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The debut Tranoi Tokyo trade show, held from September 4-5, spotlighted the dynamic spirit of African fashion through Afrexim bank’s Canex Presents Africa initiative. Ten distinguished brands from Africa and the diaspora showcased their designs, promoting African creativity on a global stage.
Among the featured brands was Vanhu Vamwe from Zimbabwe, known for its luxury handcrafted heirlooms that merge traditional crafts with modern innovation. Trinidad and Tobago’s The Cloth, established in 1986 by Robert Young, also participated, alongside Nigeria’s Shekudo, originally a women’s clothing brand that transitioned to footwear and accessories in 2017.
Other notable participants included Egypt’s Dina Shaker, focused on elevating personal style, and Kenya’s Adele Dejak, renowned for its luxury fashion jewellery blending contemporary design with traditional craftsmanship. Katush, also from Kenya, explores perceptions of history and culture through fashion, while Tunisia’s Anissa Aida draws inspiration from both Tunisian heritage and Japanese craftsmanship.
Judy Sanderson, a Portugal-based ready-to-wear brand by South African designer Judy Sanderson, joined the showcase along with Ethiopia’s ethical casual wear brand Fozia Endrias and Nigeria’s sustainable fashion brand Emmy Kasbit.
Kanayo Awani, Afrexim bank’s Executive Vice President, emphasized the Bank’s strategy to promote African creatives by connecting them with international buyers, investors, and industry stakeholders. She encouraged participation in Canex Wknd 2024 in Algiers, set for October 16-19, as a significant platform for collaboration and business development.
Tranoi Tokyo attracted 3,499 visitors over two days, with 170 avant-garde brands presenting their Spring/Summer 2025 collections to buyers from Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and China.
Afrexim bank’s Canex initiative continues to provide African designers with access to global markets and sustainable growth opportunities.
Despite rising energy costs in Germany, ETV, a Gescher-based finishing specialist, continues to thrive. Founded in 1950, the company is installing a third Monforts Montex 8500 finishing range with a working width of 3.2 meters. This new system includes a Montex Coat coating unit and an Eco Booster heat recovery system, both aimed at improving productivity and energy efficiency.
ETV's managing director, Dirk Tunney, attributes the company's success to a strategic pivot 25 years ago, moving from traditional textiles to technical textiles, films, and membranes. Today, the company processes 1,500 tons of yarn and 1.6 million linear meters of fabric annually. Additionally, ETV prints 4 million linear meters of fabrics and coats up to 40 million meters of materials each year.
However, escalating energy prices present significant challenges. Energy costs, which once comprised less than 10 per cent of overhead, now account for up to 13 per cent, amounting to an additional €400,000 per year.
Monforts, a key partner, is addressing energy efficiency through innovations like the Eco Booster, which can save up to 35 per cent on energy. The company is also part of a consortium exploring green hydrogen as a future energy source for textile finishing processes. ETV’s proximity to Monforts' headquarters makes it a prime candidate for testing these new technologies.
Tunney highlights the need for government support in advancing sustainable solutions, stressing that without decarbonization efforts, German industry risks deindustrialization.
Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel (Freudenberg Apparel) has launched its cutting-edge Film Bonding series, specifically designed for sew-free bonding applications. This advanced solution aims to enhance manufacturing efficiency and precision while providing durable, shape-retaining garments.
The Film Bonding series offers high-quality adhesive films, ensuring a strong shear bond and recovery, allowing garments to conform to body movements without losing shape. It eliminates bulky seams, giving fabrics a smooth finish. Available in tape form, the series accommodates various weights (90-220 grams per square meter) and includes thin options below 80micrometers. The series also offers thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) variants with different softness levels, making them ideal for stitch-free bonding on garments such as bras, briefs, vests, and leggings.
In addition to the Film Bonding series, Freudenberg has expanded its Net Bonding series by introducing an innovative oval net structure to its TPE polymer adhesives. This structure complements the existing Diamond and Hexagon patterns, providing more options for breathable and elastic garments. The Net Bonding solutions, ranging from 50-240 grams per square meter, are ideal for intimate and activewear, including leggings and sports bras.
Freudenberg continues to lead in bonding technology, optimizing fabric strength and elasticity while reducing the need for traditional stitching methods.
Zara plans to launch its ‘Pre-Owned’ platform for selling, repairing or donating second-hand clothes in the United States by Oct-end.
Zara has been operating its 'Pre-Owned' platform in 16 European countries, after it was launched in Britain in Nov’22.
The service is available through Zara stores, its website and an app in countries including Spain, France and Germany.
According to Oscar Garcia Maceiras, CEO, Inditex, the company’s online platforms are visited by over 22 million customers per day.
Zara also plans to launch live shopping shows in the US, as well as other key markets such as Spain, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Ireland and The Netherlands in the coming months. The brand’s sales getting a boostfrom the five -hour long live shopping shows in China and broadcast weekly on Douyin, TikTok's sister site in China, as per retail analytics firm Edited.
Other fast fashion retailers such as H&M also offer products for resale in the US. The brand sells secondhand items in the US via a stand-alone website in partnership with ThredUp.
A vertically integrated global textile leader, Himatsingka Seide plans to expand both its market presence and customer base in FY25 to align with the evolving market landscape.
Furthermore, Himatsingka also aims to maintain high standards of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) responsibility. The company will continue to maintain its leadership position in the home textiles sector by combining best-in-class innovation, flexibility and global client networks. It will also seek to de-leverage its balance sheet and optimise capital efficiency, says Shrikant, Himatsingka, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director.
A specialist in the design, development, manufacturing, and distribution of a diverse range of textile products, Himatsinghka has four advanced manufacturing facilities along with some of the largest installed capacities in the world for bedding products, bath products, and cotton yarn.
Fiscal 2024 proved to be both rewarding and challenging for Himatsingka Seide as the company faced global macroeconomic headwinds while consolidating its operations. The company demonstrated remarkable resilience, driven by its strong business fundamentals, integrated manufacturing platforms, and commitment to innovation. Its consolidated revenues grew by 4 per cent to Rs 2,862.58 crore during the year while consolidated EBITDA increased by 78.40 per centto Rs 617.33 crores.
This growth was driven by a stable demand environment, enhanced capacity utilisation, and the easing of supply chain costs, notes Himatsingka. The company continues to focus on optimising operations further and reducing debt in FY 25.
From 2025, the Fall/Winter edition of Première Vision Paris has been shifted from its current schedule in July to mid-September.
Additionally, reacting to the increasing presence of Turkish and Asian exhibitors at Première Vision Paris, a number of Italian producers have opted to exhibit at trade shows in Italy instead of Paris,
Focusing on designer and luxury pre-collections, the Blossom showwill continue to be held twice a year, in early summer and December. Meanwhile, the future of the Fashion Rendezvous event, which is not on this year's calendar, is still under consideration. The organisers aim to ensure that each event is held at the most appropriate time for the industry.
This date change aligns with the new ownership and leadership structure of Première Vision’. In February 2023, GL Events, which previously held a 49 per cent stake in Première Vision, acquired full ownership of the trade show. A year later, Florence Rousson, Managing Director, GL Events was appointed President, Executive Committee, Première Visionwith the mandate to revamp the 11 trade events the company regularly organises across Europe, Asia, and North America.
In 2025, Première Vision Paris will be held on Feb 11-13, followed by a second session on Sep 16-18. Held from July 2-4, 2024, the most recent edition of the event featured 930 exhibitors and attracted visitors from around 8,000 companies.
Cotton prices in India are increasing continuously due to an acute shortage in the market. This season, cotton prices have increased by 3 percent above the Minimum Support Price (MSP), with experts predicting further increases in the near future.
The price hike is being driven by several factors including a decline in cotton cultivation by 11 lakh hectare in the current Kharif season. A significant damage caused to the cotton due to heavy rains in key cotton-producing states like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh is another factor driving this price rise. Additionally, cotton sowing in Punjab has also reduced compared to last year.
Last season, farmers faced heavy losses due to a caterpillar pest outbreak that severely impacted cotton yields, making it difficult for them to recover production costs. This has disheartened many farmers from cotton cultivation this year, leading to a noticeable decrease in sowing.
According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, by Sep 2, 2024, cotton cultivation across India declined to 111.74 lakh hectarefrom 123.11 lakh hectare recorded last year.
Cotton prices are rising sharply in the wholesale markets. In Surat and Rajkot, the average cotton priceshave reached between Rs 7,525 and Rs 7,715 per quintal. In Amreli Mandi, cotton is priced at Rs 7,450 per quintal, while in Chitradurga Mandi, the maximum price has touched Rs 12,222 per quintal.
The central government has raised the MSP for cotton by Rs 501 for the 2024-25 Season. The MSP now stands at Rs 7,121 per quintal for the medium staple category and Rs 7,521 per quintal for the long staple category.
Currently, the average market price for cotton exceeds MSP by Rs 300-400. With this gap further widening, cotton prices are likely to increase even further, creating new challenges for both farmers and the market.
Held in Samarkhad, Uzbekistan, the ITMF Annual Conference and the IAF World Fashion Convention showcased the transformative potential of Uzbekistan’s textile and apparel (T&A) industry.
The event brought together leading Uzbek textile manufacturers, international investors, and representatives from public and regulatory bodies to discuss the sector’s future.
Focusing on the theme, ‘Innovation, Cooperation and Regulation-Drivers of the Textile and Apparel Industry, the ITMF Annual Conference and IAF Fashion Convention 2024attracted over 500 industry experts. The event explored the future of textiles, showcased cutting-edge innovations, and stressed the importance of global collaboration.
From January to July this year, Uzbekistan exported textiles worth over $1.7 billion to 85 countries. It plans to triple this figure to $6.5 billion by 2026. Driven by recent reforms and modernisation efforts, Uzbekistan’s textile industry has made significant strides. A few of the industry’s key milestones include the establishment of cotton-textile clusters in 2017 and the lifting of the cotton boycott in 2022, aligning the industry with global standards. Uzbekistan’s participation in initiatives such as the Better Cotton Initiative and the Better Work program has further boosted its international export capabilities.
Government support has played a crucial role in attracting foreign investment in Uzbekistan. Kihak Sung, Chairman, Youngone Corporation, highlighted his company’s success in the country including a $55 million investment and the creation of over 5,000 jobs.
Taking note of Uzbekistan’s rising influence in the textile industry, Karim Shafei, International Partner, Gherzi Textil Organisation, emphasisedon the country’s potential to disrupt the global market. Mirmukhsin Sultanov, Acting Chairman, Uztextileprom, highlighted the country’s goal to reach $10 billion in textile exports by 2030 and its focus on technology, innovation, and sustainability.
A global trade association, the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) promotes collaboration and communication among textile manufacturers to support industry growth and sustainability. The International Apparel Federation (IAF) is the leading global association for the apparel industry, fostering international cooperation and dialogue to drive development.
Sohail Pasha has been unequivocally elected as the new Chairman of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) while Mahmood Ahmad and Ameer Ahmed assumed their roles as the new Senior Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively. The Executive Committee of PTEA elected twenty-four members for the upcoming two-year term.
Muhammad Idrees, Vice Chairman, PTEA, affirmed, working diligently, the new members would help enhance the association’s performance and advocate for the textile industry’s growth. The association needs to lobby for innovations solutions to maintain the viability of the textile sector in Pakistan, he emphasised.
With over 30 years of industry, Pasha is aProfessional Management Executive engaged with Riaz Enterprises. He is also an active contributor to various charitable, health, and educational institutions.
Acknowledging the challenges of leading the association during difficult times, Pasha emphasised on the urgent need to introduce remedial measures for addressing the high cost of doing business and regional production disadvantages. He urged both the sector and value-added associations to come together to overcome the economic challenges.
The newly elected team will officially assume their roles on Oct 01, 2024.
Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) has made its first export of ‘Made in Benin’ ready-to-wear clothing for the American brand US Polo Assn. The shipment, produced in partnership with Incom SPA, is destined for the European market, particularly Italy. US Polo Assn is a globally recognized brand offering a variety of apparel and accessories in over 130 countries.
This milestone marks a significant integration of GDIZ into global supply chains. The partnership with Incom S P A is expected to yield over a million pieces of clothing in the coming years. The initial shipment includes hooded sweatshirts, polos, and T-shirts, all crafted to US Polo Assn's stringent quality standards.
GDIZ has already supplied major international brands like The Children’s Place and KIABI, reinforcing its status as a growing textile hub in Africa.
Letondji Beheton, Managing Director of Societed' Investissementet de Promotion de l' Industrie (SIPI-Benin), called the export a proud moment for GDIZ and Benin, showcasing the country’s ability to produce world-class textiles. Francesco Gozzini, Production Director of Incom Italy, praised the partnership, highlighting the craftsmanship and attention to detail present in Benin’s textile industry, which aligns with Incom’s commitment to quality.
This export emphasizes GDIZ’s expanding role in the global ready-to-wear industry.
