India’s leading power dressing brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, Van Heusen has collaborated with Color Threads Inc to launch inStem’s ‘G-Fab’ Technology in India. Through this collaboration Van Heusen aims to launch a premium quality Made-in-India mask and athleisure clothing powered by G99+ antiviral™ to meet the current demands of the new-age consumer. The mask and athleisure products are manufactured using the ‘G-Fab Technology’ licensed from inStem; an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology and further developed by Color Threads Inc. The technology has been developed at Dr Praveen Kumar Vemula’s lab at inStem.

inStem is the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine, an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The current situation augers the need to emphasize on ‘Make in India’, and supporting the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative of Government of India.

Color Threads is an incubatee at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP). C-CAMP an initiative supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India is an enabler or catalyst of cutting-edge research and innovation in India

Van Heusen Mask powered by G99+ antiviral™ is manufactured using inStem’s Germicidal fabric technology which reduces >90% and 99.99% of **SARS-CoV-2 virus infectivity in 5 and 15 minutes, respectively. When the virus comes in contact with the fabric, the treatment reduces the viral load of SARS-CoV-2, which is tested under lab conditions as per modified ISO 18184 protocol at an independent biotechnology research laboratory, an autonomous institute of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The mask is washable and reusable up to 30 washes subject to wash care instructions being followed.

Leading Bangladesh apparel companies including Mahmud Group. Laila Group, Intimate Apparels, Utah Group and Pakiza Knit Composite have registered themselves on the ASW Marketplace. Organized under the umbrella of Apparel Sourcing Week, the marketplace allows buyers and sellers to interact, exchange ideas and share concerns.

One of the most successful textile manufacturers in the Bangladesh, the Mahmud Group has a versatile production chain to cater to flexible orders in shorter lead-time. Mahmud Jeans (MJL) - a sister concern of Mahmud Group - is one of the leading garments manufacturer and exporter of readymade garments. It’s designed and installed with state-of-the-art equipment and is a 100 per cent compliant well-equipped garments manufacturer of Bangladesh.

Having two production facilities, the Laila Group initially started as a readymade garment manufacturer with eight lines in 2005, and now has 21 production lines. This progressive and product development-oriented company has a monthly production capacity of 0.8 million. Laila firmly stands on an annual turnover of US $48 million based on an annual output of 12 million pieces.

Utah Group is a vertically integrated manufacturer offering 2.7 million fine knit apparels, and 1.5 million woven tops and bottoms in a month. Started in 1984, the group has since grown and expanded into an enterprise employing 14,000 individuals and providing high quality garments to multiple countries around the globe. It aims to make a difference in the community, the environment and the industry by creating a sustainable model which can take Bangladesh to the next level.

One of the major players in knit manufacturing, Pakiza Knit Composite s product categories include T-shirts, tank tops, polo T-shirts, pyjamas, leggings and knitted kidswear. In less than five years of its establishment, the Pakiza Group is today synonymous with quality and timely production, working with clients like NKD, Otto, Pep&Co, OVS, Peacocks, NewYorker and LC Waikiki, etc.

According to estimates by Jefferies Global Research, China’s share of global personal luxury goods expenditure has skyrocketed this year, right after the end of the pandemic’s first wave.

The share grew from 38-39 per cent of the global market in 2019 to 80-85 per cent in 2020. The figures are explained by China’s rapid recovery once the lockdown was lifted - the country hasn’t been hit by a second epidemic wave, unlike the rest of the world - and by the travel restrictions that forced Chinese consumers to spend domestically rather than abroad.

In the next five years, China expects a slight decrease in this 80 per cent share, but it is evident that it won’t return to the 38 per cent share of 2019. Luxury expenditure in China will continue to account for 55 to 60 per cent of the global market, said Flavio Cereda-Parini, Managing Director, Jefferies.

These forecasts diverge slightly from those recently published in the 2020 annual luxury market report by consulting firm Bain & Co., which predicted that Chinese domestic consumption in 2025 will account for 26-28 per cent of the global luxury market, compared to 11% in 2019 and 20 per cent in 2020.

Pakistan government recently abolished five percent regulatory duty on yarn import after paying heeds to the demand of textile exporters who anticipate shortage of the industrial input on falling cotton output in the country.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet decided to remove the regulatory duty on import of cotton yarn till 30 June next year during a meeting presided over by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Hafeez Shaikh. All ministers and advisers joined the meeting through a video link.

ECC recommended a summary for release of funds to Pakistan Steel Mills for payment in lieu of gas supply to Sui Southern Gas Supply Company (SSGC) through a technical supplementary grant.

Allocation of up to 9.5 million metric cubic feet/day (mmcfd) gas from Pakistan Petroleum s Benari X-I discovery to SSGC was approved. Similarly, allocation of 10 mmcfd gas from Hadaf X-I to SSGCL was also approved during the meeting. After Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi raised the issue, the ECC directed the logistics committee to ensure berthing of wheat and sugar vessels on priority basis, keeping in view other imports are not affected.

The ministry of commerce submitted a summary to reconsider the earlier decision taken by ECC in October regarding procedure for registration under concessionary regime of electricity, re-gasified natural gas and gas in export-oriented sectors, erstwhile zero-rated sectors. After due deliberation, the ECC directed the officials to maintain status quo with a condition that the Federal Board of Revenue might register new manufacturers or exporters in the regime in coordination with the ministry.

ECC also accorded approval for allocation of additional funds for maintenance of Islamabad High Court Building and Judges Residences through technical supplementary grant as requested by the ministry of housing and works.

Ocean Lanka has partnered cotton made in Africa (CmiA) to increase its share of sustainable cotton. The partnership will allow Ocean Lanka to increase its proportion of sustainable cotton to 75 per cent by 2025. It will also allow the company to expand its responsible fabrics portfolio, which includes; organic cotton, GOTS certified organic cotton fibers, and BCI cotton.

Established in 1996, Ocean Lanka supplies knitted fabrics to renowned international brands including Victoria’s Secret, PVH (Tommy Hilfiger/Calvin Klein), Nike, Uniqlo, GAP, Amazon, Michael Kors, Marks and Spencer, Lacoste, Puma, Intimissimi, and Hanes. The company is a joint venture between Hong Kong-based Fountain Set Holdings and local apparel giants Hirdaramani Group and Brandix Lanka.

Cotton made in Africa is an initiative of the Aid by Trade Foundation, which operates on the principle that partnering retailers and brands pay a license fee for every product bearing the CmiA label. CmiA then reinvests the licensing revenue towards training smallholder cotton farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, thereby improving their living conditions.

Chinese textile company Sunvim will export 10 million towels for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Chinese company’s towel exports to Japan have increased despite the pandemic and tariff rates being far above those of neighbor Vietnam. Since their first overseas order from Japan three decades ago, Sunvim has built a partnership with over 100 Japanese companies. The company has upgraded its equipment and R&D abilities to meet the middle and high-end market. Now, the company doesn’t wait for orders. It proposes customized ideas for potential orders, which have been a success.

The company has R&D facilities in Japan where it hopes to benefit from IP cooperation through joint programs, says Xiao Maochang, Chairman. It also hopes to benefit from the RCEP pact that China has signed with other 14 Asia Pacific countries including Japan. It has already received orders of towels for Tokyo Olympic village and the Games' commercials.

US sneaker brand Skechers, which opened a flagship store in Munich, plans to open another store in Berlin. As per a Sportswear International report, the store will spread over two floors and span 1,000 sq mt. It will have a digital screen in the entrance area to display Skechers collections to passers-by. The store’s interiors will have a mid-century modern inspired design with sustainable features such as LED lighting and energy efficient air conditioning.

Numerous graphic displays advertising collections of lifestyle and performance footwear and apparel will be flexibly customized to display seasonal campaign motifs. In total, Skechers has over 3,770 stores in 14 German locations besides its own online store . For the time being, Skechers will limit new openings to stores, which were in the planning stage prior to COVID-19. A North American lifestyle and performance footwear brand, Skechers was founded in 1992 and is now the third largest athletic footwear brand in the United States.

As per reports, Premium Apparel LLC, an affiliate of New York City-based private equity firm Sycamore Partners, has inked an agreement with Ascena Retail Group to purchase its brands for $540 million. The apparel and footwear brands that Premium Apparel has committed to purchase include Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey. The deal is expected to close by mid-December. According to this deal, Premium Apparel will acquire the brands on a cash-free and debt-free basis.

An operator of 1,500 stores across the US, Ascena Retail Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July. In September, the company agreed to sell its plus-size chain Catherines to FullBeauty Brands for $40.8 million. The company has also ceased operating its Justice and Dressbarn brands over the last 18 months.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Ascena Retail Group, and Alvarez and Marsal Holdings LLC is serving as restructuring advisor. Guggenheim Securities LLC is serving as Ascena’s financial advisor. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal counsel to Sycamore Partners and Premium Apparel.

The Ministry of Textiles plans to set up an Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles. India already has 11 Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) for the textile and apparel industry. Through this EPC, the government now aims to focus on the potential in technical textiles in India. It had already notified 207 items as technical textiles in January 2019, Of these, 12 products belong to the apparel sector. The global market for these 12 products is estimated to be $11 billion, though India’s export is only $93 million.Hence, there is a huge potential for export of these products in India.

A Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), has welcomed the government’s decision to form an EPC for Technical Textiles as it will not only boost exports but also strengthen the domestic manufacturing capacity in this sector.

Vietnam’s textile and garment exports are expected to decline by 14 per cent this year to reach $33.5-34 billion. As per the Ministry of Industry and Trade, this year was particularly difficult for Vietnamese textile and garment industry as the market was complex and difficult to forecast. Demand for textile products slowed due to COVID-19 as consumers around the world focused on essential appliances and disease prevention. And as Le Tien Truong, General Director, Viet Nam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) says, the pandemic broke supply chains and resulted in declining demand for goods the world over.

However, the decrease in Viet Nam's textile and apparel industry was not as large as other countries since textile enterprises rapidly transformed from traditional to adaptable products such as switching from high-class suits, shirts to labour protection, knitwear and traditional shirts to maintain production and business activities. Also, Vinatex still maintained jobs for the whole system and no employees were laid off. The group’s average income expected to be realized in 2020 is $342 per person per month, adds Troung.

Nguyen Duc Tri, Chairman, Hoa Tho Textile-Garment JSC, advises the government to focus on development of industrial zones with wastewater treatment systems, ensuring environmental hygiene in the central region so textile and dyeing enterprises and supporting industries could focus on development and attracting workers from neighbouring areas such as HCM City, Bien Hoa and Dong Nai.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has said textile enterprises need to introduce new solutions to change production and business methods to suit the new situation. At the same time, enterprises should exploit and expand the domestic market and link with customers to form production chains.