NATIONAL
India's PLI-2 to face acid test amid global economic slowdown
India's Reliance keeps PSF price unchanged at ₹99 per kg
Textile Emerges As A Prominent Sector For Generating New Employment Opportunities In Rajasthan
Is PM Modi’s coveted PLI scheme enough to strengthen India and beat China as a manufacturing hub?
All-India Crafts Mela to be held in Hyderabad from Dec 15-31
Startups to contribute 4-5% to India’s GDP in next five years, says report
Anju Modi: Weaving a legacy of Indian crafts and techniques in a modern-day setting
INTERNATIONAL
US import prices fall by 0.6% in Nov 2022; export prices fell by 0.3%
Large-scale manufacturing drops 7.75pc in October, led by textile and automobiles
Hohenstein launches new textile testing lab in Shanghai
Germany's inflation rate at 10% in November 2022: Destatis
Bangladesh’s home textile export drops in July-November
Mango works with suppliers on sustainability vision
Fashion Federations Directory with over 100 apparel associations, federations and NGO’s
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel to reveal Directions trends for S/S 2024
Global denim jeans fabric market to reach 4,541 mn metres by 2023
Switzerland's Dimpora joins ITMF as corporate member
US affirms, expands ties with African govts, private sector
NATIONAL
India’s proposed second version of production linked incentive scheme (PLI-2) will face an acid test as the scheme is expected to come up early next year when global market may plunge into economic slowdown. After the success of PLI, the government was encouraged to bring PLI-2, which will focus on promoting garments, made ups and home textiles. Several textile exporting countries including India are getting fewer orders from foreign buyers as retail sales have taken a hit in many developed markets due to high inflation and economic slowdown due to the Russia-Ukraine war. “India’s garment and textiles manufacturing is decreasing gradually as domestic and export markets are underperforming. Spinning and weaving industries across the country are facing weaker demand so they are forced to cut down production substantially. Export-oriented garment manufacturing units are closing because they are unable to get export orders,” industry sources told Fibre2Fashion. Garments and home furnishing segments, the last link of the entire value chain, are under immense pressure as they are not only lacking new export orders, but also facing higher cost of production due to expensive cotton. The natural fibre’s price did not decrease even during peak arrival season. The central government is planning to bring PLI-2 early next year, according to industry sources. The scheme will encourage garment, made-up, and home textile manufacturers to bring new investments. There might be lower investment thresholds between ₹15 crore and ₹45 crore as the size of manufacturing units is smaller compared to upstream weaving and spinning sectors. Lower threshold limits will open the door for smaller manufacturers. It will be contrary to PLI-1 when the minimum investment requirement was ₹100-300 crore for two different categories. Now the bigger question is the timing of PLI-2. The scheme is expected to be launched early next year when the market conditions are not likely to improve. Manufacturers in the targeted industries are currently unable to even utilise their existing capacity, so brining new capacities will be an additional challenge.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Reliance has rolled over the price of Polyester Staple Fibre (PSF) at ₹99 per kg after it slashed the price to bring it below ₹100 per kg. RIL had earlier decreased the prices of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). However, it increased the price of MELT. It reviews price trends in China and fluctuations in crude oil to fix prices of polyester. Sources said that the company provides a discount of ₹10-12 per kg, which brings the actual prices of PSF down to ₹89 per kg. The company revises PSF prices on a fortnightly basis. On Friday, RIL had fixed PTA price at ₹75.90 per kg (-1.10), MEG at ₹54.70 per kg (+2.00) and MELT at ₹83.87 per kg (-0.27). The new prices of polyester raw materials came into effect from Saturday.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
A new 2.0 version of the government’s production-linked incentive scheme (PLI) for textile sector, focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is expected to be finalised early next year, said an ET report citing officials on Thursday. The scheme for garments, madeups and home textiles with investments between Rs 15 crore and Rs 45 crore is currently being discussed. This would be lower than the investment limits of Rs 100 crore and Rs 300 crore for the two parts of the existing PLI scheme for textiles. “We encouraged capital and machinery in the first edition of PLI but this time, we are looking at small and medium entities,” the report said citing an official. The official also noted that 32 companies have started investments worth Rs 1,500-1,700 crore under the first scheme. In November this year, the commerce minister Piyush Goyal had also said while interacting with the beneficiaries of the PLI textile scheme that the centre was looking at PLI 2.0 and had instructed officials of the ministry to undertake extensive and exhaustive stakeholder consultations before finalizing the contours of PLI 2.0 Under the existing PLI textile scheme, 67 applicants had applied out of which 64 were selected. The proposed investment during the entire tenure of the scheme is Rs 19,789 crore out of which Rs 1,536 Cr. has been invested so far, according to a statement by the textiles ministry last month. The second version of the scheme, which may cover bedspreads and textile accessories like lace, button, and zippers, is being contemplated as the textile ministry is left with Rs 4,000 crore of unutiised budget, according to the news report. Government currently implements multiple policies for promotion and development of textile sector such as National Handloom Development Programme, Raw Material Supply Scheme, National Handicraft Development Programme, Silk Samagra, Integrated Wool Development Programme and SAMARTH-Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector etc.
Source: financial express
The ‘Invest Rajasthan Summit’ organized by the Government of Rajasthan in the month of October in Jaipur on the theme “Committed: Delivered” is going to achieve a new milestone of success. A total of 4,192 MoUs and LOIs were received during the Investors Meet held in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Jaipur, apart from Dubai, out of which more than 46 per cent projects (total 1884 projects) are implemented or are under implementation. It is expected that the number of project implementation is likely to increase further in the upcoming few months. Textile emerges as a prominent sector for generating new employment opportunities in the State In terms of employment, the textile sector has emerged as an emerging sector. The Textile industry is expected to generated employment for around 38,900 people with an investment of approx Rs 8,003 crore. Agro and food processing sector is on the second place in employment generation. About 38,097 people will get employment in this sector with an investment of approx Rs 4,403 crore. The energy sector ranks third in employment generation. Likewise, Mines and Minerals, Cement, Tourism, Medical and Health etc. are other emerging sectors from the view of investment and bringing in new employment opportunities for the people of the state. Chemical and petroleum sector became the second major sector after energy in terms of investment The implementation of the industrial projects will not only provide employment to about 2,59,590 people in the state but will also pave the way for investment of more than Rs.2,06,067 crore . If we talk about the major industrial sectors in terms of investment, about 36,001 jobs will be generated with an investment of around 1,12,233 crores in the energy sector. From the investment point of view, after energy, the chemical and petroleum sector has emerged as the second major sector. The implementation of the industrial projects in the sector will not only provide employment to as many as 27,936 people in the state but will also pave the way for investment of more than Rs. 35,450 crores. Similarly, about 3,661 people are likely to get employment with an investment of about Rs 11,424 crore in petroleum and gas sector. According to Industries and Commerce Minister Smt. Shankutla Rawat, “for the economic development of the state a large number of investors have shown their faith as per the vision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Ashok Gehlot. Large pool of human resources, rapid infrastructure development, strong market access, India’s largest industrial land bank and attractive investment incentives are attracting investors. In addition, RIICO has developed more than 390 industrial areas and 120 industrial areas are in the pipeline. Recently many new policies have also been launched or previously launched policies have been re-launched after making amendments according to the changing investment environment. Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS-2022), Handicraft Policy, MSME Policy, Startup Policy, Electric Vehicle Policy, Film Tourism Promotion Policy, etc. are some of the prominent policies launched this year.” According to Additional Chief Secretary Industries, Government of Rajasthan, Smt. Veenu Gupta: We are closely working with the investors to help them to ground their proposals. Furthermore, with the aim of promoting investment in the State by emphasizing on building sustainable partnership with foreign and domestic investors, the State Government has ensured timely approval of investment proposals of more than Rs 10 crore, a world class facilities like One Stop Shop has been created for this. We are confident that it will not only create positive atmosphere in the state from the investment view, but Rajasthan will also set new benchmark in terms of attracting investment and employment generation. It is worth mentioning that in the state, Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy (2019), Rajasthan Wind and Hybrid Energy Policy (2019), Rajasthan Agro-Processing, Agro Business and Agri Export Promotion Policy (2019), Rajasthan MSME Act (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) 2019 , Rajasthan Tourism Policy (2020) and other policies provide support to various sectors. Similarly, the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS-2022) in the state helps investors in starting new businesses and expanding existing businesses in Rajasthan.
Source: orissadiary
The production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the Narendra Modi government’s flagship offering, has been touted as one which would eventually help make India a robust manufacturing machine and a credible alternative to China. However, it may not be enough and more work needs to be done, experts say. One Credit Suisse report has said that the scheme is in reality turning out to be a mixed bag as many of the schemes seem to be very generic (food processing, pharma and textiles among others) and incentivise regular business activity. The PLI schemes envisage a cumulative $21 billion investment. The government introduced the PLI scheme in 2021 and as per CRISIL estimates, about a quarter of current capital expenditure is linked to it. Credit Suisse in its report said that capex, which is a key monitorable, is lopsided with battery, autos and steel contributing 48% of overall capex. The capex impact on specific sectors and companies is low, for example, the automotive scheme is potentially driving just 8-10% incremental capex as opposed to the usual sector capex.
Lack of international interest?
Among the other drawbacks of the scheme in its current form is the fact that the participation of global majors has been mediocre. Apart from electronics (mobile phones & IT hardware), the other schemes have not seen large-scale participation by global majors. Take for example the battery PLI, which has not seen any major global player’s participation while the solar PLI has seen only First Solar show interest. Schemes for semiconductor manufacturing have seen the participation of sector majors missing as of now. “IT Hardware schemes have seen strong participation from industry majors, but industry feedback suggests that the level of incentives is not attractive considering the incremental value addition requirements in subsequent years,” Credit Suisse said in its report. Several players are putting their feet in multiple sectors without the requisite experience. Worryingly, the report points out that many schemes have seen participation by many players who have relatively small balance sheets, lack of access to technology and past experience in the scheme being applied. News agency Bloomberg recently reported that billionaire Anil Agarwal has been struggling to find financial backers for a planned semiconductor factory in India, with some investors raising concerns about the group’s limited experience in the sector. Some of the schemes have been designed to accommodate as many players as possible (over 50 in many cases), rather than a few champions. The industry has also complained about low incentives, high investment requirements and high sales threshold in many cases. Credit Suisse has opined that India’s GDP is set to see a potential increase of 0.8% due to increased value addition owing to this manufacturing push across various sectors.Further, at an aggregate level, incremental revenue profile from PLI schemes will see revenues ramping up from $41 billion in FY23 to $69 billion in FY25, growing at 19% CAGR.
Source: economic times
For the benefit of the art and craft lovers of Hyderabad, Shilparamam will be hosting the annual All India Craft Mela-2022, from December 15 to 31. The event, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, with an objective to promote and encourage the handloom and handicrafts artisans, will be open from 10.30 am to 8 pm, every day. It will be inaugurated today by Minister for Tourism & Culture, Sports and Youth Services, Srinivas Goud at 5 pm. A variety of craft items in woodcarving, handlooms, handicrafts, terracotta, blue pottery, cane, bamboo, jute products and many more will be demonstrated at the mela. Cultural Programmes will be held every day in the evenings. Apart from Kuchipudi dance performances from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, art, dance and music performances from States, including Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, are the highlights of the festival.
Source: knn India
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With more than 60,000 registered startups in India, the ecosystem has the potential to contribute 4-5% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the next three to five years, according to a report by StrideOne. As per Economic Survey 2021-22, India has about 61,400 registered startups, making it the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China. “This rise of startups has made India the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world and has significantly impacted the Indian economy showcasing the ability to contribute approximately 4-5% to the GDP of India," said Ishpreet Singh Gandhi, founder of StrideOne, a tech-enabled non-banking financial company (NBFC). The report expects that 24,500 platforms would have registered in 2022, against an estimated 20,000 in 2021. It said that registration of new startups is projected to grow at an annualized rate of 25% during 2022-27. The report expects job creation by startups to grow at a rate of 24% annually in the 2022-27 period. While the previous year saw about 1,92,000 jobs being created by startups, the report forecasts about 2,30,000 new job additions in 2022. It also noted that startup funding has been growing rapidly, with total funding raised having increased 42% annually, from 2016-21, while deal count rose 23% in the given period. Among funds raised, SaaS, fintech, and logistics and autotech attracted the most investment. However, according to a report by market intelligence platform Tracxn, funding in Indian startups dipped 35% year-on-year (up to 5 December) to $24.7 billion dragged down by a decline in late-stage funding. The report discusses how startups and players in sectors including textile industry, gig economy, and B2B logistics interact and contribute to overall growth.
Source: live mint
Apparel Resources (AR) speaks to the highly acclaimed and multi-faceted designer Anju Modi in an exclusive interview as we unravel the brand’s inception, its exceptional work in the field of reviving age-old Indian crafts and textiles, how it is merging the old with the new to cater to the consumers of today and its plans for the future. A traveller, thinker, dreamer and designer, Anju Modi launched her eponymous brand in 1990, with her love for textiles and the Indian craft serving as the main catalyst and foundation of her designing philosophy. A key changemaker in the field of design, Anju Modi serves as a custodian of Indian tradition and strives to provide contemporary innovation to age-old crafts and textiles within the industry. A fact not known to many is that, every season, Anju Modi’s couture and ready-to-wear collections are built around themes showcasing the extraordinary skills of Indian artisans in a bid to preserve handicraft practices from extinction, keeping their rich history alive and empowering local rural communities. Following this practice, Anju Modi has, single-handedly, revived multiple age-old techniques that were long forgotten, by creating an extensive library of research and development techniques for weaving, vegetable dyeing, block printing and traditional embroidery. In terms of design, philosophical references and architectural marvels come alive in many of Anju Modi’s pieces with each ensemble painstakingly decorated to reflect, enhance and celebrate the cultural history of various cities and regions of India. The designer has also been critically acclaimed for her costume designs for Indian films RamLeela (which garnered her the Life Ok Screen Awards and The Start Guild Awards, along with a nomination for Filmfare 2013 for Best Costume) and more recently, Bajirao Mastani, that featured ensembles inspired by the Persian and Maratha era of the Indian History. Apparel Resources (AR) speaks to the highly acclaimed and multi-faceted designer in an exclusive interview as we unravel the brand’s inception, its exceptional work in the field of reviving age-old Indian crafts and textiles, how it is merging the old with the new to cater to the consumers of today and its plans for the future.
With a formal training in design, Anju Modi started her journey in the industry with an ambition to make a difference in the world of fashion and design and at the same time, keep her love for Indian crafts alive so as to make the world witness the sheer beauty of the treasures close to home. “By 1990, I was equipped with enough knowledge on textiles and fabrics, so that’s when I decided to take the plunge and launched my brand. I was like a blank canvas with an ambition to make a difference. I wanted to use all the resources I had and couple those with my love for Indian textiles,” Anju Modi, Creative Director, Anju Modi Brand told AR in an exclusive interview. “In terms of work experience, first-hand interaction with the local weaver’s community, dyers, craftsmen, etc., was all I had. It is those experiences that have shaped me personally, as a creative professional and even my brand. I developed a better understanding of fabrics, textiles and deeper nuances of crafts while working with them,” she added. Anju’s interest in India’s prized textiles and crafts is what inspired her to start her own brand. The designer also credits her birthplace, Ranchi, for fuelling her fondness for the arts, which inspired her to bring the region’s local craftsmanship to the forefront and create awareness amongst people to value the vast range of textiles and culture our country is blessed with.
Anju Modi offers something for everyone to choose from. With a broad range of wedding couture, luxury pret and occasionwear, consumers have a wide variety of lehenga sets, anarkali sets, dresses, kurtis and tunics that can be worn for lighter functions as well as for formal lunches and dinner parties to even weddings, to choose from. The garments are designed with utmost precision and a lot of research goes into putting a collection together. Hence, every outfit you see is handcrafted to detail and is designed to last for decades, so it’s timeless and sustainable also. Starting from Rs.14,000, the prices of products at Anju Modi go up depending upon the amount of work done over them. In terms of collections, the brand launches 6 to 8 collections per year based on seasons and since India is a land of various cultures, the festive season is an addition. The number of pieces per collection are controlled based on the total number of orders the brand receives on a particular outfit. This in turn, helps it to be more mindful and careful of the waste produced as well as overproduction.
Most of Anju Modi’s outfits are produced in-house at its design studio in Noida which currently comprises a team of over 50 people. However, they also work with various suppliers based in different states in India. Commenting on the same, Anju said, “The main reason for being involved with people from various regions is that it adds diversity to our brand. Local areas have so much to offer which in turn, benefits the brand and its intention to bring Indian crafts to the forefront.” She further added, “The suppliers that the brand regularly works with include those from Kota, Venkatgiri, Kutch and Banaras, amongst others.” Over the years, Anju Modi has built a strong repertoire of the techniques and nuances of textiles through research and by working closely with the master craftsmen as well as weavers across the country. In terms of crafts, one can easily get glimpses of India in Anju Modi’s creations. This alone has served as a significant reason behind the brand’s clothes being considered as heirlooms, explaining why people have felt emotionally connected to them for decades. “To come up with something that lasts forever, takes an equal amount of work. We look for artisans all over the country and get our fabrics, textiles and materials done from the best. My personal favourite has to be Bandhej from Gujarat. We also have artisans from Paithan, Maheshwar, amongst others,” Anju explained. The brand’s success in its endeavours to promote craftsmanship, is clearly apparent in its intricately crafted creations. That being said, every outfit at Anju Modi is a result of the coming together of various textiles. Before deciding on the fabric, the team does a thorough research on the correct fabrics and the best place that it can either be sourced from or made. When it comes to outsourcing fabrics and raw materials, the quality of textiles serves as the utmost priority for the label. Some common regions the brand works with in this regard are Venkatgiri, Kutch, Baranas, Indore, etc.
Source: apparelresources
INTERNATIONAL
US import prices decreased by 0.6 per cent in November this year following a 0.4-per cent drop the previous month, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, which recently reported that export prices fell by 0.3 per cent in November after dropping by 0.4 per cent the previous month and have not recorded a one-month rise since rising by 1.1 per cent in June. Lower non-fuel and fuel prices contributed to the November decline in US import prices. US import prices declined by 4.6 per cent from June to November, after rising by 8.1 per cent in the first half of this year. Despite the recent decreases, prices for US imports rose by 2.7 per cent over the past year, the smallest 12-month advance since January 2021. Non-fuel import prices decreased by 0.4 per cent in November, the largest one-month decline since a 0.5-per cent drop in July 2022. Prices for nonfuel imports have not recorded a monthly advance since April 2022. Non-fuel industrial supplies and materials prices declined by 2.4 per cent in November and have not recorded a monthly advance since rising 0.6 per cent in April 2022. Import prices were mixed for the major finished goods categories in November. Consumer goods prices fell by 0.2 per cent following declines of 0.3 per cent in October and 0.2 per cent in September. Lower non-agricultural prices in November more than offset higher agricultural prices. Prices for US exports rose by 6.3 per cent from November 2021 to November 2022, the smallest 12-month increase since February 2021. Export prices were mostly down for the major finished goods categories in November. Capital goods prices declined by 0.2 per cent, the first monthly decrease since the index fell 0.2 per cent in November 2020.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Large-scale manufacturing (LSM) declined by 7.75 per cent year-on-year in October, with the textile, machinery and equipment, and automobiles sectors shrinking, data shared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Thursday. The LSM had swung to growth in September, posting an annual increase of 0.1pc compared to August, official data showed. That was quite an improvement from July when the LSM shrank 1.4pc year-on-year. However, economists had raised concerns about an economic slowdown caused by record energy and raw material prices. Commenting on the latest figures, former finance ministry adviser Dr Khaqan Najeeb said, “Facing a balance of payments challenge, the authorities have taken a number of measures to slow down the economy. These include tightening of monetary policy as well as administrative measures to curtail imports. These measures coupled with challenges of floods, energy shortfalls and a slowing global economy have resulted in contraction of the LSM output.” The economic slowdown, however necessary to stabilise the economy, has been quite pronounced, Najeeb said. “It is important to ease the severe dollar liquidity crunch by increasing inflows and maintain a realistic exchange rate so that manufacturing is not disincentivised,” he added. The main contributors to the YoY decline were automobiles (down 30.56pc); textile (24.62pc); machinery and equipment (38.01pc); wood products (81.75pc); computer, electronics and optical products (25.66pc); and pharmaceuticals (18.56pc). On the other hand, the furniture sector grew 105.41pc, followed by football (65.46pc) and wearing apparel (34.14pc). PBS data showed that LSM dipped by 3.62pc in October over the preceding month. Moreover, in the July-October period, LSM shrank 2.89pc compared to the first four months of the previous fiscal year. “The production in July-October 2022-23 as compared to July-October 2021-22 has increased in wearing apparel and furniture while it decreased in food, tobacco, textile, coke & petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, rubber products, non-metallic mineral products, fabricated metal, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, automobiles and other transport equipment,” the PBS said. The slowdown had started in June when manufacturing activity grew only 0.2pc compared to the previous month. In the previous fiscal year, large-scale manufacturing grew 11.7pc year-on-year.
Source: dawn
Germany-based testing service provider Hohenstein has further expanded its international network by opening another laboratory in Shanghai, China. Starting in the first quarter of 2023, the new textile laboratory in the Pudong District industrial park will supplement the Hong Kong laboratory capacity with testing and on-site inspection services in the hot spots of textile production. The new laboratory will offer suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers a wide range of testing service on textile quality, according to a press release by Hohenstein. “Hohenstein stands for innovation and quality. We are very pleased to celebrate another milestone in our international expansion, while following these principles,” said professor Dr. Stefan Mecheels, who is the third generation to lead the family-run company. “No matter where the examinations, tests, and analyses are carried out, all our laboratories work with state-of-the-art equipment and the same high standards.” The laboratory locations in Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, India, and now Shanghai, offer shortened turnaround and sample transport times. In some locations, Hohenstein offers sample pick up services from the customer to the lab for testing. “Hohenstein is also aiming for customer proximity. Our mission is responsiveness and flexibility for our customers,” emphasised Mecheels.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Germany’s inflation rate, measured as the year-on-year (YoY) change in the consumer price index (CPI), increased 10 per cent in November 2022, according to the data by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Energy products prices were 38.7 per cent higher in November 2022 than in the same month a year earlier, despite government’s relief measures. The country’s inflation rate in November 2022 was slightly lower than the 10.4-per cent increase observed in October 2022. Furthermore, the consumer prices in November 2022 were down 0.5 per cent as compared to October 2022, as per Destatis Energy prices, in particular, increased considerably since the war started in Ukraine and had a substantial impact on the inflation rate. Due to the situation of war and crisis, delivery bottlenecks and price movements at upstream stages in the economic process also had an impact on the inflation rate. The energy products price increase slowed a little in November 2022, as compared to 43 per cent in October 2022. The main reason for the high prices of energy products in general is the international purchase prices. In addition, the increase in the CO2 charge (from €25 to €30 per tonne), which became effective at the beginning of the year, continued to have an impact on energy product price rises, Destatis further reported. Excluding energy prices, the inflation rate stood at 6.6 per cent in November 2022. The prices of goods (total) were up 17.1 per cent in November 2022 on the same month of the previous year. Germany’s energy prices (total) were down 1.2 per cent month on month, but not all energy products cost less.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Thanks principally to fall in orders from the global buyers, Bangladesh’s home textile exports, in the first five months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2022-23, have declined. This is as per media reports, which citing data from the country’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), maintained home textiles fetched US $ 518.63 million during the July-November period of FY ’23, recording a negative growth of around about 8.0 per cent. Reports further added that after continuous growth of over 40 per cent during the last two fiscal years, home textile exports from Bangladesh dropped even as exporters held this slip-up in exports to the pile up of inventory at the buyers’ end even if they added the Russia-Ukraine war also contributed to the slowdown in the demand for home textiles.
Source: apparel resources
As well as concerns over the sustainability of its supply chain, Mango, along with other fashion brands selling and operating within Europe, will also need to consider the welfare of its suppliers with the introduction of new due diligence. Earlier this year, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence, meaning clothing brands will be held to account over the impact of their operations on the environment and people working within their supply chains. For its part, Mango is prepared and Fernandez says the new legislation is needed and will be helpful in levelling the playing field. “We’ve been working very closely with our supply chain and manufacturers for a long time. There are a few things we need to work on but for the most part we’ve taken good care in understanding who is working for us, where they’re producing and where the materials are coming from and we’re sure that whoever is making the garments for us is doing so in a good environment.” He makes the point that the corporate sustainability department in Mango was started two decades ago with a focus on analysing risks in the supply chain and having the mechanisms in place to ensure the company is fully prepared. In terms of the wider fashion industry, he says brands of a similar size to Mango, or bigger, are working along a similar line. However, SMEs, smaller companies and trading agencies will need to work on these in the near future if they’re not doing so already. “We don’t know the exact timing yet [of the due diligence launch] and there will be a lot of discussion around it but it will come out at some point and whoever is not prepared should start working now.”
At the other end of its supply chain, Mango is keen to ensure transparency when it comes to its customers; making sure they are fully aware of the sustainability credentials of its apparel when making a purchase. “We must have an educational approach with how we communicate with our customers,” Fernandez emphasises. “Our customers have grown a lot in the last few years in terms of knowledge of sustainability and day-to-day habits. “In terms of textiles and fashion – there are still some unknowns for the general public and the best way to ensure customers understand is to be transparent and honest about what you’re doing and not doing and what lies ahead.” Fernandez believes education and talking about important topics such as organic cotton, recycling fibres and textile waste, is key. For example, Mango recently invested in the textile waste start-up Recovo. “It’s our responsibility to raise this awareness and [educate] our customers about our initiatives,” he states. One such initiative, outlined in Mango’s Sustainable Vision 2030 plan, is to progressively replace the Committed label on its garments with a QR code that will redirect consumers to its website, where the company will provide information on the composition and design and production location of each product. This initiative is expected to launch at the end of March 2023, with the QR code already present in Mango’s hangtags. To compliment this, the retailer is also committed to becoming the first major fashion company in Spain to publish a list of its Tier 3 factories, related to suppliers of fabrics and fittings. This will happen by the end of this year.
For all its optimism, however, Mango is realistic that its ambitions won’t come without their own challenges. The biggest of those, Fernandez says, is achieving decarbonisation. “It’s key that we switch to alternative fibres that will have the least environmental impact. Some of those will be too small to be used massively. It’s important to push forward on this so there’s enough scale to allow for better quality and cost levels and that can translate to the end products. “The same for recycled fibres and fabrics – there are still a lot of solutions that need to be developed – firstly to be able to separate certain fibres and recycle them. We need to make sure we can recycle as many types of textile waste as possible. That needs to be developed for the whole industry so it’s important this gets some pace.” Cooperation across the industry will be key to transformation, Fernandez adds. “How we create and manufacture products and how we keep watch on products at a factory level – it’s a big change. “We’re engaging in conversations with many of our competitors and we’re exchanging knowledge and starting to work together on joint initiatives and projects. As members of the Fashion Pact we’re seeing this happening all of the time. We’re learning and gaining knowledge but we’re also sharing our progress on certain projects.” Mango is currently pioneering an initiative for substituting plastic packaging out of factories to paper packaging and is in the process of scaling this up. “Communication and sharing will be key and on one day we will learn something new and on another we’ll share our expertise with others and that will be necessary for us all to move forward.”
Source: apparel resources
A significant part of the global fashion industry is driven by large organizational entities that strengthen the impact of fashion on the world economy. Federations connect the different parts of the fashion business, from the manufacturing level to the creative direction. Thus, becoming the ambassadors of the textile and apparel sector. Some focus on promoting the newest fashion designs and textiles worldwide by hosting trade fairs and fashion shows. While other federations address cross-industry issues that impact economic policies, seeking sustainable and innovative solutions for the industry. As a leading international B2B platform, FashionUnited maintains the Fashion Federations Directory, a database of apparel federations and trade organizations worldwide. The Directory includes over 100 entities, ranging from trade to non-profit organizations. For each of the listed federations, fashion professionals find a profile page with their mission and vision, along with other relevant information. Through the Federation Directory, professionals have the opportunity to connect with associations that share their values and objectives, whether it is trade initiatives, the metaverse or fashion activism. The Directory includes various networks in footwear, accessories, sustainability, as well as digital fashion. Some of them are large associations, such as AAFA, IAF, and EURATEX, while others are dedicated to sustainable or digital fashion, like the Metaverse Fashion Council, Fashion Revolution, or Global Fashion Agenda.This way, fellow professionals can easily connect with the organizations of interest and find the most relevant insights collected in a single place! FashionUnited connects over one million fashion professionals a month, bringing more efficiency and transparency to the industry. The Fashion Federations Directory invites other stakeholders to actively participate in a network promoting transformation and accelerating sustainable growth in the global fashion industry. The Directory strengthens and expands the global B2B network FashionUnited has built over the past 20 years, creating a unique platform where fashion professionals, knowledge and resources are brought together in one place.
Source: apparel resources
The 2023 Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, which will take place from March 8–10, 2023, is based on the theme of ‘Go Ahead’. The event will let visitors physically explore the theme through its four distinct trend stories: Mission Earth, Poetic Sensuality, Alternative Cults, and Energetic Reset. At this edition of the fair, the Intertextile Directions Trend Committee will collaborate to predict the upcoming season’s trends. Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Spring 2023 will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), according to a press release by organiser Messe Frankfurt. With rotating responsibilities, the committee is comprised of four world-renowned creative forecasting agencies, namely Doneger | Tobe (New York, USA), Elementi Moda (Milan, Italy), NellyRodi Agency (Paris, France), and Sachiko Inoue (Tokyo, Japan). For the 2023 spring fair, S/S 2024’s forward-thinking theme was produced by Doneger | Tobe, with Elementi Moda in charge of the Trend Forum design. After a period of pause, it is important for the international textile industry to create positive momentum by recognising and adapting to expert-predicted fashion trends, with a theme that offers a fresh perspective on everyday experiences. The Trend Forum, which will be held at the International Hall (Hall 5.1), will capture the essence of this ‘Go Ahead’ movement, displaying a range of exhibitors’ fabrics that exemplify the four predictive stories. On-trend samples will be prominently featured and labelled, allowing buyers to source and be inspired by the various materials, textures, patterns, and colours on show, all in one central area. To make meaningful progress, humanity needs to embrace its earthly roots and reconnect with nature. The story of Mission Earth allows visitors to collectively rediscover the beauty of age-old artisanal crafts, the untamed glory of various flora and fauna, and the wonder of the world’s natural phenomena. Earthy, mineral colours adorn raw and simple fabrics. Environmentally friendly materials are highlighted, such as bio-based and organic fabrics, as well as renewable dyes. Rustic, textured textiles will exhibit fundamental designs, with ethnic motifs, wood block print, and nature-inspired patterns at the forefront. The Poetic Sensuality trend captures the rhythmic nature of the human spirit, in a dance of sensuality and splendour. Giving observers a glimpse of the elegance and magnificence of that which lies ahead, this fairy tale sings the praises of the divine feminine. Ethereal colours play off decorative feminine fabrics, and visitors can get a feel for luminous satin, luxurious decorative damasks, and sensual sheer voiles, while being dazzled by the majestic effects on show, such as vivianite mineral print, sumptuous monochrome, shadowy floral, and mysterious watercolour. The Alternative Cults story embraces the festive heartbeat of humanity’s diverse heritage and culture, allowing one to reclaim the traditions that make them unique. Audiences are invited to let the simplicity and comfort of community unlock their self-expression, and embrace this carnival of colour, craft, and creation. With colours that express joy and free-spiritedness, and fabrics that are sustainable and folksy, prints and patterns are culturally inspired, by influences such as carnival, festive bohemian, kitenge, and truck art. Experimental and sustainable materials are utilised to create vintage, crafted fabrics. The Energetic Reset trend optimises the synergy between the organic and synthetic, and infuses fun with functionality. Smart designs are paired with punchy colours, allowing the freeform to take shape, turning the complex simplistic, and converting chaos to cheerfulness. Technical, functional fabrics complement bright and sporty colours. New age materials, such as recycled polyester, lab-grown cotton, and biodegradable fibres, are in the spotlight alongside industrial and performance textiles, added the release. Dynamic features include pop art and symbols, kinetic graphics, colourful bold stripes, and vivid checks. Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics–Spring Edition 2023 will be held concurrently with the Spring Edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles, Yarn Expo Spring, CHIC, and PH Value from March 8–10, 2023 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The fair is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre.
Source: apparel resources
Global denim jeans fabrics market size is expected to reach 4,541 million metres by 2023. The annual growth of the market is expected to be 4.89 per cent between 2018-2023. The market was 3,576 million metres in 2018. India is likely to witness the highest growth followed by China and Latin America, while the US will be the largest market. The market was 3,299.36 million metres in 2016. It grew to 3,429.93 million metres in 2017, 3,576.68 million metres in 2018, 3,737.21 million metres in 2019, 3,914.09 million metres in 2020 and 4,105.64 million metres in 2021. It is expected that the market will reach 4,313.56 million metres in 2022 and 4,541.05 million metres in 2023. The average annual growth is expected to be 4.89 per cent between 2018 and 2023, according to Fibre2Fashion’s market insight tool TexPro. India’s market is smaller than China, Latin America, and the US but it is likely to have the highest growth between 2018-2023. India’s market is expected to reach 419.26 million metres in 2023 from 228.39 million metres in 2016. It can grow to 382.49 million metres during this year. The market size was estimated at 349.51 million metres in 2021 and 319.99 million metres in 2020, as per TexPro.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Switzerland-based materials start-up Dimpora has been offered a two-year complimentary corporate membership by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) after the company was selected to present in one of the two Start-up Sessions at the ITMF Annual Conference 2022 held in Davos, Switzerland. Dimpora is an award-winning start-up that reconciles performance clothing and sustainability by developing non-toxic (PFAS-free, DMF-free), waterproof, and highly breathable membranes. Its patented technology platform relies on scientific expertise and continuous innovation to empower people to enjoy nature without leaving a trace, according to a press release by ITMF. “For start-ups and scale-ups, it is important to be affiliated with organisations whose members are serving the international markets and have an excellent knowledge of the global market structures and the potential regional and global demand. Therefore, ITMF is an attractive platform that we can use and be an active part of,” said Dr. Mario Stucki, CEO. “ITMF members welcome very much the concept of inviting start-ups to the federation’s ITMF annual conference. Bringing together representatives of well-established textile organisations and companies with newcomers from around the world is mutually beneficial. Start-ups bring a new perspective to existing challenges and offer new solutions applying new technologies. At the same time, they can connect with mature companies that know the markets very well. This interaction is beneficial for everyone involved and will help the textile industry to identify new technologies that help to overcome challenges,” stated Dr. Christian Schindler, director general of ITMF.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
The United States recently affirmed and expanded its enduring partnerships with African governments, the private sector, civil society and philanthropic actors in the continent in recognition of the pivotal role the latter will play in addressing climate change. The statement came during the US-African Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, that ends today. Many of the most vulnerable countries to climate change are in Africa, and the partnerships highlighted at the Summit will be essential to bolstering their resilience. Since January 2021, the US administration has invested and plans to provide at least $1.1 billion to support African-led efforts to support conservation, climate adaptation and a just energy transition. These investments include infrastructure projects under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII). New initiatives include Power Africa, the US-Africa Clean Tech Energy Network (CTEN), the Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance (HETA), growing green jobs for women, Accelerating Women’s Empowerment in Energy (AWEE), the Climate Action Infrastructure Facility (CAIF) and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) investments. In 2021, Power Africa-supported renewable energy projects helped prevent 6.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of burning 6.8 billion pounds of coal. Since 2013, Power Africa has helped deliver access to electricity to nearly 165 million people across sub-Saharan Africa. The US administration under President Joe Biden has invested $193 million to support Power Africa and plans to provide another $100 million in FY 2023. Power Africa, in partnership with Prosper Africa, launched CTEN, which connects US and African clean technology energy companies to market opportunities where project-ready technology can increase access to reliable electricity. CTEN aims to facilitate up to $350 million in deals within the first five years. Power Africa intends to operationalise a $150 million public-private partnership to electrify 10,000 health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa, bolstering sector resources to advance pandemic resilience and digital connectivity and decarbonise health-sector footprint. Power Africa will launch a new initiative focused in Nigeria to advance women’s participation in the energy sector’s transition to clean energy technologies. The US department of state announced the AWEE project with an initial investment of $1 million to help secure women’s economic futures through green jobs, with a focus on Kenya and South Africa. The programme will provide grants to local organisations to address barriers to women’s entry, promotion and retention in the clean energy sector and increase women’s participation in the clean energy workforce. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to contribute $10 million in Africa to facilities and funds that bring private investors and donors together to support large-scale climate solutions. CAIF will enable USAID to contribute to facilities and funds that bring multiple investors and donors together to invest in large-scale climate solutions in emerging and frontier markets. Since January 2021, DFC has committed more than $438 million to climate-linked projects in Africa to advance renewable energy and related supply chains, electric mobility, ecosystem conservation, food security and agriculture, energy efficiency, green hydrogen, and green finance. At the US-Africa Leaders Summit, DFC announced $25 million loan to Golomoti JCM Solar Corporation Limited in Malawi for the first solar power plant in sub-Saharan Africa with a grid-connected battery energy storage system that will help ensure dependable supply and reduce frequent blackouts. This Power Africa project builds on a previous US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)-funded feasibility study and indirect Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) support. The MCC Compacts signed earlier this year with the governments of Lesotho and Malawi provide over $110 million of adaptation financing. Bolstering Power Africa, USTDA is investing nearly $4 million to support a just energy transition across several African countries. These investments include a biomass power plant in Cote d’Ivoire, a clean hydroelectric power in Sierra Leone and a battery energy storage technology project in Zambia. The US department of energy too announced a series of new partnerships to support a just energy transition. These include one with Kenya to implement direct air capture with geothermal energy to remove 1,000-10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year; another with Morocco to launch the Solar Decathlon Africa Design Challenge, a biennial competition that challenges teams of university students across the continent to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses; and a third with Mozambique to expand domestic energy access, support responsible natural gas and renewable energy development, and add economic value to critical minerals production and processing. The US African Development Foundation (USADF) announced three Off-grid Energy Challenges (healthcare, agriculture, and women in energy) through which the agency will provide grants to African enterprises to promote market-based solutions that connect businesses to electricity and impact marginalised communities.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
