INTERNATIONAL
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A PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) park will come up in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and is expected to generate employment to one lakh people. In March, the Government of India (GoI) approved 7 PM MITRA parks for the textile industry in greenfield/brownfield sites with world-class infrastructure including plug and play facility with an outlay of Rs 4,445 crore for a period of seven years up to 2027-28. The Centre has finalised seven sites – Tamil Nadu (Virudhnagar), Telangana (Warangal), Gujarat (Navsari), Karnataka (Kalburgi), Madhya Pradesh (Dhar), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow/Hardoi) and Maharashtra (Amravati) for setting up PM MITRA parks. The Union Ministry of Textiles will provide financial assistance up to Rs 800 crore per park for greenfield projects and up to Rs 500 crore per park for brownfield projects. The state governments will provide land and augmented utility infrastructure for the proposed mega textile parks. According to Union Minister of Textiles Piyush Goyal, PM MITRA Park Lucknow will be the first textile park in the country to be inaugurated after completion.
Here is all you need to know about PM MITRA Park Lucknow. PM Mitra Park Lucknow will be developed in Public Private Partnership mode through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which will be owned by the Centre and state government. The total area of the PM Mitra Park Lucknow will be 1,000 acres in which an investment of Rs 10,000 crore is expected and it is likely to provide employment to 1 lakh people directly and 2 lakh people indirectly.
Connectivity to the park PM Mitra Park Lucknow is being developed in Attari village of Malihabad block of Lucknow district, which is well connected to major cities of the country by road, rail and air. By road: The distance of the park from NH-20, SH-25 and the six-lane outer ring road is just 20 kilometres. By rail: The nearest railway station Malihabad is at a distance of 16 km from the park and Lucknow railway station is 40 km away. By air: The nearest international airport is Lucknow, which is 45 km from the park. PM Mitra Park Lucknow will have an incubation centre, common processing house and a common effluent treatment plant and other textile-related facilities like design centre and testing centre. An Incubation Centre is an organisation that helps entrepreneurs to develop their business and solve problems related to it, especially in the early stages by providing arrange of business and technical services, initial seed funding, laboratory facilities, mentorship networks and linkages. The Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)/master developer will not only develop the industrial park but will also maintain it during the concession period. Under the scheme, the central government will provide development capital assistance of Rs 500 crore to PM Mitra Park Lucknow for the development of common basic infrastructure.
Incentives According to the Union Ministry of Textiles, it will provide incentives to the manufacturing units to be set up in PM Mitra Park Lucknow on the basis of ‘first come first serve’. It said there is a provision made by the ministry to provide Rs 300 crore as incentive to the manufacturing units to be set up in PM Mitra Park Lucknow. The incentive amount will be 3 per cent of the total annual turnover of the unit, whose limit per company will be as follows: Investment of Rs 300 Crore or above-Cap of Rs 10 Crore/annum and a maximum cap of Rs 30 Crore on total incentive for one anchor investor company. Investment of Rs 100-300 Crore – Cap of Rs 5 Crore/annum and a maximum cap of Rs 15 Crore on total incentive for one investor company. Other investor companies and tenants – A cap of Rs1Crore/annum and a maximum cap of Rs 3 crore on total incentive But they must have employment of 100 persons and above. Additional incentives to manufacturing Units setting up in PM Mitra Park Lucknow as per UP Textile and Garmenting Policy 2022. Power Tariff Subsidy of Rs 2 per unit (up to Rs 60 lakh per annum) for 5 years to units setting up in PM MITRA Park and generating minimum employment of 50. 100 per cent exemption from Stamp Duty to manufacturing units setting up in the PM Mitra Park Lucknow. Permission for open access to electricity for the Master Developer.
What PM Modi said on textile parks In March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that PM MITRA mega textile parks would be set up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP and UP which will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision. He remarked that the PM MITRA mega textile parks will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for the textiles sector, attracts investment of crores and creates lakhs of jobs. “PM MITRA mega textile parks will boost the textiles sector in line with the ‘5F’ (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision. Glad to share that PM MITRA mega textile parks would be set up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP and UP,” he tweeted. “The PM MITRA mega textile parks will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure for the textiles sector, attracts investment of crores and create lakhs of jobs. It will be a great example of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make For the World.’ #PragatiKaPMMitra,” he added. About the PM MITRA park in UP, Modi said, “Uttar Pradesh has rich tradition of textiles, a big market and consumer base. It is home to hardworking weavers and a skilled workforce. The setting up of the PM Mitra Mega Textiles Park across Lucknow and Hardoi districts will greatly benefit UP.”
Source: The Federal.com
A 1,000- acre PM Mitra Mega Textile Park would be built by the Yogi Adityanath government in the Malihabad Tehsil of Lucknow. One lakh young people will be employed as well as an investment of Rs 10,000 crore is expected for the project. The project would be built in Attari village, in the Malihabad tehsil, just outside the state capital, according to a report in IANS. Attari village has been selected keeping in view the connectivity of park with the rest of the city. The park will have industrial plots and industrial sheds. The project site is located 20 km away from NH-20 and SH-20, both of which are four-lane roads connecting Lucknow to Sitapur and Hardoi, respectively, IANS report added. Using a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the park will be developed. This proposal calls for the construction of infrastructure worth Rs 500 crore. On a first-come, first-served basis, an allocation of Rs 300 crore has been provided for manufacturing businesses. Common infrastructure at the park includes road network, 24/7 power supply, water supply, warehouses, zero liquid discharge effluent treatment plant, training and skill development facilities, administrative building with product display facility and exhibition centre with testing laboratory. Other highlights of the park will be workers' hostels, housing zones, medical facilities, commercial and recreational facilities, open spaces and parks and security arrangements.
What is PM MITRA Park? The Government of India in March had announced the sites for setting up of 7 PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks for the Textile industry. The Parks will come up in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Inspired by the 5F vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (i.e. Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign), the PM MITRA Parks are a major step forward in realising the Government's vision of making India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports. It is expected that these parks will enhance the competitiveness of the textiles industry by helping it achieve economies of scale as well as attract global players to manufacture in India. PM MITRA Parks will help in creating world-class industrial infrastructure that would attract large scale investment including foreign direct investment (FDI) and encourage innovation and job creation within the sector. The Ministry of Textiles will oversee the execution of these projects. An SPV owned by Centre and State Government will be set up for each park which will oversee the implementation of the project. The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial support in the form of Development Capital Support upto Rs. 500 crore per park to the Park SPV. A Competitive Incentive Support (CIS) upto Rs 300 crore per park to the units in PM MITRA Park shall also be provided to incentivise speedy implementation. Convergence with other GOI schemes shall also be facilitated in order to ensure additional incentives to the Master Developer and investor units. State governments will provide contiguous and encumbrance-free land parcel of at least 1000 acres of land and will also facilitate provision of all utilities, Reliable Power Supply and Water availability and Waste Water Disposal system, an effective single window clearance as well as a conducive and stable industrial/textile policy. The parks will offer an excellent infrastructure, plug and play facilities as well as training and research facilities for the industry. PM MITRA Parks represent a unique model where the Centre and State Governments will work together to increase investment, promote innovation, create job opportunities and ultimately make India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports. Nearly Rs. 70,000 crores investment and 20 lakhs employment generation is envisaged through these parks.
Source: Times Now News
Long viewed as a niche market, streetwear now permeates every level of the fashion industry, from traditional sportswear brands like Nike and Adidas, to heritage fashion houses, like Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Every single brand is trying their best to compete with long standing brands that cater to hip-hop and street culture, and include more comfortable silhouettes in their collections. Athleisure has outpaced every other fashion segment, and there is a lot to be said about what drove this shift. Some may argue that this shift was fuelled by the pandemic and the realisation that we need more functional fashion. Others believe that it is because of Gen Z becoming a considerable size of the consumer market, and acquiring disposable income to affect trends. But the truth is that streetwear has been a big part of minority culture in America, where pop culture trends take hold, forcing even renowned fashion brands to keep tabs on. Whatever view one might hold, streetwear is here to stay because what the three things that make streetwear appealing – comfort, utilitarian and customisable – is exactly what people want. Streetwear is all about wearing your opinion, about owning your personality, and channelling your views through your clothes, and that’s what resonates with Gen Z and younger millennials who have adapted and adopted streetwear as their own. Streetwear is an antithesis to everything high fashion stands for. Unlike formal fashion that is confined by rules and what ought to be, the beauty of streetwear lies in its fluidity. What’s been interesting to see, and be a participant in, is how India and Indian designers have embraced streetwear, and really channelled their creativity into the medium. India as a nation has a lot of scope in building a path in streetwear fashion, what we are seeing right now is the first batch of designers in the country. After completing a fashion degree, young designers are not coming back to design a bespoke, ethnic wear collection anymore, more and more are leaning towards lifestyle fashion, specifically streetwear. In today’s time, streetwear aggregators are combining heritage Indian textile art with modern fabrics and technology. And the range and talent on display is so exciting to see, not just for retailers but also for consumers, who now on an average spend upwards of Rs 5,000 on streetwear. I believe that Indian streetwear designers will become names to contend with in the worldwide fashion scene in the coming years. We have the talent, and most importantly, the resources for apparel giving us an edge over a designer in Miami or Melbourne. It’s just a matter of time.
Source: Times of India
The world of handloom sarees is a treasure trove of artistic excellence, rich heritage, and timeless elegance. Each thread, intricately woven by skilled artisans, tells a story of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural significance. From the vibrant Kanjeevarams of South India to the delicate Banarasis of the North, handloom sarees are a testament to the artistry and diversity of India's weaving traditions. Let's delve into the mesmerising world of handloom sarees and explore the different weaving styles that have captivated hearts for generations. Get ready to be enchanted by the magic of handloom sarees and discover the exquisite beauty that lies within each meticulously crafted masterpiece. (Also read: 8 Beautiful regional sarees of India you must have in your wardrobe ).
Diverse Weaving Styles of Handloom Sarees "Handlooms, steeped in antiquity and revered through the annals of time, have been an integral part of India's cultural tapestry. Handlooms hold a deep-rooted association with Indian deities, as each colour is often associated with a particular deity, green silk saree for Mahalakshmi, yellow for Saraswathi. This sacred connection has elevated hand-woven sarees to a revered status, embodying femininity, spirituality, and a profound connection to cultural traditions. Renowned for their elegance and grace, hand-woven textiles serve as exquisite expressions of artistry," says, Karthik Monju Selvan, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Drapery Silk. He further shared with HT Lifestyle,"The magnificence of the Indian handloom industry lies in its diversity and the distinct weaving techniques practised across the nation. Each region boasts its own unique style, reflecting the cultural nuances and traditions of its people. It is an industry that provides livelihood to countless artisans, standing as the second-largest employer in rural India. The handloom tradition breatheslife into communities, preserving traditional craftsmanship and serving as a testament to the remarkable skill and artistry of the weavers." "In the mystical land of Tamil Nadu, where weaving clusters paint a colourful tapestry of tradition, a remarkable gem shines brightly. Arni weaves a story that intertwines grace, elegance, and a touch of ethereal magic. Arni's skilled artisans, like master storytellers, breathe life into each delicate thread, crafting timeless pieces that capture the essence of beauty," says Karthik.
Weaving Techniques: Here are some weaving techniques suggested by Karthik Monju Selvan that make your six yards look timeless: 1. Korvai weaving: Korvai weaving is a revered traditional technique originating from Tamil Nadu, India, where a main weaver and a helper work in tandem to create exquisite silk sarees that are emblematic of the region's rich heritage. The hallmark of Korvai sarees lies in their thick zari borders, woven with metallic threads, which represent the grandeur and opulence associated with these garments. The body of the saree, woven separately, showcasing a contrasting colour to the border, resulting in a visually captivating interplay of colours. 2. Jacquard weaving Jacquard weaving allows weavers to achieve intricate patterns and designs on woven fabrics. The technique involves using a Jacquard loom, which enables the weaver to control each individual warp thread, allowing for a high level of precision and complexity in the woven patterns. r. Advertisement National Innovation Agenc Learn more SITE 2023 is back! SITE 2023, Thailand’s biggest Startup and Innovation Expo is back. Join us on 22-24 June. Ad Zari to Zari weaving is a technique where zari yarns are used to warp together one or both ends of the fabric. This method is commonly employed in the creation of handwoven sarees. By incorporating zari yarns in both the warp and weft, the resulting fabric acquires an added sheen and elegance. Traditional brocade sarees typically use zari as the weft yarn, while silk is used for the warp. However, in the zari-to-zari method, the inclusion of zari in the warp adds an extra level of shimmer and sophistication, creating a saree that stands out with its enhanced lustre. Veldari is a weaving technique that involves the horizontal placement of additional warp yarns, often using zari yarns, in a spaced-out format within the body of a saree. These additional warp yarns are inserted during the weaving process to create a distinct design element. The spacedout placement of these yarns results in intermittent glimmers of shine and texture throughout the fabric, adding a touch of elegance and visual interest to the saree. Advertisement 3. Petni weaving: Petni weaving is a traditional technique where two sets of warp, either of varying colours of the same yarn or different yarns altogether, are fused together. It is a labour-intensive process that requires intricate craftsmanship. The technique used in Jangla weaving involves intricately weaving floral creepers and vines into the fabric using metallic threads called zari. This requires great precision and skill to achieve the desired level of detail and intricacy. The result is a fabric adorned with shimmering metallic motifs, showcasing the artistry and expertise of the weaver. 5. Zarito zari weaving: Zari to Zari weaving is a technique where zari yarns are used to warp together one or both ends of the fabric. This method is commonly employed in the creation of handwoven sarees. By incorporating zari yarns in both the warp and weft, the resulting fabric acquires an added sheen and elegance. Traditional brocade sarees typically use zari as the weft yarn, while silk is used for the warp. However, in the zari-to-zari method, the inclusion of zari in the warp adds an extra level of shimmer and sophistication, creating a saree that stands out with its enhanced lustre. 6. Veldari Veldari is a weaving technique that involves the horizontal placement of additional warp yarns, often using zari yarns, in a spaced-out format within the body of a saree. These additional warp yarns are inserted during the weaving process to create a distinct design element. The spacedout placement of these yarns results in intermittent glimmers of shine and texture throughout the fabric, adding a touch of elegance and visual interest to the saree. Silk sarees manufactured in Arni are predominantly using a mix of all of the above-mentioned techniques.
Source: Hindustan times
A campaign titled ‘Are you Export Ready?’ was launched at Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) office premises in Mysuru recently.In a statement here, MCCI president K.B. Lingaraju said Mysuru was the sixth largest exporter in Karnataka and had exported products worth ₹6,400 crore last year. While identifying printed circuit boards (PCB), automotive parts, textiles and sugars as the primary merchandise that had been exported, he said tourism and wellness were primary exports in the services sector. “We see that Mysuru has many more potential sectors like handicrafts and sweets to start exports,” he said. The campaign to promote exports held on the MCCI premises was launched by Nava Ties, a Bengaluru-based trade platform. Its export campaign features a comprehensive evaluation tool to assess the export readiness of new and existing businesses as per the new foreign trade policy, the statement said. The evaluation is free of charge as Nava Ties targets to support Indian businesses to become exporters. The campaign offers Indian businesses the opportunity to evaluate their export readiness on a 36-point scale, covering all aspects of exporting including regulatory compliance, documentation, certifications, capacity building, logistics, fund availability, marketing and other resources. Budding exporters, manufacturers, traders, service providers, farmers and other interested people, who want to explore international business can enroll in the campaign by giving a missed call to 079-4105-0727, said the statement. Satish Kota from Nava Ties said exporting is critical to India’s economic growth and the new Foreign Trade Policy 2023 offers many new avenues to an exporter to explore new markets. “Out of the 6.3 Indian MSMEs, only 1 per cent are exporters”, the statement said adding that Nava Ties works with government bodies, trade bodies, farmer produce organisations etc to identify individuals and organisations, who have export potential and prepare them for exports.
Source: The Hindu.com
Tamil Nadu has the third-largest number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in India, with around 5 million MSMEs that contribute about 9 percent of the country’s GDP. It is also the thirdlargest export market in the country and a hub for domestic manufacturing in key industries such as automobiles and auto components, software, textiles and leather, food processing, and electronics, among others. Today, Tamil Nadu is seen as an attractive investment destination for large global companies and the recent spate of investments and government initiatives are expected to further bolster the state’s MSME sector. In this backdrop, the EconomicTimes.com will organise the next edition of the ET Make in India - MSME Regional Summitin Chennai on June 10 to bring together key ecosystem stakeholders to highlight the most pertinent developments in the state’s MSME sector and spotlight the unique challenges and growth opportunities faced by them. With the theme of ‘Building future-ready MSMEs to power India@100,’ the Chennai edition of the ET MSME Regional Summit will commence with an inaugural keynote by Grace Lalrindiki Pachuau, Additional Commissioner of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu. The keynote will be followed by a series of talks, panel discussion, and masterclasses, all of which cover a wide range of topics of relevance to the MSME sector, including promoting MSMEs and unlocking their growth potential, strategies for enhancing global competitiveness and accelerating growth, understanding risk management and financial tools, and tapping new export market opportunities. The Chennai edition of the MSME Regional Summit is presented in partnership with Adobe and Karur Vysya Bank as Gold Partners, MCX as Awareness Partner, and The Park, Chennai as Hospitality Partner. The Chennai event will be followed by on-ground summits in Hyderabad on June 24 and Indore on July 8. In addition, on the occasion of World MSME Day 2023, the Economic Times will organise the fifth edition of its flagship ET MSME Day 2023 Virtual Conclave on June 27.
ET MSME Regional Summit- Chennai: Key themes and Speakers Here’s a glimpse into the key sessions, themes and speakers expected at the Chennai edition of the ET Make in India MSME Regional Summits that will be held at The Park, Chennai, on June 10.
Keynote address on building future-ready MSMEs in Tamil Nadu Grace Lalrindiki Pachuau, Additional Commissioner of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, will deliver a keynote on ‘Building Future-ready MSMEs for India@100: Policies, Schemes & Initiatives to Promote MSMEs in Tamil Nadu’. In her address, Pachuau will elaborate on the impact of the various initiatives undertaken by the state government to promote the growth of the MSME sector. Talk on how NSIC is helping MSMEs unlock their growth potential Saravana Kumar, Zonal General Manager of The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) will create awareness on how NSIC is playing a pivotal role in promoting entrepreneurship and enabling the growth of MSMEs. He will elaborate on the expertise and comprehensive support services that NSIC offers MSMEs. From providing access to finance, technology, and marketing opportunities to offering skill development programs and fostering innovation, NSIC is equipping MSMEs with the necessary tools and resources to accelerate their growth. Join this session to gain valuable insights into the initiatives, programs, and strategies employed by NSIC to nurture and unleash the full potential of MSMEs, driving economic development and job creation in the process. Panel discussion on ‘strategies to build MSMEs' global competitiveness and accelerating growth’ The event will feature a panel discussion with experts and leaders from key MSME-focused industry bodies and associations, including Ponnuswami M., Chairman - CII Subcommittee, MSME and Ease of Doing Business (Southern Region); Founder & CMD, Pon Pure Chemicals Group; N Jegatheesan, President, TN Chamber of Commerce and Industries and K Mariappan, President, Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA). During the session, the panellists will discuss effective strategies to enhance the global competitiveness of MSMEs and propel their growth. They will also highlight the sector-specific opportunities and challenges in the state, with regards to finance, logistics and compliance when looking to expand at a global scale and more. Presentation on base metals hedging as a risk managementtool NK Muthappa, Vice President of Business Development at MCX, will delve into how base metals hedging can be used effectively to manage risks in the market. He will also share insights on the benefits and strategies involved in hedging base metals, and offer guidance on utilising hedging techniques to mitigate price volatility and protect against adverse market movements. Masterclass on the growth playbook of Sweet Karam Coffee, a Made in Tamil Nadu consumer brand Nalini Parthiban, Co-Founder of Sweet Karam Coffee, will conduct a masterclass session titled ‘Made in Tamil Nadu: Decoding the Growth Playbook of a Bootstrapped Consumer Brand.’ Drawing from her own experiences, Parthiban will share the learnings from her journey in building and scaling Sweet Karam Coffee, first as a bootstrapped consumer brand and now as a funded company that has achieved significant growth in a crowded market. Talk on ease of doing business with Adobe Document Cloud Guru Vaidya, Solution Consulting Manager, Adobe will deliver a talk on how working in the cloud can benefit small and medium enterprises in this era of digital transformation and enable ease of doing business with the use of various tools and products such as Adobe Document Cloud. During his talk, Vaidya will elaborate on how cloud-based document management tools can help simplify various aspects of business operations for MSMEs, including automating document processes, enhancing security and compliance, ensuring collaboration, and elevating customer experiences.
Source: Economic Times
INTERNATIONAL
The readymade garment (RMG) manufacturing companies need to align their product basket with the global sourcing trends and may like to move towards more value-add products to increase profitability and competitiveness, said a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Bangladesh. In the report titled “What's next for the RMG sector in Bangladesh?”, PwC also said that customized strategies must be followed for each product–market combination for deeper penetration of existing markets, entry into relevant new markets and product diversification. Moreover, industrial infrastructure and logistics need to support the efficient functioning of businesses by reducing cost of operations, making operations environment-friendly and safe, and decreasing the response time and overall business risks, the report stated, adding that quality utilities need to be sufficiently available at competitive prices. The global textile and RMG industries have been experiencing a series of disruptions in the last five years. The geopolitical tensions between major markets and manufacturing countries, cotton price fluctuations, global geopolitical conflicts and the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the overall trade dynamics. Other significant developments include a sharp increase in wages and power cost in Bangladesh, the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and sustainability-related commitments made by the industry at the COP 26 summit. To enable the survival and profitable growth of textile and RMG manufacturing businesses, transformation is required at both the company and country levels, the report said. As the textile and RMG industry are labour-intensive industries, continuous skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling of human resources is required for adopting new technologies, developing new products, improving process efficiencies and enabling innovation, said the PwC report. Moreover, continuous technology upgradation is necessary for improving productivity, product diversification, quality improvement and improving cost competitiveness. The report also suggested adopting new technologies to improve competitiveness, technologies including business intelligence tools, 3D design, automation, barcodes, RFID, blockchain, laser technology, nano-bubble technology and many more. “Faster adoption of technologies is required to reduce cost of manufacturing and business risks. This will help to improve sustainability, enable data-driven decision-making processes, ensure transparency and traceability, and enhance quality, service and responsiveness,” the report stated. The report said that the growth of Bangladesh's garment manufacturing industry has considerably improved the socioeconomic development of the country. In the last decade, garment export has more than doubled to touch $42.6 billion in FY22. Moreover, the country has now set an ambitious target of exporting RMG worth $50 billion by 2025, and touching $100 billion by 2030. However, the industry is facing many headwinds which may impact its growth in the coming decade. Therefore, it might be useful for the Bangladesh textile and garment manufacturing industry to maintain the mentioned recommended levers in achieving its targets. The report also recommended that a culture of innovation needs to be introduced for creating differentiating factors around products and processes.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
Women face disproportionately higher risks of poverty, financial and economic exclusion, and unemployment. However, exports and economic growth offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak scenario. All evidence points to export-led growth, especially within textile and apparels, majorly aiding women’s development too. An analysis of both historical trends and contemporary data reveals a nexus between gender, export growth, and economic development. After all, women comprise half of the population, and therefore failure to emancipate them leaves half of a nation’s human capital and labour underutilized. Including women in development creates new opportunities for innovation and intellectual development, once their unique experiences are incorporated into workplaces and industry. All successful developed countries have valued women and their significant contributions. The argument that follows posits that it is necessary to include women in economic growth and export-led development is the most effective means to do so. First, an illustration of women’s economic situation in Pakistan will help to contextualize the need for development. Among numerous indices of gender inequality, such as the aforementioned Gender Gap Report from the World Economic Forum, Pakistan performs poorly. 33.6% of girls are out-of-school, and 46.5% of women are illiterate. Women make up 75% of the absolute poor in Pakistan, according to the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF). Despite this, they remain essential components of the nation’s economy. In agriculture especially, where 76% of Pakistani women find employment, and female labour makes up a higher proportion of the workforce than male labour. Additionally, 30% of industrial workers in textiles are women, with almost half of Faisalabad’s 1.3 million workers being female labour. A major driver of gender inequality has been Pakistan’ protectionist structures. A World Bank study of 54 countries found that tariff protections depress the real incomes of women, and disproportionately hurt their consumption. This is because the majority of female-oriented and marketed products in Pakistan are imported, as well as because women spend more of their budget on agricultural products. Men also earn more income from agricultural labour as compared to women, even though women make up the majority of the labour force in agriculture. The study concluded that tariffs hurt women disproportionately more than men, and that lifting tariffs would raise real incomes for women by 2.5%. Gender parity as a development goal is essential for four key reasons. Firstly, there is an undeniable moral component. Women comprise half the population and are equally deserving of inclusion in growth. One’s capacity to innovate, be productive, and contribute to the economy has no correlation with one’s gender. Secondly, gender gaps in the labour market (e.g. wage differentials, discrimination in advancement, exclusion from specific sectors) and low female labour force participation rate result in total income losses as high as 27% of GDP. Thirdly, the case studies of many countries have shown a strong link between a rise in female employment leading to a decrease in fertility rates. Pakistan is currently struggling with overpopulation, and women often find their capacity for work and education minimized once they have a child. Expansion of employment and education opportunities for women reduce these phenomena. Fourthly, a 20-year study in Bangladesh found that female employment caused by export expansion generated a larger rise in educational enrolment than the Bangladeshi government’s biggest education subsidy. Therefore, there is strong evidence to suggest that gender equity is a valuable goal, and exports are a means to achieving it. Openness to trade has been particularly beneficial for women. Trade liberalisation is responsible for increasing female employment to 20% since 1991. Export growth has also aided female entrepreneurship, as approximately 50% of Pakistan’s women-owned or women-managed companies are in the textile exporting sector. Women have been responsible for the introduction of several value-added textile products since 2015 which have benefited both the domestic and export market. Export-led growth has also created opportunities for advancement amongst women. For example, a large number of universities across Pakistan and the millennium colleges have established departments specifically focused on textiles in response to the growth of that industry. These departments build various skills from design to management. A survey of these institutes has found that 88% of textile design students are female, with some universities like Gujrat University having enrolment as high as 94% female students. These results show that women pursue skill acquisition given the conditions to do so, and textiles are an inclusive sector for their advancement. Within the industry, women have found success in positions as designers with 75.5% of designers in textiles being women. Out of the 15 surveyed producers in a part of Punjab, 11 producers had over 60% of their design and practitioner staff comprising women. These uptakes in female enrollment and employment coincided with the growth of the textile industry and exports post-2000. Pakistan’s admission into the EU’s General System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) also bodes well for gender parity, as ratifying conventions on equality is a requirement for membership. Historical precedence explains the link between gender parity and export growth. In fact, despite the successes listed above, Pakistan is still an outlier compared to its South Asian competitors like Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka who have all seen greater gains for women coinciding with greater export growth. Pakistan has failed to fully harness its export potential and therefore has stunted its women’s potential too. A study in 2022 explored the experience of Bangladeshi women employed in the textile export sector, using interviews and statistical data on income growth and financial asset growth. It found that women attained financial independence, empowerment, and social mobility due to paid employment. The proportion of bank accounts opened in a woman’s name rather than joint accounts opened under a husband’s name also grew in Bangladesh as exports expanded. This implies a growing level of financial literacy, allowing many women to buy plots of land, and begin schooling for themselves or their children. Furthermore, their contribution to household budgets gave women the leverage to negotiate greater respect and autonomy amongst their communities. In Pakistan, only 13% of women have bank accounts, which aggravates poverty and maintains cycles of dependency between women and men. Empirical research into labour market trends among South Asian exports also explains why textile exports are specifically good for women. Firstly, textile and apparel exporters have more elasticity with regards to exports than other sectors. This implies that textile and apparel have a larger potential for generating employment in response to a rise in exports than other sectors. Much of this is due to the labour-intensive nature of this industry, paired with low-skill requirements for labour to find employment in it. Meaning that women without education or only agricultural work experience are still able to find work in textiles. Second, the export elasticity for labour demand across South Asia was higher for female workers compared to their male counterparts, implying that female workers are more likely to benefit from the employment generated by textile export growth. With an abundance of historical, theoretical, and empirical evidence to support the pursuit of exports as a means to gender parity, Pakistan must orient itself towards export-led growth. Unfortunately, the nation’s export industry is witnessing a reversal of gains. Surveys show that the number of female employees in the exporting sector has been falling due to a contraction of the industry and its export potential. Similar problems are faced by women workers in Faisalabad’s textile industry. The ‘Manchester of Pakistan’ provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of women, many of whom travel from rural areas because they lack other sources of income. The reversal of the Regionally Competitive Export Tariff (RCET) paired with withdrawn exemptions on gas and electricity bills, has placed a massive cost burden on exporters, who must make difficult decisions between layoffs, shutdowns, or decreasing capacity in order to sustain themselves. Women workers suffer in this scenario, as factory closures cause unemployment and threaten to return them to poverty. The current supply-side initiatives are not enough to address these concerns, and measures like increased tariffs and taxes are actually driving women further into poverty rather than helping them. It is therefore imperative for Pakistan to motivate export growth and use it as a tool for addressing its internal issues rather than wasting its potential and sacrificing the livelihoods of its people.
Source: The Brecorder.com
Ashwini Agarwal, founder and partner at Demeter Advisors, on June 7 shared his outlook on the stock market and analysed the impact of a possible US recession on the IT sector. In an interview conducted by CNBC-TV18, Agarwal highlighted that the current economic strength in the face of rate increases is “a new territory we are in”, and there can be value found in smaller sectors such as renewables and textiles by observing cyclical trends. When discussing the impact of a possible US recession on the IT sector, Agarwal acknowledged the long wait for a dip and recession. In Q4, most IT companies disappointed the Street with their results as uncertainty surrounding the US economic outlook had a noticeable impact on client spending. However, Agarwal sounded optimistic of the free cash flow capabilities of IT companies, suggesting that the worst may already be priced in. “I believe that if one is willing to look through 2-3 quarters of underperformance in the worst case, the stocks may become a Buy,” he said.
Source: The money control
As society moves toward a more conscious and sustainable way of life, consumers are increasingly opting for products that are less harmful to the environment. Making informed purchasing decisions, however, can be challenging—especially with greenwashing and the increasingly prominent trend, greenhushing, on the rise. When most of what consumers know about a product comes from the hang tag or other product displays, how much do they really know? How much of this information is helpful? And how much of this information can be confusing or even misleading? By using buzzwords like “green”, “eco-friendly” or “sustainable”, companies attract consumers that believe the products they purchase are good for the planet. The problem with these claims lies in the lack of data-based backing. These vague claims of “ecofriendliness” are made without substantiated data, which can be considered greenwashing. In fact, in 2020, the European Commission launched an exhaustive study related to sustainability claims, which showed that 53 percent of claims provide vague and misleading information about the products’ environmental characteristics. Of these claims, 40 percent could not be substantiated. Moreover, 230 sustainability labels and 100 green energy labels were identified, and half offer weak or non-existent verification. Findings like these have triggered heightened enforcement among consumer authorities and other institutions, signaling the need for new legislation to curb greenwashing. Adding insult to injury, various greenwashing lawsuits made headlines in the fashion industry last year. Several major brands were sued and/or publicly scrutinized by consumer authorities or groups for misleading claims. In the past year, we saw the removal of H&M’s Conscious label and Zara’s Join Life label. Similarly, Asos removed its Responsible Edit range and filter from its website, while the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) decided to pause its consumer-facing transparency program after the Norwegian consumer authority found it to be ‘misleading’ consumers.
Enter: greenhushing In a popular trend, an increasing number of fashion brands are choosing to disclose less about their sustainability efforts and attributes of their products in a new phenomenon called greenhushing. A 2022 report by the South Pole—a company that develops comprehensive emission reduction projects and strategies—details three potential reasons behind this shift: fear of failure, fear of scrutiny and fear of litigation. While it makes sense for the industry to tone down and avoid misleading or generic claims, silence is not the answer as it can skew progress toward a collective sustainable fashion culture. In fact, less public-facing communication limits knowledge-sharing to industry peers and consumers—which could result in missed opportunities for collaboration and engagement. It could also give the impression that sustainability leaders are failing to lead. This is concerning, and we need those making headway on sustainability targets to inspire others to help shift mindsets and behaviors. The industry needs to establish clear rules regarding making ethical sustainability claims so consumers (and industry peers) can be informed, not misled.
Harmonized guidance is coming In Europe, new regulation is being drawn up to protect consumers from greenwashing. One of the pillars of the European Union’s (EU) Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles is promoting consumer-facing transparency. Within this context the EU Council on March 22 launched the proposal for a Directive on Substantiating Green Claims to tackle greenwashing by ensuring the accuracy of companies’ green claims. According to the proposal, when companies choose to make a green claim about their products or services, they must respect minimum norms on how they substantiate and communicate these claims. Claims will need to be independently verified and proven with scientific evidence—adopting a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach—and if products are compared with others, these comparisons must be fair. Claims or labels that use aggregate scoring of the product’s overall environmental impact will not be permitted and—to avoid the proliferation of environmental labeling schemes—new private schemes are only allowed if they can show higher environmental ambition than existing ones. The final legislation is expected to launch in 2024. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will soon launch the last update of its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims to help businesses avoid misleading claims. Now, FTC is soliciting public comment on the update, and the American Association for Footwear and Apparel (AAFA) has suggested allowing qualified environmentally sustainable product-level claims if two conditions are met. The first is if the claim does not imply the product or product components are wholly environmentally sustainable. The second is if a statement immediately precedes or follows the environmentally sustainable claim that includes specific information about the environmental impact(s) that underlie the sustainable claim.
The challenges of making substantiated green claims To communicate sustainable improvements, the information provided to consumers must be truthful (clear and relevant), transparent (proven with scientific evidence) and backed by a robust, third-party verified system. Achieving this, however, is not without its challenges. The first challenge is deciding how these concepts can be further defined and deciding what the new regulation will consider acceptable. Ideally, we would have primary, third-party verified and comparable data (collected and analyzed according to the same methodology) from every step and process in a product’s supply chain, including the use phase and end-of-life. This information could then be compiled and tallied to reflect the product’s total impact. Additionally, it could be used to make accurate comparisons between products. The problem? Carrying out an LCA is still a costly and time-consuming process not all supply chain actors can make. For this reason, the industry’s access to primary data from its supply chain is limited and mainly relies on secondary data and averages from databases that don’t always accurately reflect the impact of that specific product. To top it off, not all sustainability parameters are currently covered under the LCA method, including recyclability, biodiversity and microfiber shedding. In the end, crafting an accurate, substantiated and comprehensible claim is no easy feat, and is wrought with challenges like limited data availability and data quality. There are potential challenges on the consumer side as well. Businesses and industry leaders must ask themselves: will consumers even understand and process all this complex information when buying products?
Moves to increase transparency and end greenhushing Despite the challenges, there is an industry-wide effort to effectively tackle greenwashing. There is ample room for improvement. Textile and fashion industry players like Recover™, a leading mechanical textile recycler, welcome clear and pragmatic regulations to produce more sustainable products and ethically share this progress. Recover’s communications and claims, for example, are created based on third-party verified LCA studies performed according to PEF methodology. Recover™ provides guidelines and support to customers and brand partners on how to accurately craft consumer-facing communications about Recover’s recycled cotton. To make this sustainable data user-friendly, Recover™ highlights impact savings in relatable terms like the number of showers or wash cycles. Given the limited space to communicate these savings (hang tags, for example, can usually only include one or two short claims), Recover™ includes QR codes that redirect consumers to a webpage with more information about the savings and the LCA behind them. These small steps, collectively, can make a huge difference and help increase transparency and combat greenhushing.
Source: The sourcingjournal.com
One hundred innovative solutions for Europe’s ecological transition, which include a vegetable-based lamp, AI to combat food waste and a wind turbine covered with tensioned textile, will be presented to the European Parliament on Wednesday (7 June) The projects are just some of the 100 solutions from 18 EU countries that have been selected and will be promoted as part of The Arch project. The Arch’s aim is to accelerate the ecological transition in Europe, showcase practical solutions and encourage decision-makers to commit to ambitious policies. French sailboat racer Francis Joyon symbolically collected the 100 innovations across the European continent, which were subsequently assessed by 3,000 business leaders, experts and associations during a cruise from Saint-Nazaire to Amsterdam. “To speed up the transition, we need to look at what solutions are emerging, in terms of sufficiency and ecosystem restoration, but also in terms of technology and innovation,” Catherine Chabaud, sailor, MEP and The Arch ambassador to Brussels, told EURACTIV. “The fact that this collection of solutions is taking place in the homes of Europe’s citizens makes symbolic sense,” she added.
Vegetable lamps and textile wind turbine Following a call for solutions in 2022 that focused on five major themes – food and health; urban living; mobility, energy and industry – more than 100 submissions from 22 EU countries were received. Ultimately, only 100 of the most economically viable, sustainable and replicable were selected. A serum called Green Reflex, which transforms plants into street lamps is among the innovations that made the cut. Developed by the French company Aglaé, these plant lights are still confined to research laboratories and a few prestigious events, but could play an important role in lighting city centres, parks and country roads. Among the more remarkable innovations is ACT BLADE, a wind turbine covered with tensioned textiles. This Italian technology, inspired by competitive sailing, makes wind turbine blades up to 30% lighter than conventional ones. They are also longer than their counterparts, meaning they can produce 9% more energy. The new blades are starting to be marketed in Europe.
AI against food waste and fi shing robot Each year in Europe, up to 30% of all food is wasted. In response, a Spanish team has designed Buffet Waste, an artificial intelligence tool capable of quantifying the amount of food customers consume and waste. By assessing customer behaviour, the tool is able to predict the amount needed so that there is no waste or shortage. Buffet Waste now equips several hotels and is targeting the major hotel and restaurant chains. Another innovative project is SEAVIS, an underwater robot from Denmark that could enable trawlers to fish more accurately and cause less damage to the seabed. Navigating at high speed, armed with optical cameras and algorithms, it can draw up biomass maps and identify blue mussel harvesting sites. The aim of the project is to preserve underwater biodiversity while optimising the economic performance of trawl fishing.
EU regulation key Presenting these innovative solutions to EU lawmakers in Brussels will be an opportunity to showcase the excellence of EU innovation and make clear the importance of regulation for innovation. “We’re going to show that the transition is already underway and that project developers haven’t waited for legislative frameworks. As far as legislators are concerned, these concrete innovations can move things forward. I myself was able to incorporate sail-based marine propulsion into a piece of legislation after discovering the Ayro company,” stressed Chabaud, who will be welcoming the different participants to the European Parliament on Wednesday (7 June). “We then need to help these players reach the markets and ensure that their innovations are duplicated. That’s where the European Union now needs to move forward,” said Chabaud.
Source: The Euractiv.com
Inditex SA, the company that owns the Zara apparel chain, is considering creating a vehicle to invest in startups and technology that it hopes will help it run its business more sustainably, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. The initiative could see the fashion store establish an internal venture capital fund or become the anchor investor in a fund with several other companies. One source stated that the investment would be on a minor scale. The business may opt not to move forward with the idea since no decision has yet been taken. Inditex has recently made investments in companies creating novel textiles. The Spanish business last year participated in a $30 million fundraising round coordinated by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures for textile recycler Circ. A Zara line of apparel built from a combination of recycled and new materials was introduced in April by Inditex and Circ. Additionally, Inditex has agreed to pay €100 million to acquire 30% of the upcoming production over a threeyear period of Finland-based Infinited Fibre. The dedication is anticipated to assist the recycling business in scaling its technologies. Hennes & Mauritz AB, the parent company of Calvin Klein, PVH Corp., and Patagonia all support Infinited. Inditex’s sustainability innovation centre, a division established four years ago to examine novel materials, technologies, and procedures that may lessen the company’s environmental impact, is the driving force behind these projects.
Source: Apparel Resources
