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Parisian trade show Tranoï, to be held from September 26 to October 2, 2018 will be staged in four different venues across Paris. The traditional event - which is introducing new product categories - bolstered by a showroom format which will be augmented by a new venue; the Atelier RichelieTranoï’s classic format will feature 450 womenswear and accessories exhibitors, showcasing their collections at two venues; the Carrousel du Louvre and the Palais de la Bourse, from September 28 to October 1.
There will be some new entries, like handbag brand Nat & Nin - which is also launching a footwear range for the Spring/Summer 2019 - as well as ready-to-wear labels like La Petite Française, Tsunoda and Valérie Khalfon.
A vast majority of Tranoï's new exhibitors are the by-product of the event’s efforts to introduce new product categories. Around 30 brands will exhibit at the new ‘Summer’ section at the Carrousel du Louvre, dedicated to resort wear and beachwear, and the beauty industry will be more extensively represented too. Tranoï will also feature many scented candle and perfume brands among its exhibitors, and is now opening up to cosmetics too. It is doing so introducing a pop-up store format featuring six high-end brands; David Mallett, Le Couvent des Minimes, Saeve, Maskon, Oden and Day + which will be selling both to retailers and to the event’s visitors.
Another novelty, at the Carrousel du Louvre shopping centre, will be a sustainable design exhibition organised with students from the Paris branch of the Parsons Art and Design School.
The Netherlands will support Bangladesh export diversified jute products to the European Union (EU). The CBI will be the implementing agency of the Dutch government. The CBI will take a project to assist the home textiles and handicrafts entrepreneurs of Bangladesh, particularly focusing on the jute-based products for the EU market due to the jute's eco-friendliness and the sector's potential for employment generation especially for women. The CBI will also consider more training opportunities for trade diplomats from Bangladesh.
Considering the huge potential of jute as an eco-friendly product as well as its huge appeal in Europe, CBI will explore more marketing opportunities and assist up-scaling through improved value addition in jute and other jute-based products including various similar products in the sphere of home décor. Selected-businesses and entrepreneurs will have access to tailor-made assistance packages under the new program of assistance between Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
Factory owners in Bangladesh who adopted eco-friendly techniques wish they hadn’t done so. While green techniques demand heavy expenditure, buyers don’t pay more. There is no special privilege for green garment factories. Buyers do not even consider paying a higher price for factory remediation as recommended by Accord and Alliance.
If anything prices of Bangladesh-made garment items have declined 40 per cent over the last 15 years. Bangladesh has the highest number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green garment factories certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
Currently, 67 green garment factories are in operation and another 300 are in the process of getting the certification. Of the top ten green garment factories in the world, seven are in Bangladesh. In fact the country has the world's first platinum-rated green denim factory. The world’s highest rated LEED platinum denim factory, knit factory, washing plant and textile mill all are situated in Bangladesh.
Factory owners’ main intent in setting up green factories was to lower the consumption of water and power. They thought branding would give them a mileage in selling goods – but apparently they thought wrong. In South Asia, Bangladesh has taken the lead in green initiatives.
The 11th edition of FESPA Mexico 2018, held from September 20-22, 2018 at the Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City, featured over 150 international leading brands with an increase of 30 per cent in size compared to last year’s show. The event focused on digital wide format, screen printing, garment decoration, signage, print finishing, software and 3D printing sectors.
The show featured product launches, live state-of-the-art demonstrations, free technical and practical seminars, networking opportunities and the chance to discover market trends for 201-19. Attendees evaluated and purchased new equipment and products including large format digital printing equipment, screen printing equipment, consumables for printing, digital printing equipment, sublimation software, LED and neon signs, textile printing equipment, laser, engraving and routers, print finishing, 3D printing, signage, garment decoration and POP / POS display systems.
Several of the world’s top suppliers from the wide format printing industry launched exclusive products at FESPA Mexico 2018. HP, Roland, Epson and Agfa were some of the leading brands who displayed at the event.
Ethiopia’s apparel exports to the US grew 106.69 per cent from January to July this year. The country’s apparel exports in July grew 57 per cent over apparel exports in June. Cotton apparels have a 56.28 per cent share in overall exports from Ethiopia to the US while manmade fiber apparels have a 42.22 per cent share.
Ethiopia has surpassed all other major African countries in terms of percentage-wise growth in apparel exports. The value of Kenya’s apparel exports to the US rose 16.44 per cent. The value of Lesotho’s apparel exports to the US grew 8.05 per cent during the period.
Ethiopia is continuously increasing its share in the US apparel market. The closest competitor is Morocco whose export value to the US rose 3.65 per cent. Ethiopia is expected to overtake Morocco by the end of 2018 in apparel exports to the US. The textile and apparel sector is one of Ethiopia’s key industrial sectors.
Several major foreign companies have invested in the textile and clothing industry in Ethiopia and a number of high profile brand names have started sourcing apparel from the country. Ethiopia has been making efforts to create favorable conditions in order to attract investors.
Brazil’s apparel market is expanding at a substantial CAGR. Rising disposable income and growing consciousness about international fashion trends are the key factors contributing to market growth.
Factors such as increasing shift towards international fashion along with spiraling number of retail outlets are anticipated to encourage Brazilians to adopt fashionable apparel. Diversified manufacturing activities, digitisation, and proliferation of smart phones are likely to have a positive impact on sales.
Brazil is one of the largest exporters of apparel and fashion goods. Arab countries are some of the largest importers of apparels and textiles from Brazil. The United Arab Emirates accounts for the highest imports from Brazil, followed by Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. Advanced techniques used in manufacturing helps manufacturers meet the demand from various countries.
Heightened interest of the government and private players in the country’s apparel and textile industry has contributed to making the country among the top textile producing countries. Small vendors are being provided subsides and trade barriers are being minimized to develop a favorable business environment in the country and encourage big companies. With economy recovering, the apparel industry is expected to rebound in coming years.
"Nothing is isolated in world economy today. The US government, in its attempt to punish China for unfair trade practices and reduce its $3.75 billion trade deficit, is forcing some of its strongest allies to run for protection. A prominent partner, Vietnam exported around 35 per cent of its goods to China and the United States last year. However, the US-China trade war led to a sharp devaluation of the Vietnamese currency causing a steep decline in its stock markets. Rumors spread about an influx of cheap Chinese consumer goods and the threat of American protectionism spreading in ways that would affect Vietnam’s vital exports. Nearly $5 billion of Vietnamese exports, that are a part of China’s value-added supply chain, may feel the impact of being exposed to punitive American tariffs."
Nothing is isolated in world economy today. The US government, in its attempt to punish China for unfair trade practices and reduce its $3.75 billion trade deficit, is forcing some of its strongest allies to run for protection. A prominent partner, Vietnam exported around 35 per cent of its goods to China and the United States last year. However, the US-China trade war led to a sharp devaluation of the Vietnamese currency causing a steep decline in its stock markets. Rumors spread about an influx of cheap Chinese consumer goods and the threat of American protectionism spreading in ways that would affect Vietnam’s vital exports. Nearly $5 billion of Vietnamese exports, that are a part of China’s value-added supply chain, may feel the impact of being exposed to punitive American tariffs.
Business shifting out of China to avoid tariff
The trade war has also led many foreign companies to shift their production to Southeast Asia. Around 72
Japanese businessmen are planning to expand their investment out of China to shun the risks caused by rising production costs and US-China trade war which is making it difficult for Japanese firms to exports their products to the US from China.
Also, wages in Vietnam are barely a third of those in China, making it easier for brands like Adidas to manufacture twice as many shoes as it does in China. The race is to secure excess manufacturing capacity all around the region — in Thailand, Indonesia and elsewhere, is heating up.
Effect of tariffs on supply chain
China exports complex products to the United States. These are assembled in China from a staggering array of foreign components and raw materials. For instance, a laptop made in China, may have a South Korean screen, a Japanese hard drive and a memory chip from Taiwan. A tariff hurts every part of this international supply chain.
To offset the conflict’s negative impact, Beijing has slashed tariffs for Asian countries. This appeal, however, may not stop the flow of manufacturers out of China to Southeast Asia. The American shoe-and-accessory maker Steve Madden, for example, is shifting its handbag production from China to Cambodia. New tariffs are being planned for another $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, with 6,031 products on its target list.
Vietnam to benefit from trade war
Chinese companies may shift more operations southward using ‘’tariff-jumping” tactics to get their goods to the United States. The Vietnamese, at least, are vigilant against Chinese intrusions. In fact, the country might benefit from China’s conflict with the United States, Vietnam’s strongest allies. The Vietnamese government is projecting negligible decline in growth over the next five years. In July, Standard Chartered raised its growth forecasts for Vietnam to 7 per cent this year, based on the influx of foreign direct investment. In addition the country may also pull in American buyers eager to diversify their imports from outside China.
World Textile Merchandising Conference (WTMC) was held in China, September 20 to 21. The conference saw participants share their ideas on the coordinated development of the global textile fashion industry and the transformation of China's textile industry under the Belt and Road Initiative.
At the conference, the World Textile Merchandising Conference Council, consisting of 12 representatives from textile associations of countries like China, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, France, Turkey, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, was formally established.
The event explored latest changes and trends in the textile industry and sought to build a cooperation system throughout the industrial chain, therefore, promoting high-quality development. It explored new patterns of globalisation and transformation of the textile industry. Firms, fashion institutions, industry associations and design institutes from more than 20 countries participated. The conference discussed the future of the world’s textile industry.
Shaoxing, where the event was held, has a full textile industry chain. China is expected to surpass Europe and the United States to become the largest retail market in the world by 2020. Its textile industry has to strengthen international cooperation, actively promote cross-border flows of resources such as products, production capacity, technology, capital, and talents, strengthen product innovation and advance industrial intelligence and service transformation.
Denim brand Wrangler has introduced foam-dyed jeans to lessen environmental impact and save precious resources. Tejidos Royo, a Spanish fabric mill with a reputation for prioritising environmental performance, will integrate the foam-dye process called Dry Indigo®. It will receive the foam-dye equipment in October and begin supplying Wrangler with denim before the end of the year.
Wrangler and Walmart Foundation have provided Texas Tech University with early-stage funding for development of the foam-dying process, recognising the potential of this development. The iconic denim brand helped introduce fabric mills to the latest technology and now will incorporate the first foam-dyed denim into a line of jeans launching in 2019.
As per Royo, applying indigo dye to raw denim with foam instead of water will eliminate the need for the tens of millions of gallons of water typically consumed by conventional wet-dye systems.
The UK is one of the biggest clothing exporters in Europe. And when it comes to buying British, the US is the biggest shopper followed by China. One of the major reasons for the rise in shopping from the UK is pricing. The pound’s falling value is helping make goods even more attractive to foreign wallets. The other top motivations for cross-border buying are the chance to get hold of products not available in their own country and the opportunity to discover new things to buy.
Mobile shopping is also helping power the UK’s international popularity. Also working in British retailers’ favor is the fact the nation’s top two export markets, the US and China, are at the forefront of this mobile revolution. Here, smart phone shopping accounted for 61 per cent and 84 per cent of international online purchases respectively in the last year.
To build on this achievement, the country is making it easier and cheaper for UK firms to sell online to customers around the world – with face-to face support from e-commerce advisers, negotiated preferred rates on online marketplaces and information. The ambition is to grow exports as a percentage of GDP to 35 per cent, and getting more UK firms to sell online is key to achieving this.
