India is being positioned as a global leader in technical textile manufacturing. Research proposals are being invited for funding for design, development and manufacturing of machinery, tools, equipment and testing instruments. Proposals are being invited from companies engaged in the manufacturing of any machinery (preferably textile machinery), textile/garment value chain manufacturers, research organizations, academic institutions (both public funded and private).

Indigenous development of state-of-the-art technical textile machinery and equipment is expected to support and enhance the manufacturing capabilities of high-end technological products and also play an instrumental role in driving India’s technology readiness level in technical textiles.

Since as of now high-tech machinery, equipment, plants, special tools and accessories are being imported, local skill will be tapped in design, engineering, fabrication and prototyping. Technical textiles is an advanced technology backed sunrise sector which is steadily gaining ground in India. These are functional fabrics that have applications across various industries including automobiles, civil engineering and construction, agriculture, healthcare, industrial safety, personal protection.

They are futuristic and a niche segment of textiles, which are used for various applications ranging from agriculture, roads, railway tracks, sportswear, health on one end to bullet proof jacket, fireproof jackets, high altitude combat gear and space applications on another end of spectrum.

To achieve a more sustainable future, the UK apparel industry must embrace technology, collaborate across the supply chain, promote employee well-being and win buy-in from the very top. So says business information company Textiles Intelligence.

Technology will form the backbone of the industry’s strategy of achieving sustainability. In fact, digital technologies will represent an essential component in the delivery of the change which the industry requires in order to realise a more sustainable future.For the most part, the technology already exists to support this, and it can help with a number of sustainability initiatives -- including supply chain traceability, reducing materials use, delivering greater business resilience through better planning, intelligent market management and channel allocation, and the adoption of new business models.

However, digital transformation can require significant investment. As a result, commitment to change needs to come from the top. Without buy-in at senior level and strategic implementation, digital transformation will not be achieved and initiatives will not succeed. Without top level support and an integrated transformation program, efforts may be hindered by a lack of alignment on targets and a failure to understand the changes to operating models and capabilities which are required.As well as digital technologies, the apparel industry must embrace collaboration if it is to achieve a more sustainable future.

The year 2022 saw many global retailers unveil concept stores to create a more intuitive and convenient shopping experience for customers.

E-commerce giant Amazon unveiled a physical apparel store called Amazon Retail. The store offers a personalised, convenient shopping experience where Amazon’s technology and operations make it easy for customers to find new styles.

The store features women’s and men’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. Multinational clothing brand H&M opened a first of its kind rotating style store which features a thoughtfully curated selection of the brand’s most fashionable styles, and the store also hosts exclusive programming and brand moments in a space designed to evolve throughout the year. Leading omnichannel retailer Kohl’s started Discover @ Kohl’s, a new store experience. Kohl’s Discover @ Kohl’s is a new feature that curates new and seasonally relevant brands throughout the store for the back-to-school season. The store shows a designated back to school area that highlights brands that not only offer unique products and supplies for the school year, but also incorporate a give-back purpose. Nike partnered with Topsports to open a brand experience store in China. The rise retail concept store owned by Topsports and Nike represents Nike’s first store developed in collaboration with a strategic partner in China.

Textile manufacturers and exporters of Karur want a textile wet processing park. They feel this will reduce the cost of wet process for exporters and manufacturers and make them competitive in the global market. They also want an integrated textile trade facilitation center to help market the products of Karur.

The textile clusters of Karur in Tamil Nadu have shown phenomenal growth in the last few years leading to an increase in the demand for skilled labor. Exporters in Karur expect to reach a sales turnover of Rs 25,000 crores by 2030.

Meanwhile Tamil Nadu has received several applications from representatives of textile units across the state to set up mini textile parks. Of these, 43 are from Karur district. Karur is a hub for quality made ups and home textiles in Tamil Nadu. Kay Ventures has teamed up with Hydra Micro Business Solutions to convert Karur into a global knitwear center.

Tirupur is another major cluster known for cotton knitwear. Though these towns are just 100 kms apart, the growth of Tirupur has been phenomenal. While Karur does an export turnover of Rs 4000 crores a year, Tirupur has breached the Rs 40,000 croremark. One of the key factors behind this stark difference is the difference in the size of the segments they cater to. The size of the clothing sector is many times more than the home textiles market. However, this is set to change because knitwear made an unnoticed entry into Karur sometime in 2016.

A denim mill from Pakistan has developed a technology which enhances operational efficiency and reduces resource depletion, cost and waste.

Rapid Clean, developed by US Denim Mills, is an eco-efficient alternative technology designed to replace water-intensive and pollutant fabric finishing processes. This smart technology allows the conservation of natural resources, ultimately playing its part in reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The process curates fine-quality denim fabrics with an immaculate look and feel.The technique has been effective in producing sustainable and laser-adaptive denim fabrics with less resources and opening new horizons for design.

This concept has also enabled US Denim Mills to make black overdyed fabrics. The denim fabrics developed while using this technology are cleaner, brighter and softer. Its efficient features help shorten the garment finishing time, as this process improves the denim’s ability to adapt to lasers and supports a quick wash, thus reducing water and energy used in the process.

The characteristics of Rapid Clean technology make the solution perfect for both major denim fabric colors (blue and black). Rapid Clean has been able to drastically diminish resource outflow across the washing, de-sizing and overdyeing processes.A sustainable mindset has become an essential business need today, putting manufacturers under immense pressure to innovate eco-friendly manufacturing techniques at every possible stage

India’s exports of children’s wear grew 11 per cent from January 2022 to October 2022. From January 2022 to September 2022 India’s exports of children’s wear increased by 16 per cent.

The US has a 36 per cent share in India’s export values in the category, followed by UK (15 per cent), UAE (six per cent), Germany (four per cent) and France (four per cent). Among the top five destinations, children’s wear exports dropped significantly in the UAE market, by around 32 per cent, while exports to the US, UK, Germany and France tapped decent growth.The fall in the UAE market is a concern for Indian children’s wear exporters as exports have been falling despite the India-UAE free trade agreement that came into force in May 2022.

Clothing worn by children up 14 years is referred to as children’s wear. These garments are often composed of high-quality materials that provide comfort and breathability, and come in a wide range of colours and textures. The children’s apparel market in India is growing at five percent a year.The market is primarily driven by the rising number of nuclear and double-income households in India. Strong economic growth in recent years and increasing purchasing power, along with the changing spending patterns of parents with an increasing inclination toward providing their children with enhanced comfort and convenience, is boosting the sales of branded and high-quality children’s apparel.

Cambodia’s garment exports to Australia increased by 17 percent in the first nine months of the current year.

This has been mainly because of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) of which both are members. The 15-nation free trade agreement of which both are members provides duty-free access to almost 90 percent of goods between member countries.

While Cambodia is a net exporter of finished garment products, Australia is a net importer.Still Australia’s share in total apparel exports from Cambodia is a mere one percent. It shows the vast opportunity for Cambodia and Australia to boost the trade volume between the two.The Australian market, meanwhile, prefers more casual garments compared to America and Europe.

Cambodia’s earnings from exports of garment products – clothes, footwear, and travel goods – during the January to September period this yearincreased by 24 percent. The US is the top importer of Cambodia’s garments, with a share of 34 percent. The garment sector is the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia, accounting for almost 60 percent of the country’s total export value. There was a nearly 40 percent growth from May 2022 to June 2022 for garments, footwear and travel goods exports from Cambodia.

The spring editions of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, Yarn Expo, and Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles have been postponed by three weeks to the new dates of March 28 to 30, 2023.

A better turnout is expected due to easing pandemic restriction policies in China. The fairs will still be located at the National Exhibition and Convention Center where they were originally due to be held from March 8 to 10, 2023.

The rescheduling of the fairs is also expected to allow both local and international fair goers more time to prepare for their participation. Adjusting the spring show dates to the end of March is expected to provide enough time for exhibitors and visitors from local and abroad to plan for the fairs and capitalise on the ample international business opportunities brought by the reopening of China’s borders.

China recently eased pandemic guidelines including reopening the border and scrapping quarantine, testing on arrival, and health code requirements for travellers starting from January 8. In line with these measures, more international flights are resuming, while the border between Mainland China and Hong Kong is scheduled to reopen gradually by mid-January 2023.

These steps send a clear signal that China is ready to open up for international business.

New Delhi will study the environmental impact of units engaged in dyeing or washing of garments and metal surface treatment activities such as electroplating and phosphating.

Effluents from such small scale units operating in non-conforming and residential areas flow directly into the Yamuna, increasing its pollution load.Most of these units operate without permission orwithout effluent treatment plants. Their effluents have high concentrations of ammonia and phosphates, one of the primary reasons behind the thick foam on the river water.

Activities such as dyeing or washing of jeans and other garments or metal surface treatment — electroplating, phosphating, and anodising etc. — have huge water consumption and pollution potential. An environmental study will be conducted to know the pollution potential and its treatment facilities, impact on the environment and remedial measures. It will ascertain how much water is being used by these units and the capacity of the treatment plants and water bodies in their areas.

Effluents discharged from such units are a cocktail of carcinogenic chemicals, dyes, and heavy metals which also pollute drinking water sources. Some textile dyeing industrial units were found to be operating without any license or pollution clearance certificate. The dyeing units were releasing polluted water without treating it first.

Year 2023 opens up many possibilities for global luxury brands, flushed with the sector’s success in the previous year. As per Mediaboom Global, 2022 yielded more than $312 billion and annual growth predicted at 5 per cent. Whilst luxury brands continue to look strong they also seem unfazed with the current economic slowdown being faced by many economies around the world.

However, economists and analysts are questioning if this parade will hold itself through 2023. After two years in lockdown, a substantial number of consumers who hadn’t spent money under lockdown came out to the world to travel, socialize and network like it was 2019 and spent as much to dress for it. That was 2022.

The new year may be a bit different as the initial enthusiasm has cooled off with prospects of recession across the US, the world’s largest luxury goods market, China, the second largest luxury goods market grappling with a pandemic situation all over again and the EU fighting energy crisis and a very high inflation. Experts say, the enthusiasm of 2022 may cool off in 2023 given the uncertain economic times ahead which may be in direct contrast to a Statista report that predicts a luxury goods market valued at $350 billion by 2030 with a 4 per cent GAGR. According to the report, the top five luxury brands in 2023 will be Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermès.

Report suggest resilience to recession

As per management consulting firm Bain & Co., performance of the luxury segment in the final quarter of this year will largely depend on the progressive lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in China, as well as the evolution of European and American luxury consumer confidence in the face of rising inflation and cost of living pressures. While this report was prepared in October 2022, the current scenario does not exactly mirror the statement.

However, the company’s report concludes that 95 per cent luxury brands will achieve positive sales growth this year, regardless. A Bain spokesperson said the luxury market now appears better equipped to cope with economic turbulence with its consumer base both larger and more concentrated. Customer-centricity and a multi-touchpoint ecosystem as factors will contribute towards resilience amid disruptions. It is clear that confidence factor is riding high in this sector which has prompted high levels of investments in future growth.

Therefore, the luxury goods sector may not see the 2022 levels of profits in 2023 but will be driven by continued growth. As per Claudio D Arpizio, lead author of the Bain’s Global Luxury Goods and Fashion Report, the nouvelle vague or new wave of the luxury goods market will demand evolution amid disruption, adaptation amid uncertainty, and an expansion of creativity in all of the basics – all while new trends and concepts develop. It seems the luxury goods market is going to be more resilient in 2023 than it was after the financial crisis of 2009.

Entry of developing markets

Even as the US continued to hold pole position in luxury purchases, Europe’s post-pandemic bounce back was also noteworthy, particularly France and Germany and the return of North American as well as Middle Eastern tourists. The promise factor though comes from South Korea, South East Asia and India. The big question for the luxury goods market in 2023 is about China’s recovery from the ongoing Covid crisis which doesn’t seem to subside. Hopefuls are predicting that the second largest purchaser of luxury goods could bounce back by mid-2023.

India is being seen as the rising star as predictions indicate great growth potential driven by the changing attitudes towards lifestyle in general and luxury in particular by the younger generations. The Indian market for luxury goods is expected to expand by 3.5 times by 2030.