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Ready to source fabric and network with industry peers, buyers flooded into Texworld USA Winter 2018 edition in record numbers. Held January 22 to 24 at the Jacob K Javits Center in New York City and organised by Messe Frankfurt, the sourcing event for apparel fabric buyers, research and product development specialists, designers, merchandisers and overseas sourcing professionals takes place biannually in the US in January and July. Collocated Apparel Sourcing USA, Texworld USA hosted 4,500 attendees, 371 exhibitors in an area of 47,000 net square feet.
In its 10th year, the Winter edition is the smaller of the two Texworld shows, although both events sees huge crowds. Buyers visiting Texworld USA experienced an expanded exhibit hall and several new show-floor elements, including content features for start-ups and small designers. Jennifer Bacon, show director, fashion and apparel said, “We partnered with Startup Fashion to provide more information for startups. I truly believe today’s independent designers will be tomorrow’s big brands. We added a low minimum supplier list to the floor that features exhibitors who will sell at lower quantities and Resource Row that goes beyond textile sourcing to support other areas of the business.”
Bacon was quick to point out that the retail climate has been changing quickly and dramatically over the past 12-18 months and went on to explain, while how we shop is changing, we are still buying apparel and some companies are really thriving, particularly those with ethical, technical or sustainable features. Content on the show floor featured a wearable section and even covered trends in recycling leftover scraps and surplus fabrics.
Texworld USA also made enhancements to its educational offerings by adding a new element to its seminar series: Explore the Floor. During these sessions, a seminar presenter guided the group to areas on the showfloor where buyers could see and experience the topic first hand, ask questions and learn how to apply concepts. This year, the show’s art directors created a spotlight trend area on denim and artist Moon Heemin, who designed a fun art installation of dogs made out of denim that proved to be a powerful backdrop for social media sharing.
Show officials note that Texworld USA is anchored in New York City for several reasons, including the city’s status as one of the world’s four fashion capitals and a convenient destination for attendees to reach. In addition, the show itself has a reputation as a benchmark for colours and materials.
Swiss company HeiQ has launched HeiQ Fresh FFL (Fresh For Long), a 100 per cent bio-based odour control technology. The product targets the sportswear and intimate segment, with application suitable for seamless garments made of synthetics that are prone to permastink. Visitors at ISPO got a sneak peak of the technology at HeiQ’s booth at Hall C3 Booth 402.
Apart from its founding silver product that is today used worldwide in over 500 million garments by over 100 major active wear brands and the recently launched volatile odour source sequestering technologies HeiQ Fresh NKU and HeiQ Fresh AGOS.
HeiQ says it continues to redefine freshness for textiles by introducing the world’s first bio-based, non-antimicrobial, non-silver-based textile odour control technology – HeiQ Fresh FFL, which is based on a biopolymer derived from 100 per cent renewable source. The wash-resistant, biodegradable textile finishing is said to stop bad smell before they emerge on textiles.
HeiQ Fresh FFL is a non-antimicrobial alternative to traditional odour control in textiles. The sustainable, fully biomass-derived Amino-Sugar-Polymer functions by binding proteins and other sweat components that can cause odour. The HeiQ Fresh FFL biopolymer supports quick removal of these sweat secretion during home laundering. As a non-antimicrobial solution to odour control, the regulatory obligations normally associated with biocides are of no relevance when applying HeiQ Fresh FFL on garments and other textile products, the company reports.
Ralf Mundinger, HeiQ’s Head of Technology Application explains, “Odour control efficacy is maximised with the correct technology-fibre match, as well as the right application of the technology in the textile finishing process. While most odour-control textile finishing target polyester, the application is often limited to padding, which is not utilised for textiles that seamless garments are made from.
HeiQ Fresh FFL can be used on both cellulosic and synthetic fibres. The flexibility of application of HeiQ Fresh FFL – can be done through either exhaust or padding – means that brands can apply it freely on different fibre and product design, including seamless garments.”
A $23 million venture fund resolve the threat of forced labour in big businesses with the help of tech start-ups was launched, backed by brands from Disney to Walmart. Humanity United, a US-based foundation, has partnered major corporations and the British government to create Working Capital, a first-of-its-kind fund to invest in innovations to ensure that companies’ supply chains are free from slavery. Humanity United says the fund has received capital from the C&A Foundation, affiliated with fashion retailer C&A, the Walmart Foundation, and Walt Disney Co, among others.
Slavery has increasingly come under international spotlight, putting continuous regulatory and consumer pressure on companies to ensure their supply chains do not employ forced labour, child labour and other forms of slavery.
From cosmetics and clothes to shrimp and smartphones, complex supply chains have multiple layers across countries — whether in sourcing raw materials or creating the final product — making it extremely difficult to clearly identify exploitation/slave labour conditions.
Ed Marcum, MD at Working Capital says, “There is a growing market demand for more transparent and responsible corporate supply chains. We see an opportunity to invest in emerging solutions that will meet the demands of large multinational corporations while also benefiting millions of vulnerable workers,” he added.
The fund, which received $3.5 million from Britain’s foreign aid department (DFID), is investing in new technologies to map supply chains and help workers to raise grievances, find legitimate employers and understand their rights. Its portfolio includes Provenance, which uses blockchain to trace products from producer to consumer, and Ulula, a platform helping firms to measure risky practices in their supply chain.
Humanity United, established by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam in 2005, was involved in founding The Freedom Fund, the world’s first private donor fund designed to raise and deploy at least $100 million to combat modern slavery worldwide.
China is once again going to organize the ‘13th Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show 2018 - Winter Edition’ from January 31 to February 3 at the International Convention City (ICCB), Dhaka. This expo is being organised post successful completion of previous editions, CEMS Global-Conference & Exhibition Management Services and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry (CCPIT).
This year’s show will be taking place along with two simultaneous exhibitions the ‘2nd Dhaka Int’l Denim Show 2018-Winter Edition’ and '30th Dye+Chem Bangladesh 2018 International Expo-Winter Edition’ After 12 highly successful editions in Bangladesh, the ‘13th Dhaka International Yarn & Fabric Show 2018-Winter Edition’ is expected to draw a large number of visitors from the Textile and Apparel industry of Bangladesh.
These three international exhibitions will accommodate 350 international exhibitors, from over 21 countries worldwide, who will showcase their up-to-date fabrics, which are ready-to-use for garment, accessories, industrial use and various other applications.
The expos will play an important role by displaying latest yarn and fibre, fleece, knitted fabrics, coated artificial fur, artificial leather, denim accessories, embroidery/digital printer, adhesives, dyestuff, catalysts, dyes and dye stuffs, dye and fine and specialty chemicals. The manufacturers will put on display all ranges of textile products enhanced with the latest technology, along with smart fabrics to satisfy the growing demand of various buyers. It will enable the textile/apparel industry buyers to meet local and overseas textile and yarn manufacturers face to face
IndustriALL Global Union records 60 global brands have already signed up to renew their commitment to bearing the costs of health and safety checks, including Adidas, Lidl and Primark. However, some top UK fashion and clothes retailers have not yet signed the deal to renew their commitment to factory safety in Bangladesh. John Lewis, M&S, Next, Debenhams and Sainsbury’s are yet to add their names to the list of brands committing themselves to Bangladesh’s latest laws on fire and building safety. The renewed agreement will see greater investment in health and safety checks come into effect this year as the original 2013 agreement is due to expire in May. A legally binding agreement was set up in 2013 where brands must share responsibility for the costs of improving health and safety in Bangladeshi factories. Bangladesh’s Accord on Fire and Building Safety was introduced after the devastating Rana Plaza factory fire which killed 1,135 workers and left over 2,500 people injured.
A spokesperson from John Lewis said the company is currently reviewing details of the new agreement before making a final decision ahead of the deadline. M&S reportedly said it is still “in discussion with stakeholders on Accord 2.0”, while Debenhams said it had “meetings in the diary” before May. A Next spokesperson said “If Next decides not to sign Accord 2 – it is confident that it already has a competent, directly employed code of practice team (and office) in place in Bangladesh, to manage safety in that region.” Sainsbury’s said it was actively involved in discussions and said it "applauded the progress that's been made by the Accord in Bangladesh.
Trade unions representing Bangladeshi textile workers reached a $2.3m (£1.6m) settlement earlier in January with an unnamed multinational fashion brand accused of delaying fixes to life-threatening hazards in factories. The UNI Global Union and IndustriALL Global Union took two leading fashion brands to court in 2016 following the introduction of Bangladesh’s Accord on Fire and Building Safety in 2013.
Lakshmi Machine Works’ revenue de-grew by 6.8 per cent yoy to Rs 542cr. EBITDA was Rs65 cr, down by 4.8 per cent yoy. EBITDA margin grew by 25 bps yoy to 11.95 per cent. Adjusted PAT grew by 4.7 per cent yoy to Rs 57 cr. Depreciation and amortization expenses de-grew by 9.6 per cent yoy to Rs 14.16 cr.
Revenue from textile machinery and machinery tool foundry segment contributed Rs 391.08 cr (down 23.1 per cent yoy) and Rs 98.80cr (up 44.9 per cent yoy) respectively.
Lakshmi Machine Works’ is India's largest textile machinery and CNC Machine Tool manufacturers, based in Coimbatore founded by Cavalier G K Devarajulu. It started operations in 1962 in Coimbatore with technical collaboration with Swiss-based textile machinery manufacturer Rieter for textile machines and German based Steel and Ammunition major Krupp. In mid 1980s the company bought over its Coimbatore based longtime rival and much older Textile and engineering giant Textool. The company is promoted and owned by the Lakshmi Mills family. LMW has 60 per cent market share in domestic textile spinning machinery industry.LMW diversified into CNC Machine Tools and is a brand leader in manufacturing customized products.
Trident’s revenue or Q3FY18, grew by 0.3 per cent yoy to Rs 1,137cr. EBITDA came in at Rs 200cr, down by 11.2 per cent yoy. EBITDA margin contracted 227 bps yoy to 17.59 per cent. Adjusted PAT de-grew by 7.1 per cent yoy to Rs 73cr. The Board has declared 2nd interim dividend of Rs 0.6 per fully paid up equity share of Rs10 each. Record date is February 6, 2018. Finance cost de-grew by 16.3 per cent yoy to Rs 25.2cr. Depreciation and amortisation expenses de-grew by 2.1 per cent yoy to Rs 101.3cr. Employee benefit expenses de-grew by 24.9 per cent yoy to Rs 108.3cr due to rationalisation of manpower cost including structuring of salary and manpower.
Revenue from textile and paper and chemicals segment contributed Rs 913.23cr (up 0.2 per cent yoy) and Rs 224.06cr (up 0.7 per cent yoy) respectively.
Trident Limited (Trident) is the flagship company of TridentGroup, a $1 billion Indian business conglomerate. The group operates in five business segments: Yarn, Bed Linen, Paper, Chemicals and Captive Power. Trident Limited, the flagship company of the group has its customer base in more than 100 countries across six continents. Trident is one of the largest yarn spinners in India, one of the world's largest terry towel manufacturers and the world's largest wheat straw based paper manufacturer.
Zara has officially opened its first click-and- collect concept store in Londons Westfield shopping centre. The Inditex-owned retail giant has launched a purpose-built space to accommodate shoppers while its flagship store, which is also located on the east London site, is being refurbished to double in size. The concept store will be open until May, when the brands newer, bigger flagship opens once again. The new location is spread in around 2,152 sq. ft, has a dedicated space to collect online purchases, while also stocking a selection of pieces from both menswear and women’s wear.
Customers will be given the choice of receiving their items the same day if ordered before 2 pm. The concept store will also incorporate high-tech features. Sales assistants will hold mobile devices to help customers with sizes, stock and collections and you can pay by card, via Bluetooth, at the register.
One can choose to avoid lines by paying through an app where the Zara and Inditex Group apps both permit this, plus InWallet. There's also a self-service checkout. A virtual styling tool is also on hand in-store. Information screens will be embedded into mirrors, with customers permitted to scan barcodes of items using sci-fi- sounding radio frequency identification technology. Once the item is recognised, the internal system brings up multiple choices for coordinating and combining the piece with other garments and accessories."
This futuristic shopping experience comes as part of Indites game plan to slow down its growth in physical retail and instead focus its efforts on omni- channels. Chairman and CEO of Inditex, Pablo Isla said in a brand statement that this marks “another milestone in our strategy of integrating our stores with the online world which represents an important part of our identity.”
Bangladesh government has extended by one year the tenure of current Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).BGMEA Vice-President Mohammed Nasir confirmed the extension. As per the schedule, BGMEA election board on December 18 last year, the biennial election for the posts of its 35 directors was supposed to be held on March 7.The two panels of apparel makers – Sommilito Parishad and Forum – had reached a consensus to hold election for the new leadership.
Post a meeting with stakeholders and former BGMEA presidents last week, the government decided to extend the board’s term by a year considering the present condition of the apparel industry and challenges they faced, including completion of safety inspection and other issues, Nasir said.A Commerce Ministry official said BGMEA wrote to the government requesting an extension and changes in the memorandum of the association in line with the latest amendment of Trade Organisations Rules.The board had been given a six month extension, however, that expired on September 21 last year.
The Woolmark Company and leading sports brand Adidas have teamed up to launch a design competition focusing on the development of innovative, forward-thinking products for the performance industry. The Woolmark Performance Challenge is a new annual competition for tertiary students in Europe and North America and is set to kick-start the career of the eventual winner.
The joint partners note the competition provides an amazing opportunity for tertiary students to develop innovative new product applications within the sports and performance market, using the science and performance benefits of Australian merino wool. Performance apparel is one of the fastest growing sectors in the international textile industry, growth that can be attributed to an emergence of new technologies, new sporting trends and a shift in people’s attitude towards health and fitness.
In addition, consumers are becoming more aware of the impact their purchasing decisions have on the planet and are demanding natural alternatives for their product and apparel needs. Adidas’ Senior Design Director Tillmann Studrucker explains, “At Adidas we are driven by a constant desire for innovation and its belief that anybody can and should be a creator. This unique collaboration with The Woolmark Company gives young creative students the chance to help shape the future of sport and sports culture. I am looking forward to a lot of creative designs that are considering sustainability with material innovation ideas that blend performance and style, past and future.”
Woolmark says its piece, “Taking advantage of the explosive growth in demand for sportswear and activewear, wool’s position as a technical fibre allows it to meet increasingly demanding consumer needs for comfort and performance. Wool is recognised by leading sportswear brands and manufacturers for its technical benefits including resistance to odour, superb breathability and moisture management capabilities.”
