Planet Textiles will take place on June 22, 2019, as part of Itma, Spain. Senior executives from Nike, HSBC and H&M will join big names from across a wide variety of textile and apparel businesses in taking to the stage at the sustainable textile summit. The show is expected to attract up to 1,20,000 visitors from 147 countries and, this year, Planet Textiles delegates will receive special discounted access to Itma. Three leaders of the world’s largest textile chemical and dyestuff producers will take to the stage together to discuss the state of the industry and what the future - both immediate and long term - will look like. A further breakout session will focus on the progress made as a result of the SAC’s Higg Index.

The ‘Pitch for the Planet’ session will feature brief pitch-style presentations of new technologies before questions are opened up to the floor. The ‘Innovation Zone’ is a platform to showcase the latest breakthroughs from across the apparel and textile sectors. This will offer visitors the chance to hold in-depth discussions with exhibitors to gain a better understanding of the latest industry developments that could directly improve their organisation’s environmental credentials. This year’s event will be kicked off by a keynote address from H&M’s head of production sustainability.

VF Corp’s total revenue rose 5.5 per cent in the fourth quarter. Revenue from Vans, known for its iconic classic slip-ons, rose 14 per cent in the quarter, compared with a 45 per cent increase in the same period a year earlier. North Face saw an eight per cent growth in revenue, down from 11 per cent the same period last year. Full-year sales for VF Corp’s active segment are expected at six per cent to seven per cent compared with a 16 per cent growth in 2019.

Apparel maker VF Corp is known for its popular outdoor wear label North Face and sneaker brand Vans. The company also forecast a four to five per cent sales growth in the outdoor segment that includes North Face, compared with a nine per cent increase in 2019. Vans is the largest brand in the portfolio. VF Corp wants to better focus on the high-margin brands, and is, therefore, spinning off its less profitable jeans business, including Lee and Wrangler. The company launched new collections under the brands to drives sales, kept a tight lid on inventories and sold at full price. But the efforts didn’t pay off. The company now expects sales growth in its active segment, which includes Vans, to slow down further.

Ukraine will invest in the development of the technical textile and nonwovens industry. This is seen as a response to the recent plans of Russia to make heavy investments in the development of technical textiles, mainly to be supplied for the ever-growing needs of the Russian defense sector.

Most of these facilities are expected to be established in central part of the country, as well as in western Ukraine, a region not traditionally well-known for textile production. Historically, most Ukrainian technical textile and chemical production has been concentrated in the eastern part of the country. However, due to the current control of the area by pro-Russian rebels, most of the existing production facilities have been lost.

Most of the funding will be done by private domestic and foreign investors, while the remaining will be allocated from government sources. Ukraine is counting on support from US businesses, which in recent years have significantly increased the volume of investments in different sectors of the Ukrainian economy, including technical textiles. In addition, the country has recently started developing a special agreement with the US in the area of technical textiles. Such an agreement would help US businesses better protect their investments and interests within Ukraine.

Prada has become the latest luxury player to go fur-free with the group’s brands, including Prada itself plus Miu Miu, Church’s and Car Shoe, to stop using fur from its S/S ’20 womenswear collection.

The group is committed to innovation and social responsibility. It recently held a dialogue with Fur Free Alliance, LAV and the Humane Society of the United States on the misuse of animal fur in creating fashion garments. It would henceforth focus only on innovative materials that would allow it to explore new boundaries of creative design while meeting the demand for ethical products.

The group is also urging the UK government to make Britain the first country in the world to ban the sale of animal fur. Brands like Gucci, Versace, Burberry, Zadig & Voltaire, 3.1 Philip Lim, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Coach, Diane von Furstenberg, Furla, DKNY, Michael Kors, etc have recently gone fur free.

The five new provisional patent applications by Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc can reduce future R&D costs and break open new markets for recombinant protein products, reaching far beyond silks and apparel. These applications cover a broad range of technologies in the creation, screening, and production of new recombinant proteins. They expand beyond the company’s publicly disclosed silkworm and silk technologies, to include advanced construction systems, methods, and non-native proteins.

In November, of 2018, the company retained Workman Nydegger as its Intellectual Property counsel and expects to utilise their expertise in prosecuting these, and all future, patent applications. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories is a fully reporting biotechnology company focused on the commercialisation of new textiles and high performance fibers including spider silks. As the leading developer of genetically engineered spider silk based fiber technologies, Kraig Biocraft has been able to achieve a series of scientific breakthroughs in the area of spider silk technology.

The HKTDC Hong Kong fashion week for spring/summer will be held from July 8 to 11, 2019. This is aimed at optimising buyer’s sourcing experience and provide maximum exposure for different fashion sectors. The fair is expected to welcome some 1,000 exhibitors from across the globe, presenting a wide array of spring/summer clothing, designers’ collections, international brands, garment and fabrics, and fashion accessories. As a premier sourcing platform for global buyers, the fashion week is also a gateway to the markets of China and Asia. Industry professionals will share insights on technology in functional apparel, fashion e-tailing and market development. Networking reception in a relaxing ambience will also be arranged for global buyers, exhibitors and industry professionals to exchange opinions and expand their business network.

To optimise buyers’ targeted sourcing experience and provide maximum exposure for different fashion sectors, the fair is categorised with different thematic zones. The Corporate Fashion and Uniforms zone will feature a wide range of professional apparel choices for various industries. The Fashionable Sportswear zone will highlight athleisure wear for exercise, sports and casual activities. Other zones will cover fabrics and yarn, intimate wear and swimwear. Fashion parades will be held. Trends for autumn/winter 2020-21 for women’s and men’s wear and accessories will be presented.

The economic research service of the USDA , in its latest ‘Cotton and Wool Outlook’ report, revealed India will regain the top-producer status in 2019-20 season, surpassing China, which became the leading cotton producer in 2018-19. India’s cotton production during the season is forecast to increase by 3-million-bales to 28.5 million bales, while China is likely to produce 27.75 million bales.

For 2019-20, India’s cotton area is forecast to rise slightly to 12.35 million hectares (30.5 million acres), as price expectations remain favourable for cotton. The national yield is also projected to rebound from last season’s below-average level, supporting the 3-million-bale increase in cotton production to 28.5 million bales in 2019-20.

China, on the other hand, is forecasted to produce 27.75 million bales of cotton in 2019-20, equal to the previous season, as slightly lower area is offset by a higher yield expectation. Harvested area in China is projected at 3.45 million hectares (8.5 million acres), as Government policies keep area nearly unchanged. However, with area further concentrated in the high-yielding Xinjiang region, the 2019 national yield is forecast to rise to 1,751 kilograms per hectare (1,561 pounds per acre), the report added

Over 100 brands, retailers, NGOs, cotton scientists, farmers and industry attended the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) Forum in Sydney recently. The event was presided by global sustainability leader Michael Kobori from Levi Strauss & Co., who addressed the group about his company’s sustainability journey and its involvement with BCI, a sustainability initiative improving cotton production practices in 21 countries including Australia.

The forum also heard from leading Australian cotton scientists about the work that underpins the Better Cotton principles around climate change, soil health, water and biodiversity. It also interacted with panel of cotton farmers who despite current conditions have all reached full certification in the Better Cotton standard.

The impressive turn out of brands representing more than 20 companies at the Forum was a great sign that sustainability is becoming more a part of the way business is done here in Australia.

Claudio Taiana has been appointed as the new President of MarediModa. He will succeed Marco Borioli and will be in charge of three mandates. Taiana, one of MarediModa founders, has previously held this office. He has always pursued the spirit of our mission: the enhancement and promotion of Made in Europe trims and fabrics. The next edition of MarediModa will be held at the Palais des Festival in Cannes from November 05-07, 2019.

The recently concluded 46th India International Knit Fair (IIKF), Tirupur witnessed fewer overseas buyers than last year. The fair, held from May 15 to 17, 2019, was organised by India Knit Fair Association (ITKF) and witnessed participation from around 27 garment manufacturers. Most of them, however, were not happy with the buyer visitation.

According to a ITKF spokesperson, 24 overseas buyers and around 127 Indian buying agents visited the show. The participants reported good business enquiries from the buying agents and overseas buyers with the expected business deal being around Rs. 300 crore. Some of the top apparel manufacturers of Tirupur, who displayed their latest collections in the event, were Eastman Export Global Clothing, Meridian Global Ventures, SCM Garments, KG Denim - Apparel Division, etc.

Irrespective of the event, some of the exhibitors shared that despite challenging market conditions they are geared up for growth and are taking necessary steps in this direction. For instance, Clifton Exports is adding new buyers in US market and increasing its focus on sustainability initiatives, interesting packaging, etc to get more orders. The company offers a wide range of products including kidswear, womenwear and undergarments.