INTERNATIONAL
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Ministry of Textiles (MoT) has announced the launch of two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 31 items consisting of 19 Geo Textiles and 12 Protective Textiles in Phase-I, following the due process of notification of Technical Regulations. Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary, MoT said in a press conference that these QCOs mark the first technical regulation from India for the technical textiles industry. These QCOs shall come into force immediately after 180 days from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The conformity assessment requirements specified in these QCOs are equally applicable to domestic manufacturers as well as to foreign manufacturers who intend to export their products to India. MoT is planning to issue two more QCOs for 28 items in Phase-II, including 22 items of Agro Textiles and 6 items of Medical Textiles. In Phase-III, 30+ more Technical Textiles items may be considered for QCO issuance. QCOs will ensure the standard and quality of technical textiles and encourage the growth of this industry in India for producing quality products at competitive pricing. QCOs will also strive to provide best value to the users and end consumers, thereby fostering Indian product quality that is comparable to global standards. The Centre is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so in public interest to increase the standard and quality of Geo Textiles and Protective Textiles, for the protection of the environment, human health, animal and plant life and health.
Source: Apparel Resources
As the proposed new textile policy is still under consideration in Maharashtra, the state has extended the existing textile policy for 2018-2023. It will remain in place till the new one is approved. The State Government has issued a notification in this regard. The textile industry in the state is unhappy with the delay in the new textile policy being finalised and the industry has raised several concerns regarding the current policy and called for reforms, which will now have to wait. As per media reports, the State Government has prepared the draft of the new textile policy and its presentation has been made before the Chief Minister and the Deputy CM. The policy is likely to have some prescriptions for the contentious issue of subsidies with regard to setting up of new units, expanding the existing ones and power supply. The State Government has formed a 23-member committee to draft the new policy. The committee has also been asked to look into the achievements and the shortfalls of the 2018-23 policy. It is pertinent to mention here that Maharashtra contributes nearly half of the textile production of the country. In the 2018-23 policy, the aim was to add 10 lakh new jobs to the sector and secure an investment of Rs. 36,000 crore.
Source: Apparel Resources
Madhya Pradesh has landed investment in textile and garment t sectors to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore in the last two years owing to availability of raw land bank and higher investment promotion assistance for setting up factories in far flung areas. In the state housing more than 25 mega and large-scale textile companies, close to 15 textile and garment units have set up facilities at Ujjain, Dhar, Indore and Bhopal among other areas in the last two years. Industrial policy and investment promotion department principal secretary Manish Singh said, “The state has received encouraging investments in textile and garments in the past two years. Close to 15 new textile and garment units have come up in different parts of the state and an investment of Rs 15,000 crore has been pumped in the last two years.” Recently, Best Corporation Ltd, New Zeel Fashion Wear Pvt Ltd, Gokaldas Exports, Biba and Yashoda Linen Yarn Ltd among others have set up new facilities in Madhya Pradesh. The availability of cotton in Madhya Pradesh, the fourth largest cotton producer of the country, has also attracted many leading industries from southern India to establish their footprints in the state. “Textiles and garment sector is emerging big in state. The conducive industrial ecosystem, law and order situation and the political economy of Madhya Pradesh are big advantages for the industry. The availability of land at competitive rates, availability of easy manpower and training support are again a big attraction for industries exploring options to make investments,” said Singh. While developed industrial belts of the state have many takers from the textile sector, the government is offering higher investment promotion assistance for setting up factories in industrial belts of the state where development is low. “Under Industrial Promotion Policy of Madhya Pradesh (IPP) 2014, the state is offering 1.2 times over and above the basic Investment Promotion Assistance to industries coming in locations where development of industries is low,” said Singh. Madhya Pradesh government has released Rs 742.60 crore capital subsidy and Rs 1,786 crore as total incentives to industries across sectors in the financial year 2022-2023, according to the official data
Source: Times of India
The Southern India Mills Association has welcomed the announcement by the State government that there will be a Tamil Nadu pavilion at all international exhibitions to create a market for the State’s textile and handloom products. Ravi Sam, chairman of the association, said in a press release that the State government has announced 22 initiatives for the sector, including creation of a textile city near Chennai. Further, funds will be allocated to organise international conference on technical textiles in the State, promote research and development, and conduct workshops for technical textiles. Trainings will be conducted for young entrepreneurs in handlooms and the Dr.Kalaignar Karunanidhi Centenary Handloom Park at Arani will enhance the benefits for the handloom weavers, he said. “The medium to long term vision of the Government reflected in the statements in the Policy Note is laudable and would go a long way in achieving the target of $ 1 trillion economy by 2030 as envisaged by the Chief Minister,” he said in a press release.
Source: The Hindu
Tirupur, the textile hub of India is in deep crisis as the export orders it had expected from USA and Europe in the post-Covid pandemic situation did not materialize. Eight lakh workers and their households face an uncertainty as more and more MSME units are pulling down the shutters day by day. The district, once known and the engine of Tamil Nadu’s development, has broken down as the State administration has failed to take note of the seriousness of the situation, according to Arjun Sampath of the Hindu Makkal Katchi. A communique issued by Tiruppur Textile Association (TEA), portrays a disturbing picture of India’s knitwear cluster. Out of the eight lakh textile workers in the district, six lakh are employed directly and out of this 60 per cent are women workers. S Sakthivel, executive secretary, TEA, is disturbed over the fact that since these women are the bread earners of the households, any fall in their monthly income is likely to derail the families. Despite challenges faced by Tirupur in the form of Covid-19 and the resultant economic meltdown, the knitwear capital did commendable job in 2021-22 and earned foreign exchange worth `33,525 crore which is 55 per cent of national share. “Ready Made Garment sector is employment intensive sector and with an investment of `One Crore in Garment sector, 70 jobs can be generated and it is to be noted that next to agriculture sector, Ready Made Garment sector is providing more employment and contributing a lot to the Tamil Nadu economy,” said K M Subramanian, president, TEA. Both Sakthivel and Subramanian pointed out that the State Government was not forthcoming in its approach to the knitwear export units in Tirupur. There are 1213 knitwear units in the district, out of which majority are in the MSME units. “But the contribution by the State Government towards these MSME units are absolutely nil. There are no infrastructure facilities to accommodate the workers who land in Tirupur on a daily basis in search of work. Housing for labor and increasing overtime cap for apparel sector are some of the urgent measures which should be executed only by the State Government. “Though a project for upskilling 50,000 existing workers have been submitted to State Government, it has evoked no response. Once the capability of these workers are upskilled, they themselves could function as employment providers.”
Source: Daily Pioneer
Skill, labour, talent for MSMEs: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailing the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana (PM-VIKAS) announced in the budget this year said the scheme will help train small artisans and craftsmen, help them learn about MSMEs and also connect with them. “In this year’s budget, an initiative has been taken to provide training to small artisans through PM Vishwakarma Yojana and also to connect them with MSME,” PM Modi said addressing a training programme for newly inducted teachers in Madhya Pradesh. The PM Vishwakarma Yojana was announced in the budget in February for traditional artisans and craftspeople to enable them to improve the quality, scale and reach of their products to integrate them with the MSME value chain. The components of the scheme will include not only financial support but also access to advanced skill training, knowledge of modern digital techniques and efficient green technologies, brand promotion, linkage with local and global markets, digital payments, and social security, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in her budget speech. In March this year also, underscoring the scheme’s significance, PM Modi had said that it will benefit crores of artisans and that the government will ensure the artisans get loans easily, their skills are enhanced, and they receive all kinds of technical support. He had also urged all stakeholders to discuss and prepare an action plan to reach out to artisans based in very remote areas as well. “There are many of them (artisans) who can become suppliers and producers for our MSME sector. Importantly, the export of artisanal handicraft products including via ecommerce platforms had jumped by 26.2 per cent to Rs 32,417 crore in FY22 from Rs 25,679 crore in FY21. According to the data shared by Minister of State for Textiles Darshana Jardosh in the Parliament in December last year, maximum exports were of woodware products worth Rs 7,891 crore in FY22 followed by embroidered and crocheted goods amounting to Rs 5,674 crore, art metal wares worth Rs 4,179 crore, handprinted textiles worth Rs 2,995 crore and more.
Source: Financial Express
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal mentioned that there is a huge delta of opportunities in India during his address at the India – France Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable yesterday in Paris, France. "We are one the largest consumers of goods and services. Exports of goods and services are growing by over 50% and we hope to continue this growth trajectory. We hope to see our exports of goods and services to triple from $765 billion to $2 trillion by 2030," he added. The Embassy of India, Paris, France, in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Mouvement des entreprises de France(MEDEF) and the Indo French Chamber of Commerce and Industry(IFCCI), organised the India – France Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable. Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, Mr Olivier Becht shared that he is confident that both sides will foster bilateral & multilateral meetings. “India being the world's most populous country has the potential to attract numerous manufacturing activities, already, many French companies are actively engaged in India, and there is tremendous untapped potential for further collaboration”, he said. Vice-President, CII and Chairman & Managing Director, ITC Limited, Mr Sanjiv Puri shared that the presence of a large delegation from the CII in France underscores the significant importance that India attaches to its relationship with France. DG CII, Mr Chandrajit Banerjee highlighted that India and France are committed to collaborative engagement in areas like innovation, financial inclusion, ESG in businesses, and deepening global engagement towards Africa. Sessions were held on ‘Building a green future’; Critical and Emerging Technologies: The New Strategic Frontier; ‘Defence Cooperation: Securing a Shared Future Through Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and France and India: Springboard to Europe and Indo-Pacific.
Builiding a Green Future: Both India and France attach the highest importance to building a green future. Both countries have ambitious climate goals. Building a green future creates enormous market opportunities, but it also requires huge investments and technological breakthroughs. In recent years, there has been significant increase in investments, collaborations and joint ventures, especially from France to India, in “green technologies”. The Session brought out ways on how businesses could tap opportunities in green transition; discussed new technologies in various areas – renewable energy, mobility, buildings, infrastructure, construction, energy efficiency, industrial processes, agriculture. The Session was moderated by the Head of AFD Activities in Eastern Europe – Middle East and Asia, Mr Cyrille Bellier.
Critical and Emerging Technologies: The New Strategic Frontier”: Collaboration and competition are growing around critical and emerging technologies, including advanced computing, communications and networking technology, advanced materials, engine technology, space technologies and systems, sensors, renewable energy technology, semiconductors and microelectronics, directed energy, hypersonics, etc. As two countries with strong belief in sovereignty and strategic autonomy, the Session highlighted ways on how India and France can enhance their cooperation in critical and emerging technologies; complementarities between the two countries and opportunities therein; recommendations on increasing India-France Technology Cooperation. The Session was moderated by the Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Henri Verdier.
Defence Cooperation: Securing a Shared Future Through Atmanirbhar Bharat: The evolving geopolitics, including the growing challenges in the Indo Pacific region, and emergence of contests in new domains such as Space and cyberspace, have further increased the salience of this partnership. France has been a longstanding and an increasingly important source of defence platforms, equipment and technology for India. The Session brought out how we go beyond assembly and also develop and design defence technologies; specific defence platforms and equipment where we see maximum potential for India-France partnership. The Session was moderated by DG, CII, Mr Chandrajit Banerjee.
France and India: Springboard to Europe and Indo-Pacific: In the past three years, France has been ranked the most attractive investment destination in the EU, which is also reflected in the rising foreign investment figures. While India is among the leading Asian sources of investments in France, the value of investments is small and concentrated in a few sectors. Indian companies are reviewing their European strategy in the context of the post-Brexit EU. France could be the next big destination for Indian investments. Since generating a part of the value in the market is important for success, the Session shed light on how can Indian companies invest more in France to cater to India’s largest destination for exports, the EU; and on how markets can be accessed. The Session was chaired by President, FIEO, Mr A Sakthivel.
CEOs Roundtable: More than 50 CEOs from Indian and French companies participated at the CEOs Roundtable which was addressed by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal and the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, Mr Olivier Becht. Sectors such as agriculture, tourism, defence, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, aerospace were represented at the Roundtable. Along with the Ministers, perspectives were shared by Ambassador of India to France, Mr. Jawed Ashraf, Vice-President, CII and Chairman & Managing Director, ITC Limited, Mr Sanjiv Puri, DG, CII, Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Executive Director, International Energy Agency, Mr Faith Birol and CEO, Danone, Mr Antoine de Saint-Affrique. Other CEOs participated in a discussion with Shri Goyal as well.
Source: PIB
Almost a month after the Centre announced its decision to set up seven mega textile parks under the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme, Union Textiles Secretary Rachna Shah said the institutional mechanism to begin the works in two mega parks in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will be ready in three months. Ms. Shah said the Centre has asked the States to expedite the process to form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and to select a master developer to implement the scheme. Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Shah said the SPV, which will be formed between the States and the Centre for each of the parks, will become the agency that will oversee the implementation of the park. “We have signed MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Other MoUs will be signed in the due course. The SPV, in turn, would be selecting a master developer. These are mega parks of at least 1,000 acres. Fifty per cent of the parks will be used for developing core infrastructure. There will be common facilities and special facilities such as testing, skills training and logistical arrangements. Commercial areas will be allowed in 10%. The master developer will conceptualise and prepare the plan for development of the park comprising these elements,” Ms. Shah said. The Textiles Secretary said the parks have already elicited interest from investors. “It is in early stages. We will reach out to big and small investors in India and abroad. In Tamil Nadu, we have investors who have indicated interest for investment worth ₹1,100 crore. We are expecting that each park will be able to get investment of about ₹10,000 crore. In Karnataka, investment interest worth about ₹1,900 crore has been expressed. The State has entered into an MoU with some of the investors. We expect that each park will generate one lakh jobs,” she added. The incentive for the manufacturing will be to bring in their entire value chain to the park, Ms. Shah said. “There is no specific incentive to shift to this park. But it will help them to consolidate their investment. All clearances will be taken care of by these parks,” she said. Ms. Shah, however, did not commit to a timeline to begin production or business activities at these parks. “It is difficult to put a timeline. The SPV formation will not take longer than one to one-and-a-half months. We have asked the State governments to expedite the process of finding the master developer. We are hopeful that two to three months down the line, we will have the basic institutional mechanism in place, which can get into the detailed planning of each park,” she said. The release of money from the Centre to these parks, however, will be linked to certain milestones and deliverables. Assistance from the Centre is promised to the tune of 30% of the project cost, with a ceiling of ₹500 crore. “This money will be released in different stages depending on the progress. Our implementation period is till 2026-27. The SPV formation will happen immediately. Based on getting the master developer on board, and the works get started, the disbursement for the infrastructure will start,” she said. On the nature of the master developer, she said it can be an anchor investor who is a textile player, or a developer of parks or infrastructure. “Also, for each of the projects, there could be separate developers. The SPV will have to take the call. The preferred option is one master developer,” Ms. Shah said.
Source: The Hindu
The CBIC has extended the interest waiver on customs duty payable by importers and exporters through the Electronic Cash Ledger (ECL) till April 13. An upgraded Customs duty payments system was launched by the Central Board ofIndirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) on April 1. After the members of the export-import trade complained of difficulties in making duty payments via ECL in the automated system, CBIC last week said that no interest would be charged on customs duty paid through ECL till April 10 Through the Customs (Waiver of Interest) Second Order dated April 11, the CBIC waived the whole of interest payable for the period from April 11 to April 13, in respect of such goods, where the payment of import duty is to be made from the amount available in electronic cash ledger AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said technical glitches in the ECL payments for customs forced the government to extend the interest waiver till April 13.
Source: Economic times
The index of industrial production grew 5.6% in February 2023 as the manufacturing sector picked up pace and electricity generation remained buoyant, even as a favourable base helped too. The index had risen by 5.45% in January (revised) and was at a mere 1.2% in February 2022. On a cumulative basis, the index grew 5.5% between April 2022 and February 2023, which is lower than the 12.5% growth in the first 11 months of 2021-22. Prior to this, the IIP grew at a high of 7.3% in November 2022. The headline figure was largely supported by a very low base, as output declined a considerable 5.6% month on month, compared with 1.1% growth in January. The sequential decline was broad-based across sectors, said Rahul Bajoria, MD and head of EM Asia (ex-China) Economics, Barclays. Icra expects the year-on-year growth in the IIP to dip to about 3-4% in March 2023. India Ratings and Research believes that despite encouraging signs a broad based and sustainable industrial recovery is some distance away and will require both fiscal and monetary policy support, said its economists Sunil Sinha and Paras Jasrai. According to the official data released on Wednesday, the manufacturing sector grew by 5.3% y-o-y basis in February compared to 4% in January. However, the growth in both mining and electricity generation at 4.6% and 8.2%, respectively, in February was lower than January levels when they expanded by 8.8% and 12.7%, respectively. Electricity generation grew at less than double digits for the first time in four months. mongst use based classification of goods, four of the six sectors, barring intermediate goods and consumer durables, registered positive growth in February. With the government’s focus on infrastructure investments, capital goods grew by 10.5% in February 2022 as against a mere 1.3% a year ago. Infrastructure goods also grew by a robust 7.9% in the month while primary goods expanded by 6.8%. However, intermediate goods contracted by 0.3%. More disappointing was the continued contraction in consumer durables for the third month in a row. Durables’ output shrank 4% in February, even as consumer non-durables posted a 12.1% growth. “The use-based classification shows that durable consumer goods disappoint with -4% de-growth that comes on negative growth of 9.7% last year. High inflation is a reason that has come in the way of demand, said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Bank of Baroda, while noting that FMCG had recovered in February 2023 against a negative base last year. Private consumption demand is expected to slow down in coming months due to the impact of the successive rate hikes as well as waning pent-up demand. However, a favourable monsoon could give some boost to rural demand. Export related sectors also continued to face the brunt of the global slowdown. Sectors including textiles (-9.8%), apparels ( -17%) and leather (-6.7%) registered contraction in February. In all, 11 of the sectors registered negative growth in February although at a slower pace compared to January. These sectors included tobacco (-2.5%) computer, electronics and optical products (-11.9%), and wood and products of wood and cork (-14.1%). Within manufacturing, some of the main drivers of growth were chemicals (7.7%), non-metallic minerals (3%), basic metals (5.4%) and motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers (8.2%) ajoria noted that sequentially, manufacturing was down 5.5% month on month. “The slowdown in manufacturing was particularly prominent in exportoriented sectors. This is corroborated by capital goods imports data, which showed continued expansion in February in year-on-year terms, albeit at a slower pace, he said.
Source: Financial express
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They argued that such an extension would aid Bangladesh in graduating smoothly from the least developed country (LDC) category and continuing the country's development journey in the years to come. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan held a meeting with Valérie Hayer, member of the European Parliament, at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka on 12 April. Issues including bilateral trade, LDC graduation and its implications on Bangladesh's trade and economy, the current situation of the RMG industry, and its prospects and challenges were discussed in the meeting, the press release reads. They also discussed the proposed EU GSP scheme for 2024-2034 and how it would impact Bangladesh's trade preferences in the EU market under GSP+ after the LDC graduation. Faruque Hassan said the specified EU 'safeguards' in the proposed provisions of the GSP scheme would exclude Bangladesh's RMG exports from any tariff preferences though the country is likely to qualify for GSP+ after its LDC graduation. It would negatively impact the competitiveness of Bangladesh's RMG industry which is the source of livelihood for millions of people, he said. Given the huge importance of the apparel sector in Bangladesh's socioeconomic development, the BGMEA President underscored the need for continued support from the EU especially in terms of preferential market access for export sectors including the RMG industry, even after the LDC graduation. He also urged the EU to waive the safeguard textile threshold criteria or redesign the mechanism for Bangladesh in the proposed GSP scheme for allowing the country to reap benefits from GSP Plus after the LDC graduation. The BGMEA President expressed gratitude to the EU for granting Bangladesh duty-free access to the European market. Faruque Hassan also briefed the member of the European Parliament about the industry's strides in a circular fashion along with a strong focus on product diversification and technological upgradation to build up strengths in sustainable garment manufacturing.
Source: Tbs news
In silver-grey sequined trousers by Danish designer Stine Goya, I sat in the front row at the Copenhagen Fashion week, invited as the only Danish MEP to be a negotiator on the EU strategy for sustainable textiles. The show was about classic fashion, but there is also something else going on in the industry right now, as it becomes aware that EU politicians are at risk of making a lot of noise but formulating the wrong policies if the industry and the legislators do not communicate more with each other. Only 1% of all clothes produced are recycled, and that is simply not good enough. But unlike other sectors with a large carbon footprint, such as steel and cement, the textile industry has stayed under the radar when it comes to sustainability and is not participating in the green transition. Its washing, scouring and dyeing processes are acknowledged to very harmful to the environment. It continues to use too much water, too many chemicals and techniques that are too energy-intensive. At the same time, there is not enough understanding of how to clean up manufacturing and pivot the industry to fabrics that can be recycled through the supply chain, to achieve true sustainability. Knowledge we do have in the field is pointing in different directions. This is not good enough. The textile industry needs to be given the direction and the means clean up. The EU aims to promote change, setting out a strategy (https://single-marketeconomy.ec.europa.eu/industry/sustainability/strategytextiles_en) for a sustainable textiles sector in March 2022. The European members of the international fashion industry are keen to join in, and as one case in point, last week the Copenhagen Fashion Week set out its 2023 – 2025 sustainability programme, (https://copenhagenfashionweek.com/article/copenhagenfashion-week-shares-its-2023-2025-action-plan) pledging amongst other objectives to promote more recycling of clothes and to decarbonise the supply chain. As things stand, around 16 EU directives and regulations are in some way related to sustainability in the fashion world. We now need to update them, so they are fit for the future. As a conservative, I prefer carrots, but I'm not afraid to use the stick if necessary. I want life-cycle logic to outperform greenwashing and the promotion of selected technologies that in the final bottom line of climate and environmental impact, are not much better than their alternatives. Whether it's cars or clothing, I am endlessly fed up with selfproclaimed green evangelists, who say their solution is better than others The principle should be that the polluter pays. The EU's internal market for textiles must not only be the most sustainable in the world but also the most attractive for the many different players in the textile industry.
Fast fashion I don't want to interfere directly in people's everyday consumption, but I do want to make it easier to 'walkthe-talk'. Fast fashion is a problem because it promotes overproduction of textiles that are manufactured using methods with a sky high carbon footprint and which damage the environment. Furthermore, fast fashion seems to be driven by business models in which the contribution to local socioeconomic growth in the production stage is questionable. We already have the means to make the textile sector in the EU more sustainable. We just need to scale them up and bring them to the market. We need to use the power of the single market to deal with the 27 different national ways of handling used textiles in the member states. We need to support more research and innovation in all relevant links in the chain that make up the cradle-to-cradle journey of textiles in the circular economy. Small entrepreneurs are often the ones with the most innovative approaches. They need to be stimulated and protected from being stifled by unnecessary rules and documentation requirements. The big players must also be listened to. The new and more ambitious rules and frameworks have to support their competitiveness in the international market. Their competitive drive - as proud European companies - must be stimulated to move the entire global textile industry in a sustainable direction. The regulations should aim to facilitate sustainable business models and improve the competitiveness of the sector. Many obligations increase costs for businesses. Therefore, it is very important to provide adequate funding and support for SMEs and microenterprises, so that the regulations do not overburden the drivers of innovation and new technologies. On the contrary, we need to embrace the business opportunities arising from recycling, reusing and repairing. Research and innovation are crucial for strengthening competitiveness. We need to invest in technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of the textile sector, create more sustainable fibres and textiles, and find new ways to treat waste from the industry. We need to ensure transparency, for instance, by implementing the Digital Product Passport. Therefore, I call for the creation of a pilot project funded by Horizon Europe. Backing this up, there should be a programme for textiles innovation in Horizon Europe. The European Innovation Council could create an EU research and innovation agenda aligned with the transition pathway for the textile ecosystem. We need to create the best circumstances for a transition to a circular industry. The need and potential for change is great, and so are my ambitions. I share this starting point with my colleagues. We must make the European textile strategy a leader in the green agenda to inspire the rest of the world.
Source: Science Business
The Taiwan authorities have imposed unilateral restrictions on the import of over 2,400 Chinese mainland products, which has harmed the interests of industries and companies there, a spokeswoman said. Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks after the Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday launched a trade barrier investigation into Taiwan's trade restriction measures against products from the mainland. The ministry launched the investigation at the request of China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-Products, China Chamber of Commerce for Importers and Exporters of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals, and the China Chamber of Commerce For Import and Export of Textiles, she said. The investigation, starting Wednesday, includes agricultural produce, minerals, chemicals and textiles, among other products.
Source: China daily
In 2005, with the help of Aboriginal Business Canada, Anne launched her own company, MJAnne Couture. In 2008, she incorporated Andréanne Designs Inc. operating under Voilà par Andréanne. Today she owns and operates Anne Mulaire Boutique, a vertically integrated, women-led fashion house in Winnipeg. Her designs are both an economic and cultural issue for Anne, who shares her Métis and Franco‐Manitoban heritage with the world through her designs. Ever since her childhood, she has been immersed in a world filled with natural textiles, Prairie motifs and Métis aromas. Her apparel’s flower prints, soft fabrics and wavy lines are crafted to evoke the Prairies and Métis culture. Elise Epp: Elise is the national coordinator for Fashion Revolution Canada and a senior graphic designer at the International Institute for Sustainable Development. For the past decade, she has been an enthusiastic researcher and communicator on issues surrounding slow fashion. In 2018, she co‐founded her local Winnipeg chapter of Fashion Revolution. Anna-Marie Janzen: A long‐time advocate for sustainability and justice, Anna started Reclaim Mending – a Winnipeg‐based mending and tailoring service. The company works to help make your clothes fit better and last longer so that we can all have a smaller global footprint. Run out of her West End home, she specializes in jeans repairs and minor tailoring as well as custom clothing by request. She also offers sewing lessons for individuals and groups.
Source: chvnradio.com
The textile supply chain is complex and global, with multiple players involved at every step. From sourcing the raw materials to manufacturing and distribution, the process can span continents. This complexity often results in information silos, where top brand executives lack critical information, making it difficult to react quickly to disruptions. The pandemic further highlighted the importance of supply chain visibility, as even minor disruptions had far-reaching consequences. By recognizing the importance of visibility at every stage of their supply chain, apparel brands can increase their agility, resilience, and avoid major ESG violations, thanks to the increased knowledge and control that such visibility affords them. Brands that have a clear picture of their supply chains are more agile and gain a competitive edge because of this. A good example is the global apparel brand H&M, which has invested heavily in its supply chain management system. This system allows H&M to track their productions from the raw materials stage to final distribution. It also allows the company to quickly identify and respond to disruptions, such as delays in production or shipping. With increased visibility, H&M can make more informed decisions about inventory management, product development, and logistics. Nike, the sportswear giant, also understands the importance of their supply chain. During the pandemic, Nike was able to better control their inventory placements, and pivot quicker to meet online demand when physical stores were closed because of their investment in RFID technology. By implementing RFID, Nike was able to get an accurate count of their stock items globally, and as a result performed much better than their competitors during the lockdowns. suppliers and information about working conditions and environmental impact. Brands that do not comply with these laws can face significant penalties. By having full visibility into their operations, apparel brands can start to ensure that their products are ethically sourced and manufactured, and avoid costly ESG violations. Adopting technology can address the challenge of limited visibility and help executives build resilient and agile supply chains. Through strategic implementation, brands can monitor their global suppliers closely, maintain constant communication, set up safeguards and approvals, and receive timely updates on all activities. This approach provides a clearer understanding of the supply chain’s operations than previously possible, and allows brands to easily manage global suppliers remotely. A wide range of solutions are available on the market to increase transparency such as production tracking softwares like TrackIT to digital quality management and inspection tools like QUONDA . In conclusion, supply chain visibility is critical for apparel brands that want to remain competitive and avoid ESG violations. The pandemic has shown that disruptions can occur at any point in the textile supply chain, making it essential for brands to have full visibility over the manufacturing process. Apparel brands that have invested in supply chain management systems, like H&M and Nike, have been able to quickly respond to disruptions and gain a competitive edge. As ESG regulations become increasingly stringent, brands that have a transparent supply chain will be better positioned to comply with these regulations and avoid costly violations that hurt the brand financially and in the minds of their consumers. Technology solutions can help to solve the problem and help apparel brands gain a new level of transparency that they need to succeed in today’s global marketplace.
Source: European business review
