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The 2025 Spring Fair, set for 2-5 February at NEC Birmingham, will showcase a newly curated space: The Summer House: Home, Gift & Lifestyle Edit. Marking its 35th anniversary, this reimagined destination promises a seamless, inspiring experience for buyers and interior designers, with a focus on high-end home decor, furnishings, and gifts.
New additions include Portmeirion’s Minerals collection and Bedeck’s debut with three exclusive ranges. Established brands like My Gifts Trade, Casa Fina, and Ulster Weavers return, alongside newcomers Sofia Toscano and Torres Novas. Sustainability also takes center stage with Hug Rug, Weaver Green, and The Braided Rug Company.
The Summer House Edit will feature curated displays highlighting craftsmanship and design excellence. Notable exhibitors include Gallery Direct, DRH Collection, and Malini. The event introduces a dedicated interior design focus, supporting residential and hospitality projects with brands like Mindy Brownes Interiors and RV Astley.
Event Director Soraya Gadelrab emphasizes the refreshed concept as part of Spring Fair’s 75th anniversary celebrations, stating, “The Summer House Edit reflects our commitment to premium products and memorable experiences.”
With over 1,200 exhibitors, Spring Fair 2025 promises to be the most anticipated in its history, offering an immersive journey into the future of home and lifestyle retail.
Temu and Shein, popular low-cost Asian e-commerce platforms, are facing heightened regulatory scrutiny in Europe. EU authorities are cracking down on retailers evading customs checks, with proposals including a new tax on platform revenue and handling fees to curb competitive pricing.
European Trade Commissioner MarosSefcovic highlighted that 4 billion low-value parcels, triple 2022’s figure, are expected to enter the EU this year, many exempt from customs duties due to the €150 threshold. This has raised concerns about unchecked imports of counterfeit or dangerous goods. The EU is now considering scrapping this threshold, mirroring similar moves in the US.
Officials fear platforms’ rock-bottom prices undermine EU competitors, who face higher production costs due to strict regulations. Screening all parcels, however, remains a logistical challenge, with major hubs already processing millions daily. A handling levy on non-EU shipments is also being discussed.
Additionally, Temu faces allegations of misleading consumers through fake discounts, hidden conditions, and unclear contact details. Meanwhile, Amazon’s low-cost storefront, Haul, recently entered the US market, targeting budget-conscious shoppers.
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) exports to the European Union (EU) are likely to decline by as much as 21 per cent due to the dual challenges posed by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and Bangladesh’s upcoming graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status, according to a recent study by RAPID and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
Currently benefiting from duty-free access to the EU under the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, Bangladesh faces the prospect of tariffs up to 12 per cent starting in 2029. In contrast, helped by efficient trade policies and investments in its supply chain, Vietnam is likely to enjoy zero-duty access to the EU by 2027 under its FTA.
Bangladesh's slower progress in backward integration and trade policy implementation exacerbates its vulnerability, threatening its global competitiveness. The study emphasises the urgency of negotiating extended transition periods for LDC graduation, relaxing rules of origin under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+), and pursuing additional FTAs to maintain market access.
To counter these challenges, the report underscores the need for strategic reforms including engaging with the EU to extend LDC benefits and relax GSP+ conditions, investing in sustainable practices, including man-made fibers and recycling technologies, to align with EU standards, addressing energy supply deficits and enhancing trade logistics to improve efficiency and reducing dependency on apparel exports by exploring new sectors and markets.
While rising labor costs in China and Vietnam could redirect some orders to Bangladesh, the report cautions that internal hurdles, such as energy shortages and inefficiencies in banking systems, continue to undermine growth potential. Additionally, ongoing FTA negotiations with Japan and Singapore offer hope but require structural reforms to unlock their full benefits.
The study concludes that Bangladesh must act swiftly to adopt forward-thinking policies and meet global sustainability standards to retain its position as a leading export hub. Failure to do so could significantly impact its economic trajectory as competitors like Vietnam continue to gain ground in the lucrative EU market.
Pakistan needs to urgently introduce a new policy to boost cotton production in the country, opines Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA). In FY2024, Pakistan’s cotton production declined by 33 per cent.
By November 30, 2024, Pakistan produced 5,190,725 bales of cotton as against 7,753,473 bales produced in 2023. Cotton production in Punjab declined by 34.19 per cent to 2,459,684 bales in 2024 compared to 3,736,749 bales in 2023.
Similarly, cotton production in Sindh contracted by 32.01 per cent to 2,731,041 bales this year as against 4,016,724 bales last year. Production in Balochistan contracted to only 155,800 bales.
Sajid Mahmood, Cotton Expert, attributes this decline to weak policies and practical challenges. He emphasise on the need for a comprehensive revival program for cotton cultivation. According to him, a minimum support price of Rs 10,000 per maund needs to be set to incentivise farmers. Farmers need to utilise modern, climate-resilient seeds to combat pests like whiteflies and pink bollworms. To achieve this, farmers need gain financial stability to prioritise cotton over other crops, adds Mahmood .
Research institutions like the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) require immediate funds to boost cotton production. Duty-free imports of cotton should be banned in order to encourage local farmers, states Mahmood. He urges for the strengthening of research and development facilities in the country. He also calls for direct market access for farmers, bypassing exploitative middlemen.
For the growth of both the industry and farmers, it is essential to remove the 18 per cent tax on cotton, says Mahmood. Cotton production in the country can be restored by adopting a sustainable strategy rooted in practical measures.
The 16th edition of HGH India is being held from December 4-6, 2024 in Bengaluru. The exhibition is hosting more than 700 brands and manufacturers from 32 countries.
Featuring home textiles, décor, furniture, house wares and gifts, the bi-annual show is being held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. A few of the highlights of this event includes a conference on the evolving India sleep market held on December 4, 2024, a panel discussion on house wares trends, a sustainability pavilion and the Indian Heritage Pavilion, which highlights National Award-winning artisans showcasing traditional Indian art forms passed down through the generations.
This is the expo’s debut edition in South India which contributes 20 per cent to India’s population and 35 per cent to its GDP. The region is fast emerging as an important production and services hub. The per capita income in this region is about 50 per cent higher than the five North Indian states, which gives it a higher purchasing power, states Arun Roongta, Managing Director, HGH India.
As Western countries actively seek to ‘de-risk’ their supply chains from China, India emerges as a prime contender to capture a significant chunk of this re-routed trade. But can India truly capitalize on this opportunity, or will it be caught in a tangle of its own making?
The ‘China Plus One’ strategy, adopted by many companies to diversify their sourcing, is gaining momentum. This strategy aims to reduce dependence on China by adding another manufacturing hub to the mix. And India, with its vast labor pool, cotton production prowess, and growing manufacturing capabilities, is a natural choice.
Where India can stitch success
As one of the largest producers of cotton globally, India has a significant advantage in raw material sourcing. A large and relatively inexpensive workforce makes India attractive for labor-intensive textile manufacturing. Add to this, government initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles that are aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and attracting foreign investment. For example, Arvind Limited has invested heavily in modernizing its facilities and expanding its product range to cater to international brands. Similarly, Welspun India,, the leading home textile manufacturer, has successfully captured a significant share of the global market through innovation and quality.
Table: Comparative investments in textile industry ($ billion)
|
Country |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 (Estimated) |
|
China |
250 |
270 |
285 |
|
India |
40 |
45 |
50 |
|
Vietnam |
30 |
33 |
36 |
|
Bangladesh |
25 |
28 |
30 |
Sources: Source: Statista, Invest India, various industry reports
In fact numerous opportunities are waiting to be unravelled for India. In garment manufacturing, India can become a major hub, especially for Western brands looking to diversify their sourcing. With growing demand for specialized fabrics in sectors like healthcare and automotive, India can carve a niche in technical textiles. What’s more, India's rich textile heritage and design talent can be leveraged to create unique, high-value fashion products.
Growth challenges
However, the path to success is not easy as infrastructure bottlenecks are a major dampener. Inadequate infrastructure, including unreliable power supply and logistical challenges, can hinder production and increase costs. Lack of skilled labor in areas like design, technical textiles, and modern manufacturing techniques too needs to be addressed. Also complex regulations and bureaucratic hurdles too can deter investment and slow down business operations.
Therefore, while India has the potential to become a textile and apparel powerhouse, it needs to address its challenges proactively. By improving infrastructure, upskilling its workforce, and streamlining regulations, India can truly seize this opportunity and weave its way to dominance in the global textile industry.
India’s cotton market continues to grapple with significant supply-side challenges despite a 0.04 per cent rise in cotton candy prices in South India. This rise in cotton candy prices in South India is being driven by a rise in apparel orders and exports.
India’s cotton production is also expected to decline by 7.4 per cent to 30.2 million bales in 2024-25 due to reduced planting areas and crop damage caused by heavy rainfall. USDA has alson revised its production estimate for India to 30.72 million bales. This decline in production estimates is anticipated to impact exports while boosting imports, which are projected to rise to 2.5 million bales during the year.
India’s production challenges are expected to cause global cotton prices to rise even as supported by higher yields in China, Brazil, and Argentina, worldwide output is predicted to increase by 200,000 bales. Nonetheless, the market is facing some downward pressure from Hurricane Helene’s disruption of U.S. production and a global dip in import demand.
In India, with a 9 per cent Y-o-Y shrinkage in cotton acreage, particularly in Gujarat, farmers are shifting to more profitable crops like groundnuts. However, despite this shortage in supply, domestic cotton demand in India is projected to remain steady at 31.3 million bales in 2024–2025.
The rising prices and tighter supply chain have sparked mixed reactions in the market. Apparel manufacturers are voicing concerns about potential cost escalations, while exporters are keeping a close eye on global price trends.
Stakeholders are urging the government to introduce new policies to support farmers in addressing crop damage and exploring more sustainable planting practices to stabilise cotton production.
Indian fashion brands Doodlage, Lovebirds, Ka-Sha, Paiwand Studio, Sonam Khetan, and Urvashi Kaur have partnered with Canopy, an environmental non-profit focused on protecting Ancient and Endangered Forests and promoting Next Gen Solutions in the fashion industry. Joining sustainability leaders like Flipkart and Anita Dongre, these brands are part of a global network of over 950 companies committed to advancing circular supply chains and forest conservation.
The announcement follows Canopy’s ‘Fashion for Forests’ event in New Delhi, where Indian designers and innovators discussed reducing the fashion industry’s environmental impact and scaling sustainable materials derived from recycled textiles and agricultural residues. With India generating over 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, transforming this into textiles and packaging could position the country as a global leader in low-carbon, circular materials.
Nicole Rycroft, Founder of Canopy, emphasized that India’s fashion industry is well-positioned to lead in sustainable textiles while safeguarding biodiversity. She highlighted the role of partnerships with innovative brands in driving this transition and bringing the vision of eco-friendly fashion to fruition.
Gursi Singh and Amrita Khanna, founders of Lovebirds, stressed their dedication to purpose-driven creation, noting that partnering with Canopy supports their commitment to sustainability across all aspects of their brand. Similarly, Karishma Shahani Khan, founder of Ka-Sha, acknowledged Canopy's role in strengthening their circular practices and enabling the exploration of innovative, sustainable materials.
With these partnerships, the Canopy Style initiative now includes 560 brands globally, collectively representing over $1.06 trillion in annual revenues. The collaboration underscores how fashion can drive positive environmental change through creativity, innovation, and sustainable practices.
A pioneering report by Circle Economy, supported by funding from the H&M Foundation, offers an unprecedented look at circularity in the clothing and textile industry. Titled, Circularity Gap Report Textiles, the study calls for urgent action to reduce the sector's environmental footprint by adopting circular economy principles such as reuse, recycling, and slow fashion.
The report uncovers startling statistics: of the 3.25 billion tons of textile materials used annually, only 0.3 per cent are obtained from recycled sources. Furthermore, 70 per cent of these materials are fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibers. The report advocates a focus on renewable and recycled fibers, improving garment durability, localising supply chains, and scaling back production and consumption to propel the industry towards a sustainable and circular future.
The report offers actionable insights for the textile industry, says Christiane Dolva, Head - Innovation, Research & Demonstration, H&M Foundation. Its findings aim to inspire industry-wide transformation for the benefit of people and the planet, she adds.
To achieve a circular textile industry, the report makes four key recommendations including reducing overproduction, expanding environmental priorities, ensuring a just transition to circularity and fostering collaborative action.
Quantifying circularity in textiles for the first time, the report emphasises on the urgent need to transform the entire value chain, notes Hilde van Duijn, Managing Director, Circle Economy Foundation. The industry needs concrete, scalable actions to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future, he adds.
The Circularity Gap Report Textiles aligns with the H&M Foundation’s ongoing initiatives, such as the Global Change Award, which supports innovations benefiting both people and the planet, and Saamuhika Shakti, a program advancing inclusive circularity by empowering waste pickers. Moving forward, the Foundation plans to use the report’s findings to inform its efforts to decarbonise the textile industry equitably, identifying areas where its philanthropic support can have the greatest impact.
By highlighting circular economy principles and actionable strategies, the report sets a roadmap for reshaping the textile industry into a more sustainable and socially responsible sector.
A part of FGF Industry, Italian sportswear brand, Blauer has launched its latest F/W 2025/2026 collection offering a complete look for men, women and kids.
In this collection, the brand focuses on creating outer and down jackets that constitutes 65 per cent of its revenues. Catering to the needs of the modern customer, this new jacket range focuses on style factors like innovation, performance and design.
Blauer also reinvents its classic Police Jackets by using more sophisticated materials like the pinstriped version of the polyester wool fabric, says Enzo Fusco, Owner and President, FGF Industry.
Constantly reinventing the brand’s origins, Blauer also offers B Department, a new stylish range of military-apparel items comprising bomber jackets, field jackets, and reinvented parkas. Made with materials like flat nylon, crease nylon and lightweight polyester, these clothing items guarantee resistance, durability and reduced environmental impact.
The B Essential range in the collection includes down jackets, reversible and easy-to-pack zipped wind jackets. Meanwhile, the B Project range comprises an exclusive new urban-minded minimalistic product for demanding male consumers. Focusing on futuristic designs, this range uses hi-tec 3-layer materials that are breathable, waterproof and made from windproof fabrics.
In 2024, Blauer also aims to maintain its last year’s sales of €78 million from apparel and €12 million from licensed footwear, produced and sold by the company. The company aims to achieve sales worth €90 million from each of these categories this year, he explains.
Currently, Blauer sells through 1,500 stores in Italy and abroad. Of its 18 monobrand stores in Italy, eight are direct store, another eight are franchise stores and two stores in the Czech Republic are run by the local distributor. The brand plans to open two more monobrand stores by June 2025 in Palermo and Bari in order to cover the whole country.
Around 35 per cent of the brand’s sales are generated from exports. The company exports around 15 per cent of its products to Germany, followed by Spain. In Spain, the company plans to expand its Montegalda facility to 9,000 sq m by opening an additional 4,500 sq m facility adjacent to the existing 3,500 sq m.
To cope with the current market situation, the company has kept its prices unchanged for the last few years, Popular amongst teenagers, its basic down jackets with seams is are sold for €290 per piece.
