FW
Renowned for its authentic athletic apparel since 1919, Champion has unveiled its latest innovation; the Champion Weighted Hoodie, with an aim to promote mental health.
The weighted hoodie was invented after a survey conducted by the brand in 2022. on 19 to 35-year-olds revealed a desire for a weighted wearable product from the brand Champion by over 90 per cent of the consumers. Responding to this widespread need, the brand created this stylish and innovative hoodie for day-to-day wearable relief.
The weighted hoodie prototype represents another step in the brand’s pursuit of meaningful product creating a real impact for consumers. The hoodie is a perfect example of addressing mental health concerns and daily life stress. It is inspired by the use of weighted products for comfort by the brand’s consumers. Through this adaptive fashion, the brand aims to destigmatise mental health.
Weighing 8 lbs, this machine-washable hoodie is quilted with micro glass beads to provide the scientifically proven benefits of weighted pressure, similar to weighted blankets, which can reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety and support other mental health and neurodivergent conditions. The hoodie was developed in collaboration with Thera, a small business founded by Jenny Rosenberg, who began creating weighted wearable products during the pandemic. The prototype is undergoing testing with leading mental health experts, including Dr. Kerri McBee-Black, Head Adaptive Apparel Researcher and Professor at the University of Missouri.
In 2023, the Hanesbrands-owned Champion launched its first global brand campaign, titled ‘Champion What Moves You,’ redefining its mission to provide every individual a platform to pursue their passions and live their true purpose. For Champion, being a ‘Champion’ is about taking action and creating with intention, supporting important causes across communities, including mental health.
Developed in partnership with Thera, the Champion Weighted Hoodie weighs 8 lbs (3.6 kg) with balanced distribution across the arms, chest, back, and hood. It is made with premium quality, non-toxic, odor-free, machine-washable micro glass beads.
Easy to clean and maintain, the hoodie offers multiple sensory experiences and extended wear options with one side textured and quilted, and the other soft and smooth. Designed for those with sensory label issues, the hoodie aids in garment reversibility while retaining important legal and wash information. It acts as a focus agent for those with fidgeting tendencies.
In its second crowdfunding round launched this week, circular denim brand Mud Jeans aims to raise a capital worth €250,000 (approximately $270,600). The brand will use these funds to enhance awareness among customers, boost online sales, and expand its wholesale business. These growth plans of the company entail an investment of over €1 million this year.
To be hosted on the sharefunding platform Eyevestor, the crowdfunding will be initiated on a profit sharing basis. Consumers will start getting dividends within four to six years, as the Dutch brand will reinvest all earnings back into the company for growth. Investment opportunities range from a minimum of €250 ($270) to €25,000 ($27,060), with various benefits such as shopping credits, free jeans, and membership in Mud’s think tank. For investments exceeding €25,000, the brand will provide a custom proposal.
In its first crowdfunding round, Mud Jeans successfully raised €641,000 ($693,800) from 460 investors. If the second round is successful, the company plans to initiate a third round of funding.
Mud Jeans is known for its ‘lease a jeans’ program and aims to promote 100 per cent circular denim. This year, the brand has revamped its approach to manufacturing and selling jeans, strengthened its management team, and improved its product range. The current collection includes popular styles like barrel jeans, wide-leg jeans, maxi skirts, and coordinates. In May, the company also launched a bolder branding strategy and a new, consumer-friendly website.
Mud Jeans aims to achieve revenues worth € 25 million by 2030. By then, the company plans to expand its retail presence from 210 to 780 stores and increase its annual sales of jeans from 43,000 to 360,000, all made from 100 percent recycled denim.
US-based fashion brand Guess aims to incorporate half of its mainline apparel product portfolio under the Guess Eco label by 2025, and by 2030, it plans for 75 per cent of its mainline denim offerings to be a part of Guess Eco.
For approximately five years, Guess Europe collaborated with Lenzing to integrate Tencel™ lyocell and Lenzing™ Ecovero™ viscose into the Guess Eco collections.
Tencel™ lyocell fibers have been incorporated into denim items such as jeans, shirts, and dresses, while Ecovero™ viscose fibers are used in dresses, tops, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and pullovers. To date, Guess has sold roughly 2 million items containing Ecovero™ and 800,000 garments with Tencel™ lyocell across its 1,608 stores in 100 countries. To inform consumers about these sustainable materials, Guess utilises Lenzing’s E-Branding service to include hangtags on products, including samples.
Lenzing’s fibers are integral to the latest Spring/Summer 2024 Guess Eco collection. Recently, Guess Europe and Lenzing partnered for an influencer event in Berlin on April 25 to promote this line. The event attracted over 15 influencers and press members to raise awareness and visibility for these sustainable materials. An on-site exhibition, ‘The Journey of Guess Eco,’ showcased garments made from Tencel™ lyocell and Ecovero™ viscose. During the event, Manuela Gesslbauer, Senior Regional Marketing Manager, led a 20-minute panel discussion about Lenzing’s fibers.
This event marks a significant milestone in the partnership, which began with educational initiatives. Sylvia Happel, Head - Business Development Europe, and Carlo Covini, Business Development Europe, initially presented to about 80 Guess employees about the benefits and applications of Lenzing’s fibers. This foundational education set the stage for the successful integration of these materials into Guess products.
Expanding its store network in the city, leading D2C men's fast fashion brand, Snitch has launched its second exclusive brand outlet in Vadodara, Gujarat. The store was launched on May 19, 2024 at the EVA Mall in the city. The brand had launched its first store on April 17, 2024, at Neptune Trion/
With these inaugurations, Snitch now boasts six exclusive stores across India, including two each in Surat and Bengaluru. Featuring the latest in men's apparel and accessories, these stores offer patrons a chance to immerse themselves in a world of style and sophistication.
The stores enable the brand to interact with thousands of customers and learn about their unique tastes and preferences. Coupled with its extensive experience in men's fashion, these insights allow the brand to create more relevant and compelling offerings for its customers, says Siddharth Dungarwal, Founder & CEO, Snitch.
Committed to expanding its offline presence, Snitch plans to open multiple stores in urban India. The brand has already garnered a loyal following for its trendy designs, high-quality products, and sustainability efforts. Its expansion into new markets highlights its growing popularity and the increasing demand for products.
The Istanbul Textile Machinery (ITM) trade fair, commencing in early June, will feature a significant presence from German companies, with nearly 90 exhibitors, predominantly VDMA members. These exhibitors will showcase advancements across various machinery sectors, emphasizing spinning, nonwovens, weaving, knitting, and finishing.
Key themes at the event include digitalization and automation, which remain crucial in addressing industry challenges. Additionally, sustainability has evolved into a vital economic and social consideration, focusing on efficiency in energy, raw materials, water, and recycling.
Turkey stands as a critical market for German textile machinery manufacturers. In 2023, exports of textile machinery and accessories from Germany to Turkey amounted to approximately 350 million euros, reinstating Germany as Turkey's primary supplier after three years of China's dominance.
The fair is strategically significant, given Turkey's geographical advantage as Europe's gateway, offering an experienced workforce and proximity to key European markets. The event also attracts visitors from the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa, enhancing its regional importance.
Harald Weber, Managing Director of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association, underscores ITM’s role in aligning with the EU's strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, highlighting the increasing focus on recycling.
VF Corporation, a global leader in lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories, has appointed Paul Vogel as Chief Financial Officer, effective July 8, 2024. Vogel, formerly CFO at Spotify Technology SA, will replace Matt Puckett, who is stepping down. Vogel's tenure at Spotify saw significant growth, with the company’s revenue and user base more than doubling, alongside improved operating margins and free cash flow.
Bracken Darrell, VF’s President and CEO, expressed enthusiasm for Vogel's appointment, highlighting his extensive operational and financial expertise. Darrell emphasized Vogel’s ability to drive profitable growth as VF aims to reset and expand its brand portfolio. Vogel expressed his excitement about joining VF, noting the company's strong brand portfolio, talented team, and innovative culture as key factors for future growth and shareholder value creation.
Darrell also acknowledged Matt Puckett’s 23-year contribution to VF, praising his leadership and partnership during Darrell's transition to CEO. VF Corporation looks forward to leveraging Vogel’s experience to strengthen its financial positioning and growth trajectory.
Deckers Brands expects net sales to grow by approximately 10 per cent to around $4.7 billion in fiscal year 2025.
The company reported a remarkable 18.2 per cent surge in net sales, reaching $4.288 billion for fiscal year 2024, driven by double-digit growth in its Hoka and Ugg brands. The California-based company saw its net sales increase by 12.6 per cent to $2.432 billion, while direct-to-consumer sales soared by 26.5 per cent to $1.855 billion for the 12 months ending March 31.
Domestically, sales rose by 16.8 per cent to $2.864 billion, and international sales climbed by 21.1 per cent to $1.424 billion. Hoka led the charge with a 27.9 per cent growth, generating $1.807 billion in net sales. Ugg followed with a 16.1 per cent increase, reaching $2.239 billion. These gains were partially offset by declines in other brands: Teva saw a decrease of 18.9 per cent to $148.5 million, and Sanuk experienced a 33 per cent drop to $25.4 million. Meanwhile, the company's other brands segment, primarily composed of Koolaburra, rose by 5.9 per cent to $67.9 million.
With an 18 per cent revenue growth, Deckers achieved record results during fiscal year 2024, showcasing the brand’s commitment to exceptional profitability, says Dave Powers, President and CEO.
Both Hoka and Ugg boast a robust pipeline of innovative products designed to captivate global consumers. Looking ahead, the brand’s talented teams aim to capitalise on the long-term opportunities for these iconic brands.
Karl Mayer Group unveils its pioneering Energy Efficiency Solution, poised to transform the landscape of energy consumption in warp knitting industries. Developed under the KM.ON technology platform, this innovation promises to slash electricity waste and bolster sustainability efforts, marking a significant stride towards cost reduction and carbon dioxide emissions mitigation.
Markus Bahde, Product Owner Digital at Karl Mayer Group, underscores the genesis of this solution, citing a fusion of extensive R&D expertise and market insights. He points out the palpable industry demand driven by escalating energy costs, sustainability imperatives, and regulatory pressures. The unveiling at ITMA 2023 garnered enthusiastic responses, signaling a pivotal shift in the industry's energy management paradigm.
The Energy Efficiency Solution offers a suite of tools, including real-time energy monitoring, historical data analysis, and automated control mechanisms, empowering customers to curtail energy consumption and costs. Bahde highlights a remarkable 5 per cent to 10 per cent monthly energy saving achieved by a test customer, affirming the solution's efficacy.
Looking ahead, Bahde reveals plans for further enhancements, including advanced analytics and autonomous energy optimization features. The solution's debut at ITM and upcoming showcase at ITMA ASIA + CITME beckon a new era of sustainable manufacturing practices, inviting industry stakeholders to witness first hand its transformative potential.
Primark has joined an innovative project by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, The Fashion ReModel which brings together leading brands to advance circular business models in the fashion industry.
Announced at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, this initiative includes prominent participants such as Arc’teryx, H&M Group, Zalando, and Reformation. Supporting organisations include BSR (Business for Social Responsibility), the British Fashion Council, Global Fashion Agenda, Fashion for Good, Textile Exchange, and the Waste & Resources Action Program(WRAP).
The Fashion ReModel aims to address barriers to scaling circular business practices, such as resale, rental, repair, and remaking of fashion items. This aligns seamlessly with Primark’s sustainability strategy, Primark Cares, which seeks to extend the lifespan of clothes. Currently, 55 per cent of Primark’s clothing is made from recycled or sustainably sourced materials, with a target of reaching 100 per cent by 2030.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation projects that if circular business models like resale, rental, repair, and remaking achieve a 23 per cent market share by 2030, the fashion industry could see a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 16 per cent.
Through its involvement in The Fashion ReModel, Primark will enhance its efforts to transition into a circular business model, finding innovative solutions to support a circular economy in fashion. Since partnering with the Vintage Wholesale Company in 2022, Primark has made pre-loved clothing more accessible in its stores through Wornwell concessions. New initiatives are underway, including a trial of ‘Primark presents Pre-loved’ across seven UK stores, featuring a curated collection of vintage music tees just in time for festival season.
Primark is also integrating circular design principles across its clothing ranges, ensuring garments can be re-worn, repaired, and recycled. The retailer has developed its own Circular Product Standard with assistance from the Foundation and WRAP and is now training its product teams in circular design. To enhance the durability of its products by 2025, Primark has partnered with WRAP to create an enhanced durability wash framework. Currently, 39 per cent of Primark clothing undergoes durability wash testing, with 57 per cent of denim passing at 30 washes.
Additionally, Primark’s ‘Love it for Longer’ repair program has expanded to six markets, offering over 200 free workshops since April 2023, and providing repair tutorials online.
To enhance the cost competitiveness of the cotton value chain, CITI recommends certain policy measures such as removal of import duty on all varieties of cotton, including cotton waste, enhancement of cotton productivity with a focus on specialised seed varieties like HTBt cotton seeds, exempting fibers and yarns not available domestically from the scope of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) to ensure access to essential raw materials without regulatory hindrances.
Further CITI recommends, enabling provisions for exempting inputs imported by Advance Authorisation holders, EoU, and SEZ units from the mandatory QCOs issued by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (for polyester fiber/filament/yarn), in line with the exemptions provided by the Ministry of Textiles.
It also urges for an establishment of a committee to ensure the availability of all types of raw materials (fiber/yarns), with periodic reviews of the emerging requirements of specialised fiber/yarn categories that may be exempted from QCOs due to supply, demand, or price gaps.
Other recommendations include ensuring a smooth supply of all raw materials at internationally competitive prices, lowering standard input and output norms (SION) for cotton blended with MMF and VSF, addressing GST duty inversion in the MMF value chain to avoid capital blockage, announcing separate Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) codes for recycled MMF-based products to promote sustainable products and expanding the viscose manufacturing hub to states like Tamil Nadu and other textile manufacturing clusters to reduce logistic costs.
