Bangladeshi apparel exporters are lobbying major trading partners and blocs to support its efforts to extend the duty benefits the country currently enjoys for at least six more years.

The move comes as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the group of least-developed countries to a developing country in 2026, which will likely result in the loss of its duty-free market access.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has called for a six-year transition period to help apparel exporters remain competitive in global markets. While the EU and the UK have already announced a three-year transition period, the BGMEA believes that a longer period is necessary due to the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The BGMEA will meet with officials from the EU, Germany and other major trading partners to gain support for the extended transition period. The BGMEA also intends to request duty-free market access for apparel items made with US cotton and shipped to the US markets, as well as to work with the US government to address the shipment of counterfeit products from Bangladesh.

The tennis apparel market in Americas is set to grow by USD 82.08 million between 2022 and 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Technovia.

The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing awareness about the health benefits of sports and the growing adoption of a healthy lifestyle among the urban population. This trend is driving people to involve themselves in sports activities, such as tennis, to stay fit and healthy.

It is observed that the offline distribution channel segment will be the most significant growth driver during the forecast period. This segment includes revenue generated from physical retail stores such as dealer stores, departmental stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets. The increase in the number of such stores is expected to drive the growth of the segment.

However, poor infrastructure for tennis is identified as one of the major challenges affecting market growth. The lack of support for the sport in some regions reduces the growth potential for vendors. For instance, the expenditure on development programs for the sports industry, especially tennis, is lower in South American countries when compared to other regions.

Bangladesh’s garment exports to India surges significantly to over 61 % to $753 million during the first eight months of the current fiscal year of Bangladesh. The surge in imports to India has been attributed to the high-quality and affordable clothing produced in Bangladesh, which is in high demand in India.

In the past, India has expressed concerns over the surging imports of garments from Bangladesh. The Indian government has voiced its concern over the growing trend of imports from Bangladesh, which has put the domestic garment manufacturing industry at risk.

The Indian garment industry is one of the country's largest employers, and the rise in imports has led to a decline in domestic production, leading to job losses and decreased revenues.

The Indian government has urged the industry to improve its competitiveness and quality to better compete with the imports from Bangladesh. At the same time, efforts are underway to strengthen the domestic industry, such as providing incentives to textile manufacturers and streamlining regulations to reduce the cost of doing business.

Despite these measures, it is likely that we will see further growth in imports from Bangladesh to India in the future, as both countries continue to work together to enhance trade ties.

The rising imports from Bangladesh are a challenge for the Indian garment industry, but with the right policies and strategies, it can remain competitive and thrive in the face of this new competition.

Kering, the owner of luxury brands like Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, has announced plans to cut its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2035 compared to 2021 levels.

This move comes as consumers are increasingly demanding that companies take more responsibility for their environmental impact. "I am convinced that impact reduction in absolute terms combined with value creation must be the next horizon for truly sustainable companies," said Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault in a statement.

Kering also owns the Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, and Alexander McQueen brands and has positioned itself as an industry leader on environmental issues, regularly publishing an environmental profit and loss account. In 2019, Pinault brought together several international labels to sign the Fashion Pact, which included commitments to reduce emissions and plastic use.

The announcement of this target was made during an event held in New York, and Kering plans to release its 2020-2023 sustainability progress report soon.

A comprehensive report on the Baby Apparel market has been released by Global Insight Services.

Baby apparel refers to clothing specifically designed for infants and toddlers, including onesies, sleepers, and outfits for special occasions. These clothes are often designed to be comfortable, practical, and easy to care for, while also being stylish and fashionable, with a wide range of colors, patterns, and designs available.

Several key trends in baby apparel technology have emerged. One trend is toward more comfortable and functional baby clothes, with features such as breathable fabrics and easier-to-use fastenings. Another trend is toward more stylish and trendy baby clothes that reflect current fashion trends. Finally, there is a growing trend toward more environmentally friendly baby clothes, with brands using organic materials and less harmful production processes.

Several key drivers of the baby apparel market have been identified. These include the birth rate, as the number of babies born directly impacts the demand for baby clothes. The average age of first-time mothers is also a significant driver, as older mothers tend to spend more on higher-quality clothes for their babies. Socioeconomic status also plays a role, with wealthier parents more able to afford higher-priced clothes. Finally, cultural factors, such as the increasing acceptance of non-traditional gender roles, are also contributing to changes in the baby apparel market, as more parents seek out clothes that are not specifically for either boys or girls.

China's fashion industry is experiencing a "quality revolution" as consumers shift their focus from cost to quality and sustainability. This trend is reflected in the growing popularity of customized designs and environmentally friendly materials.

The "quality revolution" in China's fashion industry is in line with the country's national strategy to improve the overall quality of its economic growth. Multiple measures have been adopted to drive the industry toward mid to high-end development and improve the competitiveness of China's manufacturing industry.

The Chinese fashion market is the world's largest, with an annual average spending on apparel and shoes exceeding 300 USD in 2021. The hyper growth of omnichannel retailing and e-commerce has made clothing from around the world more accessible, increasing demand for quality, brand, and diversity.

Mature Chinese brands, such as Goldlion, Anta, and Bosideng, are leading the charge toward high-quality development. Goldlion has acquired 60 patents and certification for high quality, and has led or participated in drafting seven national and industrial criteria.

As the Chinese fashion industry continues to upgrade and innovate, its high-quality fruits are bound to grow on more and more international consumers.

The European Commission has unveiled a new proposal, the Net-Zero Industry Act, aimed at ramping up the production of clean technologies across the European Union (EU) to support the bloc's transition to clean energy.

The initiative was announced as part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, and will create better conditions for setting up net-zero projects in Europe while attracting investments.

According to an official release, the act will strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of net-zero technologies manufacturing in the EU, and make its energy system more secure and sustainable. The goal is to ensure that the EU's strategic net-zero technologies manufacturing capacity reaches at least 40% of the grouping's deployment needs by 2030. This is expected to accelerate the progress towards the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets and transition to climate neutrality, while creating quality jobs and boosting the competitiveness of EU industry.

The proposed legislation covers a range of technologies that will make a significant contribution to decarbonisation, including solar photovoltaic and thermal, onshore and offshore wind, batteries and storage, heat pumps, geothermal energy, electrolysers and fuel cells, biogas/biomethane, carbon capture, and sustainable alternative fuels technologies, among others.

The Net-Zero Industry Act is now set to be discussed and agreed by the European Parliament and the EU Council before its adoption and entry into force.

Bangladesh’s garment exports to non-traditional markets, excluding the European Union, United States, and Canada, surged by 35per cent in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).During the July-February period of FY'23, the country earned $5.69 billion, up from $4.21 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

During the same period, Bangladesh’s exports to India grew by over 61 per cent to $753 million, while exports to Japan increased by 47.65 per cent to $1.08 billion. The country's share of the non-traditional markets increased from 15.32 per cent to 18.13 per cent during the same period.

The BGMEA President added that Bangladesh’s exports to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada grew by 14.29 per cent, 14.52 per cent, and 20.05 per cent, respectively. However, exports to the US declined by 2.87 per cent to $5.60 billion.

Despite the overall global market share declining due to the geo-political situation triggered by the Russia-Ukraine war and high inflationary pressure across the world, Bangladesh is striving to increase export earnings to non-traditional markets.

The garment sector's contribution to the overall export earnings is increasing, and now accounts for about 85% of the total. If the earnings of home textiles and other textile goods are taken into account, the share would be around 89 to 90 per cent.

In recent years, blockchain technology has been gaining momentum across various industries, and the apparel or fashion industry is no exception. With the increasing threat of counterfeit products, vendors are turning towards blockchain technology to safeguard their supply chain and provide authentic products to customers.

According to market research, the emergence of blockchain technology in the apparel industry is identified as a major trend, with vendors integrating the technology into their supply chain to combat the growing threat of counterfeit products. The technology is being used to create a tamper-proof system that tracks the movement of goods from the manufacturer to the end customer.

One of the leading sportswear manufacturers, Nike, has already taken the leap and developed blockchain-compatible shoes named Cryptokicks. The shoes use blockchain technology to cryptographically save various information, including the owner, transaction history, and proof of authenticity. This innovative solution enables customers to verify the authenticity of their product and track its entire journey, from the factory to their feet.

Other major players in the apparel industry have also started implementing blockchain technology in their supply chain. Retail giant Walmart is using blockchain to track the journey of pork products in China, ensuring the quality and safety of the product. Another example is Levi's, which has partnered with a blockchain startup to provide its customers with a way to track the journey of their jeans, from the cotton fields to the store shelves.

Experts predict that the use of blockchain technology in the apparel industry will continue to grow as more vendors recognize the benefits it provides. With a tamper-proof system, vendors can ensure the authenticity of their products, reduce the risk of counterfeiting, and increase customer trust.

The Indian government has announced the establishment of seven Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks across the country. These parks will be located in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

The government's decision to set up these parks is based on its 5F vision, which aims to develop a complete value chain in the textile industry, starting from farm to fibre to factory to fashion to foreign. The establishment of these parks is a significant step towards making India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports, as they are expected to improve the competitiveness of the industry by promoting economies of scale and attracting foreign players to invest in India.

Out of 18 proposals from 13 states, these seven sites were selected based on objective criteria such as connectivity, existing ecosystem, textile and industry policy, infrastructure, and utility services.

These parks will create world-class industrial infrastructure, attract large-scale investment, including foreign direct investment, and encourage innovation and job creation within the sector. The Ministry of Textiles will oversee the execution of these projects, and an SPV owned by the Centre and State Governments will be established for each park to ensure proper implementation.

The parks will provide excellent infrastructure, plug-and-play facilities, and training and research facilities for the industry. This unique model, where the Centre and State Governments work together, is expected to generate an investment of nearly Rs. 70,000 crores and create 20 lakh employment opportunities through these parks.