FW
The Bangladesh government has launched the Essentials of Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) program. Under this, eight lakh ready-made garment (RMG) workers across the country would benefit. EOSH, is an innovative training package developed by the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) International Training Centre in Turin. The training programme is being delivered by the Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) with the support of the ILO and financed by Canada, the Netherlands and United Kingdom, according to a release.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have also supported the training. The launch marked the third phase of an initiative that has seen a core group of 114 master trainers from BEF, BGMEA, BKMEA and RMG factories train 8,038 RMG managers and supervisors in occupational safety and health.
In the latest phase, this group would now go on and build awareness of key OSH issues amongst 800,000 workers in 585 factories by June 2017. In addition to the EOSH training, the initiative would also see 585 company representatives oriented on the formation of Safety Committees at factory level. The goal is to establish 110 functioning Safety Committees at company level by January 2017. Covering the areas of managing safety and health, and establishing Safety Committees, the modules form part of an OSH kit to be distributed to all RMG factories.
Max Fashion India in partnership with Elite launches, grooms and connects aspiring models with top players in the Indian fashion industry.
The aim is to discover fresh faces. Models are trained to rock the runway.
This is the third year of the model hunt in India. Elite has groomed and introduced some of biggest names in the international fashion industry such as Cindy Crawford and Gisele Bundchen.
Max Fashion India is India’s leading value fashion forward brand. It offers clothing and accessories for men, women and children. From offering unique platforms for consumers, to enabling them as content drivers, Max Fashion India is striving to establish India as a fashion hub on the global map.
Max believes in creating consumer connect properties that are disruptive and innovative. Through properties such as the Max Elite Model Hunt it aims at creating a strong affinity with Indian consumers. This consumer connect plays a big role in Max Fashion India’s overall business and expansion plans.
One way the brand establishes a strong emotional connect with Indian consumers is through omni-channel youth-centric marketing campaigns. It works on constantly creating content that drives consumers’ interests, transforms their buying habits and nurtures brand loyalty.
The trade show Yarn, Fabric and Accessories (YFA) will be held in New Delhi, November 23 to 26, 2016.
YFA 2016 has attracted over 130 companies from India and abroad, which also includes a Chinese Pavilion. There were 100 exhibitors in the 2015 edition. A special highlight of YFA 2016 is the denim zone, which will see top 20 Indian denim fabric makers exhibiting their denim innovations.
The aim is to bring producers of world class and multiple varieties of value added fibers, yarns, fabrics and garment accessories closer to end users in New Delhi and surrounding areas.
YFA aims to redefine the way fibers, yarns, fabrics and apparel accessories are sourced and bring renowned suppliers from these four segments closer to buyers and also offer buyers a one-stop place to source all their requirements.
There will be a 15 per cent subsidy to SRTEPC and Texprocil members. SRTEPC is one of the oldest export promotion councils in India for the promotion of Indian man-made fibers and textiles. Texprocil is the apex body for Indian cotton textile exporters.
This subsidy to SRTEPC and Texprocil members will be over and above the 60 to 90 per cent subsidy offered by the National Small Industries Corporation to YFA 2016 exhibitors.
Bangladesh’s penetration in the global footwear market is very meager. But the country has the potential to earn huge foreign exchange from exports of footwear and leather products globally and contribute largely to job creation and thus boost the economy.
In this sector, the country can add 80 to 85 per cent value to products because it has affordable but good quality leather.
Almost 66 per cent of the footwear business in Bangladesh comes from the unorganised sector. Bata is the market leader in the organized sector and has a 20 per cent share. Another brand Apex has a 10 per cent share and the others occupy the remaining 34 per cent of the overall local footwear market.
Sandals and slippers dominate the footwear sold. Most users of these kinds of footwear are basically in rural areas.
Footwear is also imported from China, India, Burma and Thailand.
About 40 per cent of the global footwear demand is met by China and 12 per cent by Vietnam.
World footwear manufacturing is notorious for its pursuit of so called cheap labor. In the 1960s Japan was the main source of supply of low cost footwear. The industry then moved to Taiwan as labor costs in Japan grew. It in turn moved to China, then to Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Low labor costs, supplies of good quality leather and a long tradition of shoemaking can make Bangladesh a global destiny for sourcing of shoes.
Consumers in India are becoming concerned about sustainable clothing and the manufacturing processes the products go through.
Organic clothing offers a wide range of options, be it ethnic wear, clothing for children and infants, elegant saris or office fashion. The fiber and fabrics used are sourced from all over the country and include hemp, cruelty-free silk, bamboo and organic cotton, while colors are taken from henna, turmeric, beetroot and pomegranate.
The techniques used, such as block printing and hand embroidery, involve both the rich cultural heritage of India as well as the country’s skilled artisans. Labels committed to green fashion also promote the use of herbs with renowned medicinal properties as sources for color. Clothes with these natural colors have a massive advantage over those with artificial pigments, as they rejuvenate the wearer’s skin rather than causing any harm.
However organic fashion comes with a price tag. People in Tier II and III cities do not view organic fashion as familiar and accessible, and are not motivated enough to adopt it. It is crucial for the fashion industry to spread awareness that organic clothing is not just for high-end clientele in metros, but for anyone who recognises the need for sustainability, and appreciates the many benefits of eco-friendly clothing.
Luxury brands are prefaced on the idea of scarcity – what is scarce is of most value, and what is difficult to acquire or to access confers status.
But in a world of abundance, in which nearly everything is accessible and nothing is scarce, what are the symbols and codes that communicate that something is a luxury?
Digital has democratised so much of what had only been attainable by the few – whether that be through access to information or actual ownership. But now technology is being used for luxury brands to tap into the sharing economy and it’s hard to know what is exclusive or not any more. The sharing economy and the luxury economy are now coexisting. And nowhere is that more obvious than in social media. Communities have sprung up on Instagram and Snapchat that promote luxury brands and a luxury lifestyle, making brand promises everywhere and promoting themselves as accessible to everyone.
But brands should be wary of being too accessible. Many premium American fashion brands are losing share and have become less profitable than they once were because they were pushed to grow quickly in the short term, manufactured offshore, discounted through outlet channels and, all in all, lost sight of how to manage a luxury brand and create the right perception with consumers.
"The stage is set for the third edition of the Global Denim Awards, scheduled to be held on October 26, 2016 in Amsterdam. With the unique concept of bringing in world’s most progressive mills along with 11 emerging fashion designers, this show is aims to bind the warp & the weft of textiles together. Aptly defined as the perfect concoction of progressive design with technical innovation, this has truly become the world’s premier platform for the future of denim design, innovation, sustainability and craftsmanship."
The stage is set for the third edition of the Global Denim Awards, scheduled to be held on October 26, 2016 in Amsterdam. With the unique concept of bringing in world’s most progressive mills along with 11 emerging fashion designers, this show is aims to bind the warp & the weft of textiles together. Aptly defined as the perfect concoction of progressive design with technical innovation, this has truly become the world’s premier platform for the future of denim design, innovation, sustainability and craftsmanship. According to Co-founder Mariette Hoitink (CEO of fashion recruitment and consultancy agency HTNK), “What's unique about the Denim Awards is that it puts some of the most innovative mills worldwide front-row. In this way, Global Denim Awards is also a preview to the future, since brands will have to offer transparency regarding where and how product is produced within the next few years.” Andrew Olah, co-founder and CEO of denim trade-show Kingpins, remarks, “It's amazing to see how much traction the Global Denim Awards has gotten in so little time. We are, as a fact, inspiring a 60-billion-dollar global market, I really look forward to seeing how GDA develops.”
DESIGNERS TRAVEL TO MILLS
As per the format, selected designers travel to a number of destinations, for example: Turkey, Taiwan, Thailand, Spain, India and China, wherein they will spend at least one week at their partnered mills to develop an in-depth understanding of the mill’s latest technological possibilities vis-à-vis fabrics, washes, finishes, treatment and sustainable manufacturing processes. The designers will work together with the mill to develop on the spot a capsule collection, comprised of five total looks, which will be presented during the Global Denim Awards show.
This edition’s presentation will be held at De Hallen Studios. Instead of a traditional runway show, models will present themselves on three spectacularly lit stages. It will be attended by a carefully selected audience of 500 international denim professionals from mills, wash houses, suppliers, brands and retailers.
THE ILLUSTRATIVE JURY
The 11 collections with the unison of designers and the mills will be judged by a jury of international denim experts on the overall look, the innovative nature of the design, and the creative use of denim. The winning designer will receive a €10,000 award. An additional award would be handed over to the mill with the most innovative fabric. The winning collection will then be exhibited at Kingpins Shows in New York City and Hong Kong, before returning to Amsterdam for Denim Days 2017. The Jury includes illustrious names in the world of fashion. These are:
Amy Leverton: Involved with the denim industry since 2003, Amy’s job involves many aspects of the denim market; covering over 15 industry trade shows & niche denim events per year, analysing street style, and hunting for obscure new brands. Leverton says, “I’m a big fan of the Global Denim Awards. The denim industry is a tight-knit community where the healthy competition in fact brings us all closer together. How great is it that once a year the whole community gets to work towards a common goal!”
Art Comes First: Founded in London, Art Comes First was created by former Saville Row designer Sam Lambert and stylist Shaka Maidoh as a conceptual platform for both their formal work as a styling and designer duo, as well as for their non-commercial research and more art-oriented activities. Art Comes First has collaborated with brands such as PONY, Super Duper Hats, Spencer Hart, Ozwald Boateng, Kanye West, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), and Liberty Fairs, and created limited edition capsules like The Coal collection, presented at Harvey Nichols and United Arrows.
Kelly Harrington: After having graduated from Loughborough University in printed textiles, Kelly has spent 14 years at Swedish Fashion chain H&M. Her job involves designing, trend forecasting, and setting up an inspirational vintage archive. She is often scouring vintage shops and flea markets around the world for inspiration or attending trade fairs, while analysing street style and fashion week trends. Kelly is always on the hunt for new niche brands and vintage shops, and regularly collaborates with denim brands from around the world.
Alex Jaspers: The Global Sales Director of Scotch & Soda and day-to-day denim aficionado, Alex completes the list of this year’s Global Denim Awards jury. He has been responsible for setting the strategic horizon of Amsterdams Blauw, the highly successful denim collection of Scotch & Soda, as well as working on the overall denim business and marketing strategies for this Amsterdam based global brand. His experience in fashion, denim and retail spans over 20 years now. "Global Denim Awards is a platform that gives ‘passionists’ in fashion the opportunity to work and excel in the most complex part of the fashion industry: the denim trade,” says Jaspers. “Participating in this platform as a designer just by itself is daring and inspiring… Denim is so versatile and complex it can drive you mad or give you great glory. My respect for the competitors is therefore even larger. I am honored to be in the jury to learn from them as denim always teaches you, and I hope I can give something of my expertise back to let them succeed in their dream.”
ARVIND MILLS MAKES IT TO THE PARTICIPANTS’ LIST
Having almost doubled the number of participants since its inception in 2014, GDA now presents the 11 paired fashion designers and progressive denim mills that will present their co-created capsule collections during Global Denim Awards 2016. The list of designers & mills duo includes:
1. Marina van Dieren and Christina Albrecht (The Netherlands/Germany) & Advance Denim (China)
2. MariusPetrus (Belgium) & Atlantic Mills (Thailand)
3. EdithMarcel (Italy) & Berto Industria Tessile (Italy)
4. Outkastpeople (Turkey) & Calik Denim (Turkey)
5. Designer: Lavinia Mustapha (Italy-Lebanon) & Candiani Denim (Italy) 6. Anbasja Blanken (Curaçao) & ITV Denim (Italy)
7. Tess van Zalinge (The Netherlands) & Knitdigo (Taiwan) 8. Lisa Konno & Karin Vlug (The Netherlands) & Prosperity Textile (China)
9. Roosmarijn Koster (The Netherlands) & Arvind (India) 10. Deniz Gür (Turkey) & Kipas Denim (Turkey)
11. Leandro Cano (Spain) & Tejidos Royo (Spain)
IMPORTANT DATES, TIMES & LOCATION
October 26th and 27th: Kingpins Show
October 25th, 17:00-18:00: Pre-event Press Meet
October 26th, 20:30-22:00: Global Denim Awards
October 26th, Global Denim Awards with after party from 22:00 onwards
Location: De Hallen Studio's, Hannie Dankbaarpassage 18, Amsterdam
"Menswear category is slated to register growth of 2-3% per year with a market size of $570 billion and annual revenues of $333.4 billion, according to a recently released report by Fashionbi. The Increased consumer spending, global companies exploring untapped markets are the reasons leading to this stupendous growth."
Menswear category is slated to register growth of 2-3% per year with a market size of $570 billion and annual revenues of $333.4 billion, according to a recently released report by Fashionbi. The Increased consumer spending, global companies exploring untapped markets are the reasons leading to this stupendous growth.
The credit for this stupendous performance goes to the consumers going digital and adopting e-commerce as their favoured choice. Fashionbi found that over the last three years, ecommerce has grown by a whopping 127%. With size and revenue on an upswing along with increased consumer spending, menswear has witnessed 18% uptick in purchases over the last five years. Today’s youth is not restricted to basic functionality; they are coming of age with latest style and trends, marking their bold statements.
“The growing fashion-conscious men consumers, their tendency to spend on more high-end durables and functional fashion items and the upcoming men influencers that have highly impacted their fellow men audience - these all factors paved way for increased sales in the menswear segment," said Ambika Zutshi, CEO, Fashionbi, Milan.
With fashion becoming no-holds-barred affair, fashion brands are experimenting with unisex styles. According to the report, ‘Menswear Industry Market Research’, the fashion goes genderless and menswear has overtaken women’s wear in terms of global growth. Menswear, for example, grew by 1.9% to $29 billion in 2015, while women’s wear saw a 1.6% increase in growth.
Giving Asia-specific perspective, Zutshi said, “Asian markets have been quite ignored when it came to promoting men’s fashion. However, statistics show that Asian men are growing in every sense, in terms of personality, income/social status, fashion-consciousness and knowledge of the available goods.
” YUMMIES, coming of age, new categories
Lately young urban professional men (YUMMIES), categorised by being status-conscious, affluent and late-to-marry have grown in numbers. Fashionbi highlights that the YUMMIES consumer segment has taken off due to omnichannel retail, which has assisted in ensuring consumers, are well-informed through digital and social media pushes. Similarly, same-sex, double-income-no kids (DINKs) in the US have a much higher disposable income than heterosexual DINK couples. Same-sex DINKs have an average household income of $103,980 whereas heterosexual DINKs see an average HHI of $62,857.
Performance wear is also making its presence felt in the menswear category. As athleisure responded to consumers' demand for comfort and utilitarian fashions, performance wear has answered consumer interest in functional, well-designed pieces that fit within an active lifestyle. For menswear, this trend has been doing wonders with brands designing semi-tailored clothing with functionalities such as washability and wrinkle resistance. Italian menswear brand Ermenegildo Zegna blended the performance of its Zegna Sport line with the fine tailoring of the Z Zegna Collection.
A training program has been launched for some eight lakh readymade garment workers in Bangladesh.
Safety in the workplace has become a major priority in Bangladesh. This training is expected to contribute greatly to that goal as both workers and employers will benefit from improved safety practices.
In Bangladesh the readymade garment industry accounts for 80 per cent of exports and, as a result, is of paramount importance to the economic health of the country. Despite its economic importance, or perhaps because of it, enforcement of building codes for factories has historically been lax, leading to an entire industry rife with unsafe working conditions.
The lack of fire safety was well known due to a long record of fatal factory fires, including a fire in late 2012 that killed 112 workers. By early 2013, several international retailers with supply chains based in Bangladesh factories had already embarked on fire inspection programs, but until the Rana Plaza tragedy no one considered structural safety to be a fundamental concern.
This catastrophic incident was one of the deadliest factory collapse in Bangladesh and it propelled the global readymade garment industry into action to make Bangladesh factories – and hence the four million Bangladeshis who work in them – safer.
From haute couture to high street, 3D printing could revolutionise what we wear and how we shop.
It means consumers can order an outfit on their way home to find it freshly printed out and ready to wear when they open the front door.
As of now 3D-printed jewelry and spectacle frames are increasingly commonplace, and the technology has been used in shoe and bag design. The lightweight materials available in the 3D printing world have allowed designers to push the boundaries of volume and dimension to create previously unrealistic designs.
Until now, couture clothes have been unique pieces, painstakingly designed and crafted by highly-skilled artists to fit the wearer’s form exactly. The nature of couture production meant that it was the exclusive purview of the rich and famous.
However, 3D printing is on track to democratise the world of couture. There may come a time when domestic 3D printers will be sophisticated enough for consumers to scan their own bodies, send their measurements to online retailers and instantly download the blueprint for their chosen outfit, fitted exactly to their body, to print out at home.
Even in the last three years, there has been a marked improvement in the functionality of 3D textiles, from garments initially resembling body armor to the development of more flexible textiles.
