China is now the standard-bearer of global free trade, with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at the heart of its strategy. The RCEP is a free-trade deal among the ten-member states of Asean and six Asia-Pacific states – Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. It is now the world’s biggest trade deal and covers half the world’s population.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, and the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank are countering US-led trade in the Asia Pacific, given that the six non-Asean member states in the RCEP are also bidding to join the revised TTP by the end of December. Should they do so, it would be a game-changer, tilting Asia’s trade framework away from Chinese control under the RCEP.

Now, the battle is on to secure those six – Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand – as trade partners. The propaganda war has already begun, with China claiming that it is trying to sway Asia-Pacific partners to stand by free trade via the RCEP amid rising US protectionism.

The RCEP is billed as an antidote to the American agenda, which has seen tariffs imposed on almost half of all Chinese imports to the US and retaliatory levies by China.

"The global economy is currently in such a fragile state that it is poised delicately between a slow recovery and a second slide. At this stage, it is important to sit collectively, analyse the current scenario, and jointly consider various future strategies. Continuous global crisis, high oil prices and turmoil and political instability are huge concerns to all businesses particularly textiles as people in crisis tend to reduce expenditure on textiles in crises as even in utter crises they always have clothes to wear."

The global economy is currently in such a fragile state that it is poised delicately between a slow recovery and a second slide. At this stage, it is important to sit collectively, analyse the current scenario, and jointly consider various future strategies. Continuous global crisis, high oil prices and turmoil and political instability are huge concerns to all businesses particularly textiles as people in crisis tend to reduce expenditure on textiles in crises as even in utter crises they always have clothes to wear.

China’s textile and clothing exports have risen more than fourfold since 2000, compared to stagnant exports from other top exporting countries. The country’s capacity development is also peaking as more than 40 per cent of the world’s production of clothing and textiles is done in China and India.

Chinese middle class critical of government policies

Over the past few months, China’s middle class has been noticeably critical of the government’s economic and sociopolitical policies, including the way the leadership has handled relations with the US. Some suggest this middle-class discontent threatens President Xi Jinping’s broader position and economic vision and indicates that the US holds the advantage in the trade dispute with China. But the middle class’ views which are the foundation of Chinese public opinion might be poised to turn in the Communist Party’s favor.

The interdependency between emerging economies and developed economies could thwart latent demand in major manufacturing centers, specifically in Southeast Asia.

India to maintain its position as production hub

India will continue to be a major textile production center catering to a huge domestic market. But imports from China, Bangladesh are causing disturbance in supply chain however, government is taking corrective steps and a lot of favorable initiatives are being taken by textiles ministry to improve production synergies and textile business model.

Middle East saga

Middle East continuous to be a big consumer of textiles based on imports, major exporting countries to Middle East include China, South Korea, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Pakistan etc. As the Middle East economy is affected, its textile business is also affected. Though the improving oil prices are offering lot of relief, it will some take time as economy has been adversely affected for last few years.

Need for constant innovation and research

However, textile industry has to constantly innovate and research. It needs to constantly invest in quality control and new opportunities such as defense textile, huge requirement of camouflage fabrics as size of armed forces is increasing all over the world. Similarly coated fabrics, industry textiles have become huge markets now. The textile and apparel industry is buyer-driven and dominated by retailers, brands and sourcing companies. Retailers demand full-package service from their suppliers, but they are reluctant to pay for additional services. It is important in today‘s business environment to select customers who see you as partners.

E-Commerce platforms are turning out to be a big blessing as online sale is improving eliminating middle man. Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues and many other small platforms are helping small manufacturers to produce high quality stuff. Current times are tough but textile manufacturers have seen much harder times in the past.

Denim trade show Kingpins will host its winter show from November 28-29 in Basketball City, in New York. The show will focus on the past, present and future of denim trends. The invitation-only event will feature a range of manufacturers and members from the denim industry, offering a variety of indigo talks, educational seminars, and predictions of 2020 trends. Mirroring a growing pattern within the textile world's showcases and trade shows, the Kingpins show will include several companies focused on sustainability within the denim industry.

The upcoming Kingpins New York exhibitors includes event sponsors Lycra Brand and E3, companies like Lenzing, Global Denim, Hebi Geyuan and Arvind, as well as a special selection of Japanese denim companies.Featured discussions will include ‘100 Years of Women’s Garments at Levi Strauss & Co,’ a seminar by Levi's historian Tracey Panek discussing the denim brand's most significant womenswear moments over the past century, and ‘DIY Denim: Subcultures and the Making of Meaning,’ a conversation on the connection between denim, subcultures and fashion "myth-making" featuring authors Andrew Luecke and Amy Leverton.

There will also be two presentations of "Kingpins Denim Trends for S/S 2020. Fit, fabric, finish," a talk hosted by Amy Leverton of Denim Dudes and presenting a forecast of the top four trends of the season, including "research and references, mood and style direction, key color selections, etc.

Reed Exhibitions (RX) will postpone its Long Beach trade show, scheduled for January 3 through 4, 2019. The company will instead shift its focus to its B2C festival scheduled for June 2019. This festival will merge street wear, action sports, lifestyle and fashion alongside music, art, food, education and more indicating a transition to a consumer-facing model. It will be a relevant and authentic fan expo that integrates customer interaction and speaks directly to the youth/fashion lifestyle market.

Reed caters to action sports and street wear retailers and brands. Many of its bellwether brand exhibitors have shown support for the decision, reinforcing that direct consumer-brand interplay is key to creating long-lasting relationships.

The shift from B2B to B2C reflects the rapidly changing industry landscape in which direct interaction with shoppers is paramount. While large brands are focused on fewer, more meaningful retail relationships, smaller start up brands are utilizing technology and digital platforms to market and sell directly to the consumer. This makes meaningful experiences with consumers more important than ever for customer brands, both large and small.

RX will continue to host a B2B trade show from February 5 through 7 at the upcoming Las Vegas Fashion Week, where it will present a range of men’s sportswear, action sports, street wear and footwear brands.

Yes Bank has entered into partnership with Welspun Global Brands. This will facilitate electronic presentation of export documents. With this transaction, Yes Bank becomes the first Indian bank to facilitate electronic presentation of export documents. Welspun Global Brands is a subsidiary of Welspun India.

The electronic documentation of the international trade e-presented through a digital platform will replace the need to exchange physical documentation, thereby reducing turnaround-time from ten days to real-time for all parties involved, while establishing a precedent for faster, secure, cost-efficient settlement of cross border trade, resulting in optimization of working capital.

The digital platform has been built by UK-based Bolero. Welspun India is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of bed and bath textile products globally. The company’s portfolio comprises a wide range of home textile products such as terry towels, bed linen (basic bedding and decorative bedding), rugs and bathrobes.

The company is seeing substantial growth in e-commerce and has developed a few products for the online marketplace as well. Capacity utilisation has gone up from 80 per cent clocked in the previous financial year. The plan is to invest Rs 900 crores as a part of capital expenditure. Capital has been set aside for a new flooring unit in Telangana.

Alicia Ferreira de Sousa from L’École de la Maille de Paris was announced the winner of the inaugural Adidas x Woolmark Performance Challenge. Alicia will receive a cash prize, a three-month internship with Adidas, the opportunity to sell the winning idea along with ongoing industry and training support from The Woolmark Company.

More than 500 students from 58 universities across Europe and North America registered to take part in the Challenge. The 10 finalists were chosen from universities from France, USA, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The Adidas x Woolmark Performance Challenge not only allows wool to enter a new phase in product development, but provides an excellent opportunity for Alicia, and I congratulate her on this exciting win. The Woolmark Performance Challenge has been created by The Woolmark Company in collaboration with sportswear giant adidas, to attract the best young textile innovators to use Australian Merino wool.

Open to tertiary students worldwide, the Woolmark Performance Challenge provides an opportunity to apply the unique benefits of Australian Merino wool to new product applications in the sports and performance market. Alicia Ferreira de Sousa from L’École de la Maille de Paris was announced the winner of the inaugural Woolmark Performance Challenge.

British warehouses are filling up goods against the threat of an exit from the EU without a free trade agreement in place—and fashion firms are among those bracing for a logistical nightmare. Britain is running out of warehousing space as retailers rush to fill them with goods in the event of no-deal. And while stockpiling food and medicine is more urgent than clothing, brands are under pressure too.

One such company is ABF, which operates five businesses, including fast-fashion brand Primark, and which has been stockpiling goods in the north of England. Another is Next. The high street chain—led by chief executive Lord Wolfson—was well advanced in its preparations in case a free-trade agreement is not in place by next March. To plan ahead, the retail giant has been stockpiling some goods in its Irish warehouses, which will be safe to travel to the UK in the event of no deal, thanks to the Common Travel Agreement between the two countries. However, given the rapidity of the fashion calendar and the speed at which trends change and collections are updated, even the best prepared brands cannot stockpile for more than a few months.

Whether it’s transformative designs made from deconstructed denim, or back-to-basics high-waisted mom and dad styles, jeans are a likely pairing for street wear’s core items: graphic logo tees and sneakers. While street was solely about youth culture, the current look for denim as street wear runs the gamut from wide and baggy, to fitted, stylized and even tailored.

The rise of street wear has invited new opportunities for women’s denim brands to experiment outside the confines of the skinny jean. The trend has created a shift in women’s silhouettes. A wider and more square aesthetic is now leading. Layering has become more playful and innovative, with a mixing up of weights and lengths.

Denim jackets, coats, shirts, vests, skirts and dresses are giving off that nonchalant street wear aesthetic thanks to the casual feel of the fabric. Street wear also has pushed a less gender-defined aesthetic. Street garments have cross-appeal, with women shopping from menswear lines and some brands catering to this with unisex lines. Across genders, there has been a general loosening of silhouette, with wider fit jeans, puffed-out jackets and longer-line top. From drop crotch to baggy denim, voluminous denim shapes are already in stores.

A growing preference for advanced automotive interiors along with a rise in the demand for passenger vehicles will drive growth in the textile coating market worldwide. Other triggers are, rapid urbanization along with increasing spending on infrastructure. Benefits including anti-abrasion, thermal insulation, self-cleaning and fire retardation will remain key factors fueling product demand. Others are advances in advertisement platforms including billboards, hoardings and signage. In addition, increasing product adoption in supporting nets, awnings and canopies used during infrastructure development will fuel demand.

Thermoplastics accounted for over 80 per cent of the overall textile coatings demand in 2016. Air bags, automotive upholstery, and bulk bags are major contributing applications. Benefits including durability, strength, and high resilience will facilitate the market growth in this segment.

The US textile coatings market will witness 4.5 per cent growth up to 2024. Positive outlook from home furnishing, clothing and industrial applications will support the overall business growth. Stagnant raw material prices along with increase in spending on R&D for further product innovation will propel regional industry growth.

Key players are: Omnova Solutions, Huntsman, Solvay, Clariant, Covestro, Sumitomo, Lubrizol and Nobletex.

The 10th edition of Planet Textiles 2019 will focus on sustainable innovation and technology. The exhibition, to be held on June 22, 2019 at the Fira Barcelona Exhibition Conference Centre, is expected to attract up to 120,000 visitors from 147 countries. First launched in 2009 in Hong Kong, Planet Textiles is expected to be a seminal event where apparel retailers, brands and buyers can network with an unrivalled gathering of experts from the textile manufacturing sector.

Delegates to Planet Textiles will also get special discounted access to ITMA where they can view the latest in textile production technology in action. A limited number of Planet Textile curated tours of ITMA will be available so that delegates can see new innovative technology with a positive environmental impact.

Planet Textiles is being supported once again by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and will detail disruptive new textile technology, expert insight from leading industry CEOs, retail and apparel brands and NGOs involved in the environmental space.

Special sessions at Planet Textiles 2019 will feature the ZDHC Foundation and Fashion for Good, along with breakout sessions on what denim and textile production will look like in the second half of the 21st Century and how to reduce their environmental impact.