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The 9th Canadian Clothing and Textile Purchasing Exhibition (ATSC) kicked off on August 26 at the Toronto International Centre. Organized by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles (CCCT) and Jiangsu Trade Promotion International Conference & Exhibition Co., Ltd. (JSICE), with support from the Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) and JPC from the US, the event attracted exhibitors from over 10 countries, including China, Pakistan, and Canada.
With more than 200 booths spread across 3,000 square meters, the exhibition saw over 120 Chinese exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of products, from clothing and home textiles to bags and shoes. Notable Chinese brands like Peak, Aparso, and Mizuda were featured as part of a special promotion supported by China's Ministry of Commerce, highlighting their quality and expanding their international presence.
The first day of the exhibition drew around 800 visitors, with total attendance expected to surpass 2,000 over the three-day event. The exhibition also hosted over 20 forums, where industry experts from Europe and the US discussed key topics such as global procurement trends, supply chain security, and sustainable development.
A follow-up trade fair is scheduled in Montreal on August 30, featuring 70 companies, further emphasizing ATSC's role as Canada's leading international textile and clothing procurement event.
Two of the must-attend wholesale events by MMGNET Group for the East Coast market, Magic New York and Sourcing at Magic New York will reunite the fashion community at the Javits Center from Sep 22-24, 2024. Offering a premier opportunity to see the latest styles in person, the events also aim to foster connections in the US fashion industry.
Over 300 established and emerging designers across apparel, footwear, accessories, home, gift, and beauty categories will showcase their upcoming collections at Magic New York. Featuring a diverse lineup of top brands, including Tribal, Barefoot Dreams, Katy Perry Collection, FRNCH, and jewelry brand Little Words Project, the event will offer brands, buyers, media, and fashion influencers a first look at the latest trends and collections.
One of the key hightlights of the event will be newcomers to the Magic show floor, such as Vera Bradley, Six Fifty Clothing, and I Love Tyler Madison. Retailers like Revolve, Shopbop, and Bloomingdale’s will also participate in the event to preview the upcoming apparel, accessories, footwear, home, gift, and beauty collections.
Dedicated to supporting emerging brands and boutiques, Magic New York will host educational sessions, including a panel with the creative futures agency Fashion Snoops. This panel will explore retail strategies and trends defining Spring/Summer 2025 in women’s young contemporary fashion.
Running alongside Magic New York, Sourcing at Magic New York will focus on supply chain efficiency, small batch orders, and speed to market. This event offers wholesale brands and retail buyers access to a carefully curated selection of fashion manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, technology, and sustainable solutions. Over 100 exhibitors from more than 14 countries, including Peru, Vietnam, Portugal, Turkey, and Japan, will be represented at the event.
Panel discussions at the event will cover essential topics including sustainability in product development and production processes for entrepreneurs, further emphasising its commitment to shape the future of the fashion industry, notes Andreu David, Vice President, Sourcing at Magic.
Organisers of IFKT (International Federation of Knitting Technologists) congress, a premier global event for knitting technologists, designers, enthusiasts, and industry leaders, plan to organisethe next edition of the event in Croatia. The 51st edition of the tradeshow was recently held in Ontario, Canada.
Attended by delegates from eighteen countries, the event served as a dynamic platform for the global knitting community to connect, exchange knowledge, and explore new frontiers in this timeless craft. It demonstrated the power of knitting to unite people, inspire creativity, and celebrate diverse cultural traditions from around the world, avers Hitesh Kumar Sharma, President, IFKT-North America.
Among the highlights of the event was the release of a commemorative book, celebrating 65 years of IFKT excellence, by Harkirat Singh, Deputy Mayor, Bramptonalongside IFKT board members. Additionally, JayeshMenon, Senior Advisor-Economic Development, City of Brampton, presented on B2B cross-border opportunities.
Attendees also enjoyed presentations from institutions such as Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto, HochschuleNiederrhein University of Applied Science in Germany, and Kent State University of Fashion in the US. These sessions provided insights into the latest yarns, fabrics, tools, and technologies that are shaping the future of the knitting industry.
A highlight of the event was visit of the IFKT board members from Germany, Ireland, the United States, and Bangladesh to The Great Canadian Sox Knitting Co Inc., where they witnessed the plant's operations and its collection of thermal woollen socks.
eVent Fabrics, a leader in waterproof and breathable technologies, is advancing sustainability with the launch of eVent Bio and alpineST, both of which are free from PFAS chemicals. These innovations align with new regulations in the European Union and several US states, which are phasing out PFAS due to environmental concerns.
Chad Kelly, President of eVent Fabrics, emphasized that the company views sustainability as an ongoing journey, with a focus on providing the most sustainable options available while ensuring that performance standards remain high. He noted that eVent Bio and alpineST successfully meet these goals without compromising on quality.
eVent Bio utilizes a bio-based membrane made from renewable plant-based and biomass materials. It provides all-weather protection with a reduced carbon footprint and is recyclable at the end of its lifecycle. The technology incorporates recycled face and backer fabrics, ensuring durability and flexibility.
alpineST offers an eco-friendly alternative to ePTFE, featuring a fluorine-free membrane and recycled face fabrics. Designed for extreme conditions, it boasts an initial waterproof rating of 25K, maintaining 20K after multiple washes.
eVent Fabrics' full range of PFAS-free laminates supports apparel, footwear, and accessories, meeting global recycling standards while delivering trusted performance in the most demanding environments.
At the recent Australian Cotton Conference, TaslimulHoque, Director - Operations, Square Textiles, outlined the company's commitment to integrate more sustainable practices within the cotton supply chain.
Co-hosted by the Australian Cotton Shippers Association and the International Cotton Association Ltd Women in Cotton committee, the event gathered industry leaders to address the growing demand for data transparency throughout the cotton value chain.
Key discussions at the event focused on the forthcoming European Union legislation for resource efficiency, biodiversity restoration, and pollution reduction. Panelists, including representatives from IKEA, Agri Direct Australia, and various Australian cotton stakeholders, examined the challenges and opportunities posed by these regulations.
Eimear McDonagh, Director, Agri Direct Australia Pty, emphasised on the importance of industry-wide collaboration to ensure the implementation of the EU Green Deal leads to positive outcomes without unintended consequences. The panel also stressed on the need to highlight the benefits of cotton and other natural fibers, both in Australia and globally, to support a sustainable future for the textile industry.
Canberra-based company, Samsara Eco plans to construct a textile-to-textile recycled nylon 6.6 polymer production facility in Southeast Asia in collaboration with Israel-headquartered polyamide manufacturer Nilit.
This initiative is designed to tackle the challenge of recycling nylon 6.6, a widely used but notoriously difficult-to-recycle fiber in the performance apparel and fashion industries, especially when blended with other fibers like spandex.
Samsara Eco has developed a patented enzymatic recycling technology called EosEco that breaks down plastics into their core molecules, which can be used to create new plastics. The technology can process a variety of feedstock inputs, including colored and blended textiles like nylon 6.6 with spandex.
Founded in 2020 in partnership with the Australian National University (ANU) and supported by Main Sequence and Woolworths Group, Samsara Eco has raised over A$160 million from local and global investors, including Breakthrough Victoria, DCVC, Hitachi, lululemon, Temasek, Wildcard Ventures, and Wollemi Capital.
Approximately 4 million tons of nylon 6.6 is produced annually, making it a key fiber in the textile industry. However, its recycling has been a significant challenge. Expected to be operational by late 2026, this new plant will focus on recycling textile waste to produce high-quality recycled nylon 6.6 polymers. These polymers can be seamlessly integrated into existing supply chains for the creation of new textile fabrics.
Paul Riley, CEO and Founder, Samsara Eco, says, discarded clothing made from nylon 6.6, such as activewear and car interiors, often ends up in landfills or is incinerated, which is harmful to the planet. By partnering with Nilit, Samsara Eco can reverse this trend and give these materials new life.
IlanMelamed, General Manager, Nilit, adds,this initiative aims to provide the apparel market with premium nylon 6.6 products that have a lower environmental impact. Implementing textile-to-textile recycling solutions will significantly reduce global carbon emissions and the 92 million tons of textile waste added to landfills annually.”
Nilit plans to incorporate EosEco yarn into its Sensil portfolio, further advancing its commitment to sustainable textile production.
Bangladesh is being compelled to forgo $5 billion in annual export revenue due to the absence of a comprehensive policy framework to promote the recycling of post-industrial textile waste, known as jhut, says a new study conducted jointly by GesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and H&M.
Titled ‘Regulatory Framework to Enable Recycling of Post-Industrial Waste (Jhut) for the RMG Industry in Bangladesh’ the study emphasiseson the need to formalise the jhut sector to unlock the textile industry's potential for innovation and growth through a circular economy.
Currently, limited to 18,000-24,000 tons annually,Bangladesh's recycling capacity for apparel-grade yarns represents only 5-7 percent of the 330,000 to 500,000 tons of cotton and cotton-elastane waste produced each year. Of this, less than 5 percent is upcycled into products like rag rugs, rag dolls, and blankets. Over 55 percent is exported to global recycling companies, while the remainder is downcycled into stuffing materials, incinerated for energy recovery, or sent to landfills.
To address this issues, the study emphasies on the need to establish an effective jhut management framework that maximises economic, social, and environmental benefits. Key recommendations by the study include fostering collaborative stakeholder engagement, protecting workers' rights, promoting circular textile practices, and enhancing capacity and technology in the jhut sector. The study also suggests policy measures for the informal jhut sector, such as improving data transparency through a national jhut database, introducing industry guidelines for jhut management, and revising tax and tariff rules related to jhut transactions.
Additionally, the report proposes setting up central depository systems and cluster-based sorting hubs to encourage decent work and social inclusion, as well as improving the investment environment for advanced recycling technologies. The current disposal methods, which include incineration and downcycling, pose significant environmental risks, such as air pollution and resource depletion.
Lastly, the study highlights the global shift towards sustainability in the textile sector, driven by major brands like H&M and stricter regulations from bodies like the European Union. This trend presents an opportunity for Bangladesh to enhance trade through sustainability goals, formalise the jhut sector, and adopt circular economy models, thereby driving innovation and market growth for recycled textiles, it says.
Export earnings from Sri Lanka’s apparel sector expanded by 3.29 per cent Y-o-Y to $414 million in July 2024 as against export earnings of $401.18 million in July 2023.
Sri Lanka’s exports to the United States grew by 5.47 per cent Y-o-Y to $183.21 million during the month while exports to the United Kingdom and other markets increased by 8.19 per cent Y-o-Y and 3.40 per cent Y-o-Y to $55.72 million and $60.82 million. However, exports to the European Union contracted by 2.16 per cent Y-o-Y to $ 114.63 million.
Cumulative export earnings from the sector contracted by 0.15 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs.2.67 billion during the first seven months, from Jan-July’24 as compared with the $2.68 million in the Jan-July 2023 period.
For the first seven months of the year, exports to the United States and European Union contracted by 1.52 per cent Y-o-Y and 4.09 per cent Y-o-Y.
Exports to the United Kingdom expanded by 7.18 percent Y-o-Y, while exports to other markets grew by 2.05 percent Y-o-Y.
Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF)notes, for sustained growth, government policies need to remain consistent and supportive, providing a stable environment for the sector to flourish. The industry needs to adapt to the market changes, add value and leverage e trade agreements to boost export growth in the coming months,he adds.
The Chinese textile industry recorded a mixed bag of results in July, with overall exports showing a slight month-on-month decline but maintaining a year-on-year growth trend. Latest customs data reveals the cumulative export volume for fibers, textiles, and apparel from January to July increased 9 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Finished fabric products lead growth
The finished fabric products segment saw strongest growth at 13 per cent. Apparel exports also fared well, with an 11 per cent increase. However, the fiber segment lagged behind, showing a year-on-year growth rate of only 3 per cent.
The report also highlights this year's export growth has been primarily due to overseas restocking efforts, achieved through lower prices rather than increased volumes. Factors such as pricing and exchange rates have impacted the overall export value.
Month-on-month decline in most categories
There has been a month-on-month performance drop for most categories, except apparel. The largest decreases were observed in Chapters 54 and 55, particularly in synthetic filament yarns, staple fibers and woven fabrics.
Year-on-Year growth, led by downstream categories
On year-on-year basis, most categories showed growth, with downstream categories like apparel and knitted fabrics leading the way. The upstream fiber segment exhibited relatively limited growth.
An analysis of categories with cumulative changes exceeding 10,000 tons from January to July reveals the following:
• Significant increases: Used clothing, woven fabrics made from synthetic filament yarns, and other knitted fabrics saw a combined year-on-year increase of 575,000 tons.
• Significant decrease: Synthetic filament yarns, particularly polyester filament POY and FDY, experienced a decline, with their cumulative export volumes falling by 146,000 tons and 106,000 tons, respectively.
Overall the Chinese textile industry's export performance in July presents a mixed picture. While total exports maintained a year-on-year growth trend, a month-on-month decline and structural shifts within the industry highlight the challenges and opportunities faced by Chinese textile exporters in the current global market.
Once-thriving fashion label of the British high street, Ted Baker now stands as a cautionary tale in the fickle world of fashion. Its drop from grace, marked by financial struggles and store closures, serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by established brands in an era of rapid change. But Ted Baker's story is not simply one of individual misfortune; it reflects broader trends that threaten many traditional retailers, particularly in the UK.
The perfect storm
Ted Baker's troubles began in late 2018 when its founder and CEO, Ray Kelvin, was accused of inappropriate behavior, including ‘forced hugging’. The resulting public outcry and Kelvin's subsequent resignation cast a shadow over the brand's image. This incident coincided with broader shifts in consumer behavior and the retail industry. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated Ted Baker's challenges. Lockdowns and remote work led to a decline in demand for formal wear, a core part of Ted Baker's offering. The brand’s traditionally formal style and heavy reliance on brick-and-mortar stores left it ill-equipped to adapt.
Financial troubles deepened as sales dropped. Despite efforts to revitalize its image and embrace e-commerce, Ted Baker struggled to regain its footing. In 2023, it was acquired by Authentic Brands Group but the challenges proved insurmountable. In 2024, all remaining UK stores were closed, marking the end of an era.
Are British brands more susceptible?
While Ted Baker's downfall was influenced by unique circumstances, it also highlights vulnerabilities that many British brands face. The UK retail landscape is notoriously competitive, with high operating costs and a saturated market. The rise of fast fashion and online giants like ASOS and Boohoo has further intensified the pressure. The rise of e-commerce and changing consumer habits have contributed to the decline of traditional brick-and-mortar retail, impacting many established British brands. For example, Debenhams, a once-iconic British department store chain, collapsed in 2020 after failing to adapt to the changing retail landscape.
Brexit has also played a role, impacting supply chains and consumer sentiment. A report by the British Retail Consortium found that Brexit-related costs have added £1.5 billion annually to the UK retail industry. This burden disproportionately affects smaller and independent brands, limiting their ability to invest in innovation and adapt to market shifts.
The e-commerce challenge
Ted Baker's struggles also underscore the difficulties that established brick-and-mortar brands face in transitioning to e-commerce. Take Topshop, another British fashion retailer for example, it struggled to establish a successful online presence and ultimately went into administration in 2020. What’s plaguing them is:
Legacy systems: Many older brands have outdated technology and infrastructure that can hinder their ability to compete online.
Brand identity: Shifting from a physical to a digital presence requires careful consideration of how to maintain brand identity and customer experience.
Competition: The online marketplace is crowded and highly competitive, with established players and new entrants vying for market share.
A McKinsey study found that only 20 per cent of traditional retailers have fully integrated their online and offline channels. This lack of omnichannel capability leaves them at a competitive disadvantage, unable to provide the seamless shopping experience that consumers now demand.
The story of Ted Baker is a complex one, with no easy answers. It serves as a warning to all brands, regardless of origin, that complacency and failure to adapt can be fatal. The challenges of a changing retail landscape, coupled with internal missteps, proved too much for this once-beloved fashion label. While British brands face particular hurdles, they are not alone in struggling to navigate the new retail reality. Those that survive and thrive will be the ones that embrace change, innovate, and connect with consumers in meaningful ways.
