outfits.

Prior to hosting the conclave in Salem, Lenzing also hosted a conclave at Solapur in Maharashtra in collaboration with Textile Development Foundation and Rajapalayam in collaboration with the Rajapalayam Spinners Forum. The initiative offered the industry players an opportunity to interact and learn on best practices in sustainable textile solutions through industry leaders as well as international experts like Uster Technologies, textile testing and equipment manufacturing firm as well as textile consultancy SWTS Consultants. The conclave helped develop stronger relationships and expanded network of partners within the region with shared commitment towards adopting sustainable practices across the production chain right to the end customer.

Kering plans to reinvigorate sales at its star label Gucci in China - a key growth driver for leading luxury houses that has been hit by its new COVID lockdowns. As per a Fashion Network report, the brand has appointed former Tiffany executive Laurent Cathala to run Chinese operations for Gucci, which provides more than half the group's total's revenue.

Cathala is expected to bolster local teams, giving them control of marketing and advertising activities, analysts said, an unusual move in an industry where strategy is normally dictated by Europe-based executives in Paris or Milan.

China's sputtering economy has a lot riding on its consumers, who are just now emerging from lockdowns in Shanghai and other big cities. Analysts say government stimulus measures may not be enough to drive a recovery in consumer spending.

Gucci suffered more than rivals like LVMJ -owned Louis Vuitton or Hermes in the first quarter of the year due to the restrictions.

Kering shares have fallen 26 per cent since the beginning of the year compared to a 16 per cent decline for spirits-to-jewellery conglomerate LVMH, which is seen as more resilient to economic downturns as its business is more diversified.

Owner of Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, Fast Retailing plans to raise prices of some goods this Fall, reflecting increasing cost pressures from the weak yen and logistical hurdles.

The company will increase prices of fleece goods and down jackets in the Fall/Winter product lines by 1,000 yen ($7.54). It will also increase the use of recycled polyester in its fleece products to keep costs down.

Consumer prices are surging in Japan after decades of deflation, driven by the yen's drop to a 20-year low against the dollar and soaring energy costs.

Fast Retailing has competed on low-cost basics like socks and underwear for decades, but its executives have warned recently that rising production costs would necessitate price hikes.

Tadashi Yanai, Founder rallied against the decline in Japan's currency in April, saying there was absolutely no merit in a weak yen.

AATCC has announced the winners of the 2022 AATCC Concept 2 Consumer® Student Merchandising Competition. This is a digital poster competition that will allow students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in business, marketing, and merchandising.

This year, AATCC received 12 entries, with 34 students participating! This year's theme asked students to merchandise a sustainable travel wear line that incorporated recycled materials, sustainable manufacturing, and antibacterial and/or odor-control properties.

The first price was awarded to Danielle Klinedinst from the University of Delaware. She was awarded US$1000 from AATCC, US$300 from Farhan Patel, and one-year free AATCC Student Membership. Klinedinst is pursuing a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Management.

Samantha Blocher from the Washington State University was awarded with the second prize. She received $750 from AATCC, $200 from Farhan Patel, and one-year free AATCC student membership. She is pursuing graduation with a BA in Apparel Merchandising, Design, and Textiles.

Amber Mills, TemueraQueypo, ShingYo Tsai, and Emma Raz from the Oregon State University bagged the third prize. The group was awarded with $250 from AATCC, $100 from Farhan Patel, and one-year free AATCC student memberships.

Novozymes has launched the first range of biopolishing fibers with Fiberlife® to minimize fuzz and pilling in viscose, modal and lyocell. Biopolishing enables enzymes to remove loose fiber ends, leaving a clean, new-looking surface, which lasts for at least 60 washes. It can also improve print quality in daily wash and wear.

Fiberlife®, gives MMCF fabrics the wash and wear durability that consumers demand, prolonging the time the garments look and feel new. This is a better solution for the fashion and broader textile industry, consumers, and the planet,” says Dina Lipp, Global Marketing Manager at Novozymes.

Novozymes has been working intensively on making MMCF biopolishing possible for viscose, modal and lyocell. It offers consumers longer lasting garments made of fibers from nature, says Pedro E. G. Loureiro, Global Business Development Manager, Novozymes.

Fiberlife® also helps textile producers improve on quality and sustainability while strengthening the connection towards a growing number of eco-conscious consumers.

After launching a textile park in Kakatiya, Telangana, Kitex Garments plans to expand and set its third unit in the state. Manufacturer of infant wear, Kochi-based Kitex Garments will invest Rs 2,400 crore in Telangana over three years to set up two integrated fibre- to-apparel manufacturing clusters in the State. Earlier, it had planned to invest Rs 1,000 crore but increased its investment seeing the response of Telangana government. The company’s initiatives will help create employment opportunities for 22,000 people. Kitex has set a target to ship three million pieces made in Telangana to the export markets.

On May 7, Kitex launched its Kakatiya Textile Park unit. Within a month, it announced plans to expand even further. The government also plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore in the state, encouraging Kitex to expand its facilities further in the state.

Asahi Kasei's iconic premium stretch fiber manufacturer Roica™ has strengthened its presence in the underwear and swimwear markets by establishing new partnerships, will participate in the upcoming Interfilière Paris. The company will exhibit ROICA™ EF, a sustainable recycled stretch fiber obtained from pre-consumer materials and ROICA™ V550, a sustainable degradable stretch fiber which smartly breaks down without releasing harmful substances, based on the Hohenstein Environmental Compatibility Certificate, and boasting the Gold Level Material Health Certificate by Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation Institute.

The company has achieved a milestone in the world of stretch by introducing various innovative fibers including ROICA Colour Perfect ™, ROICA Resistance™, ROICA Feel Good™, ROICA Eco-Smart™, ROICA Contour™. These fibers help enhance a contemporary wardrobe made of groundbreaking principles that are easily conveyed and transparently visible to the end consumer.

Indeed, by creating cutting-edge tools, such as the hangtags that provide, through simple and well-designed icons, clear and concise functional information showing for each application the values and performances of each ROICA™ family. Dresdner Spitzen (C042), which will showcase its latest collection of lace, featuring new designs, filigree patterns and bright colors, geometric motifs and eye-catching floral designs. The range includes, among others, items made from recycled polyamide yarns in blend with the recycled stretch fiber ROICA™ EF.

The company is also introducing an allover lace made from recycled polyamide yarn and ROICA™ EF, in colours such as red, mint blue and off-white, as well as a 23cm lace galloon containing ROICA™ V550, in stock in colours such as white, black and wine.

To be held from September 5-6, 2022 at NEC Birmingham, Curated Meetings at Autumn Fair has announced its first round of confirmed brands for the fair. The fair will showcase product including eco-conscious and tech innovations, statement jewellery, crafted leather bags, aromatherapy and candles, artwork, books and games, to pre-approved and budget-holding buyers from retailers including WH Smith, Paper Tiger, Brown Thomas, FY!, Harvey Norman Ireland, Lark London, Ragdale Hall Spa, Nest, as well as international retailers including Manor Pharmacy from Switzerland, and Lithuanian store group Kosmelita.

Attracting brands and buyers from across the UK, Europe and rest of the world, Curated Meetings will hold pre-scheduled15-minute meetings between qualified buyers and relevant suppliers based on a mutual interest to drive new business opportunities together. The fair will hold hundreds of pre-scheduled meetings across the two days of the UK’s leading marketplace for wholesale Home, Gift and Fashion.

Halting of duty-free exports from the country and reduction in traffic has led to Arvind reducing garmenting capacity in Ethiopia. Last year, Arvind restricted some facilities across India and started reducing capacity in Ethiopia. Cancellation of AGOA Treaty led to the company reducing its installed capacity in Ethiopia to about 50 million pieces, notes Samir Agrawal, Chief Strategy Officer.

Introduced in 2000, the AGOA treaty offers duty-free access to the US from sub-Saharan African countries. Although the treaty was renewed in 2015 till 2025, it still faces uncertainty over further renewal. To compensate for the reduction of garment capacity in Ethiopia, Arvind plans to augment capacity in India during FY23. The company will invest Rs 200 crore towards capacity augmentation in advanced material division and garmenting businesses, besides cost optimization projects for fabric business.

The Punjab government plans to set up a textile park spread over 1,000 acre in Ludhiana to boost exports. As per The Tribute, the textile park will house seven mega industrial estates to be built at the cost of Rs 4,445 crore. Approved under the PM Mitra Scheme, the ambitious industrial project will be a joint venture between the Centre and the state. It will be completed over five years by 2027-28, for which the requisite funds have been approved under the scheme.

The three textile clusters in the state: Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, export textiles and garments worth almost Rs 12,000 crore every year. In 2019-20, the three clusters exported textile products worth Rs 11,639.63 crore to the US, UAE, UK, and Australia. Sibin C, Director & Secretary-Industries and Commerce says, Punjab has over 1,200 textile and apparel units employing 1.2 lakh people. The state is home to major textile players such as Trident, Nahar, Vardhman, Shingora, Sportking, Nivia, Savi, Avani Textiles, JCT Mills, and Indian Acrylics, he adds.