Leading yarn manufacturer Vardhman Textiles Ltd has announced its collaboration with the Reliance Industries Limited on new high performance fabrics including sustainable offering made from recycled PET bottles. Suchita Jain, Joint Managing Director of Vardhman Textiles Limited, recently signed an agreement with Gunjan Sharma, CEO, polyester division, RIL. The companies will be working closely to develop new manufacturing processes and partner on the new age fabrics and yarns under RIL’s brand R|Elan. Moreover, RIL’s R|Elan technical team will assist in providing technical know-how and specifications that will result in the production of best quality fabric. Suchita Jain said, “We see many exciting possibilities with R|Elan to create new fabric developments. Our strengths have always been rapid innovation and creating strong product ranges that are acceptable to brands, and Reliance is the perfect partner for our developments. The technical team at R|Elan is very supportive in enhancing our manufacturing prowess.” The line includes the new R|Elan Green Gold Fabric which is produced using recycled PET bottles and is designed of use in denims and trousers. The high-quality fabric collection will include the performance and sustainable themes in formals, casuals and other women wear segments. Gunjan Sharma, CEO, Polyester Divison, RIL expressed his happiness at this association and threw light on how this partnership will not only generate opportunities for entire textile value chain, including brands and apparel manufactures but will also ensure to meet the growing demand for high quality fabric. RElan is a portfolio of innovative fabrics with a presence in divisions like active wear, denim, ethnic and western wear- both formals and casuals. Providing you real time insights and updates into the key driving factors, moves, collaborations and events in the fashion industry.
Source: Apparel Resources
Tier II and III cities like Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kochi, Patna and Bhubaneshwar are the next retail destinations owing to increasing real estate rentals of tier I cities, said the head of 1-India family mart. The retail sector in tier II and III cities witnessed an investment of ₹42,724 crore in 2006 and 2017, as against ₹8935 crore in tier I cities. “Some of the key reasons to take into consideration regarding the evolution of retail sector in tier II and III cities are factors like lack of available space in retail malls in metro cities, increasing lease rentals in metro malls, and high land prices in tier I cities. These factors have made it difficult for retailers to own real estate in these cities, which in turn creates opportunities for business growth in smaller cities. Therefore, it encourages entrepreneurs to discover business in tier II and III cities,” said Jay Prakash Shukla, CEO & co-founder, 1-India Family Mart, while speaking to Fibre2Fashion. Starts ups have also started focusing on tier II and III cities. Shukla added that factors like lack of available space in metro cities and high land prices, starting a business in such cities makes business sense. International airport connectivity across cities such as Lucknow, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Nagpur to name a few, and the rising levels of disposable income have prompted various global and local brands to plan their expansion plans in these cities. 1-India Family Mart, established in 2012 and owned by Nyssa Retail Private Limited, is among the leading value retail chains in India. The company provides affordable fashion apparels, lifestyle products and general merchandise across India.
Source: Fibre2fashion
On the basis of an assessment of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its Fourth Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement, 2018-19, has decided to retain the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) at 6.5 per cent, last adjusted in August this year. Consequently, the reverse repo rate under the LAF will remain at 6.25 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.75 per cent. “The decision of the MPC is consistent with the stance of calibrated tightening of monetary policy in consonance with the objective of achieving the medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4 per cent within a band of +/- 2 per cent, while supporting growth,” an RBI press release said. The MPC noted that global headwinds in the form of escalating trade tensions, volatile and rising oil prices, and tightening of global financial conditions pose substantial risks to the growth and inflation outlook. It is, therefore, imperative to further strengthen domestic macroeconomic fundamentals. Listing the uncertainties that cloud the outlook, the MPC said: “First, the government announced in September measures aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, although uncertainty continues about their exact impact on food prices. Secondly, oil prices remain vulnerable to further upside pressures, especially if the response of oil-producing nations to supply disruptions from geopolitical tensions is not adequate. The recent excise duty cuts on petrol and diesel will moderate retail inflation. “Thirdly, volatility in global financial markets continues to impart uncertainty to the inflation outlook. Fourthly, a sharp rise in input costs, combined with rising pricing power, poses the risk of higher passthrough to retail prices for both goods and services. However, global commodity prices other than oil have moderated, which should mitigate the adverse influence on input costs. “Fifthly, should there be fiscal slippage at the centre and/or state levels, it will have a bearing on the inflation outlook, besides heightening market volatility and crowding out private sector investment. Finally, the staggered impact of HRA revision by the state governments may push up headline inflation.”
Source: Fibre2fashion
New Delhi: Russia has called for introduction of rupee-rouble trade to boost bilateral trade with India, and has said it is creating a strategy to increase economic cooperation with India. "Our country is looking at an investment protection and avoidance of double taxation agreement with India....We are also looking at trade in national currencies and a strategy for economic cooperation," Russian Economic Development Minister, Maxim Oreshkin, said addressing a joint business council organised by CII on Thursday. The Russian Trade Minister is part of a high-level delegation accompanying Russian President Vladimir Putin to India. A rupee-rouble mechanism will help the two economies hedge against foreign currency risks and by-pass banking sanctions from the US against trade with Russia. Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu, who also addressed the gathering, proposed an agreement with Russia for diamond imports in a manner that does not adversely impact balance of payment of India. He said India is the hub for cutting and polishing of diamonds and Russia has huge diamond reserves. The Minister also announced the setting up of a fast-track, single-window mechanism for Russian companies, which would be chaired by the Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. "The two countries could promote cooperation in areas such as Digital India and pharmaceuticals, among others," said Sergei Cheremin, Moscow Government Minister, Chairman of the Board of the Business Council for Cooperation with India. India-Russia bilateral trade jumped 42 per cent in 2017-18 to touch $10.68 billion, compared to $7.48 billion in 2016-17. India’s exports, however, were valued at just over $2 billion, while Russia exported goods worth $8.5 billion. Two-way investments have already crossed $30 billion and a fresh target of $50 billion for 2025 could be set.
Source : Business Line
Mumbai : Exporters’ body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) on Friday said the rupee depreciation is increasing the cost of imported capital goods, inputs and various services used by exporters paid in foreign currency, particularly the freight charges. He further said though the domestic currency has depreciated by over 13 per cent this year, the trends in non-deliverable forward (NDF) market indicate that further fall is not ruled out particularly as short-term debt share in India’s external debt is increasing. The rupee on Friday crashed below the 74-level and was quoted 55 paise lower at 74.13 against the US dollar for the first time ever after the Reserve Bank of India kept its key policy rate unchanged. “Buyers are asking for sizeable reduction in prices, on account of rupee depreciation, as depreciation of buyers’ currencies have also increased the landed price in their own country,” FIEO president Ganesh Kumar Gupta said in a release. He further said the most vociferous are the buyers from the Middle East, Africa and certain parts of Asia demanding deep cut in prices, while such demands from buyers in the US and Europe is sparingly received. “This puts exporters in quandary, if he has hedged himself thus not benefiting from weak rupee yet forced to cut prices,” said Gupta. The rupee depreciation is further tightening the liquidity as the foreign currency component of export credit already availed gets revalued at a higher value in terms of Indian rupees, according to him. “This has resulted in the exporter being asked by the banks to reduce their exposure by part payment or where the export credit limit is not fully disbursed, the available limit reduces, depriving exporter of funds which is extremely bad for exporters,” added Gupta. He further said that extreme volatility in currencies should be stemmed to help the economy including exports.
Source: Financial Express
Kuala Lampur : The projects, which include the production of primary textiles, ready-to-wear garments and textile accessories, have created 1,850 job opportunities including skilled positions. The Fashion and Design Conference 2018 was organised by MIDA in collaboration with Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week and the Malaysian Textile and Apparel Centre, among others. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) plans to set up a federation related to the textile design industry in order to help fashion entrepreneurs build their future. It’s secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak said the government and private sector could cooperate to create a bright future for the textile design industry. He said in his keynote address at the Fashion and Design Conference 2018 that, “Hence it’s not only you designing the fashion for people, but we also want to help them to design the future.” Malaysia’s textile and apparel exports amounted to RM15.3 billion in 2017. Also, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) has approved 12 projects with total investments of RM428.8 million.
Source: Yarns and fibres
Manila: Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) noted emerging technologies such as 3D printing enables textile firms to improve their productivity and output at lower cost and fewer errors. The think tank said this gender displacement in the workforce could be traced to the lower educational attainment and training of women in scientific and technical disciplines. To treat this, the think tank is pushing for the greater training of women in these disciplines. PIDS said there is a need to capacitate workers this early through various training programs especially those who might be displaced by the increased use of technology in industries. It also emphasized the need to balance the use of automation and pursuing labor-intensive activities to protect the welfare of workers. State-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said that, workers in the textile and footwear sector who perform low-skilled and repetitive tasks are most vulnerable to rapid advancements in industrial technology amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In a recent forum, PIDS senior research fellow Jose Ramon Albert said most workers doing low-value jobs in the country’s textile, clothing, and footwear sector are women. He said that, “Repetitive tasks can be programmed into computers, and what is not codified today may be codified tomorrow, especially with artificial intelligence.” He added that, “In the case of the Philippines, these repetitive tasks are prevalent in the textile, clothing, and footwear sector, which predominantly employs women. This makes the displacement in this sector gendered.”
Source : Yarns and fibres
China : Considering filtration, for example: The fact that the Chinese city of Xi'an cleans its air with the tallest anti-smog tower in the world (100 m) is convincing testament, cleaning air and water is a major concern in China. And this is one reason why DORNIER in Shanghai for the first time ever in Asia will exhibit its new P2 rapier weaving machine in its most powerful configuration (Type: TGP). This machine is able to bring a reed beat-up force of up to five tons for producing wide, seamless fabrics for high density air and water filters. Wolfgang Schöffl, Head of Business Unit Weaving Machines at DORNIER explains that, "The textile is exposed to exceptionally high forces specifically for wet filtration; seams are weak spots, which should be avoided if possible.” LiDO weaving machines are used to create fine scarves and elegant women's apparel from cashmere wool and silk as well as intricate airplane parts from carbon fibers, in China. This last category is part of the growing global market for technical textiles, which is supplied with special coatings, airbags, tirecord and filters as well as much else which is manufactured in the Middle Kingdom on weaving machines from DORNIER. And the volume of these high-performance fabrics required just to satisfy China's domestic demand is extensive. Bold investment objectives, soaring wages, huge funds for research and development (equivalent to about 226 billion euro in 2017 alone) and emerging aspiration towards quality: China's evolution from the overflow production facility for the West into a high-tech industrial powerhouse in its own right shows no signs of slacking. This trend is also reflected strongly in the Chinese textile industry, and is being observed closely at the Lindauer DORNIER GmbH (LiDO). Schöffl, expressed that, "China has always been an important market for us, but since the demand for higher quality textiles has also begun to grow, it has become our biggest market.” More and more Chinese textile companies are choosing weaving machines from DORNIER in order to meet the thriving demand for high quality technical fabrics for aircraft parts, filters, automotive and safety textiles. The German technology leader will exhibit the world's most advanced weaving technology for producing high performance fabrics at the ITMA Asia International Textile Machinery trade fair in Shanghai which is from 15 to 19th October.
Source : Yarns and fibres
Karachi : The International Finance Corp (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday said it will help textile manufacturers in Pakistan slash energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to boost their productivity and efficiency. IFC signed an agreement with US-based clothing and accessories retailer Gap Inc to increase resource efficiency in its operations in Pakistan and drive long-term sustainability. Under the agreement, which is the first of its kind in the country’s textile industry, IFC’s Advisory Services will assess the use of resources at Gap Inc’s supplier factories in the country and help them implement efficiency measures to reduce the use of water, energy, chemicals and other resources. This will also help Gap Inc improve competitiveness and sustainability. A recent IFC study found that Pakistan’s textiles sector could save nearly 22% of its energy consumption and boost productivity by implementing cleaner production practices. Nadeem Siddiqui, country manager of IFC Pakistan said reducing the consumption of resources is key to improving efficiency and increasing productivity. “We hope to replicate PaCT’s (IFC’s programme for cleaner textiles) success in Pakistan and demonstrate the importance and benefits of such measures in helping to improve sustainability and mitigate climate change,” an IFC’s statement quoted Siddiqui as saying. Pakistan is the fourth-largest global producer of cotton, with nearly 60% of its exports textile related. Textile revenues account for nine per cent of the country’s GDP, but the industry also consumes almost 70% of the country’s industrial water. Christina Nicholson, director of Environmental Impact, Global Sustainability at Gap Inc said the company continues to invest in water, energy and resource efficiency programmes that improve environmental and business performance. “In partnership with IFC, this programme will address key impact areas, improve performance and deliver on our environmental impact reduction commitments,” Nicholson said in the statement. The agreement is part of IFC’s global efforts to promote resource efficiency measures in the private sector, which provides savings for companies, improves competitiveness globally, and significantly reduces environmental impacts. It also draws extensively on knowledge and best practice from PaCT, which was successfully implemented in Bangladesh’s textile sector in 2017 and has helped cut its water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The Middle East North Africa’s Regional Resource Efficiency programme has been made possible with support from IFC’s development partner, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs. The global development institution IFC delivered a record $19.3bn in long-term financing for developing countries in FY2017, leveraging the power of the private sector to help end poverty and boost shared prosperity. In recent years, the country’s textile sector has become an attraction for foreign investors and globally famous brands. Uniqlo Inc a subsidiary of Japanese retail holding company Fast Retailing Inc planned joint ventures with three local companies to meet outsourcing demand of its 3,000 outlets worldwide.
Source: Gulf Times
ADDIS ABABA- Ethiopia is set to start construction of three industrial parks during the current Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2018/19, that started on July 8, an Ethiopian official said on Friday. Speaking to Xinhua, Lelise Neme, Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopia Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), said the three planned industrial parks are Aysha and Semera Industrial Parks located in eastern part of the country and Assosa industrial park located in western Ethiopia. "The three planned industrial parks are expected to play a critical role in Ethiopia's plan to transform its still largely agrarian economy into an industrialized one by 2025, using the textile and garment sector as a key component" said Neme. Neme further said the planned industrial parks will be a welcome addition to the four industrial parks that have already been commissioned. Bole Lemi, Hawassa, Mekele and Kombolcha are the four industrial parks that are already operational. Adama Industrial Park, constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, is expected to be inaugurated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday, helping create job opportunities for thousands of Ethiopians. The commissioning of Adama Industrial Park is expected to increase the number of operational industrial parks in Ethiopia to five, thereby helping the Ethiopian government's strategy of increasing the GDP share of the manufacturing sector in the east African country from the current five percent to around 22 percent by 2020. Ethiopia plans to increase the number of operational industrial parks from the current four to around 30 by 2025, as part of its efforts to make the country a light manufacturing hub and lower-middle-income economy in the same period.
Source: xinhuanet.com
LAHORE: An investigative mission of the European Union will visit Pakistan by the end of current month to assess the implementation of initiatives taken by the country to comply with 27 conventions which are linked with the GSP Plus preferential trade facility. This was announced by EU Ambassador Jean Francois Cautain while speaking at Punjab office of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma). “The EU Report 2017 states that there have been positive developments in strengthening the human rights framework and legislative actions on the rights of women, children, minorities and labour with legislation on stopping torture, juvenile justice and transgender rights in the pipeline,” the ambassador said. “However, there are areas of concern in implementation of various initiatives.” Pakistan must step up efforts to ensure enforcement and implementation of the legislations, he said. Development of ‘exclusive economic zone’ pivotal for growth: PM AbbasiIn his welcome address, Aptma Punjab Chairman Adil Bashir said Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports grew 23% in 2014, but shipments fell significantly in later years due to high cost of doing business in the country. “However, the current government is keen to resolve the viability and growth issues in order to overcome the trade deficit,” he said. He pointed out that Aptma had taken various sustainability initiatives and established the Sustainability Production Centre in association with GIZ, the Ministry of Textile Industry and five other textile associations. Finance minister shocked at lack of progress on SEZsHe boasted that the centre had achieved many milestones so far and it guided the industry on compliance with social standards, skills development, energy and water conservation, use of renewable energy and improvement in resource efficiency in order to encourage reuse and reduce wastages. He added that the government had also taken measures for improvement in compliance with the EU conventions. Bashir revealed that the industry was now considering making new investment in technology upgrade and value addition in an effort to generate exportable surplus and create new jobs. “The industry has planned to enhance exports by $27 billion with an investment of $7 billion in the next five years and create 1.5 million new jobs,” he said. “The government is working on facilitation measures to bring back competitiveness and growth to the textile industry.”
Source: Tribune.com
FOR African producers of textiles and clothing, second-hand clothes have been the death-knell of what has often been decades, and in some countries like Ghana, centuries-old, textile industries. Designers and fashion industry experts at the African Fashion Exchange held at the ICC last week, argued that a new policy governing issues of secondhand trading needed to be formulated to protect consumers, the environment and textile manufactures. In almost every market in Durban and across the country, sellers of secondhand garments have established lucrative businesses. By law, used and second-hand goods can only be imported on the basis of an import permit issued by the International Trade Administration Commission. The commissioner of South African Revenue Service (Sars), is authorized to deal with imported donated second-hand clothing, provided that the weight of the clothing is less than 2000kg per consignment and is donated to a registered nonprofit organisation under the Department of Welfare and Social Development. However, these clothes often carrying well-known labels and meant for indigent people, find their way into the marketplace instead of charities. In a presentation at the event, textile technologist Heidi Cox said buying cheap wasn’t necessarily cheap for locals involved in the manufacturing process and also affected the local textile industry. “There are many textiles being made in the country, however, as far as quality fabric in retail outlets is concerned, there seems to be a drop on the durability in stores over the past 15 years. People are not buying local because your base fabrics are not as durable as they used to be. How people deal with textile waste is another concern. Even SA stats is not in a position to give us numbers on textile waste.” Echoing Cox’s sentiment, Shaldon Kopman of Naked Ape said instead of buying cheap, people should instead buy quality. “America and the rest of Europe dumps its fashion waste all over Africa and this affects ecology systems because some of these clothes release highly toxic amounts of nitrous oxide. Our textile industry is suffering because of this.” However, Santa Anzo of Arapapa said before opposing secondhand clothing in Africa, people needed to support local textile companies. “We allowed ourselves in our countries to run the textile industries to the ground. Once we consolidate our structures, then we can ban secondhand clothing coming from America and the rest of the world.”
Source: Berea Mail
NEW YORK/LONDON – A pop-up store in London and an interactive pop-up exhibition in New York both curating ‘sustainable fashion’ have appeared simultaneously this week, in an effort to educate US and UK shoppers about the environmental impacts of the clothes that they buy. The ‘Up Down’ curated exhibition in the SoHo district of New York has been put together by a team of artists and fashion designers from Parsons School of Design with the help of creative start-up Mindsight Lab. Meanwhile in London, the Maiyet Collective opens its doors today at the Conduit Club to give small scale designers and brands the chance to show off their sustainable and ethically sourced fashion products in a ‘physical’ retail outlet without taking the expensive risk of opening a store in London.
Source: Ecotextiles.com
