FW
As per a Euromonitor forecast, China is expected to overtake United States to become the largest apparel market by 2019 globally. Keeping pace with this, Bangladesh has been making steady inroads into China. In 2016-17, the country’s apparel export to China witnessed a significant rise of around 14.77 per cent Y-o-Y to reach around $400 million.
However, from July to March 2018, earnings slipped marginally by 5.65 per cent to touch $269 million, compared to what was $285 million in the corresponding period of previous year. China slashing tariffs on imports from five Asian countries is seen as a move to strengthen its defence in the ongoing ‘trade war’ with the United States. But Beijing’s move has opened up a new window of opportunity for Bangladesh. While Macro Style has prominently included China in its future scheme, BGMEA hopes to find some space in the Chinese market.
Birla Cellulose has partnered Ankur Textiles, women’s wear division of Arvind Limited, to launch a wide range of Liva fabrics with 100 per cent modal and 100 per cent viscose blends for womenswear. This multi-fibre fabric is an alternate to the traditional fabric for new age Indian women who deserve high position as well as comfort in her apparel needs.
Liva range of fabrics is introduced under Ankur Textile fabric brands - Zoya, Blossom and Glam & Glory. This range has been carefully crafted to meet the requirement of western and ethnic womenswear. These fabrics will be available across retail points throughout the country in a range of colours, textures and prints. This will enable not just the retail consumers but boutique owners, designers, small retailers to access Liva’s fluid fabric to create their own fluid designers.
Bangladesh readymade garment workers and labour leaders are optimistic about the new wage board becoming a reality. The government is expected to form the Minimum Wage Board for reviewing remunerations of the workers by the end of this month. Additionally, Bangladesh Labour Ministry is scheduled to hold a meeting on July 8 to finalise the process while factory owners’ associations and workers’ organisations have already sent names of their representatives to the Ministry for the Board.
The workers’ representative at the board are expected to place recommendation for a new minimum pay structure which is unlikely to be less than Taka 16,000 as per demands surfacing through the last six months, since the formation of the wage board on January 31.
Meanwhile, Clothing and Garment Workers League President Kamrul Anam urged buyers to share the responsibility to ensure fair living wages for the readymade garment workers so that they can live a decent life. BGMEA previously said the new pay structure would reflect both the requirements of a garments worker and the capacity of an owner. They have already ruled out the possibility of Taka 16,000 as the new wage structure, saying it is an impossible demand.
Avantex Paris, a trade fair for sustainable development technologies, will be held at Le Bourget from September 17-20, 2018. The trade fair, to be organised by Messe Frankfurt France, emphasises on innovation and sustainable development in services, materials and technologies for textiles and clothing. Avantex has become a real network, an aggregator of ideas, a lab that goes beyond the world of fashion in the strict sense. The show, in its seventh edition, will be well represented by high-tech technical textiles from China and Taiwan. South Korea will be present its myriad skills in outdoor materials from Bosung Textile, and the best in applied research and experimental development from the international Korean Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH)
Avantex aims aim to demonstrate the links between technology and clothing through a series of presentations and roundtables moderated by experts on the inherent issues in the market and which make up the exhibition: materials and components, clothing and accessories, prototype studio, smart retail.
Archroma has entered a partnership with Carlin. The aim is to promote the use of Archroma’s exclusive color inspiration tools among fashion designers and stylists in France. Archroma is a global leader in color and specialty chemicals. Archroma offers a suite of services and tools that are both practical and instantly available. Carlin is the world’s very first trend forecasting agency founded in 1947.
Carlin will also use the color atlas during its color workshops, and Carlin and Archroma will organize regular conferences and events for fashion brands in major French cities. Carlin will be Archroma’s sales agent for its color management products in France, including the color atlas by Archroma and related tools. Archroma’s color management services will continue to be sold through the existing channels.
The color atlas is a color library for the textile industry. It is an essential and inspirational reference that gives creatives options that they had never dreamt of. By partnering with Carlin Archroma will be able to share its color atlas and its passion for color with a new audience.
The color atlas uses complementary tools to enhance creative possibilities for designers and brands. It incorporates the six-volume library with over 4300 colors on cotton poplin, the two-volume color atlas compact for improved portability; and the color atlas online, which enables one to take an image with a smartphone and identify the closest color atlas shades.
Bangladeshi apparel exports to Japan have been increasing over the years, thanks to entrepreneurs' relentless efforts to meet buyers' quality requirements and policy support from the government. Another reason for the rise in exports is 'China-plus policy' and relaxation of rules of origin. Locally-made knitted items have been enjoying duty-free entry in Japanese market since April, 2015 and woven items since April 2011, even though raw materials are imported.
As per Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, the country exported apparel items worth $787.13 million during July-May of fiscal year (FY) 2017-18, a 13.04 per cent growth over the corresponding period of previous fiscal. Apparel exports fetched $744.48 million in FY 2016-17, up from $572.27 million in FY 2013-14. RMG export was only $74.33 million in FY 2008-09. Overall exports reached a billion-dollar mark in FY 2015-16 for the first time and maintained the same trend during the last two fiscal years.
Cool Visions dyeable polypropylene fiber is proving to be a versatile, all-performance partner in a raft of new hybrid developments for the outdoor market. A disperse-dyeable polypropylene, Cool Visions fiber provides mills and brands with the means to create differentiation in fabric structure, pattern, and coloration.
The lightweight, moisture-wicking, thermally-regulating polypropylene staple fiber is perfect for spinning with merino wool or cotton, creating yarns that combine polypropylene’s performance attributes with the comfort of natural fibers, without the use of additives or topical enhancements.
The latest development in Cool Visions products comes in an inspired odor-control yarn from Fil Spec called Fresh Fil. The Canadian-based technical spinner has combined a polyester fiber impregnated with zinc oxide with Cool Visions staple.
Fresh Fil yarns with Cool Visions provide freshness and UV protection in lightweight apparel, adding to polypropylene’s inherent performance benefits such as moisture management, breathability, thermal regulation, and durability. It’s the best of both worlds for outdoor and active brands. Hard-core performance brands will benefit from new Cool Visions dyeable filament. Da Fon in Taiwan has created a range of moisture-wicking, quick-drying, breathable knits combining Cool Visions filament with polyester.
Grupo Miro from Mexico has launched Virtu-Scan Apparel, a line of thermally-regulating performance safety apparel featuring Cool Visions + Cotton. The gear features a logo that can be scanned to confirm the wearer’s identity.
A combination of factors has muddied the waters of the global cotton market. Cotton demand is up, especially in Asia and South Asia but drought conditions in the West Texas region of the United States and the potential of new tariffs on cotton are serious concerns. Relations between the world’s largest exporter, the United States, and the world’s largest consumer, China, have been tense.
China has announced a 25 per cent tariff on uncombed US cotton that is scheduled to go into effect on July 6. While both production and consumption are projected to increase in 2017-18, higher production will result in world stocks increasing three per cent, to 19.3 million tons, following two seasons of continual decreases in global stocks. Consumption in 2018-19 is projected to grow five per cent with production projected at 25.9 million tons. With consumption expected to outpace production in 2018-19, global stocks are expected to decrease to 17.8 million tons.
Prices have dropped from a season-high of 102 cents per pound. However, current price of cotton is still higher than the season average of 87 cents per pound and considerably higher than the 20-year historical average of 73 cents per pound.
Euratex, the European Textile and Apparel Confederation, has drafted certain recommendations to promote quality and sustainability of EU textile and clothing productions. These include the work done in the European Parliament (EP) that can be a great opportunity to improve sustainability in the global garment supply chain, stopping abuses and prevent incidents.
As per these recommendations, there is a need work together to help voluntary-based initiatives to delivery at global level. Build on achievements of OECD, ILO, UN, other successful public/ private initiatives. Refrain from new mandatory regulatory systems. Promote transparency and simplicity, support (not imposing) traceability for SMEs, encourage green public procurement, reduce audits fatigue by sharing audit results, harmonise standards while maintaining diversity. Enable a level playing field for a global impact, same conditions for EU and non-EU companies. Inform consumers, facilitate simple information and transparency for consumers, and help consumers choosing sustainable products.
The Woolmark Company hosted the Merino Wool Awareness Day in Hanoi recently, which was attended by over 100 industry professionals including international and local experts, experienced designers, suppliers and manufacturers in the textile and garment industry.
The event highlighted the benefits of Merino wool and provided guidance on how to access and process the fibre in innovative ways, as well as giving domestic companies an opportunity to showcase their wool products and connect with more than 80 supply chain brands in Vietnam. Participants learnt valuable lessons from experienced experts from leading brands in Vietnam and across the world such as Canifa, Ivy Moda, Fixxed Studios and Appeal Korea.
The Woolmark Company has been working in Vietnamese market for five years, watching the country’s growing interest in use of natural fibres and its potential for production of quality wool product.
