Global retailer, Wrangler, has announced plans to cut its water usage in half by 2030.This goal targets the fabric construction, fibre production and product finishing phases of the denim supply chain, which make up more than 95 percent of the water used throughout the production process, according to Wrangler.

The US brand is collaborating with Transformers Foundation to make a water balance study which will analyze the company’s water consumption across its global denim supply chain. The company will use new technologies and practices to make progress and advance the industry forward in water conservation measures.

Wrangler became the first brand to offer denim dyed with foam in 2019, a process which uses 100 percent less water than conventionally-dyed denim. In 2017, the retailer also launched the ‘Wrangler Science and Conservation Program’ to help build a more durable cotton supply.

Setting a classic example of meaningful diversity and inclusion in the global fashion industry, US designer brand Tommy Hilfiger has unveiled its first hijab collection.

Effortlessly elegant and comfortable, the soft grey hijab has a delicate shimmer shot through with a gentle lurex thread. It features mosaic-like tumbling TH initials in a block pattern with Tommy Hilfiger branding running on a strip at the ends.

The hijab by the premium designer lifestyle group has hit the markets and is available to purchase online and globally in select Tommy Hilfiger stores. Recently for a sports-illustrated shoot, Tommy Hilfiger dressed hijabi model Halima Aden in a custom-made burkini too.

Before the PVH Corp. owned designer brand, numerous high-end fashion houses including Giorgio Armani, DKNY and Burberry or high street retailers like H&M and Mango had too embraced modest dressing. The focus on accommodating the market is not much of a surprise though since the modest fashion industry is worth $283 billion worldwide as per the latest estimations of January 2020.

Tapping into Muslim consumer needs, western designers controlling global fashion need to understand that this audience is just as stylish and demanding of their fashion wardrobes as anybody else, given the purchasing power of Muslim luxury consumers. Enormous and long-term payoffs will only be enjoyed by the brands that do not miss the mark when they attempt modesty lines, do not come up with drab or monochromic collections only or ones that have nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy to offer.

The Ministry of Industry is aggressively encouraging Indonesia’s manufacturing sector to immediately transform towards industry 4.0.

This step is part of the implementation of the Making Indonesia 4.0 road map, which will certainly bring benefits to the industrial sector, such as improving machine and equipment performance, production operation speed and product quality, and being compatible with health protocols, said the Muhammad Khayam, Director General-Chemical, Pharmaceutical Industry and Textile (IKFT), Ministry of Industry, Muhammad Khayam at the opening of the INDI 4.0 Technical Guidance and Assessment for the IKFT Sector.

Khayam said that the assessment of the Indonesia Industry 4.0 Readiness Index (INDI 4.0) aims to measure the readiness of companies in transforming towards industry 4.0, especially in the IKFT sector. In this assessment activity, he also explained about the implementation of industry 4.0 in the IKFT sector which has been developing with its various application systems.

For example, the textile manufacturer PT. Eratex Djaja who managed to save electricity, water, coal and greenhouse gas emissions after implementing industrial technology 4.0.

Khayam explained that on the first day there were 156 participants from the textile industry and non-metal mineral processing industries. He also said, according to the performance targets set by the Ministry of Industry based on the 2020-2024 RPJMN, one of the targets is that the number of IKFT sector companies with INDI 4.0 more than 3 could reach 11 companies by 2020 and as many as 21 companies in 2024. In INDI 4.0, a score of 1-2 shows the initial readiness to implement industry 4.0, then a score range of 2-3 shows moderate readiness, and a score of 4 is those who have implemented industry 4.0.

Huntsman Textile Effects’ has launched Lanasol CE dyes that provide the industry with the sustainable alternative to after-chrome dyes for wool, the company reports from Singapore. Lanasol CE dyes offer a consistent, safe and reliable dyeing process that can effectively replace chrome dyes for wool. This helps mills conform to ZDHC MRSL standards and meet the stringent requirements of global brands and retailers.

Developed by Huntsman Textile Effects specifically to meet these challenges, Lanasol CE is a state-of-the-art chrome-free dye range that allows mills to discontinue the use of after-chrome dyes. According to the company, Lanasol CE outperforms traditional after-chrome dyes across the board – at every level of dyeing and processing.

As a champion of a sustainable textile industry, Huntsman Textile Effects says it has long been a strong advocate for the shift away from after-chrome dyes. Huntsman Textile Effects first introduced Lanasol CE in 1997, before the introduction of any regulation on the restricted use of dichromate.

The H&M group has appointed of Alan Boehme as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Boehme will, together with Daniel Claesson, Chief Product Officer, be co-leading the new organisation Business Tech. Until now, the CTO position has been held by Joel Ankarberg who now fully assumes the role as Head of Group Strategy & Transformation.

Boehme has extensive experience of various technology and management roles with multinational companies, most recently with Procter & Gamble and prior to that with Coca Cola. He also holds a solid track record of leading global transformations and driving innovation work. He will focus on combining technology advancements to help H&M become an even more customer centric company where new growth opportunities are enabled.

Boehme’s long experience from previous technology driven transformations at global consumer-oriented companies will contribute to the entire H&M group as it continues to digitalize and transform its business.

Released in March 2020, the new GOTS version 6.0 is to set stricter ecological and social criteria while maintaining relevance of the Global Organic Textile Standard. GOTS defines worldwide recognized requirements that ensure third party certified organic status of textiles with full traceability from field to finished product. With this aim in mind, key requirements such as certified organic fiber content, the general ban on toxic and harmful chemicals, conventional cotton and virgin polyester as well as the social compliance management have been maintained, while several other criteria became stricter.

The new version withdraws the relaxation for the additional regenerated and virgin synthetic fiber content for socks, leggings and sportswear. Additionally, product quality standards for colorfastness and dimensional stability are now mandatory. Specific new requirements for tampons and food contact textiles have been included.

Regarding GOTS social criteria, GOTS included more dynamic elements: Certified entities will now have to calculate the gap of actually paid wages to ‘living wages’ (according to recognized calculation methods). Furthermore, they will be encouraged to work towards closing this gap. Specific references to OECD Due Diligence Guidance and Good Practice Guidance for Social Criteria and Risk Assessment as well as Ethical Business Practices have been explicitly included.

The global export of cotton fabrics has decreased 17.95 per cent to $32,990.56 million in the year 2019 compared to $40,206.37 million in 2017. Whereas, total exports slipped 18.17 per cent in 2019 over the previous year. Further, the exports is expected to move up to $34,925.72 million in 2022 with a rate of 5.87 per cent compared to 2019.

The global import value of cotton fabrics was $19,189.97 million in 2017, which dropped 13.27 per cent to $16,643.85 million in 2019, according to Fibre2Fashion's market analysis tool TexPro.

Total imports plunged 16.48 per cent in 2019 over the previous year and is expected to rise to $17,121.28 million in 2022 with a rate of 2.87 per cent from 2019.

China ($20,770.82 million), Pakistan ($2,050.20 million) and India ($1,942.07 million) were the key exporters of cotton fabrics across the globe in 2019, together comprising 75.06 per cent of total export. These were followed by Italy ($1,036.42 million), Turkey ($909.16 million) and Hong Kong ($645.09 million).

FESPA has decided to postpone FESPA Eurasia, originally scheduled to take place from December 03-06 December 2020. The exhibition, which is hosted in partnership with FESPA’s Turkish Association ARED, will now take place from December 02-05, 2021 at the Istanbul Expo Centre in Turkey.

The move reflects the ongoing uncertainty and business disruption caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and FESPA’s focus on safeguarding the health and safety of exhibitors, visitors and contractors.

The postponement of FESPA Eurasia follows the announcement that the next FESPA Global Print Expo will now take place at the RAI Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam The Netherlands, from 9 – 12 March 2021.

Founded in 1962, FESPA organizes the leading exhibitions and conferences for this community. Since its inception, FESPA has been supporting the print community via successful exhibitions, events and publications, providing education and networking opportunities.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has released its schedule for New York Fashion Week, featuring 60 designers who are lined up to present their spring 2021 collections digitally.

CFDA will focus on its Runway360 digital platform, which allows brands the flexibility to show their collections in a variety of formats, such as look books, videos, movies, livestreams of fashion shows, and at a time that works for them. The platform has been developed to engage domestic and International press, consumers and retailers, most of whom are unable to travel to New York during this time.

NYFW will kick off on September 13 with Jason Wu, who will host live fashion show for an audience of 25 to 30 people for his contemporary collection on the roof of Spring Studios that will be streamed. It will be followed by Harlem Fashion Row’s virtual fashion experience featuring several designers of color, such as Kimberly Goldson, Kristian Loren and Rich Fresh.

Among the returning women’s designers and brands participating are Alabama Chanin, Alice + Olivia, Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Bibhu Mohapatra, Carolina Herrera, Chromat, Claudia Li, Dennis Basso, Eckhaus Latta, Jonathan Simkhai, LaQuan Smith, Marchesa and Marchesa Notte, Naeem Khan, Nicole Miller, Veronica Beard, and Zero + Maria Cornejo. Fifteen are new to the schedule, including Aknvas, Anne Klein, Colleen Allen, Our Doux, Duncan, Frère, Imitation of Christ, Oak & Acorn, Venicew, Wiederhoeft, and Wolk Morais.

Landmark Group-promoted value fashion brand Easybuy that retails affordable fashion apparel in India's small towns and cities has partnered with online retailer Amazon to sell specially curated inventory and online-only brands on Amazon.

Over the next six months, the offline collection will be brought online through a store fulfillment program. Amazon will sell Easybuy’s tops, t-shirts, dresses, jeans, trousers, shirts, kids-wear priced between Rs 69 to Rs 699.

Easybuy was started in 2017 by Dubai-based Landmark Group to sell fashion to India’s value-conscious shoppers and has close to 100 stores in India. Landmark Group also owns value retailer Max in India, apart from Lifestyle department stores and Home Centre.