Maharashtra plans to develop textile hubs in the regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada.

Among the incentives offered are attractive power tariffs and steady rates for cotton. The aim is to correct the mismatch that used to happen in setting up textile hubs in non-cotton growing districts. The government will procure the cotton at fixed rates and then hand over the cotton at the procured rates to the textile industry. This is aimed at doing away with fluctuating rates of cotton that hurt the textile sector. The area under cotton cultivation in the state is 42 lakh hectares with almost 45 lakh farmers undertaking cultivation of the cash crop.The state accounts for 28 per cent of the country’s cotton production. Apart from this, the availability of skilled human resources has also become a major issue.Under the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme, the state has proposed developing a brownfield park in Amravati (Vidarbha region) and Aurangabad (Marathwada region). The focus on the textile sector is expected to attract investments and generate employment. The state has set a target of Rs 36,000 croreof investments in the sector, which is likely to generate ten lakh jobs.

Sweden is promoting sustainable practices in Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector.

Swedish green tech companies have a lot to offer in the wider domain of sustainability, both when it comes to services and solutions. Sweden and Bangladesh celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations. Made in Bangladesh Week was held from November 12 to 18, 2022. The event highlighted the progress of the Bangladesh apparel industry in safety and sustainability in recent years. The industry is now focusing on optimum use of resources, including making a shift from the linear to the circular model of business as Bangladesh’s apparel industry generates about 440 million tons of pre-consumer waste every year.Bangladesh’s policy makers, apparel manufacturers, buyers and stakeholders were given a platform to discuss the stories of transformation and progress in workplace safety, workers’ well-being, environmental sustainability and innovation, and to decide the ways forward for the sustainable development of Bangladesh’s apparel industry. Bangladesh is setting up 100 economic zones in different parts of the country, for which local and foreign investment will be encouraged. Made in Bangladesh Week provided industry stakeholders across the world an opportunity to see the take off of the apparel industry as Bangladesh continues to pursue new areas of expansion, manufacturing excellence and sustainable growth.

Retail chain Bazaar Style is planning to launch a Rs 700 crore initial public offering which would value the business at Rs 2,500 crores.

The business plans to use the funds from the IPO to expand its brick-and-mortar footprint across India.Bazaar Style plans to add around 100 new stores over the coming two to two and a half years. The business aims at Tier II and III cities for store expansion where it targets middle class shoppers.Bazaar Style based in Kolkata retails a wide range of multi-brand fashion and lifestyle goods. The business was incorporated in 2013. With a store total of 125 outlets, Bazaar Style operates its retail business under the brand names Style Bazaar and Express Bazaar. The main products the stores retail include clothing, footwear, luggage, accessories, fragrances, sunglasses, cosmetics, and toys, among others. The average store size is 9000 sqft and Baazar Style is present in the value segment in east India. Thelarger vision is to become one of the country’s largest value retailers and the retailer is following a cluster-based approach in which it goes deep in almost all the districts of the states so as to have a better economy of scale and brand visibility.

Demand for occasionwear and ethnic wear has perked up.

After two years of muted demand, fashion and apparel retailers hope to surpass the previous season’s sale numbers. Over 32 lakh weddings are expected in this season and consumers are celebrating festivals across India during the current quarter. Online sales too are expected to play an important role in aiding wedding sales. People are shopping at rates almost equal to the pre-Covid era and with offices opening, the wedding season, and festivals, the retail market is flying high. The Indian wear category for both men and women has witnessed an increased demand of almost 1.5 times over the last year. This shopping season has witnessed a traction in premium home-grown labels and curated merchandise.

Brands await the rush

The festive and wedding season has helped increase the customer base for brands like Manyavar, Kisah, Tasva, Libas, Varanga and House of Pataudi. TCNS Clothing which runs the brands W and Aurelia is catering to the rising consumer demand by opening more experiential stores in tier II and tier III cities.Fabindiahas seen continued demand for ethnic wear this wedding season. The brand has also seen a splurge in gifting and hence has launched a gift collection along with gift cards. Online fashion platform Myntra has also seen an uptick in Indian wear demand this season and is continuously adding more brands and styles to fulfil the growing demand.

Bangladesh Export Import Company (Beximco) has teamed with FibreTrace to provide complete supply chain traceability to its sustainable practices.

The partnership will involve the application of FibreTrace pigment to cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and recycled cotton fiber during the spinning process. The pigment will remain with the textile for life through use, reuse, recycling, and reimagination. As of January 2023, yarn, woven fabrics, knit fabrics, and clothing resulting from the agreement will be offered. Beximco is one of the largest vertically integrated textile and apparel firms in South Asia and has cutting-edge technology in spinning, knitting, weaving, denim, and garment finishing. With the ability to finish 350,000 yards of fabric per day the company has a track record of implementing cutting-edge, intelligent fibers. Beximco is eager to use FibreTrace verified technology to demonstrate its dedication to transparency and traceability as the technology monitorsits progress toward a more sustainable future for economic, social, and environmental development.Being the biggest conglomerate in Bangladesh, Beximco has a significant presence in several of the key economic sectors of the nation. The group’s textile segment is a fully integrated producer of cotton and polyester mixed fabric and apparel, meeting the demand in both domestic and international markets.

On the whole the business situation in the global textile industry deteriorated further in November 2022. So says the ITMF.

At the same time, global business expectations in six months’ time remained in negative territory but did not get gloomier. The indicators for order intake, order backlog, and capacity utilisation rate dropped globally. The business situation in the three Asian regions and Europe remains especially poor. In north andcentral America the business situation has improved markedly.

Except for the textile machinery segment that still benefits on an average from a long order backlog, all other segments found themselves in negative business situations, especially fiber producers and spinners. Global business expectations have remained negative but have stabilized since July 2022. Expectations have improved significantly in South Asia and Europe. Business expectations in all segments remain in negative territory with four out of seven recording improvements.

Order intake weak except north and central America

Order intake nosedived in November, in line with the weaker business situation and weaker demand, currently the biggest concern for the global textile value chain. Only companies in north and central America registered on average a good order intake, while all other regions were faced with an unsatisfactory order situation. Except for southeast Asia and north and central America order backlog fell. The only segments where order backlog increased were the downstream segments of garments and home textiles. Capacity utilization rate dropped in all regions in November 2022. It only increased in the textile machinery segment but fell otherwise.

Demand reduction cause of concern

Weakening demand is by far the biggest concern in the global textile industry, followed by the root causes of demand reduction, namely high energy and raw material prices which lead to high inflation rates. The good news is that logistical costs are not much of a concern anymore. Concerns about geopolitics on the other hand have increased again in the past two months.

Vietnamese businesses are taking part in Intex, New Delhi, December 8 to 10, 2022, in a big way. Among them, Mai Mai Service and Trading, Max Blue Vietnam and Beevalue are showcasing a number of fashion items, along with fabric, yarn, and accessories.

The event, a leading international textile sourcing show in South Asia, has taken place for nine times in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India since 2015.This year, more than 100 major suppliers of fiber, yarn, fabric, apparel accessories, dyes, and chemicals have come to the show, which also includes a series of workshops and networking events.

This year, alongside the exhibition, Intex India is hosting a buyer-seller meet. Since 2015, Intex India has connected 35,000 buyers from 15 countries to 1350 textile suppliers and has empowered industry players to explore new business opportunities and expand business globally, making Intex India the annual calendar event for South Asia's textile and apparel industry. Shows have been organized across the most relevant South Asian textile markets of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Intex is determined to bring a fresh wave of opportunities for manufacturers and buyers from domestic as well as international markets to connect with each other on this platform.

Pure London, to be held in the UK, February 12 to 14, 2023, will host pioneering designers who will showcase their latest collections. Visitors can engage with the next generation, providing a new home for alternative lifestyle collections from around the world. Firmly rooted in inclusivity and diversity and offering innovative, creative collections which inject colour, confidence and creativity, the exhibitors will be independent, unapologetic, and diverse, proudly embracing difference in all its glory and offering bold collections that make a statement and demand zero-judgment.

British brand Innocent will present a dark yet playful collection that explores PVC, faux fur, buckles, lace inserts and unique cuts. Spanish brand Costurero Real’s statement pieces are handmade and reference nature and fiction with bespoke fabrics and unique designs. Pamela Mann, a leading and hosiery specialist, will present avant-garde prints, beautiful lace inserts, vibrant prints and statement fabrics creating a truly unique and unrivalled offering. Collectif’s range will feature a unique mix of bespoke prints, unique embroideries and timeless styles that have become synonymous with the brand. Collectif combines modern trends with classic retro styling to create an exciting mix of romance and glamour set against an unconventional background.

Pure London presents the UK’s most comprehensive women’swear, accessories and shoes brands offerings.

Thailand’s apparel imports from Cambodia are likely to rebound during the current year, although they may still not touch pre-Covid levels.

The trade was at $39.729 million in January 2022 to September 2022. The shipment had witnessed a steep fall in 2020 and 2021. Imports during the first three quarters of this year indicate that the trade is rebounding well.Thailand imported apparel worth $39.729 million in the first three quarters of this year, already nearing the total imports of $41.010 million during 2021.

Imports this year from Cambodia are likely to breach last year’s figure. Imports peaked at $95.806 million in 2019, increasing from $89.091 million in 2018 and $67.170 million in 2017. But it slid to $73.986 million in 2020, before falling drastically to $41.010 in 2021.

Traditionally, Thailand is an apparel importer from Cambodia and exports apparel though in smaller volume to the latter. Thailand’s apparel exports to Cambodia stood at $7.099 million in 2021, $6.394 million in 2020, $10.680 million in 2019 and $9.957 million in 2018. It exported apparel worth $8.482 million in the first three quarters of this year. Cambodia’s apparel exports in the first ten months of 2022 rose by 18 percent.

Playboy has launched denim for men and women. This is Playboy’s first owned and operated denim line.

The collection spans men’s straight, skinny and dad fits to women’s loose and flare fits. Each jean features Playboy’s iconic bunny as a crystal appliqué, cutout, embroidery or laser print as well as branded hardware and back patches.The line offers stretch and rigid fabrications with washes leaning into ’90s and Y2K trends. Washes include light and medium blue, destroyed gray, pink stonewash, vintage black, deep indigo and black waxed. Other styles have an allover bandana print and a camouflage print. All jeans are made in Rurkey. The line has been developed as the merging of two American icons: Playboy as an iconic American brand and denim as an iconic American sportswear category.

Offering everything from rabbit head cookie-cutters to beach towels, phone cases and condoms, Playboy is among the top 20 most licensed brands in the world and its merchandise is sold in more than 180 countries. Playboy denim marks the second owned and operated launch by the brand’s consumer products division following the release of lingerie. The company looks forward to continued expansion of its owned and operated business and will leverage these new product lines across the Playboy ecosystem, including through its robust creator network.