Textiles (142)
Heimtextil has started preparations for next trade fair to be held from January 9 to 12, 2018. Trend researchers from Denmark, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands and US discussed current trends in interior design, architecture, fashion and art.
Given that participants come from different continents, the team at Heimtextil draws from a comprehensive pool of inspiration. Designers analyse developments in materials and textures, colors and patterns from all corners of the world and determine the stylistic design themes. At the end of the process, a mutual, globally applicable trend prognosis for the coming 18 months will be agreed upon and presented.
A team from Denmark will be involved in the development of Heimtextil trends for the first time. SPOTT aims at the individual development of brands and combines trend research with neuroscience and commercial expertise. A team from the Netherlands focuses on textile innovations, predictions, color trends and strategic design concepts. WGSN from the US is one of the leading international trend studios for color and design. Via a global network of design consultants and color specialists, the company creates trend statements, quantifiable forecasts, outlooks and product data as well as reliable color trends.
British design studio Franklin Till comprises trend researchers, designers and stylists as well as a broad-ranging international network of creatives and visionaries.
China has begun cotton auctions. And the country’s textile mills hope to pick up lower-priced fiber. China will offer 30,000 tons of cotton a day for sale until the end of August. The country is seeking to whittle down its large stockpile. Most companies have low stocks, as they expect cotton prices would drop with the coming state reserves auction. They are also confident that the quality of auctioned cotton would be quite good.
Last year, auctions were delayed from May to March, and the poor quality of the fiber in the first few sales, tightened supplies, leading to panic buying by mills and spurring a surge of almost 70 per cent in prices in just under nine months.
Traders are confident that the government will be able to meet its daily auction target this time, and prices will drop, at least in the short term. Still, hurt by price volatility last year, the industry is more guarded against potential risks. If prices were to go up, it would restrain demand and obstruct the goal of reducing stocks. The international market is closely watching China’s sales as it holds more than half of the world’s stocks in reserves and an increase in domestic supplies would further dent imports.
International Wool Textile Organisation has released a set of guidelines designed specifically for conducting life cycle assessments on wool products. From a sustainability perspective wool has, historically, scored poorly in rating systems. IWTO has long wanted new methods where wool is produced alongside meat or milk as this would potentially lead to a much lower environmental impact being allocated to the wool product.
The new guidelines are wool-specific. They aim to create an improvement in the application of life cycle assessments to wool supply chains. This method is expected to improve the scientific veracity and comparability of studies that apply it, providing better information to decision makers and consumers of wool products.
These guidelines will be relevant to any organisation undertaking an assessment of wool products. A life cycle assessment is the most commonly used tool for assessing a product’s effect on the environment. It models the use of resources and emissions to air, land or water that occur from the production, processing and manufacturing of products, the use of these products and their end-of-life recycling or disposal.
IWTO represents the interests of the wool textile trade. Its members encompass 60 per cent of the world’s total wool production, from sheep to shop. By facilitating industry strategy and ensuring standards in manufacturing and sustainability, IWTO fosters connection between members and other stakeholders.
India’s cotton production is projected to rise by two per cent in 2017-18 as area expands by seven per cent. China’s cotton production may increase by two per cent. Production in the United States is forecast to rise by just one per cent. Assuming normal weather patterns, the harvested area is projected to expand by three per cent. Pakistan’s cotton production is forecast to grow by eleven per cent. Its cotton area is projected to expand by three per cent. Average yield may grow by eight per cent.
Global cotton production is forecast to grow by 23.1 million tons on a planted area of 30.4 million hectares in 2017-18. World cotton consumption is expected to remain stable. Given the strong demand this season, and anticipated world economic growth in 2017 and 2018, world mill use is forecast to increase by one per cent.
China’s share of cotton consumption is likely to remain at 30 per cent. Mill use in India is projected to decline by three per cent in 2016-17 but is forecast to recover by one per cent in 2017-18. Consumption in Bangladesh continues to grow due to strong textile exports, with its mill use likely to rise by five per cent in 2017-18. Mill use in Vietnam has more than doubled in the last five years.
S Korea's fashion market to grow 3.3 per cent this year
Written by FWWith major apparel companies ramping up efforts to expand presence within the country and abroad, the fashion market in South Korea is expected to grow 3.3 per cent this year. The size of the domestic fashion market is predicted to reach 39.3 trillion won in 2017, up from 38.3 trillion won estimated for last year says a report by the Samsung Fashion Institute.
This marks the fourth consecutive year of single-digit growth. The market expanded 11.8 per cent on-year in 2011. A grim outlook has prompted major apparel companies to revamp their strategies, bolstering overseas expansions and mergers as a way to brace against the slowing market.
E-land has been a leader among the players in entering foreign markets, currently running some 7,300 stores under its 44 different brands in China with solid revenues. The fashion division of Samsung C&T Corp., the de facto holding company of Samsung Group, and LF, the apparel affiliate of LG Group, have both tapped into Asia's biggest country.
Industry say companies need to come up with a fresh approach for overseas markets, as distinguished items are a key to success in the cutthroat environment where consumers are already swamped with ‘Louis Vuitton and Cartier’. According to the Korea International Trade Association, South Korea's apparel trade balance remained in a deficit, with exports reaching $1.89 billion and imports totalling $8.33 billion.
FIEO looking for tie ups to set up technical textile cluster in Tamil Nadu
Written by FWFor setting up a technical textile cluster in Tamil Nadu, the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) is talking to several agencies where common facilities, including R&D could be provided for start-ups. Since very few are into export of technical textiles at present, A Sakthivel, Regional Chairman, FIEO (Southern Region) says though the potential is immense, exporters would have to look at product diversification to achieve higher growth.
India’s export performance data for January this year has been positive and remained so for the last five months of current fiscal after two years of continuous negative growth. World trade is expected to be better during in the current fiscal (2017)and in the next (2018) at least in emerging economies.
But the prices of all products have started to fall globally. This could pose a huge challenge for manufacturing sector in India. Taking this into consideration, the Commerce Ministry should consider the present market situation and extend better facilities to the exporters in its mid-term review of Foreign Trade Policy, Sakthivel added.
Alliance claims its factories have completed 68 per cent repairs
Written by FWThe Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a consortium of North American apparel retailers and buyers has claimed that 68 per cent of all necessary repairs across Alliance-linked factories have been completed till date. It also says 60 per cent of Alliance linked factories had completed their corrective action plans to a great extent.
As per James Moriarty, Alliance Country Director the Alliance has helped transform what was once one of the most dangerous industries worldwide into one of the safest and as evidence; the number of fires and safety incidents was going down. The Alliance completes its pre-determined five year tenure in 2018.
Tex-Styles India Fair will be held in New Delhi, February 21 to 24, 2017
Written by FWSince its inception in 1995, Tex-Styles India Fair has emerged as an ideal forum for presenting the multi-faceted splendor of the Indian textile industry and established itself as the leading fair of its kind in south east Asia.
This is the only textile show in India which provides users a one-stop platform for purchase of every conceivable textile product produced by India i.e. furnishings, floor coverings, fabrics, garments, accessories etc.
Exhibitors will be companies in fields such as cotton, silk, wool, synthetics, power looms, jute, blended and other fibers.
A yarn and fabric show is being held in Bangladesh, February 15 to 18, 2017.
More than 180 exhibitors from six countries including China, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, and the host Bangladesh are taking part in the show to display state-of-art fabrics, garment accessories, fleece, fancy finishings, different types of yarn, weaving ribbons, denim, knitted fabrics, artificial leather, embroidery, snap fasteners, shoulder paddings, interlining, buttons, zippers, linen blends etc.
There are seven garment factories in Bangladesh that are placed in the top ten environmentally-compliant readymade garment factories around the world.
The country has a target of reaching 50 billion dollars in textile exports by 2021Currently Bangladesh imports viscose worth billions a year which can be easily saved by producing the product from its own raw materials. Production of viscose fiber has proved more profitable than production of readymade garments. Bangladesh has made a deal with China for building a plant to make viscose fiber from jute using Chinese technology and finance.
Chinese investment in Bangladesh has increased by 30 per cent in the last couple of years due to attractive schemes. China is the top exporter of apparel products in the world while Bangladesh is in second place.
With the Trans-Pacific Partnership fizzling out, Vietnam is turning to its Asian neighbors for trade pacts. The country is looking to increase exports to markets in the ASEAN and some countries where it has bilateral trade agreements, such as Japan. It will look at ways to boost exports to the EU.
Vietnam has nine free trade agreements, including deals with India, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Seven more are being negotiated. The more free trade agreements Vietnam signs, the less it will have to rely on China and its Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership for the benefits of international commerce. Vietnam is more active than other countries in forging trade deals, and that allows it to diversify its risk. Because of its export-driven economy, Vietnam probably would have benefited from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade treaty more than any other nation. The TPP would have dramatically lowered or eliminated the tariffs the US imposes on Vietnamese goods. The US is the largest customer for the apparel, electronics, furniture, and shoes that Vietnam makes.
TPP was not only about market access. It was also a driving force for reform, for transparency and anti-corruption. Australia is interested in resurrecting some version of the TPP with Vietnam and other Asian countries.
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Textile printing show FESPA attracts exhibitors, visitors to Thailand
Written by FWThailand is hosting FESPA Asia 2017, February 15 to 17, 2017. The focuses of the exhibition is on wide-format digital, screen and textile printing, allowing visitors the chance to source all they need for their businesses under one roof. Domestic and international brands are exhibiting.
FESPA Asia is the latest addition to the FESPA portfolio of established trade print exhibitions. Designed to connect screen, digital and textile printing communities across the Asean region and beyond, this event brings together print professionals looking to discover the newest products, the latest innovations and the best advice.
FESPA is the largest specialty and creative printing federation with 37 member associations, and has the philosophy of reinvesting in the global print community for sustainable growth across the board. French software house Caldera is presenting its award-winning print workflow solutions. Products that Caldera will be showcasing at the event include its premium signs and display solutions software and its market-leading textile-printing solutions. The new Caldera V11 RIP suite speeds up image processing and improves organisation for wide-format print businesses of all kinds.
Hexis is showcasing its new HXS5000, which offers 14 colors and allows application on flat and slightly curved surfaces. Senfa is displaying Decoprint, a range of coated textiles for large-format digital printers.
Solidaridad and WWF release list of companies to be assessed for their Sustainable Cotton Ranking
Written by FWA ranking system that scores apparel brands and other organisations on their use of sustainable cotton will be widened for this year. Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK, Solidaridad and WWF have released the list of companies that will be assessed in the new round of their Sustainable Cotton Ranking. to be published in October 2017.
The second edition of the ranking will include major companies from all continents including from countries such as China and Brazil and online companies such as Zalando and Amazon. As in 2016, the ranking will score companies on their policy, traceability and uptake of sustainable cotton.
In the first report, which was published in June 2016, IKEA Group, C&A, H&M, and Adidas, were ranked highest while VF Corp and Kering scored less in the report which judged brands primarily on their use of organic cotton. Fairtrade cotton, cotton made in Africa (CmiA) and Better Cotton Initiative sourced cotton.
Solidaridad said the target list of companies has been expanded to offer a more global representation of consumer-facing companies estimated to use more than 10,000 metric tons of lint cotton annually and include companies from emerging markets and online retailers. It added that creating a list of the largest corporate cotton users is challenging as most companies do not publish the volumes they use in their products.
The first Cotton Ranking claimed most companies using variable cotton globally were failing to deliver on cotton sustainability, with just eight companies out of 37 showing positive progress in the ranking. By conducting a second Cotton Ranking in 2017, PAN UK, Solidaridad and WWF said they expect to see that more companies have taken steps forward on their sustainable cotton policies, traceability and sourcing. The report will also include a market update on the available supply and uptake of cotton from the main cotton sustainability standards (organic, Fairtrade, Cotton Made in Africa and Better Cotton).
Labour, tax reforms to boost apparel and leather sectors: Economic Survey
Written by FWThe Economic Survey for 2016-17 has said that labour and tax reforms are needed to boost employment creation in apparel and leather sectors as the two segments can become vehicles for broader social transformation in the country today. Noting that in both apparel and footwear sectors, tax and tariff policies create ‘distortions’ that impede India gaining export competitiveness, the Survey said that there is a need to undertake ‘rationalisation’ of domestic policies which are inconsistent with global demand patterns.
The Survey notes that India has an opportunity to push exports from apparel and leather sectors since rising wage levels in China have resulted in China stabilising or losing market share in these products and has recommended labour and tax reforms to make the country globally competitive. Apparel and Leather & Footwear sectors are eminently suitable for generating jobs that are formal and productive, providing bang-for-buck in terms of jobs created relative to investment and generating exports and growth, as per the Survey, which was tabled by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament today.
However, it observes that the space vacated by China is fast being taken over by Bangladesh and Vietnam in apparels; and Vietnam and Indonesia in case of leather and footwear, while Indian companies struggle in face of a set of common challenges related to logistics, labour regulations, tax and tariff policy and disadvantages emanating from international trading environment compared to competitor countries.
An FTA with EU and UK in the case of apparel will offset an existing disadvantage by India’s competitors like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Ethiopia, the Survey notes. In case of leather and footwear, the FTA might give India an advantage relative to competitors. In both cases, the incremental impact would be positive,” it maintains.
The introduction of GST offers an excellent opportunity to rationalise domestic indirect taxes so that they do not discriminate in apparels against the production of clothing that uses man-made fibers, the Survey observes.
Gap to launch augmented reality app ‘Dressing Room’ soon
Written by FWThough the fashion industry and technology haven't traditionally amalgamated well, but Gap is looking to change that. The parent company Gap Inc., which also owns Old Navy and Banana Republic, is launching a new augmented reality app called ‘DressingRoom’. As in-store sales drop in favour of online orders, retailers are looking for new methods to engage their shoppers.
Built in collaboration with Google and start-up Avametric, the app will allow one to virtually try on clothes anywhere he/she goes. Users first enter information like height and weight, then the app places a 3D model in front of them. The model can try on different clothing items to see how they would look with that particular outfit. If one looks like how they look, the clothes can be purchased from the app as well.
Though the app is to launch in a few days, but it still is in its early stages. It currently only works with Google Tango enabled smartphones of which only the Phab 2 Pro from Lenovo is available. Besides this technical limitation, the app only shows what the clothes would look like. In order to get the fit and feel for the garment, a traditional dressing room is still the only option. Pokémon Go was the first highly successful augmented reality app, but Gap and other clothing retailers are hoping to grow the market. Time will tell if this kind of app can help retail with declining sales.
