FW
Vietnam's textile exports have grown nine per cent since the beginning of the year. But this is the lowest growth recorded for the last three years, and well below the 19 per cent recorded for the same period last year. Exports have reached $12 million but only 27.5 per cent of this was from domestic firms. Foreign-invested firms account for the vast majority.
The textile industry has faced many difficulties this year, with smaller orders coming from regular markets such as Japan and the EU. Orders are still being placed but most are still small. And the situation is likely to continue. When Vietnam’s textiles to the EU and Japan reach consumers their prices are much higher and fail to sell. Although the US market is showing some positive signs it cannot compensate for declining orders from Japan and the EU.
The reasons behind smaller orders include an increase in exchange rate as well the economic crisis in Greece, which is affecting the EU economy. Textiles are a major export of Vietnam. The textile and clothing industry represents a key source of industrial employment, especially for women, and is a leading industry for overall growth and industrialization.
The US imports nearly all of its clothing. In 2014, the US clothing import market reached a record high in terms of both monetary value and volume of clothing and textiles produced. The average price of US clothes imports fell for the third year in a row. China remains the biggest clothing supplier to the US. However, the US is now looking to diversify clothing imports. China is still one of the world’s top producers of cotton, so unlike its rival such as Vietnam it does not have to worry about sourcing cotton for its garment producing industries. Yet, production costs in the region are rising.
Bangladesh, another garment-producing country, offers lower wages for its workers than China. But since the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse and with political tensions within the region, there has been a drop in investment in the Bangladeshi garment export industry. Africa is being cited as the new horizon from which garments can be sourced. Countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya have successfully integrated their industries along the textile supply chain, creating textile and garment market opportunities at every stage in the production process.
But for now demand for better wages and living conditions in developing countries may have an impact on the cheap clothing market in the US.
Euratex will take place on November 18, 2015, in Italy in conjunction with the ITMA textile technology fair. Euratex promotes competitiveness and sustainable growth of European textile and clothing industry. The convention is designed to launch a debate on tomorrow’s challenges for the industry. To retain their competitive edge, European companies are increasingly investing in innovation and introducing latest technologies.
This is a convention devoted to sustainable innovation in the textile and clothing industry. Thought leaders from industry and technology will discuss if the European Union textile and apparel sector has found enduring competitive advantages in its focus on quality, innovation, sustainability and high value added. During the round table discussion, textile and clothing manufacturers will share their practical experiences and promising textile technologies and markets.
Sustainable production has become an integral part of companies’ business strategy. This includes technological innovation of production process, resource efficiency, recycling and use of sustainable textile materials as well as exploring new business models.
Euratex’s goal for the years to come is to concentrate on a few priority areas, namely, genuine industrial policy, free and fair trade, support for innovation and research and sustainable production.
www.euratex.eu/
Coats is launching a fusible thread which helps secure buttons and other decorative applications such as sequins and beads. Its enhanced fixing security is of particular benefit for buttons used in children’s wear. Coats is the world’s leading maker of industrial thread and consumer textile crafts. Bonding properties of the thread are heat activated, by steam or iron, which forms a durable bond between the stitches. This helps increase security by preventing the stitch from unraveling and also provides a cleaner finished appearance to the final garment than standard sewing threads as loose ends can be sealed using the same method.
The thread is called Secura. Secura is a polyester core spun thread which resists abrasion and ensures excellent sewability. The thread is impregnated with a compound, creating a fusible fiber matrix. The bonding properties of the thread are activated by steam or normal iron and ensure increased button security because of the added cohesion.
Buttons attached with Coats Secura achieve a higher button pull through strength. The thread gives a clean appearance due to the sealing of any loose ends. Secura has been developed in response to feedback from customers looking for ways to reduce returns of garments due to buttons, beads or sequins coming loose. Using Secura helps increase their confidence that buttons and decorative attachments will remain in place.
Wearing a linen clothes has become a status symbol in India. It's probably right to say the wrinkles add to linen’s flavor and appeal. Some 6,000 flax growers in France supply 60 per cent of the raw material for the world’s linen, the fabric of wrinkly bed sheets and summer suits. This spring, French farmers sowed the most flax in a decade as expanding demand for linen in India has helped prices recover from a slump.
Europe and the US remain the biggest markets for linen but two decades of economic expansion have swelled India’s middle class. India’s linen market was practically non-existent five years ago and is now growing at 20 per cent a year. Linen’s ability to absorb sweat and keep the body cool makes it a perfect fabric for India’s climate.
Besides the comeback of knitted linen, demand is also being pushed with the use of the fiber in composites for tennis rackets and automotive parts, a market that makes up six per cent of demand. Despite everything, global linen market is minuscule compared to cotton and wool, making up less than one per cent of the textile market.
Chinese cotton imports decreased by around 26 percent in June compared to last year owing to relatively high international prices and a lack of quotas for shipments that impacted overseas purchases. The world's top consumer of the fibre imported just 161,800 tonnes in June, showcasing that the total for the first six months of the year plunged 33 percent from the same period in 2014 to 933,900 tonnes.
After lifting its cotton stockpiling policy, Beijing has been trying to boost consumption of locally-grown cotton, with industry insiders saying that the government issued 894,000 just tons of import quotas this year, the minimum required under WTO commitments. "The price differential between domestic and international prices kept narrowing; even for mills with quota availability, imported cotton didn't look so attractive anymore," said Switzerland-based trading firm Reinhart in its weekly market report.
Chinese prices are under pressure from significant leftover commercial stocks as well as sales of state reserve cotton, which kicked off last week, adding supply to the market. Zhengzhou futures also fell sharply following last week's stock market failure. At the same time, purchasing by India's government-backed Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has propped up the prices of Indian fibre, while US cotton has been already sold out.
The Central government plans to launch hundreds of franchisees of Coir Board showrooms across India to promote use of eco-friendly coir products as a substitute for environmentally damaging plastic products. Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises will soon launch a variety of natural coir products, ranging from commonly used coir mats to special purpose coir geo textiles, popular in Europe.
Giriraj Singh, Minister of State for Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises recently visited the Coir Board headquarters for a review meeting with the board officials. He expressed concern over falling coconut production in Kerala. As the Kerala coir industry is heavily dependent on Tamil Nadu for raw materials, he urged the state government to vigorously push cultivation of coconut trees in the coastal state. The Minister also launched a new project to manufacture ‘false ceiling tiles’ from tufted coir waste promoted by the Coir Board.
He said the government wants to increase export revenue from coir products in the current financial year. India has earned Rs 1,600 crores from export of coir products last fiscal and this fiscal, it expects to generate Rs 2000 crores through foreign trade. The Coir Board will conduct 16 expos in foreign countries and 175 expos domestically to promote Indian coir products.
Coirboard.gov.in
Bangladeshi manufacturers and traders expect lower sales of popular traditional clothing lungis and saris this Eid season owing to low crop prices. Both are commonly shopped products during the festive season by people belonging to lower-income category, especially the 15.3 million farm households.
Experts point out that the sales of these items are directly linked to the condition of rural economy. When the domestic economy is positive, sales of such commonly used clothing increase. But this year, farmers have not been able to make any money due to fall in crop prices. Overall sales figures are expected to fall by 25-30 per cent this Eid against last year. Islampur in Old Dhaka and Baburhat Bazar in Narsingdi are the major wholesale markets for locally-made low-priced lungis and saris.
According to additional research director at the local think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Khondaker Golam Moazzem, prices of major crops have a direct impact on the farm- based rural economy and decline in prices during Boro and potato seasons has reduced the rural purchasing power.
Salon Allure has teamed up with retail visionary Babalu to create Hammock, an expansion of the Salon Allure trade show. This will have more creative exhibition spaces, previously sell-out suites and brand-new events during Swim Week to be held from July 18-20. Lycra Xtra Life Brand is again serving as presenting sponsor for Hammock. Recognized as Swim Week's premiere luxury lifestyle show, the newly branded Hammock will take place at the W South Beach Hotel & Residence in Miami, Florida.
On July 17,2015, Hammock will host an opening night party and runway show at the WET pool lounge. This show will feature a variety of luxury brands as well as the Lycra Design Challenge, a design competition for brands in the Hammock show to design a unique swimsuit and/or cover-up using red fabric containing Lycra Xtra Life fiber. The garments will be revealed in the Hammock Fashion Show finale and judged for originality, creativity and fit by a panel of three judges. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid fashion photo shoot with the look and the new Resort 2016 collection.
Attracting around 1,000 fashion-elite attendees each year, Salon Allure is renowned for showcasing designer swimwear brands in hotel suites. Hammock now brings together the best of Salon Allure and Babalu to provide access to more designers and categories, new technology and more events with this year's event expanding into the hotel ballroom.
Hammock will also feature luxury swimwear accessories and resort-related beauty products as it enhances boutique space and activities at the W South Beach. About 80 swim, resort and accessory brands will highlight their 2016 designs in private studios and suites, providing an up-close look at the resort lifestyle experience.
Notable brands to be featured at Hammock include: Aila Blue, Alati Swim, Anna Sui Swimwear, Athena, Banajaan Collection, Basta Surf, Beauty and the Beach, Beach Bunny Swimwear, Blue Life, California Kisses, Condition Culture, Coola, Driftwood, Ella Moss, Ella Moss Girls, among others Hammockshow.com
The 26th edition of SPINEXPO, is set to open doors in Shanghai from September 1 to 3, 2015 at the Shanghai World Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre. A leading yarn and knitwear trade show, which caters to weavers, knitters, hosiery manufacturers and ready-to-wear brand manufacturers, SPINEXPO encourages new initiatives, which aim to link all elements of the textile chain. Linking all facets is an effort to achieve better products, while paying attention to environmental and ethical issues.
Autumn/Winter 2016-17 collections and products will be showcased, by independent textile specialists, under the theme ‘Directions’. This will lead the upcoming trend directions at SPINEXPO Shanghai and New York. The trade fair’s focus is on the possibilities and future prospects of knitwear production in China. There would also be discussions on benefits of keeping knitwear manufacturing in the country with spinning and knitwear specialists and fibre producers.
Innovative concepts and trends
The trends presented at the show have some key concepts, such as textures extending into ribbons, cordials and compact looking novelties that are as light as air. Yarns are furry, diffused through surface hair, plush and velvety, matted and slightly felted with subtle uses of shine. Yarns work with fluffy mohair, luxurious fibres, felted wools, tweeds with metallic, irregular and homespun appearances, suede finishes and more. A lot of skill is required to create these unexpected yarns.
To create new products that have a strong market appeal, fibre producers have collaborated with spinners. This year, Mohair South Africa launched its new mohair label, wherein qualifying products can contain mohair from other locations though Mohair South Africa has developed and registered the mark. License would be granted for use to a trusted manufacturer or spinner that would also assist in protecting the integrity of the mark. As Deon Saayman, General Manager, Mohair South Africa points out that their collaboration with spinners was with the aim to help develop specific products for different markets, as each market has it own unique preference. For example, one may prefer fluffy yarn, while others may choose a smoother surface. Mohair South Africa aims to provide knitters, spinners and retailers with inspiration on ways to use mohair collections, he added.
Focus on innovation
The Woolmark Company believes that innovation plays a crucial role in making comfortable garments, thus making it an integral aspect of their operations. Giving a spin to the traditional fibres is important. Merino wool remains a premium ingredient in producing luxurious yarns, making garments suitable to wear throughout the year. And Jimmy Jackson, The Woolmark Company General Manager, Product Development and Commercialisation explained that many of their products are developed in collaboration with Meriono wool spinners. For the Shanghai expo, The Woolmark Company will promote three main pillars of innovation: Touch, Technique, and Texture. Besides, the company will conduct two seminars on the first two days of the trade fair, where one of them will be dedicated to The Wool Lab, showing the directions of the research undertaken.
While the expo looks promising for all manufacturers, the biggest challenge for fiber manufacturers is to go with emerging fashion trends as well as back up product innovation, research, development and integrity of latest developments and oraganisers’ reports. Machinery manufacturers, on the other hand, need to team up with stylists if they wish to elevate their machines to a different level and adjust and adapt to new technical ones. The organisers believe both, fibre and machinery manufacturers, have to be proactive while working with the industry.
