Close to 200 apparel companies operating in Pakistan have signed an accord which stipulates safety measures in the country’s factories.

Signatories include most major manufacturers from Adidas to Zalando. The accord is a legally binding agreement between global unions, apparel brands and retailers for an initial term of three years starting in January 2023, guaranteeing that factories on the ground will be regularly inspected and monitored.

It also establishes a new grievance mechanism for Pakistan’s garment workers for health and safety issues. It will also guarantee that all supplier factories receive funding to pay for necessary renovation work. Gradually, this will cover more than 500 cut-make-trim facilities and ready-made garment suppliers. Textile factories within the signatories' supply chains will also be covered. It will initially begin in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, where the majority of Pakistan’s 20 billion annual textile exports are produced.

The model for the agreement is the Bangladesh Accord, which was signed after the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in 2013, and which has since brought important improvements for some 2.5 million workers in more than 1,600 textile factories. In contrast, not much has changed in neighboring Pakistan. In 2022 alone, at least 19 people died in factory accidents.

Texworld Evolution will be held in the United States, January 31 to February 2, 2023.The event connects global manufacturers and suppliers to the US market, ultimately creating more opportunities tohelp the textile community.

Since its inception in 2006, Texworld has served as a place of inspiration for designers, buyers and industry professionals with exclusive trend forecasts and educational seminars hosted by leading industry professionals.The 2023 event continues that philosophy with expanded partnerships. One such is with Printsource, a leading textile and design show founded in 1997.

This new partnership brings not only expanded product offerings but also additional educational and networking opportunities to buyers, including new specialty trend segments within the mainstay Texworld Trend Showcase. Back by popular demand, the Texworld Trend showcase will return to the show floor with the latest material innovations and color palettes for the spring/summer 2024 season. Reflecting on the ever-changing climate of the globally connected industry, Texworld Evolution serves as a nexus for the growth and the future of the largest sourcing event on the east coast of the US.

The event enables exhibitors to stay relevant in the US market and to reach or expand their target markets.Attendees can also find the latest technology trends fueling innovation within the footwear industry.

Nike may have a 11 per cent jump in second quarter sales.

A bounce in its US business may help overcome weakness in the China market. Sales in China are expected to drop six per cent and those in North America are expected to jump almost 21per cent.

The brand has offered deep discounts on its shoes and sportswear. These discounts have helped clear unsold stocks at Nike. But lockdowns in China in October 2022 and November 2022 are expected to be a drag on Nike’s sales in the region for the second quarter. The company reported a 20 per cent slump in Greater China revenue in the same period last year and a 16 per cent fall in the prior quarter ended August 2022.

However, leaner inventory, the reopening of China and strong demand from sneaker heads are expected to set the company up for a better second half of the year.

India’s readymade garment exports increased by 12 per cent in November 2022. This is a strong rebound after declining trends seen in September and October.

Readymade exports from India had been witnessing a rough patch in the past few months, since most of the traditional markets like the UK, EU and US have been witnessing recession and global headwinds, leading to shrinking demand on the one hand and buyers asking for discounts on the other.

After a few months of decline, Indian garment exports have again turned positive. The new positive outlook is a big boost as the exporting community faced the additional burden of rising manufacturing and logistics costs, due to inflation and geopolitical factors. The uptick in demand has come as global retailers have begun to deal with a shortage of inventory for the holiday season from their pandemic-linked stockpiles.

In addition, Indian exporters have made some tactical pricing adjustments to stay aligned with the new market reality.In spite of all the constraints, Indian exporters hope to achieve the level of exports of last year and may even exceed that this year.

The Indian apparel industry, in the meanwhile, is looking to position itself as an alternative Asian sourcing bet as global importers increasingly diversify beyond China.

Archroma has been awarded the EcoVadis platinum rating for the second consecutive year.

This consolidates its position among the top one per cent best rated companies. Archroma is making ongoing efforts in sustainable procurement, focusing on supply chain transparency and best practice sharing with suppliers and industry peers. The purpose is to lead the industry toward a more sustainable future for customers and markets.

Archroma is a leading specialty chemical company committed to innovation, quality, service, cost-efficiency and sustainability. This is one of the biggest textile chemical companies globally and one of the most customer-centric companies, Based in Switzerland, the company operates a highly integrated, customer-focused platform that delivers specialized performance and color solutions in more than 100 countries.

Archroma prides itself not as product sellers but system sellers. With Archroma’s deep dive system color book, for instance, customers can take a deep shade and they will be guided on how to make that shade in terms of pre-treatment in knit fabrics. The company offers all kinds of after-chemical treatments that the textile industry has been demanding.

So in athletic wear, for instance, the company has bacteria control for medical applications. And there are non-iron shirt chemical ranges for people who are starting going to the office again.

Japan International Apparel Machinery and Textile Industry (JIAM) was held November 30 to December 3, 2022. The trade show wrapped up four successful days of business.

A total of 10,452 visitors found their way to the fairground. Assembling again for the first time since the pandemic began, 150 exhibitors (domestic112 and overseas 38) from eleven countries and regions welcomed visitors with an extensive and diverse selection of products. Buyers from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Pakistan constituted the top five visiting countries (excluding Japan), compensating for a drop in visitors from China this year due to Covid travel restrictions.

The show attracted many visitors from South Asia and showcased apparel manufacturing solutions catered to each and every need, combining high-level skillsets and time-tested knowledge with the latest modern-day technology. In the new normal, there is a growing demand for new technological advancements, productivity improvements, and greater quality control. In addition to solving these pain points, this edition’s exhibitors also showcased various innovations in response to automation, IoT, and networking.

Highlights included a skills training seminar and panel discussions by leading companies in the manufacturing industry. SDGs, examples of IoT in industrial sewing machines, and upcycling initiatives were also on the agenda.

India will have a pavilion at Dhaka International Textile Garment, February 15 to 18, 2023. This will cover the entire value chain of the Indian textile industry starting from yarn and fabrics to high-end fashion garments.

The key focus sectors are textile and textile machinery and components, apparel and accessories, yarn and leather products, home furnishing andinteriors, gift items and suppliers, among others. DITG offers an unparalleled business platform for the entire spectrum of textile components and machinery, knitting, garments, yarn, garment accessories and others.

Exhibitors at DITG are entitled to numerous event and promotional opportunities. Exhibitors have huge branding exposure, and the show is an excellent stage for textile and garment services and highly skilled professionals. The main goal of the exhibition is to promote commercial activities – bringing advanced technology and innovative services from domestic and foreign businesses. The exhibition is an opportunity for Bangladesh’s textile industry to integrate and develop and is a bridge for Bangladesh’s textile and garment enterprises to meet and exchange experiences, introduce products, and expand.

The entire textile and garment and machinery industry will be presented from the development of substances and quality control of raw materials to equipment. There will be more than 250 exhibiting companies, participation from 40 countries, business matchmaking and new product launches.

During the July to November period of the current financial year, Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union increased by 16 per cent.

Exports to Germany increased by one per cent compared to the same period of the previous year. Exports to the UK rose by 11 per cent. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to other major EU countries like Spain, France, Italy and Netherlands increased by 19 per cent, 38 per cent, 50 per cent and 34 per cent respectively. Exports to Austria and Sweden grew by 48 per cent and 22 per cent respectively.

Exports to the US grew by four per cent. The United States is the largest single export destination for Bangladesh. Exports to Canada rose by 30 per cent. Bangladesh’s apparel exports to non-traditional markets grew by 29 per cent from the same period in the last fiscal year. Among major non-traditional market destinations, exports to Japan rose by 38 per cent. Exports to India rose by 48 per cent. Exports to Australia, South Korea and Mexico rose by 21 per cent, 30 per cent and 49 per cent respectively.

Bangladesh’s export earnings in November were much higher than expected considering concerns over the slowdown in western markets.

The total cotton supply for the months of October 2022 and November 2022 in India is estimated at 84.68 lakh bales. So says Cotton Association of India (CAI).

The estimated cotton consumption for the months of October 2022 and November 2022 is at 40 lakh bales of 170 kgs each while the export shipments upto November 30, 2022, are estimated at one lakh bales. Stock at the end of November 2022 is estimated at 43.68 lakh bales of 170 kgs each including 35.68 lakh bales of 170 kgs each with textile mills and the remaining eight lakh bales of 170 kgs each with the CCI, Maharashtra Federation and others (MNCs, traders, ginners, MCX, etc. including cotton sold but not delivered).

Domestic consumption for the season is estimated at 300 lakh bales of 170 kgs each as against 318 lakh bales of 170 kgs each. Exports for the season are estimated at 30 lakh bales of 170 kgs each. Export estimate for the previous cotton season was 43 lakh bales of 170 kgs each. The carryover stock which was earlier estimated at 57.89 lakh bales of 170 kgs each is now estimated at 53.64 lakh bales of 170 kgs each.

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) sided with Wrangler’s opposition against another denim company that wants to use the letter W in their trademark.

Turkish company Denimci Dis Ticaret Pazarlama Anonim Sirketi’s efforts to register W Denim for denim fabric, jeans, dungarees, and other goods conflicted with Wrangler’s W registrations for similar products.Two of the three examples Wrangler provided were stitched Ws, such as the ones seen on the back pockets of its jeans. The third was a solid W. The board found consumers were likely to be confused by the mark and therefore sustained Wrangler’s opposition.

Denimci DisTicaret Pazarlama Anonim Sirketi filed for the trademark in 2019. In its registration mark request, the company described the illustration as a stylized W above the word Denim.The W mimics the appearance of folded jeans, while Denim is used as a generic or descriptive word.

However, TTAB said Denim does not distinguish the marks.The color blue was also claimed as a feature of Denimci DisTicaret Pazarlama Anonim Sirketi’s mark. Though color is not part of Wrangler’s marks, TTAB found the marks visually and phonetically similar because they consist of or prominently feature the stylized letter W and added that Wrangler’s marks could appear in the same color.