The University of Michigan has developed garment labels woven directly into the fabric.

This is a barcode. The photonic properties of the fibers can be cusomised to make them visible to the naked eye, readable only under near-infrared light or any combination.

Ordinary tags often don’t make it to the end of a garment’s life—they may be cut away or washed until illegible and tagless information can wear off.

Recycling could be more effective if a tag was woven into the fabric, invisible until it needs to be read. This is what the new fiber does.The team developed the technology to incorporate the photonic properties into a process that would be compatible with large-scale production.They accomplished the task by starting with a preform—a plastic feedstock that comprises dozens of alternating layers. In this case, they used acrylic and polycarbonate. While each individual layer is clear, the combination of two materials bends and refracts light to create optical effects that can look like color.The preform was heated and then mechanically pulled into a hair-thin strand of fiber.

While the manufacturing process method differs from the extrusion technique used to make conventional synthetic fibers like polyester, it can produce the same miles-long strands of fiber. Those strands can then be processed with the same equipment already used by textile makers.

Less than 15 per cent of the 92 million tons of clothing and other textiles discarded annually are recycled—in part because they are so difficult to sort. These woven-in labels could change that.

Vietnam’s earnings from textile and garment exports fell 30 per cent in January 2023.

The main factors affecting the country’s garment and textile sector this year include high interest rates and inflationary pressures and the difficulties are likely to linger until mid-2023. So Vietnam’s enterprises are investing in material supply chain and automation technology while relying less on international markets and further exploiting the domestic market.

Vietnam’s largest export markets include China, Japan, the European Union, South Korea and the United States.Vietnam’s garment, textile and footwear sector was able to achieve double-digit growth in 2022. High inflation in the majority of major Vietnamese markets such as the United States and the EU will have an impact on the furniture, garment and textile, footwear, electronics, and plastics sectors, moving forward.

With a decline in the number of orders, the export market for the textile, garment and footwear industry is therefore forecast to remain quiet until the end of the first quarter of the year.As the major export industries of the national economy, the textile and footwear industry has decided to retain skilled workers, promote investment in the production of raw materials and auxiliary materials, focus on producing artificial fabrics, as well as encourage the production of domestic yarns.

The hand sanitizer market in Brazil is growing at six per cent a year.

Brazil is one of the fastest-growing markets for hand sanitizers. Hand sanitizers include emollient that reduce skin dryness, and this is the primary reason for its widespread use among Brazilians, particularly in hospitals.Furthermore, attempts to maintain a hygienic environment in the country are expected to aid growth.Due to its high efficacy and inexpensive nature, ethyl alcohol was initially suggested for use in hospital practice in Brazil for sanitary hand washing.

One of the main factors fueling the demand for instant hand sanitizer gels is the emergence of quick hand sanitizer gels made with ethanol or ethyl alcohol components that eliminate 99 per cent of bacteria in seconds and that also feature a moisturizer to alleviate skin dryness.In terms of end use, the institutional segment holds a significant share of the Latin America hand sanitizer market.

There is zero tolerance for viruses and bacteria in the commercial sector such as in hotels and food service restaurants. The commercial sector is abiding by stringent rules and regulations on food safety and hygiene. Consequently, the commercial sector is increasing its adoption of hand sanitizers and encouraging employees to use hand sanitizers frequently.

Bangladesh’s apparel industry is likely to face a contraction in the short term. So says Cal, a capital market financial services company.

A slowdown in major apparel markets is expected to weigh down on the country’s apparel exports in 2023. Inflation will also push wage rates higher and a gas shortage will increase production costs, squeezing margins.

A fall in cotton prices stemming from waning global cotton consumption will, however, likely help ease price pressures, while the high local value addition and currency depreciation will benefit apparel exporters, says Cal.

Apparel exporters with higher exposure to the European markets will see a significant dip in revenue than those with higher exposure to the US markets as Europe proved weaker in averting the Ukraine war shocks. And companies with high fixed-cost structures may experience a substantial reduction in their bottom line, and companies with high debt exposure and high inventory, given a sharp decline in the cotton price, will struggle in 2023.

But shifting of orders by global fashion retailers from China will drive export market share expansion for Bangladesh apparel, says Cal. It expects Bangladesh’s export market share in major non-traditional markets to increase to ten per cent in 2026 from the existing eight per cent.

The export value of Vietnam’s textile and garment sector in 2022 was up 14 per cent yearonyear.

After being heavily impacted by the Covid pandemic, textile and garment enterprises gradually recovered and were one of the key export industries that recorded extraordinary growth rates in the first months of 2022.

The US is the biggest import market of Vietnamese textile and garments and imports by the US were up seven per cent in 2022. It was followed by the European Union and Japan, which were up 34 per cent and 25 per cent. But although the industry saw positive export prospects in the first and second quarters of 2022, it began to face many difficulties in the last two quarters of the year as global demand for textiles and garments declined.

The export value peaked in August 2022 but the sharp decline in orders since September has been attributed to a reversal of the trend, causing the industry's export value to fall to 2022's lowest level in the last quarter. The total consolidated profit after tax in the fourth quarter of 2022 was down 63 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2021, amid high inflation and recession risks in the main export markets.

IndustriALL affiliates in the textile and garment sector met online for Textile World Conference on February 2 to 3, 2023.

Discussions centered around providing strong support for organizing campaigns, especially using global framework agreements, to protect workers’ rights to form trade unions and bargain collectively.

An app, developed last year, provides information and education on workers’ rights. Migrant workers are informed about their rights and can report cases of abuse. Risks faced by women in the garment sector were highlighted like employment insecurity, low wages, gender inequalities and discrimination, and dangers travelling to and from work.

Unions and employers in the H&M, Nike and Adidas supply chains attended a social dialogue conference for a joint commitment, signed by ten unions and companies. Through the policy, unions and employers will develop strategies on how to ensure that reported sexual harassment cases are not left unresolved. The policy will be integrated into collective agreements and ensure safe workspaces and will also raise awareness on zero tolerance of violence and sexual harassment.

A four-year sectoral action plan was debated and approved. The action plan on industry-wide collective bargaining focuses on promoting industry bargaining to reduce inequality, lift wages and conditions and prevent lower standards being used to give companies a competitive advantage.

Pakistan may need to import around seven million bales of cotton this year. The total production is estimated to be around five million bales or even less. At present, import agreements for about 5.5 million bales have been made.

Cotton prices continued to rise in the country’s domestic market during the past week. The price of quality cotton has further increased. However, domestic cotton stocks are decreasing day by day. The issue of letters of credit is ongoing due to the higher rate of the dollar as a result of which textile mills have to buy local cotton at high prices.

Due to floods and rains this year, the cotton crop, especially in Sindh, was damaged. Cotton production is a major concern for the country’s textile sector. Till January 31, 2023, cotton production in the country was 47,63,609 bales, which is 35 per cent less as compared to the same period last year.

For the third quarter VF Corporation’s revenue was down three per cent. Earnings per share (EPS) was down one per cent. Adjusted EPS was down 17 per cent.

There was a balanced performance across both direct to consumer and wholesale channels. Supply chain challenges remained persistent in the quarter and are being addressed, with actions in place to return to full customer service at a normalized cost.

The Asia Pacific region was down seven per cent and up four per cent in constant dollars, reflecting a sequential improvement across the region and in Greater China, where sales were down 11 per cent and down one per cent in constant dollars, and continued strong growth in the rest of Asia.

The quarter was challenging but the company is committed to improving execution through a sharpened focus on the biggest consumer opportunities and enhanced operational performance. Consistent with this objective, it is shifting resource priorities across the company, including by reducing the dividend, exploring the sale of non-core assets, cutting costs and eliminating non-strategic spend, while enhancing the focus on the consumer through targeted investments.

These actions are expected to enable a return to profitable and sustainable growth and, with that, strong shareholder value creation.

Indorama has begun running its third manufacturing facility in Himachal Pradesh to manufacture spandex.

With the new plant becoming operational, Indorama has now added another 25 metric tons per day capacity and has taken the total production capacity to 65 metric tons per day, which is a giant leap from less than 15 metric tons per day in 2017.

The company has an in-house polymer R&D facility along with a textile and diaper grade application development center to study customer needs, formulate various polymers, continuously improve and offer world-class products.

The company is known for its spandex brand Inviya which holds a leadership position in providing functional solutions to high-end garments, accessories like elastics, tapes and hygiene products like diapers.

Inviya is widely accepted as a dependable raw material by yarn and fabric manufacturers and accessories manufacturers alike in India and across many countries. Inviya’s success is held up as an example to make India self-sufficient in technological development and manufacturing. Indorama also offers other differentiated/specialty spandex products like coloured spandex and ultra-fine deniers.

Indorama is probably the only company in the Indian subcontinent to produce spandex meant for hygiene applications, which is available under the brand SnugFit that caters to baby and adult diaper manufacturers.

India International Garment Fair (IIGF) is on at Noida, February 7 to 9, 2023.

Around 250 exhibitors are showcasing their products for autumn/winter 2023-24 and more than 1000 buyers from all over the world and around 800 sourcing consultants are expected to visit the fair.

The trade show features product categories including men’s wear, women’s wear, children’s wear, and fashion accessories, among others. Businesses can present their latest products at the trade show. The event is designed to offer manufacturing businesses the opportunity to network with retailers, wholesalers, and retail chains to expand their distribution networks into new areas and markets across India. Trend forecasting and knowledge sharing will also be facilitated.

The exhibition is focused on transforming North India into an effective sourcing base for all types of garments.India is the second largest textile and clothing exporter in the world.

The country’s textile and apparel exports in fiscal year 2022 increased by 41 per cent compared to the previous fiscal year. In view of the huge potential of employment generation and foreign exchange earningsthe apparel and textile industry has been given priority and India is fully committed to establishing a modern, dynamic, integrated and world-class textile sector.