INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Fashionista Fashion Exhibitions is set to host a Sustainable Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition in Mumbai from 8th-9th June, according to a report by Trade India. The exhibition will take place at the Nehru Centre in Worli, Mumbai and will showcase eco-friendly products to a discerning audience. The event will serve as a platform for exhibiting organic and sustainable products derived from natural resources, with a focus on promoting sustainable manufacturing processes in the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries. The exhibition will offer visitors an opportunity to discover new brands and learn more about sustainability, while brands will have the chance to showcase their production process to the public. The event is expected to attract a millennial premium shopper crowd and will feature product categories such as handloom clothing, personal care goods, accessories, and beauty products. Fashionista Fashion and Lifestyle Exhibition have previously organized over 400 events across 40 Indian cities in the last 15 years, providing brands with the opportunity to connect with new customers and demographics beyond their established brick-and-mortar presence.
Source: Apparel Resources
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said that the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) of tomorrow will be a transformational engine across the world and not only in India during his address at “Enabling Bharat 2.0”, a one-day workshop conducted by ONDC today in New Delhi. The Minister said that he is optimistic about a significant growth of ONDC in the next few months. He invited all e-commerce companies, big and small, to join ONDC and be part of this new bazaar that reimagines digital commerce. He mentioned that ONDC will promote local languages, products, and cultural heritage, and create opportunities for small businesses. He said that small artisans and workers can offer better quality through ONDC and also earn better without having to pay commission for their products. He emphasized that ONDC will foster healthy competition, benefit consumers and contribute to the overall growth of the digital commerce ecosystem in India. He said that the Prime Minister believes that our ability to develop depends on our ability to leverage technology. He said that monolithic e-commerce platforms will never be able to provide the services of the kind that a network of platforms like ONDC can offer. The Minister highlighted the various sectors that may benefit from ONDC like farmers who can access bigger markets and demand better prices for their products, students who can compare prices of books and online courses, people who can avail health services at the best prices, etc. He emphasized on the need to create systems that benefit everyone and create opportunities for all. He said that the efforts are being undertaken to ensure that e-commerce becomes an engine of growth that empowers both buyers and sellers. The Minister highlighted that ONDC will unlock doors of opportunities in an inclusive manner for both big and small businesses, benefitting the entire value chain of commerce. He said that ONDC will provide a much larger market for sellers, without any preferred or priority sellers, ensuring equitable and fair treatment for all stakeholders. He said that ONDC will foster economies of scale, competition, and better pricing and quality, ultimately benefiting consumers. He said that ONDC is customer-centric, keeping in line with the vision of Mahatma Gandhi, where the customer is king. The Minister emphasized that India can only be defined as Bharat, as it thrives in villages and small habitations across the country. He mentioned that ONDC is targeting this ‘Bharat’ for inclusive growth, ensuring that the benefits of e-commerce reach every corner of the country. He said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi firmly believes in solving challenges the Indian way and trusts the people of India to come up with innovative solutions. He said that ONDC was born in such a manner when the e-commerce sector was grappling with multiple challenges and small businesses were under threat. He highlighted the need for alternate ways to address these challenges of the e-commerce ecosystem, while balancing the interests of small retailers and businesses led to the evolution of ONDC. The Minister outlined the unique features of ONDC, which aims to provide a win-win solution for both buyers and sellers. He said that ONDC, with its concept of using interfaces between various platforms, will open up more options for buyers, enhance price discovery and market opportunities for sellers, and also empower consumers to make informed choices. He said that this will result in more competition in the market and will not be limited through algorithms. He emphasized that ONDC will enable speedy, efficient, and real-time settlement of transactions, catering to hyperlocal and global needs simultaneously. During his address, the Minister said that ‘Enabling Bharat 2.0’ converges with the commitment of making India a developed nation by 2047 and it is desirable to plan for the future. He said that digital public infrastructure is the need of the hour. He said that all the efforts of the government have been citizen centric as was evident during the COVID pandemic with the development and production of vaccines and the launch of Co-WIN Vaccinator App to monitor the distribution of vaccines to everyone in the country. He cited the success of initiatives like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the financial services sector, which has brought about a transformational journey and encouraged hundreds of fintech companies to innovate and promote financial inclusion. He said that UPI has brought about innovation in the fintech sector at a pace never seen before and promoted startups and unicorns through socialising valuation. He drew parallels with ONDC, which is based on a similar concept of interoperable interface, opening up more options for buyers and creating more competition, while providing ease of operation for sellers across multiple platforms and also providing them a bigger market. The ‘Enabling Bharat 2.0’ workshop has been organized to find potential synergies and deepen collaboration among the various open protocol-enabled initiatives and generate awareness amongst multiple stakeholders.
Source: PIB
number of initiatives aimed at developing the workforce, including vocational training programs and partnerships with industry to provide on-the-job training. However, there is still a long way to go in addressing the skills gap in India’s manufacturing sector. Many workers lack the necessary technical skills to operate and maintain the advanced machinery used in modern manufacturing. In addition, there is a shortage of managers and supervisors with the necessary leadership and organizational skills to oversee complex manufacturing operations. HomeTrending Tech Buzz Industry StartupsTech HardwareSoftwareHealth TechFinTechAgritech News GadgetsPC & LaptopsArtificial IntelligenceVisual Reality (AR, VR, MR) Efforts to address the skills gap must be ongoing and sustained if India’s manufacturing sector is to continue to grow and thrive. Balancing environmental concerns with industrial growth As India’s manufacturing sector grows, there is an increasing need to balance economic growth with environmental concerns. The government has introduced a number of environmental regulations aimed at reducing pollution and promoting sustainable growth, but there is still much work to be done in this regard. India’s manufacturing sector is a major contributor to air and water pollution, and there is a growing awareness of the need to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance. To this end, many manufacturers are investing in new technologies and processes that reduce their environmental impact, while others are exploring ways to use renewable energy sources to power their operations. While there is still much work to be done, there is reason for optimism that India’s manufacturing sector can continue to grow while also protecting the environment. The role of technology and innovation in India’s manufacturing future India has made significant strides in developing its technology and innovation capabilities in recent years, and this is likely to play an increasingly important role in the country’s manufacturing future. From advanced robotics to artificial intelligence, technologies are being developed that could transform the manufacturing industry and make it more competitive. For example, the use of advanced robotics and automation could help Indian manufacturers to reduce costs and improve efficiency, while also improving product quality and consistency. Similarly, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning could help manufacturers to better predict demand, optimize production processes, and improve supply chain management. However, there are also challenges associated with the adoption of new technologies in India’s manufacturing sector. Many manufacturers lack the necessary capital to invest in new technologies, and there is a shortage of skilled workers who can operate and maintain these technologies. Efforts to address these challenges must be ongoing if India’s manufacturing sector is to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Impact on global trade and economic relations India’s rise as a manufacturing powerhouse is likely to have significant implications for global trade and economic relations. Shifting supply chains and the role of India With rising labour costs and trade tensions between the US and China, many companies are looking to shift their supply chains to alternate destinations. India’s low labour costs and growing manufacturing capabilities make it an attractive destination for companies looking to diversify their supply chains. India’s trade partnerships and agreements India is a signatory to a number of international trade agreements and has been working to build stronger trade ties with other countries. According to the World Trade Organization, India’s share of global merchandise trade has been steadily rising in recent years. Implications for China’s economic dominance As India’s manufacturing sector grows, it is likely to challenge China’s dominance in this space. This could have significant implications for China’s economy, which has been heavily reliant on manufacturing in recent years. Whether China will be able to adapt to this changing landscape remains to be seen. Conclusion India’s rise as a manufacturing powerhouse is a testament to the country’s economic potential and its ability to attract investment and develop its workforce. While there are still challenges to be addressed, the future looks bright for India’s manufacturing sector, and the world will be watching to see how this emerging giant will shape the global economic landscape in the years to come.
Source: PIB
The chemicals and textile industries in the state have been struggling for more than a year. Recently, mergers and acquisitions are being witnessed in the MSME segment of these sectors. For instance, Vatva-based Appex Dyestuff Industries recently acquired Associated Dyestuff Pvt Ltd for around Rs 7.50 crore, to enter liquid dyes manufacturing. Brijesh Agrawal, director of Appex, said, "We manufacture 100 tonnes of powder dyes a month at our facility. We plan to start liquid dyes manufacturing at the new unit we have acquired. We will have a capacity of 200 tonnes of liquid dyes at the new plant, which we supply to the paper industry." The textile industry is passing through a tough phase which has hurt its MSME sector badly as well. Komal Texfab Pvt Ltd in Narol is acquiring a unit of York Prints Pvt Ltd for an undisclosed amount. Experts say companies looking to expand their product portfolios are acquiring MSME at attractive prices. Jogesh Patel, director of York Prints, said, "We decided to sell our manufacturing unit and the procedure is underway. We set up this factory in 1990 and business was good. During Covid, the lockdowns hurt our orders. After Covid, the number of orders decreased. Export orders were also not great. We were unable to run the factory for 24 hours. While prices of coal, colour chemicals and transportation increased, prices of finished products did not. We thus decided to exit the textile business. I have been in this industry for 45 years and have never seen such a difficult period." The company has a capacity of 1 lakh metres per day. Suresh Bagrecha, founder of Komal Texfab, confirmed that the deal is underway but did not give out more details. Industry observers say the state will see more acquisitions in the MSME segment because many MSME players plan to diversify or shift to new businesses, while many want to expand portfolios during this downswing.
Source: Times of India
The apparel industry is one of the most dynamic and competitive industries in the world that requires ‘logistics excellence’ for the industry to stay ahead of the curve. The efficient management of the entire supply chain, from raw material procurement to finished product delivery, can greatly impact not just a company’s success but the effectiveness of the entire industry. However, the garment industry has unique challenges that make logistics management even more critical. The industry operates on tight production schedules, with many players involved in the production process and backend integration. Additionally, fashion trends are constantly changing, which means companies must be able to quickly adapt to market demands. Effective logistics management can help overcome these challenges. India is one of the top garment and textile manufacturing destinations, both domestically and in exports, and it poses challenges that are very fragmented in nature. The good part is that the industry stakeholders and the Government have recently shown some great efforts in improving the logistics system and its management. Still, the apparel industry feels that a lot more is required, especially a seamless system. Few of the Government’s steps are mainly beneficial for exports as Government claims that the total capacity of the transportation sector into a single portal, freeing the exporters from a host of long and cumbersome processes. For promoting exports, 40 air cargo terminals have been constructed besides initiatives like faceless assessment in customs, provisions for e-way bills and FASTag etc.
Gain for apparel manufacturers Some of the apparel exporters, especially of NCR, are of the opinion that till date they have not seen any major change as far as sending goods by road from NCR to Mumbai is concerned. There has been little improvement in time-saving by around 4-5 hours, depending on the vehicle and driver but they are highly hopeful that once the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will complete by the end of December 2023, it will be a real game changer. This highway will make it possible to reach from Delhi to Mumbai in only 12 hours (currently it is around 36 hours). The 1386-kilometre Delhi-Mumbai Highway project, which is the longest motorway in India, is being made at a cost of Rs. 1,00,000 crore. Apparel exporters strongly say that this is a well-taken initiative of the Government “In China, from across the country, it normally takes one day to make the goods reach the port and once the Delhi- Mumbai Express Highway starts completely, it will be a blessing in disguise for exporters like us,” said Vivek Saxena, Director Moissanite Apparels, Noida who is working with some leading European buyers. Apart from this particular highway, similar infrastructure development across India has benefited apparel manufacturers and they are content with this. Factories in North India are now able to save at least 18-24 hours when they send goods on long routes like to Bengaluru or Chennai. Mohali-based Active Clothing, having a manufacturing unit in a village of Punjab called Badali Ala Singh (district Fatehgarh Sahib), is one such company and Rajesh Mehra, MD of the company is of the view that this one-day saving is also a big advantage for them as he gets one-day ease in working capital as payment time starts from reaching the goods at clients’ warehouse. As far as Ahmedabad, the leading domestic hub for apparel manufacturing is concerned, till a few years back for manufacturers there, it was like impossible to send goods from Ahmedabad to Pune and nearby areas for sameday delivery but the situation has changed now due to improved road infrastructure. They are now swiftly able to send the goods on the same route easily. Sachin Shah, Avadat Apparels, Ahmedabad substantiates the same by saying that now transporters don’t refuse same-day delivery for Pune and nearby areas and it has benefited them a lot. Avadat Apparels is a leading jeans manufacturer of Ahmedabad and has a good presence in the domestic market. Various exporters are content as things are currently streamlined at customs and clearances taking normally one day or even less, unlike earlier 2-3 days. PMS Uppal, MD, Pee Empro Exports, Faridabad opines that due to overall digitisation, things at customs are now more transparent and clarity is there while earlier there was dependency on customs staff or agents.
Improvement required on various fronts For apparel exporters, improvement is required at various levels and there is a need for seamless systems and processes like container stuffing, movement time. Container loading should also be digitised and things need to
For apparel exporters, improvement is required at various levels and there is a need for seamless systems and processes like container stuffing, movement time. Container loading should also be digitised and things need to be done more professionally and in a less time-consuming way. Few rules within India differ from city to city or from state to state.
Issue 1: Overall costing istoo high Regarding costing, there is still not much of an advantage at the ground level especially, increase in fuel price is one such issue. Every year, tool tax is also increasing by around 10 per cent. Customs clearance at the ports has also increased. The same is in the case of imports, right from delivery orders to nearly on all the fronts, exporters have to pay charges which are illogical and they have no choice. Animesh Saxena, MD, Neetee Clothing, Gurgaon also accepts that infrastructure has indeed started improving and suggests, “There should be a proper regulatory mechanism to have control on shipping companies, especially in case of their pricing, be it for terminal handling and allied factors.” Issue 2: Port-to-port connectivity is a concern Apparel exporters are also concerned about improvement in port-to-port connectivity as it will be a good advantage for them. PMS Uppal said, “Still mother vessels don’t come to India while it is required. If this happens, it will be good support for exporters.” Most of the feeder vessels upload Indian apparel exporters’ goods from Sri Lanka, Singapore etc. Issue 3: Transit time of Train is high For companies situated in Ludhiana and nearby areas, it takes around more than two weeks from the factory to ship as from Delhi to Mumbai, the transit time by train is still high. For machinery import, to reach from Mumbai to Delhi, the container train takes almost 15 days as after Ahmedabad, there is no facility for double-decker train and goods get unloaded and reloaded at Ahmedabad. Issues like connectivity, unloading and loading are also there in case of LCL cargo (Less than Container-Load) by train. Issue 4: State/ city-specific rules are complicated Few of the Jaipur-based exporters, who are shipping regularly by air, are dependent on Delhi airport, and for the same, they send their goods by road to Delhi. In most of the cases, ‘No entry’ (during a certain time frame, when goods vehicles cannot ply on roads) rule in Delhi wastes almost one day. Aseem Singla, Director, Fashion Image Overseas, Jaipur is one such exporter who agrees with the aforementioned issue as his few Japanese buyers sometimes ask for air shipment, especially for small or medium size orders. He suggested, “For small orders, we can’t book a full dedicated truck, so in such cases, things depend on transporters too. In metro cities, goods vehicles carrying goods for export can be given exemption from ‘no entry rule’ as even one day also matters in air shipment.”
Flywing Cargo geared up for double growth There are thousands of goods being transported across India and few of them are from the textile and apparel companies. Having 125 trucks and 45 offices across India, Ahmedabad-based Flywing Cargo is working with more than 60 big companies in apparel, textile and e-commerce domain. Sunil Beniwal, Director-Sales of the company believes, “Due to e-way bill, transporters can’t misguide the goods senders. It ensures tracking of goods and also helps the transporter to work more systematically.” Sunil claims that to ensure timely and safe delivery, every truck has two drivers and this creates comfort and safety for drivers also. The company is expecting to have 100 offices in near future as it is expanding across India. To achieve logistics excellence, a garment company needs to focus on several key areas: Inventory management: Garment companies must be able to manage their inventory effectively. They should know how much stock they have in hand, when to order more and when to phase out certain products. By managing inventory effectively, garment companies can avoid stockouts and minimise excess inventory. Transportation management: Transportation is a critical component of the garment industry’s logistics. Companies need to ensure that their products are transported quickly and efficiently to meet tight production schedules. This involves selecting the right transportation mode, negotiating with carriers and tracking shipments to ensure timely delivery. Supply chain visibility: Garment companies need to have complete visibility of their supply chain. They should be able to track raw materials, work-in-progress and finished products at every stage of production. This level of visibility can help companies identify and address bottlenecks in the production process and prevent delays.
Collaboration: Collaboration between different players in the supply chain is essential for logistics excellence. Garment companies should work closely with their suppliers, manufacturers and logistics providers to ensure that everyone is on the same page. This can help avoid misunderstandings and delays.
Source: Apparel Resources
INTERNATIONAL
As a leading business platform, Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas aim to bring decision makers from all of the major industries that touch technical textiles, nonwovens, sewn products, equipment and technology together in one place to experience the latest innovations. The unified platform will host more than 350 companies from around 30 countries and take place in Atlanta from May 10-12, 2023. A key feature of these co-located shows is the breadth of knowledge and experience coalesced in this single location. “The industry is rapidly evolving, and we’re excited for attendees and exhibitors of Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas to have a front row seat to the action,” said Kristy Meade, vice president of Technical Textiles & Technology Shows for Messe Frankfurt Inc. “Our team is dedicated to ensuring that this year’s show offers meaningful exhibitor and attendee experiences through a host of new show features. We continue to track new trends, technologies, and developments across the industry and bring them to the forefront through comprehensive education and programs.” “For the first time in more than two decades, we’re witnessing an exciting rebirth for the sewn products industry in the Western Hemisphere,” said Michael McDonald, president of SPESA. “Attending Texprocess Americas — the largest show of its kind in North, Central, and South America — is the first step for industry players to be a part of this massive movement in reshoring, nearshoring, and regional collaboration. The 2023 edition of the show is aiming to elevate attendee experience even more by adding in new components that foster learning, networking, and professional growth. I’m confident this is going to be the best show yet.” Tech Talks will feature a line-up of complimentary presentations around the themes of sustainability, empowering and growing workforces with technology, next generation of technical designers and more. The highly acclaimed Symposium gives visitors the opportunity to listen and learn from industry leaders and subject matter experts as they discuss some of the most pivotal advancements in research and technology. New this year is the Career and Training Center where representatives from the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College will be on site to share valuable resources related to the industry’s career landscape, networking tips, and much more. This area will serve as a gathering spot for attendees to view job openings posted by exhibiting companies, meet prospective employers, and craft the perfect resume. Attendees will also have the opportunity to get their headshot taken by a professional photographer. Also in the Career and Training Center, SPESA will be launching a new training program — “Training Takes Time” — to boost manufacturing in the Americas. This program will be brought to life by Merrow Sewing Machine Company and the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center (ISAIC), and will focus on training for mechanics, operators, and facility owners. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from Merrow’s team of experienced technicians and instructors who have years of experience in the industry. In addition to hands-on demonstrations, the training will also utilize augmented reality tools from ISAIC to illustrate how these training methods can help scale the industry and support growth in the Americas. The Student Research Poster Program will also make its return this year. Featuring the latest scientific developments in sewn product design and manufacturing, the program attracts students who are involved in both undergraduate and graduate-level research and textile innovation. Also new this year is the Innovation Awards which aims to honor outstanding performance in the fields of research, new materials, products, and technologies. Visitors at both Techtextil North America & Texprocess Americas can explore the show floor to see these innovations on display, and learn how these exhibitors are driving thought-leadership and positively influencing the industry. For those interested in networking, visitors can register to attend the Opening Night Reception. Hosted by SPESA and Messe Frankfurt, the official Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North America Opening Reception will be held Wednesday, May 10, 2023, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Delta Sky360° Club in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Attendees will get the ultimate fan experience with a stadium tour covering the field, owner’s suite, and locker room, in addition to an exciting night of entertainment, food, and an open bar.
Source: Textile world
The fashion and textile industry is a poster child for unsustainable practices. Fast fashion is a big part of the problem. However clothing manufacturing has significant environmental impacts at each step in the supply chain. Those supply chains are shockingly opaque – many brands have no idea how or where their clothes are made. As the industry starts to receive more scrutiny from consumers who care about sustainable fashion, traceability is becoming a new fashion trend. Fast Fashion We throw away 40 million tons of textiles every year – many of them never worn. Each year 39,000 tons of unsold clothes from Europe and the United States end up in Chilean landfills. Meanwhile, roughly a quarter of the clothes that are sold are never worn before eventually being discarded. Individuals can make a difference in how wasteful the fashion industry is by quitting fast fashion. But to build a truly sustainable wardrobe, we need to support sustainable brands that avoid sweatshop labor; that use organically grown natural fibers instead of petroleum-based synthetics; that are eliminating toxic dyes and heavy metals from their production processes; and that are cutting carbon emissions from their factories and transportation. But as the saying goes, what gets measured gets done. Transparency In a recent edition of the Earth911 podcast, Fordham University’s Frank Zambrelli talked about the changes necessary to make the fashion industry more sustainable. They included improvements across every step of the fashion supply chain, such as industry-wide adoption of transparent emissions reduction goals. In fact, transparency is a theme in any conversation about sustainable fashion. According to the Fashion Transparency Index, in 2022, only 48% of brands published their firsttier manufacturers, and only nine of the 250 brands studied achieved a 90% transparency score. In some cases, that may be because brands lack the information themselves. Brands cannot be transparent about supply chains they don’t – or can’t – track. Textile supply chains are notoriously complex and almost completely opaque, even to participants in the process. Companies cannot make sure human rights are respected, working conditions are safe, and the environment is protected without knowing where their products come from Traceability For most clothes, the only clue to their origin we have is a label that says “Made in.” But the Made In label is almost useless. It only relates to the final assembly of the product. And polluting sweatshops exist even in countries like the United States and England that have supposedly high standards for environmental practices and working conditions. Before brands can provide transparency in fashion labeling, they need to be able to trace the path their products have traveled. Traceability means knowing where and how every single part of a garment was made, from “farm to finish line,” identifying every step, or tier, in the supply chain. The fashion industry tiers are: Tier 1: Factory manufacturing (Cut-and-Sew) Tier 2: Processing facilities (Fabric Dyeing and Finishing) Tier 3: Processing facilities (Textile Spinners and Processors) Tier 4: Raw material suppliers (Farms and Synthetic Material Factories) Tracking a complex product (think of the number of materials in a sneaker) to tier four can be a huge task, and for many fast fashion companies, is probably impossible. A company like Shein has up to 600,000 products to trace. Many companies reveal some tracing information – especially first tier – with no mention of earlier suppliers whose environmental impacts are much greater. This can be a very effective form of greenwashing. New tools like smart tags, TrusTrace, and the Open Apparel Registry are making traceability easier for companies. And developments like the 2022 introduction of the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act in New York are alerting businesses that the regulatory environment is shifting towards greater traceability and transparency. Traceable Fashion Brands A few brands are getting ahead of the curve on traceability and transparency. The Swedish company Asket performs farm to factory tracing with full transparency to the consumer. They eliminate supply chain steps by selling direct to the consumer and extend product lifecycles through repair and resale programs. PAKA offers fully traceable, handmade alpaca wool products sourced from free-roaming alpacas. They use the shearing technique called Inca Esquila (which primarily improves wool quality but is also somewhat more humane than traditional methods). The wool is then prepared and woven by dozens of Quechua women who sign each sweater they make. Denim brand Amendi is 100% transparent, as well as traceable. Customers can use the SKU number for their purchased items to trace its production path. Surprisingly, there are even some mainstream brands – like Ugg, Timberland, and Eileen Fisher – that are transparent and traceable all the way to tier four. Traceable is not always the same as sustainable. But it is an important step in the right direction.
Source: The Earth911.com
This week, international fashion retailers are meeting in Barcelona to explore how to address demands from consumers and regulators to transition to more sustainable models while recovering declining sales in Europe. Attending the World Retail Congress, one of the largest annual conferences in the sector, are executives from organisations including China’s Shein, Spain’s Mango, and Ireland’s Primark. They will talk about the difficulties their companies are facing as consumers cut back on their purchases in Europe and internationally due to inflation. More stringent European regulations will also be present. New regulations on textile waste are being developed by the European Commission, which will hold businesses accountable for managing the waste that their goods generate. According to Valerie Boiten, senior policy officer at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that collaborates with H&M, Inditex, Mango, Primark, and Zalando, “There is growing pressure from regulators on the fast fashion model, which is premised on high volumes and affordable prices.” Consumers in the European Union throw away about 5.8 million tonnes of textiles every year, according to the European Environment Agency. “The current model is set up for failure if you take into account climate change and resource scarcity,” said Boiten. The European Union is working to transition to a ‘circular’ economy, in which businesses recycle and reuse materials rather than depleting finite resources to create new goods. In certain of their stores, companies like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo are now offering garment repair services. In addition to selling brand-new clothing, Uniqlo also sells used jeans and shirts that have been patched with ‘sashiko’ embroidery with a Japanese flair at its Battersea Power Station location in London. This month, Circ, a US business in which Inditex and Bill Gates have invested, provided Zara with its first women’s line. Circ is the owner of technology that can generate new fabric by separating the polyester and cotton in used clothing.
Source: Apparel resources
The fast fashion retailer teamed with textile recycling firm Circ to release a line of women’s apparel made with recycled polyester and cotton fibers, addressing one of the textile industry’s biggest recycling challenges: blended textiles. The Circ x Zara collection features lyocell garments made with 50% recycled poly/cotton waste, and polyester garments made with 43% recycled poly/cotton waste. Virginia-based Circ has developed a hydrothermal process that liquefies the polyester, before heat and pressure separate the liquid polymer from the solid cotton to reclaim the cellulosic and synthetic materials. The recycled cotton is turned into fluffy flakes before becoming a pulp that can be subbed in for wood pulp, which makes up traditional lyocell. Meanwhile, the polyester content can be pelletized and extruded into new fibers. Last month, Circ closed a $25 million round of funding with European retail conglomerate Zalando, sportswear producer Youngone and digital labels maker Avery Dennison. It plans to use the capital to scale up its production facilities. Inditex, Zara’s parent company, made an investment in Circ in 2022 by taking part in a $30 million Series B funding round alongside Bill Gates-backed Breakthrough Energy Ventures and South Carolina textile manufacturer Milliken & Co. The exploratory line “demonstrates that innovation in new fibers and collaboration with specialized experts are two key pillars in advancing the circularity of the textile industry,” said Inditex chief sustainability officer Javier Losada.
Source: Home Textiles Today
As a high-demand, technology-focused cut-and-sew warehouse, SubMFG was looking to improve their in-house technology for a more efficient process. After attending industry trade shows to learn about the latest technology, SubMFG selected and installed the Epson SureColor® F10070 and SureColor F10070Hproduction dye-sublimation printers and multiple SureColor F3070 directto-garment (DTG) printers as turnkey solutions to produce their signature apparel offerings. As a result, SubMFG has experienced increased business productivity and output efficiency, further increasing their in-house capabilities and output capacity. Located in San Diego, Calif., SubMFG is a full cut-and-sew house, doing everything from scratch. SubMFG resells products to ASI companies and resellers, depending on the client, as well as helping with OEM manufacturing for clients. “We like to think of ourselves as a technology company, not just a textile company,” said Jeremy DeBoer, general manager, SubMFG. “Technology in the last 10 years has completely changed our business, and when we were introduced to the SureColor F-Series dye-sublimation, it was exactly what we were looking for.” SubMFG has been producing quality sublimated products for over 19 years, allowing DeBoer to see the history of where technology has been. “Previously, within the sublimation business you really had to buy everything third party,” he said. “The Epson dye-sub printers are a complete solution. We’ve found it’s a lot easier to keep them running on a regular basis and the efficiency is much better than what we had before.” Since installing the SureColor dye-sublimation printers, the SubMFG team has benefited from the production-focused features designed for round-the-clock productivity. “The great thing about having two of the SureColor F-Series printers is you can run the exact same job on both printers and get the same consistency. Our color values are almost identical to one another on both printers,” continued DeBoer. “Dye-sublimation technology is advancing rapidly, and the SureColor F-Series production printers are designed for high-production manufacturers such as SubMFG,” said Tim Check, senior product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America Inc. “It’s great to hear how two SureColor F-Series production printers can really streamline an entire manufacturing process.” Since installing the SureColor F10070 and F10070H, SubMFG has added DTG printing to their in-house capabilities, installing multiple SureColor F3070 DTG printers. “Our quality really matters to us. Whether it’s DTG or dye-sublimation, we want the best quality we can produce,” concluded DeBoer.
Source: Textile world
At ITMA 2023 in Milan, Loepfe is taking a new approach and inviting visitors to witness firsthand the remarkable advantages Loepfe users experience with its cutting-edge sensor technology. Profitable, efficient and easy with a high-quality output — that is what Loepfe stands for. But how does it make it happen? Textile Corner Loepfe will demonstrate how its sensors keep yarn producers ahead of the competition by showcasing impressive achievements from Loepfe users in the Textile Corner. Loepfe specialists will demonstrate how unique sensor technologies detect the smallest deviation in yarns, while clever software evaluates the signals to maximize quality and machine efficiency. Field study results, fabric examples and much more will be available for visitors to kick off exciting discussions. Loepfe provides solutions for producers that need quality yarns at maximum machine efficiency. With the market’s most advanced yarn monitoring systems, producers can reduce costs and waste, increase efficiency, and enjoy ease of use. Clever yarn clearing Loepfe focuses on the needs of producers and turns quality control into profitability through groundbreaking technology and clever software. Loepfe will showcase its market leading YarnMaster® PRISMA and YarnMaster ZENIT+ technologies, both of which lead in technology, performance, and proven reliability for all applications in winding. A special highlight at ITMA will be the newly launched PRISMA Autoclearing functions, which provide the perfect solution for ease of use in yarn clearing. PRISMA Autoclearing offers the most effortless yarn clearing experience on the market. Visitors can also test the full range of functions of the associated MillMaster® TOP data system, including trend analysis, planning boards for winding machine scheduling, clearer-assistant for cut forecasts, and more. In the open-end sector, Loepfe will present our world renowned and well proven YarnMaster EOS. This rotor yarn clearer is known for meeting the spinner’s requirement for consistent yarn quality and maximum machine efficiency. Loepfe’s offerings extend beyond the spinning sector, including the WeftMaster® CUT-iT for thermal fabric cutting and the all-rounder sensor WeftMaster FALCON-i. The FALCON-i is known for zero-defect manufacturing, regardless of color, conductive materials, monofilament, or multifilament yarns. Meet the team Finally, visitors are invited to meet the Loepfe team, which has recently expanded with independent local business units in Turkey, India and China within the Vandewiele Group structure. Sales agents and service partners are now officially Loepfe colleagues, and they will be available at the Loepfe booth B205d in Hall 3 for interesting exchanges.
Source: Textile world
