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California may have a law requiring clothing made from fabric that is more than 50 per cent polyester to bear a label warning that the garment sheds plastic microfibers when machine washed. If the bill passes, the sale or offering for sale of clothing without this label would be prohibited as of January 1, 2020. Hats and shoes would be exempt.
According to the bill, garments made from synthetic fibers such as polyester can shed up to 1,900 microfibers per wash. Since these fibers are small enough to get past filters, they end up in waterways and the ocean. A study of fish sold at California fish markets found 25 percent of fish and a third of shellfish contained plastic debris, with the majority of that plastic debris being microfibers.
Microplastics have the potential to poison the food chain, as these tiny beads of plastic have been found in the stomachs of marine life, as well as the supply of drinking water. It’s estimated that the world’s oceans will contain more plastic than fish by 2050.
The California bill is meant to be in line with other efforts in the state aimed at reducing water pollution, including a ban on personal care products containing plastic microbeads.
Planet Textiles will be held in Canada on May 22. This event on textile sustainability will feature sessions on finance, deforestation and water as well as a key focus on the growing issue of textile microfiber pollution.
Top industry leaders and environmental experts will speak on issues of scaling up sustainable innovation, the problems of textile microfiber pollution, financing innovation, deforestation and raw material selection, and traceability and harmonisation of textile chemistry in relation to water.
Scaling up innovation will be a major focus throughout this year’s Planet Textiles but the issue of microfiber pollution in aquatic environments, deforestation and the man-made cellulosic industry, chemical management in relation to wastewater and effluents and plenary sessions from leading retailers and brands will also feature.
A special new innovation at this year’s event will be a media area where selected filmed interviews and podcasts will take place, which will then be available to delegates and the rest of the industry after the event closes. Video interviews will explore a range of new technologies, innovations and strategies from both invited attendees and speakers based around the event themes.
Sympatex, which develops, manufactures and sells membranes, laminates, functional textiles, finished products for a range of apparel will outline how the company has implemented sustainability into its product range.
"Growing consumer awareness on sustainable clothing has been pushing eco canvas for leading companies. In order to abide by the laws of nature, H&M’s Conscious Collection is one such catalogue that uses organic and recycled materials to produce fairly-priced clothes that are mindful of environmental obligations and human rights standards, while helping invest in the local communities in which they are produced."
Growing consumer awareness on sustainable clothing has been pushing eco canvas for leading companies. In order to abide by the laws of nature, H&M’s Conscious Collection is one such catalogue that uses organic and recycled materials to produce fairly-priced clothes that are mindful of environmental obligations and human rights standards, while helping invest in the local communities in which they are produced.
The apparel industry has developed higher labour and environmental standards with an aim to encourage consumers to alter their methods of care for clothing, by offering recycling options and the possibility of investing in higher-priced garments made from eco-friendly fabrics. The Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) tends to alter by stressing on the work of fashion artisans in developing countries. Founded in 2009 by Simon Cipriani as a flagship program of the International Trade Center, the Ethical Fashion Initiative connects local designers working in the fashion industry in the developing world with international fashion industry.
Working primarily in Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ghana, the West Bank and Haiti, the EFI gives artisans the opportunity to expand their market reach to the global fashion industry honchos, such as Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood. Empowering nearly 7,000 artisans, the success of the initiative culminated in 2013 with the participation of micro-producers and their designs at the Rome Fashion Week. Commenting on the initiative, Hans-Peter Egler, Head of Trade Promotion at Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), says ethical fashion is not just about a one-way transfer of products from developing countries to the global fashion industry, it’s about a two-way exchange with the North and South being able to cooperate from each other. This is a new way of cooperation. Groups like EFI are taking note of Africa’s nascent industry in part to educate African artisans on their labour rights, and alternatively to raise awareness of on how to buy and sell fashion goods in a more responsible manner.
Starting a new chapter
EFI initiative is majorly targeting wealthy consumers who are able to purchase high fashion items. Indeed African brands aren’t competing against big retailers, but they want to influence the change in consumers’ buying pattern from fast fashion to ethical fashion. While large retailers such as Zara and H&M would not be impacted majorly but they are the ones who appeal to the masses. African brands aim to change the face of fashion to one where coloured designers can succeed, where garment workers are safe and finally where Africa’s textile heritage shines through. According to the brand officials, momentary outrage against sweatshop conditions isn’t enough, we must become aware that our purchases allow for their existence, but in turn, can also prevent their survival and leave space for a more ethical fashion industry to grow.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative may help Nepal realize its dream of development and economic prosperity. Nepal, a land-locked and least developed country, needs the cooperation of neighbors, especially China, to upgrade its status to a developing country. Introduced by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road. The Belt and Road Initiative is expected to bring opportunities in multiple fields including trade, connectivity, physical infrastructure development, tourism and investment.
China and Nepal are interested in enhancing cooperation, namely, strengthening policy coordination and consolidating mutual trust, expanding connectivity and sharing experience for economic development, promoting unimpeded trade, deepening the financial integration and constructing the road for innovation, strengthening the people-to-people bond for mutual learning.
Nepal seeks investment under the Belt and Road Initiative in various possible sectors like hydropower, agriculture, trade related infrastructure, tourism, herbs and herbal products, natural resources and service sectors.
But for that to happen Nepal needs to pay attention to basic pre-requisites like connectivity, infrastructure development, reforms in laws, and policy amendments, among others. In addition there is a need for sincerity and political commitment for implementation of the initiative from the Nepali side.
Apparel retailer C&A, joined Prince of Wales global Sustainable Cotton Communiqué, a pledge launched at the 2017 Textile Exchange Sustainability Conference and commits apparel retailers to use 100 per cent sustainable cotton by 2025. Around 37 major fashion brands, including Asos and Nike, have signed the pledged in an effort to drive sustainable practices in the apparel industry and alleviate the negative environmental impact of cotton production, including the use of pesticide and eliminate greenhouse gases.
C&A pledged to source more eco-friendly cotton over the next three years. Jeffrey Hogue, C&A’s global Chief Sustainability Officer elaborates on the pledge, “By joining this initiative we – as the world’s No. 1 buyer of certified organic cotton and the world’s No. 3 brand sourcing more sustainable cotton – have the opportunity to share our learning with the industry on how to source and accelerate the use of more sustainable cotton. Our 2020 goal is for 100 per cent of the cotton we use to be more sustainable. Today, already over 70 per cent of the cotton we sell meets this standard.”
As per C&As 2016 global sustainability report, 53 per cent of the cotton C&A sold met the standard for sourcing more sustainable cotton and 33 per cent of the cotton the company sold was organic. The brand revealed it does not blend organic cotton with non-organic cotton in its apparel range and makes sure that all organic cotton it uses are certified by leading third-party standards, including the Global Organic Textile Standard and the Organic Cotton Standard.
In 2015, C&A signed the Better Cotton Initiative, a program crafted around adoption of better farming practices and support eco-friendly cotton production.
Six apparel companies have entered the ‘Fast Company’s’ The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies list this year. What’s more, four of the six —Amazon, Patagonia, Stitch Fix and Walmart—ranked among the top 20. This year, Amazon, the e-commerce giant grabbed 5th spot. Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon says the reason for their victory is the company’s focus on long-term customer loyalty and exponential expansion into new businesses.
Amazon is one of the leading apparel retailers, expanding its already extensive apparel empire last year with the launch of its try-before-you-buy service Prime Wardrobe and its private label activewear lines Rebel Canyon and Peak Velocity. The e-commerce behemoth is forecast to lead the US apparel market by 2020.
Patagonia was in 6th place due to its retail successes by serving as a champion of social causes. Founded in 1973, it has grown into one of the most successful and well respected outdoor brands. The company, which is privately-owned, has used its brand image to enhance awareness on social and environmental issues, investing in grassroots organisation that enables its supply chain more sustainable.
Comparative newbie, born in 2011, Stitch Fix’s 13th position is in recognition of the impact the e-commerce subscription and personal shopping service has had on the apparel industry since it was launched. The reason behind its success is personalised services and keen eye for detail of its over 2 million users.
Walmart, at No. 15, has not only maintained retail dominance in the face of adversity as a brick-and-mortar store — 4,700 locations in the U.S. and over 600 outlets of its members’-only warehouse chain Sam’s Club — but it has also made several very strong moves in digital retail, investing in e-commerce services, fulfilment centres and technology initiatives.
Surecom Media will organise ApparelConnect 2018, dedicated to the logistics segment of the apparel industry, at Shangri-La's Eros Hotel, New Delhi on May 17, 2018. The day-long conference would have four panel discussions where several top industry leaders from leading apparel export companies, supply chain professionals, logistics service providers, airlines and cargo terminal operators will participate and share knowledge and extensive experience.
The panel discussions will be on following themes: International Logistics; On Time Delivery: The Vital Aspect; Making Future Ready the Current Supply Chain Structure of Garment Companies and Managing Off Shore Sourcing and Outsourcing; Customs and Border Regulations; Warehousing Decisions; and Managing Returns of Fashion Retailing.
Supply chain professionals from leading apparel manufacturers and export companies such as Bombay Rayon Fashion, Eastman Exports Global Clothing, Pearl Global Industries, Richa Global Exports, Pratibha Syntex among others will gather under one roof and share knowledge and logistics experience with leaders who are driving the industry forward.
ITM 2018, the largest regional fair for world textile machinery and technology sector with investors and trade delegations from nearly 100 countries worldwide, will be held in Istanbul from April 14 to 17. Local and foreign companies are set to display latest textile machinery and technology. The ITM exhibition is one of the two largest in international and the largest in the region in its segment in terms of the number of visitors/participants. Besides being one of Turkey’s most important brands internationally, the country is also a textile bridge between the East and the West.
A key aspect that makes it attractive for visitors is the fact that the fair is held in Istanbul, a prosperous city with growing transportation facilities and expanding world trade. Following extensive PR activities for ITM 2018 — organised by Teknik Fairs and Tüyap, with the co-operation of TEMSAD — the exhibition area is already booked to capacity.
The exhibition, which broke a record by hosting about 50,000 visitors in the previous event, is expected to break last season’s record. Many textile machinery manufacturers, both foreign and domestic, who are the leaders in cotton to yarn, weaving to knitting and dyeing and also digital printing will launch their new textile machines and technologies in ITM 2018. Manufacturers in Turkey are also looking to showcasing their innovations here.
ITM 2018 will be held concurrently with the HIGHTEX 2018 International Technical Textiles & Nonwoven Exhibition, Istanbul and the 8th International Textile Conference. With the synergy that will arise from the gathering of all these events, Istanbul will host a world-wide sectoral meeting and textile feast during April 14-17.
DyStar and RotaSpray have jointly developed an indigo spray dyeing procedure, which allows denim producers to significantly reduce their environmental impact. The new technology offers high flexibility for dyeing small lot sizes, reduced water use and effluent discharge, lower impact on yarn in the dyeing process and simplified recipe changes.
DyStar and RotaSpray have been working together to develop it further and make it available for bulk production in important denim markets like Turkey, India and Pakistan. Although rotary atomizers have been established for several decades in the textile industry they were mainly used for rewetting textiles with moisture. But recent cost pressures and a global demand for more sustainable solutions were motivators for R&D and led to the recent technology leap.
RotaSpray, founded in 2013, manufactures rotating atomizers for tailor-made conceptions in dyeing and finishing of warp yarn, fabric and nonwoven as well. DyStar is a leading dyestuff and chemical manufacturer and solution provider, offering customers across the globe a broad portfolio of colorants, specialty chemicals, and services. DyStar also caters to multiple sectors including the paints, coatings, paper and packaging industries. Its expansion into the food and beverages and personal care sectors reinforces the company’s position as a specialty chemical manufacturer.
Vietnam’s exports of textiles and garments to China have exponentially increased in recent years, surging from $2.7 billion in 2016 to around $3.2 billion in 2017. Economist report the average annual growth of exports remained more than 20 per cent for the past three years. Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs show the import value of textile and garment from China touched around $9 billion last year, accounting for over 42.7 per cent of the country’s total imports and rose over 12 per cent last year. Value trade was nearly four times higher than that of Republic of Korea and nearly five times higher than that of Taiwan - the two major import markets of Vietnam in recent years.
China and Vietnam are known rivals in many garment export markets. China’s textile and garment exports touched $260 billion annually, while Vietnam’s apparel products were initially exported to the Chinese market, surging to over $31 billion last year. The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) estimates it will be easier for them to export higher number to China from 2018 following significant growth in Chinese, Russian and Cambodian markets. As per Vu Duc Giang, President, VITA the reasons for the increase is Vietnam’s fibre exports to China benefit due to a zero per cent tariff under the ASEAN-China FTA, while products from other markets have to pay 3-5 per cent duty.
Further, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between ASEAN and the six countries of China, the ROK, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand is expected to boost Vietnam’s exports to China.
By the end of 2017, China was among the top five consumers of Vietnam’s textile and garment products valued at over $3 billion. Le Tien Truong, General Director, Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), says their country has so far been the world’s leading textile and garment exporter but Chinese products are dominating the domestic market. However, remarkable improvements have been seen in Vietnam’s exports to China.
