United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) President Julia K. Hughes testified during the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s hearing on impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA) on U.S. Economy, consumers, and fashion Industry.

Her testimony highlighted the importance of trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the fashion industry, and the need for business continuity in this time of uncertainty in trade policy and expected cost increases. While USFIA is supportive of several key components of the new USMCA—particularly the maintenance of the Tariff Preference Levels (TPLs) and the elimination of the “visible linings” requirement for duty-free treatment—USFIA is nonetheless concerned about the continuation of the yarn-forward rule of origin and the addition of new regulatory requirements.

Hughes believes that the new regulations will make it more expensive and complicated for American brands and retailers to use the agreement. Therefore if US wishes to encourage companies to move their sourcing out of China, it should encourage them to do business with its closest neighbors.

Ted Schneider, President, Cotton Council International (CCI), at the Cotton Sourcing USA Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz introduced the US Cotton Trust Protocol; an integrated data collection, measurement and verification procedure that will document US cotton production practices and their environmental impact. The data is intended to benchmark farmers’ gains towards the industry goals and will provide global textile supply chain additional assurances that US cotton is produced in a responsible manner.

The details of the Protocol are being fine-tuned, and a pilot program will be launched in 2019 and fully implemented with the 2020 cotton crop year. Participating growers would be required to adopt a data tool that allows for the quantitative measurement of key sustainability metrics, such as the FieldPrint Platform from field to market.

Growers would complete a self-assessment checklist of best management practices; with a sampling of participating producers subjected to independent verification. The online interface and associated databases are currently being developed by a Memphis-based company The Seam.

The Valsad and Umbergaon power loom clusters have submitted a representation to the state government for granting of subsidy for electricity tariff on the lines of Maharashtra. The Umbergaon GIDC has 100 textile weaving units employing 15,000 workers directly producing shirting and suiting fabrics. Majority of units have been set up by the Mumbai-based industrialists and now they are facing stiff competition due to low power tariff in Bhiwandi and Tarapur in Maharashtra.

The Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA) has been representing the Gujarat government from the last two months for the reduction of power tariff in the new textile policy. The prime reason for reduction in power tariff is to stop the power loom weavers from shifting base from Surat and South Gujarat to neighbouring Maharashtra. According to industry association, the average per unit electricity tariff for industries in Gujarat comes at Rs 7.10, whereas it is Rs 3.54 per unit in Maharashtra.

Monforts technology is behind many denim innovations. As an alternative to conventional padding, especially for wet-in-wet solutions, the Monforts eco applicator can significantly reduce the thermal energy required for drying prior to the stretching and skewing of the denim fabric.

The ability of the eco applicator to significantly reduce energy costs has seen it rapidly accepted on the market. It slashes a company’s denim finishing costs. Monforts is now going a stage further in addressing resource efficiency by combining the eco applicator with its thermo stretch unit in the latest eco line concept.

The Monforts thermo stretch unit carries out the skewing (weft straightening), stretching and drying in a continuous process. The eco line system reduces energy requirements and losses, increases thermal transfer and keeps the drying energy on the textile material longer. As a result, energy savings of up to 50 per cent can be achieved. Exhaust air energy can also be reduced to a minimum, which has a positive effect on the emission load into the atmosphere.

Arvind recently installed India’s first integrated Monforts eco line which can handle fabric widths of 1.8 meters and operate at high speeds of up to 80 meters a minute. Monforts plans to introduce further innovations for denim during 2019.

Ifema is reorganising its fashion and footwear trade shows. Its global sector event will be renamed as Momad (the abbreviation of Moda en Madrid, or Fashion in Madrid in English) and bring together Momad Metropolis and Momad Shoes into a unified whole. The first edition of the new concept will be held at Feria de Madrid from February 8-10, 2019.

The new version of Momad will also welcome shoe manufacturers and brands, which will be presented alongside clothing and accessories exhibitors. And brands with an interest in attending both events will be able to do so for a special price. Momad will coincide with Bisutex, MadridJoya and Intergift in order to create synergies between all the events and attract the largest number possible of exhibitors and visitors.

On October, 17, 2018 the institution announced ShoesRoom by Momad, a new showroom format to replace Momad Shoes. The first edition will take place in La N@ve, an industrial site close to the centre of Madrid, on March 01-03, 2019.

Meghalaya recently operationalised its largest apparel manufacturing unit owned by the School of Livelihood and Rural Development (SLRD), the unit was originally set up in 2017 by the Union Ministry of Textiles, , and has remained idle since then. Covering an area of 45,000 sq. ft, the unit has three divisions. Two of them accommodate 105 sewing machines each, while the third division is equipped with 70 machines. It is expected that the unit will create 1,500 jobs in the region.

The unit was set up at South West Garo Hills district under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), an umbrella scheme for the development of various segments of textiles such as silk, handloom, handicrafts and apparels. Production at the unit has begun and will be ramped up in stages to meet the market demand in India and Bangladesh.

The retail industry has expressed concern that the proposed Brexit deal may not pass through Parliament, extending uncertainty for business. In case the deal is not passed, the UK would immediately leave the single market and customs union, and revert to the World Trade Organization rules, under which tariffs would be levied on imported goods from the EU.

Despite Prime Minister Theresa May announcing a draft agreement had been backed by the cabinet, the government has been in turmoil since. Seven politicians have resigned in protest at the proposal, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and pensions secretary Esther McVey. Several MPs are calling for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. The fallout is prompting speculation that the current draft will not pass the vote, which is expected to take place on 7 December, and increase the risk of a no-deal Brexit.

Performance Days will take place in Germany on November 28 and 29, 2018. The fair was founded in 2008 as the first and only event dedicated to functional fabrics for sports and work wear. The biannual trade show aims at giving innovative textile manufacturers, suppliers and service providers a platform to present their functional fabrics, membranes, treatments, laminates, paddings, equipment and accessories such as yarns, tapes, prints, buttons and zippers.

Designers, product managers, buyers and decision makers from almost all European sportswear manufacturers come together every April/May and November to source high-quality materials for their collections. Meanwhile two awards for eco performance will be given by the fair. The award for best sustainable development has been given to a laminate from tech company Jou Jou Fish. The fabric combines various sustainable technologies and is made from 100 per cent recycled nylon. Additionally, its micro-porous membrane is produced without solvents. The fabric is not only made from pre-dyed fibers but its DWR coating is also applied using a dry-finish treatment.

Green Threads has got an award for its tear-resistant fabric. Made from fine nylon yards which have never been used in performance fabrics before, the material is super lightweight. The next US edition will take place on July 22 to 23, 2019.

French group Scavi is investing heavily in Vietnam with the country joining the CPTPP. Scavi is one of the world’s top enterprises in lingerie, swimwear, and sportswear segment. North America and Japan are the group’s key export markets, accounting for 40 per cent of its total revenue.

Vietnam’s textile and garment industry will not be the only sector to benefit when Vietnam officially joins the CPTPP. Aquaculture, timber manufacturing, logistics, realty, and agriculture are also looking at bright prospects, as more FDI will reach these sectors.

Another giant in the textile and garment space, Hyosung Corporation, is also in the process of expansion in Vietnam. Similarly Korea-based Hi Knit has also been granted an investment license. With a total registered capital of $40 million, the company produces textiles as well as nonwoven fabrics for export and domestic foreign-invested companies.

Japanese firm Yuwa has officially launched its second factory in Vietnam. Its first factory was built with $4 million in 2009 and produces molded electronic plastic components. In addition, Yuwa is also scheduled to build a research and development centre in Vietnam to increase production.

More such Japanese investment is expected. Although individual investments will be of average magnitude, as the majority of these enterprises work in the supporting industry and mainly apply advanced technology, they can produce millions of products annually.

India’s cotton output is likely to decline by 11 per cent this year.
There has been crop damage in major producing states such as Maharashtra and Gujarat. Almost half the country's cotton comes from these two states.

The deficient and erratic southwest monsoon this season followed by a long dry spell this winter season has impacted the standing crop. While the first cycle of cotton picking is over, the second and third cycles are likely to get impacted badly due to spoilt flower buds.

In case November rainfall is normal, cotton flowers can recover some lost yield in the third cycle, and curtail the decline in cotton output substantially this year.

Meanwhile, the benchmark variety of cotton, Shankar 6, has been trading at around Rs 13,000 a bale for quite some time now.

Total cotton output in Gujarat would stand at 8.8 million bales this year, down from 10.5 million bales the previous year. Output in Maharashtra is estimated at eight million bales this year versus 8.3 million bales last year, while that in Andhra Pradesh is forecast to decline to 1.6 million bales from 1.85 million bales.

Rising demand and lower output may trigger a sharp price rise this year which may dent textile mills’ profit margins in coming quarters.