The global custom T-shirt printing market is growing at nine per cent a year.

Customised T-shirts are gaining immense popularity among young customers. The growing trend of wearing graphic, pre-printed T-shirts with movie logos and slogans is propelling the sales in the custom T-shirt printing market.

The popularity of customized T-shirts among the young is because of the availability of a wide range of colours, patterns, garments, words or images printed on the shirts. As a result, sales of pre-printed and creative graphic T-shirts are increasing.Subsequently, the availability of trendy, fashionable, stylish, and unique customized T-shirts which reflect individual personalities is also favouring the growth. In addition to this, cost-effective prices of these T-shirts, especially across emerging economies, will also accelerate the sales in the market.

Moreover, the use of custom-printed T-shirts to raise social awareness, raise a voice, and support a cause is on the rise. Furthermore, customers in industries such as hospitality, logistics, construction, industry, and medicine are increasingly providing custom printed T-shirts to their employees as a marketing tool.The growing influence of bloggers, promotional strategies, and improved standard of living is also driving the demand for custom printed T-shirts. Manufacturers of custom T-shirts are focused on aggressive promotional strategies, advertisements, and new product launches.

Coats is pretty much back to normal on the performance front. For July 1 to October 31, 2022, the threads and footwear components manufacturer recorded strong organic revenue growth after the very strong first half. Year-to-date revenue growth was 14 per cent.

Meanwhile improved pricing and productivity continue to offset inflationary pressures.But there was a moderation compared to the first half due to an industry-wide softening in demand, mainly in apparel, toward the end of the period. Apparel and footwear revenue increased three per cent year on year in the period and 14 per cent yeartodate. Apparel experienced some order cutbacks by customers, as a result of the macroeconomic environment.

Footwear continued to see positive end market sentiment across the US, Europe and Asia with Coats’ acquisitions of Texon and Rheno flex performing in line with expectations.Revenue in Performance Materials increased 15 per cent with all segments continuing to perform well. The group’s pricing actions and self-help efficiency programs continue to offset the significant inflationary pressures in the supply chain. In addition, strategic projects remain on track, and are delivering significant operational and financial benefits.

Fashion companies are setting topline net-zero targets. But most targets exclude the majority of their supply chains and the sector is still not tackling the emissions arising from the excessive use of synthetic materials. So says environmental NGO Standearth, which assessed ten large fashion firms’ plans.

Additionally, many of these brands’ targets have loopholes for the supply chain, despite the fact that most large fashion firms will see the majority of their emissions footprint being upstream.

Just two of the companies, H&M and Kering, have pledged to at least halve their Scope 3 (indirect) emissions this decade.These same two companies are the only two committed to 100 per cent renewable energy across the supply chain by 2030.Only half of the brands assessed had set independent targets to phaseout thermal coal in supply chains. None share baseline data on coal use in supply chains.None of the companies have emissions targets that cover the entirety of their supply chains with no exclusions.

None of the ten companies have public targets to reduce fossil-fuel-derived material use this decade. This is despite the fact that these materials represent around 20 per cent of the fashion sector’s emissions footprint.

Alessandro Michele is stepping down as creative director of Gucci.

He had been at the creative helm of the brand since 2015 and played a fundamental part in making the brand what it is today through his groundbreaking creativity.His passion, his imagination, his ingenuity and his culture put Gucci center stage. Gucci, founded in Italy in 1921, is one of the world’s leading luxury brandsand continues to redefine luxury while celebrating creativity, Italian craftsmanship, and innovation at the core of its values. The Italian fashion house wants to be the world’s biggest luxury label.

Gucci also targets an operating margin of more than 40 per cent. It has had a top-to-bottom makeover, from new product ranges to stores redesigned to make them more welcoming, in vivid hues and draped in velvet.The brand expects sales to grow at twice the market rate in the coming years.Gucci is part of the global luxury group Kering, which manages the development of a series of renowned brands in fashion, leather goods and jewelry. Kering places creativity at the heart of its strategy while crafting tomorrow’s luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. Kering has more than 42,000 staff members.

A fairer distribution of risk and reward between buyers and producers is the main focus of International Apparel Federation (IAF) in the aftermath of Covid years. IAF, the world’s leading federation for apparel manufacturers, (SME) brands, their associations and the supporting industry with membership across 40 countries, is currently putting the spotlight on supply chain issues urgently needed for quicker industry transition and rebuilding of trust issues in a changed post-pandemic world.

Suppliers of the apparel industry were left in a lurch when Covid 19 broke out and the big Western brands collapsed and randomly cancelled completed orders and broke an unwritten business trust. At least 1,931 brands delayed and cancelled orders worth $3.7bn from garment factories in Bangladesh and other poorer manufacturing countries of the world, which led to complete mayhem all through the two Covid years.

The IAF has begun emphasizing on supply chain issues guided by the urgency of the need for industry transition in a changed world. “We believe the supply chain, to function well, literally and figuratively speaking, needs a new contract. It needs to operate with a greater sense of equity. That is why the IAF has teamed up with the STAR Network of industry associations, GIZ, Better Buying and the OECD in a project in which around 10 associations will build their recommendations for payment and delivery terms” IAF said in one of its priorities.

Bangladesh to focus on a better global industry infrastructure

The IAF has however now set many priorities for a better world by making companies adapt policies and core values that will help in the long run although it comes at a steeper cost. The basic essence of the greening of the industry is a wide supply chain, collaborative approach and pledges to reduce CO2 emissions among others. The costs and the rewards of transformation need to be shared in the supply chain and more education can bridge the current gap.

“Our industry needs profit so we can share the profits with all our workers. In Bangladesh, we need to go for higher quality, value-added garments and design backup. Bangladesh needs to focus on and invest in technology and backward linkage industry and produce value-added garment items to retain a larger share of export proceeds here in the country and get better prices from buyers,” says President Cem Altan, President of IAF.

The upcoming Christmas season and major holidays in Western countries should now be utilized to push up demand and end the inventory of buyers while giving a boost to apparel industry. As per the IAF, apparel industry needs a better global, institutional industry infrastructure which promotes more inclusivity while reducing audit and standard fatigue. Some of its other priorities are working on institutional infrastructure, education and training, digitization and transparency.

IAF to promote green investment initiative

IAF now plans to work on enhancing global coordination of industry education by alignment priorities and quality and efforts to reduce the chances of overlap so there is no training fatigue. Some of its other priorities are working on institutional infrastructure, education and training, digitization and transparency. The apparel industry needs a better global, institutional industry infrastructure, promoting more inclusivity and one of the main aims of this is to reduce audit and standard fatigue.

A big new change in the apparel industry is that the European Union from the beginning of 2023 will start asking for a 'product passport' with the implementation of its new legislation as part of its move to reduce carbon emissions. The EU wants to reduce carbon emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050. The product passport would ensure traceability at every stage of production and also show the carbon emission level of products.

Bangladesh is currently doing well in its green investment campaign with eight out of ten USGBC LEED-certified factories already in the country.IAF is working with Sustainable Terms and Trade Initiative (STTI) for common audit standards and also working on ethical garment practices of global apparel buyers, so that the mayhem of cancellation and non-payment of orders is not repeated in business history again.

Welspun India expects revenue to grow by 60 per cent in the next three years. The home textiles firm also operates in segments such as flooring solutions, advanced textiles, retail, hospitality, and wellness.

Export is expected to play a key role in the company meeting its targets. Welspun India is a prominent player in terry towels and sheets and expects demand to pickup in the next couple of quarters. The company is strengthening its core business in the bath and bed sheet segment and is foraying into blankets and throws. Besides, it is increasing its reach by expanding brand and license business share in key markets such as the US, UK, EU, and south east Asia.

It expects overall domestic business to contribute around 11 per cent of its total revenue by fiscal year 2026, rising from three per cent last fiscal. The group is focusing on emerging businesses which include domestic retail, licensed and owned brands, e-commerce, flooring and advanced textiles.

Welspun India expects the topline of its flooring business to grow by 40 per cent by fiscal year 2026. The company has an installed annual capacity of 27 million square meters and expects full utilisation of annual installed capacity by fiscal year 2026.

Pakistan has imposed regulatory duty on yarn imports. Yarn traders say the current duty structure of yarn should be maintained and no duty should be levied on imports of yarn. They say that as a result of the regulatory duty yarn manufacturers would increase their prices according to the landed cost of imported yarn and as a result the price of finished textile products would also increase and have a double impact on inflation.

They say yarn manufacturers should not be allowed to capture the market with their low quality and high cost of production despite the huge difference in duty structure.Traders feel that instead of imposing the regulatory duty, efforts should be made to increase effective production capacity.

Pakistan is an importer of polyester filament yarn which is the main raw material in textiles because yarn is not a finished product. Cotton has been replaced by yarn and the textile industry in Pakistan is largely dependent on imported yarn.Pakistan’s textile and apparel industry is the backbone of the economy, constituting eight percent of GDP, 40 percent of the industrial labour force and more than 60 percent of the country’s exports while its manufacturing share is 46 percent.

Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) was held in Germany, November 14 to 15, 2022.

From dissolution to enzymolysis, gasification, pyrolysis, solvolysis, and thermal depolymerisation, ARC introduced the versatile and innovative landscape of advanced recycling solutions that reach way beyond conventional recycling.

Participants from 21 countries discussed future opportunities and celebrated technological success stories. Advanced recycling refers to any process that reaches beyond mechanical recycling, it also includes chemical and specialised physical recycling technologies. Speakers covered topics such as technologies, sustainability, policy and regulation, as well as co-operation, financing, and digitalisation.

Exhibitors presented their innovative services, strategies and technology solutions. During the seven panel discussions participants submitted more than 300 questions and proved the intense need for dialogue and exchange. The active participation emphasised the high interest in advanced recycling solutions and the need for multi-perspective discussion. Presentations and speakers emphasized the importance of collaboration, partnerships, and fusions. While ambitious recycling targets are an important driver for investment and development, the current political framework is still lacking relevant details, especially with regard to chemical and other advanced recycling technologies. Technological pioneers are currently exploring and implementing ways to actively shape the path towards a truly circular economy, by developing technologies to recycle a wide array of waste into high-value chemicals.

The free trade agreement with Australia will help boost India’s garment exports.

The duty-free access for the sector to Australia under the trade pact will bring Indian exporters at par with global competitors and make local products competitive.This will also provide a good opportunity for Australian companies to embrace the China plus one policy.

Australian companies are eagerly waiting to forge stronger ties and source garment and textiles products from India and this deal will be a shot in the arm for them.Australia has traditionally been a major trading partner for the Indian garment industry with Indian exports occupying a share of about four per cent of total Australian garment imports.The zero-duty deal with Australia will help keep Indian factories fully utilised during its lean period with orders for spring and summer products that Indian players are best in. The free trade agreement would open huge business opportunities for Australian clothing brands to source from India considering the strengths of the domestic garment industry in terms of variety of raw material availability.

India offers the world a complete value chain solution from farm to fashion and has a competitive edge by shortened lead times to reach buyers. India is one of the largest producers of cotton, silk and jute, technical textiles and viscose and produces all types of synthetic fibers, polyester, nylon and acrylic.

Indonesia’s import value of used clothes skyrocketed 607 per cent year on year from January 2022 to September 2022.

The trend of thrifting or buying used clothes at low prices has mushroomed in Indonesia in recent years. The large import value of used clothes even beats the import value of knitted and non-knitted clothing and accessories.

However, imports of used clothing products are threatening the domestic textile industry. Tens of thousands of workers in the domestic textile industry have been retrenched. In the country’s textile industry there has been a decline in the workforce from August 2021 of 1.13 million people to 1.08 million people in August 2022. This means that around 50,000 workers have lost their jobs. The number is likely to increase, given the news that a wave of layoffs in the textile industry began to spread in September 2022.

The global crisis as a result of the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war is also being felt by the textile industry in Indonesia.Indonesia’s textile exports have dropped dramatically after the Russia-Ukraine war. The loss of this export market has made textile companies in Indonesia overstock. Because, on the other hand, the domestic market is not available since it is flooded with imported products. So this condition causes domestic textile products to go nowhere and the impact of which has been that textile companies in Indonesia are experience overstock. This has also caused textile companies to take policies to lay off their employees.