Worldwide market leader in sustainable, on-demand, digital fashion and textile production technologies, Kornit Digital has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Lichtenau, Germany-based Tesoma. As per a Globe News Wire report, the agreement will involve aligning of Tesoma’s technology and solutions with Kornit’s strategy to add smart automation capabilities within its innovative, sustainable on-demand production solutions. This will empower customers to improve productivity, optimize quality, and reduce the total cost of ownership.

Tesoma’s acquisition will allow Kornit to continue accelerating its mission to transform the industry, with innovative and sustainable, never-before-seen, on-demand textile production solutions, says Ronen Samuel, CEO, Kornit Digital. As partners, Tesoma has been working closely with Kornit on innovative next-generation solutions and accelerate its mission to elevate the industry standard, with intelligent user functionalities and industry 4.0 connectivity, adds Andreas Irmscher, Manager, Design Engineering, Tesoma. Together they aim to heighten the market’s expectations for clean, efficient, automated on-demand production, with a fully integrated solution that yields a superior, brilliant impression every time.

The acquisition is expected to be completed on or before April 1, 2022, following the satisfactory completion of business transition and integration plans.

Helena Helmerson, CEO, H&M says, the fast fashion retailers’ sales will double by 2030 after reduction in discounts and clearing out of the company’s longstanding inventory buildup. Helmersson also aims to boost the brand’s operating margin by more than 10 per cent within three year. To reach these goals, she is boosting investments to about 10 billion kronor ($1 billion) this year. By November last year, the company’s inventory stood at $4 billion and it is yet to meet its target of reducing it to the level of 12 per cent of full-year sales.

To achieve this, the company relies on markdowns, which it expects will boost profitability in the first quarter. H&M also is reducing costs, planning net closures of 120 stores this year, mostly in Europe. H&M’s pretax profit rose 64 per cent to 6 billion kronor in the three months through November, beating analysts’ estimates. Sales in December and January increased 20 per cent. The company is rewarding investors with 3 billion-kronor share buyback program and it maintained its dividend at last year’s level. Helmersson expects the company’s long-term, sales growth will start increasing 10 per cent to 15 per cent a year again.

Kitex Garments’ profit after tax (PAT) increased 120 per cent Y-o-Y in Q3 FY2021-22 to Rs 34.71 crore against Rs 15.60 crore in Q3FY21. As per an India Infoline report, the company’s consolidated revenues for the quarter ending December 2021 grew 71.68 per cent to Rs 208.20 crore as against Rs 121.70 crores for the quarter ending December 2020.

EBITDA margin for this quarter increased 80.32 per cent Y-o-Y as compared to Q3 FY21. Profit before tax margin increased 99 per cent at 23.43 per cent for Q3 FY’22, against Q3 FY’21. Sabu M Jacob, Chairman and Managing Director says, the company was able to achieve higher turnover and profits despite high material costs due to effective control measures.

A part of renowned Anna-Kitex group of companies, founded by MC Jacob, Kitex Garments is the largest employer in private sector in Kerala. Located near Kochi it has easy access to sea and airports. The company was established in 1992 and currently employs over 5000 people at its facility, and has been a business provider to many satellite businesses in the state. It is the second largest producer of children's apparel in the world, and is now in the process of setting up operations in the USA.

Denim Days plans to hold live events in Amsterdam in 2022. As per Joanne Schouten, Coordinator, a Denim Days Festival-The Market Edition will be held on April 22 and 23 in De Hallen and Denim City. It will host workshops and exhibitions and offer customized denim products to visitors. The Denim Talks will bring all denim lovers together to learn about new happenings in the industry.

Started in 2014, Denim Days is a platform for creators, consumers, brands and buyers to unite over a shared love of denim for talks, workshops and shopping. With Tencel™ Denim as one of the event partners, a key focus of the event is sustainability, whether that means low-impact production, repair, upcycling or recycling.

The event will focus on new technologies, innovations and new perspectives on the future of the denim industry. A part of the event, the Towards a Brighter Blue Mission conference will spotlight important initiatives towards a more responsible denim industry.

Over the past years, Denim Days has attracted the attention of a bigger range of consumers and denim lovers, says Schouten. Its followers on social media (@denimdaysfestival) are growing into global and very loyal community. It launched the new Denim Days platform last October to invite the community to stay in touch in between the live events.

Cotton experts’ panel predicted at the recent Supima Harvest Symposium predicted, demand for the fiber will continue to remain high even as the market will face supply chain, pricing and availability issues. Speakers also forecast the ongoing strong demand for cotton home textiles products without appreciable changes in the global availability. Demand for premium extra-long staple cotton will be especially strong, they added.

Global demand for cotton has recovered to highest levels in history, said Jody Campiche, Vice President -Economics and Policy Analysis, National Cotton Council Even though fewer planting acres in 2021 still produced a higher yield, the availability of US cotton is very limited with low stock levels coming into the New Year, she added.

World’s second largest cotton grower India, produced about the same amount it had previous year, the crop in China – the largest grower – was significantly lower, Campiche added. Pakistan, the fourth largest grower, had larger crop in 2021 but that comes after five years of decline and its yield last year is just getting back to earlier levels.

Last year, Supima produced 350,000 bales of cotton against 800,000 produced four years ago. Marc Lewkowitz, President and CEO, Supima said it will produced similar number of bales in 2022 with maybe a little increase in plants. Joe Dixon, Chief Operating Officer, J Hilburn said, all above factors are causing end users – retailers and manufacturers of home and apparel products made of cotton, to plan better and anticipate potential surprises. Yet, price issues will continue to persist, he added.

All three panelists agreed that even as cotton prices continue at their higher levels, the fiber will not lose its market share to synthetic products as happened the last time prices spiked in 2010-2011.

Asahi Kasei has launched its first fluid-wear collection made with the Bemberg fiber. As per a Textile Value Chain report, the collection is inspired by the ancient Pay-Jamé: a piece of clothing worn by a woman or a man for fluid wellbeing 24/7 regardless of the activity, or the location, or duration time it is needed for.

A revolutionary line of new-generation clothing, Jamé is designed and made in Italy, digitally printed, and created to deliver wellness, style, and 24/7 comfort. Every Jamé piece is available in eight patterns with the choice of 17+ designs that go back to the Italian tradition. Jamé is made from the Bemberg™ fabric which is a very unique textile that gives it the highest contemporary qualities. Each of Jamé clothing is 100 per cent recyclable and manufactured following a very contemporary and responsible made-to-order business mode

The fabric is based on a regenerated cellulose fiber made from the smart-tech transformation of cotton linters. As a pre-consumer material obtained from the manufacturing process of cotton seeds oil that is converted into fiber through a traceable and transparent closed-loop process, Bemberg™ DNA is deeply based on a circular economy approach.

The fabric is gentle on the skin, with amazing touch and exceptional moisture management properties: it quickly absorbs and releases moisture through very small waterways, keeping the wearer cool, fresh, and comfortable at any time of the year.

The Joint Apparel Association Forum of Sri Lanka (JAAF) called for intensive dialogue and greater stakeholder collaboration in order to arrive to resolve the current forex crisis, as well as legislative reform towards a more sustainable medium-long-term trajectory for Sri Lankan apparel.

These views were expressed at the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association, the apex body representing five associations encompassing supply chain partners, the export-oriented apparel manufacturers, buying offices and representatives of international brands in Sri Lanka.

Addressing the gathering, SharadAmalean, Chairman, JAAF and Deputy Chairman, MAS, commended the resilience demonstrated by the sector in the face of an unprecedented pandemic and outlined measures necessary for the sector to achieve its target of $8 billion in exports by 2025, while maintaining GSP+ and enhancing bilateral trade.

Meanwhile, outgoing JAAF Chairman, A. Sukumaran noted that the industry would likely face continuing disruptions to their supply chain over the coming year, making the need for continuous engagement across industry stakeholders an essential pre-requisite to developing long-term solutions to the industry’s current and future challenges.

The AGM saw the appointment of JAAF’s new executive committee for 2022/2023, which includes SharadAmalean, Chairman; SaiffudeenJafferjee and Felix Fernando, Deputy Chairmen; Noel Priyathilake, Past Chairmen; Azeem Ismail and Ashroff Omar. Duly Authorized Representatives of the constituent bodies: Pubudu de Silva, Fabric & Apparel Accessory Manufacturers Association; JatinderBiala, Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association; AroonHirdaramani, Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association; HemanthaPerera, Sri Lanka Chamber of Garment Exporters and Welhem Elias, Sri Lanka Apparel Sourcing Association

This year, Yarn Expo will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai from April, 14 – 16, 2022. The fair will again support business facilitation for the international fibre and yarn industry, with exhibitors taking the opportunity to display their latest sustainable products.

Yarn Expo has continued to support the industry throughout the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. Not only has it served as a platform for business exchange in times of difficulty, it has promoted and facilitated the introduction of new, innovative products and solutions, to align the industry with developing global trends, says Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK).

This year, we are highlighting our organic cotton products as these are becoming more popular, with people paying more attention to the concept of sustainability, adds Kyle Guo, Senior Executive, Texperts India

Yarn Expo serves as a nice communication platform. Its professionalism in the industry is beyond doubt, adds Carl He, General Manager, Enrich Fabrics & Cotton Brand Company, Guangzhou Textiles Holdings

Yarn Expo Spring will be held alongside Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, CHIC and PH Value. The synergy effect created by the concurrent fairs elevates the value the platform offers as the entire supply chain gathers for three days of networking, business matching and information sharing. The fair will be organized by Messe Frankfurt (HK) and the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT.

To be held from February 08-10, at the Truman Brewery in London, Premium contemporary womenswear show Scoop x Pure, will showcase a rangeof premium and ready-to-wear womenswear and accessories collections from designers including Feri, Sancia, Louise Hendricks, Pom Amsterdam, Primrose Park, Goldfinch, DATE, Lemon Jelly, Copenhagen Studio, and Supa Snug. The show will also introduce new designers like Way Out, Lam, BlankaPukara, Mou, Norr Copenhagen, Odd Molly, Caroline Svedbom, BRGN, Van Kukil, Karl Donoghue, DeaKudibal, Young Poets Society, Smith and Goat, Neon Denim Brand, Esmé Studios, Laidback London, and Thinking Mu.

Brand Neon Denim will showcase its Fall 2021 denim-driven collection that exudes a youthful expression. Merging reflections from a monochromatic past together with a tongue-in-cheek expression on the future, the brand infuses the brand’s acclaimed punk rock and luxury aesthetic into an elevated assortment that is both timeless and relevant to the voices of the future.

Launched in 2021, Young Poets Society nurtures the creative spark and divine fire in all of us besides reflecting the fact that modern rebels are not limited to words alone. A specialist creator, retailer and wholesaler of concrete homewares, Smith & Goat employs ambitious techniques in blending and casting of concrete to produce stunning pieces that become the talking point of any room.

Lifestyle brand Esmé Studios combines the best eco-friendly materials, comfort and design with ethics and responsibility. Odd Molly’s Fall Winter 2022 collection is designed with a strong sense of creating anew together and new ways of seeing the world. Caroline Svedbomcreates feminine, colourful and effortlessly beautiful collections for women of all ages inspired by her love for the Mediterranean and feminine style. Founded in 2015 by Norwegians KarineLundeTrellevik and Ros-Mari TobiassenGaundal, BRGN creates original fashion designed outerwear, accessories and footwear in technical waterproof and breathable materials.

Henderson Sewing Machine CoIncand Twine Solutions (PetachTiqva, Israel) have partnered for the marketing, sales, and support for the Twine TS-1800 digital dyeing system for thread and yarn in North America. Consistent with both companies’ philosophies regarding digital transformation in the sewing, embroidery and knitting industries, this partnership will usher in a broader adoption and implementation of the digital technology in today’s rapidly changing markets, all the while promoting speed to market, reduced inventory, and sustainability.

Frank Henderson, CEO, Henderson Sewing Machine Company, says,Twine’s Technology and products will be invaluable to Henderson Sewing Machine, and its textile Industries as a whole in 2022 and beyond.

Alon Moshe, CEO and Co-founder, Twine Solutions, adds, Henderson Sewing Machine Co. history, has already brought to fore their vast experience of technology innovations in the US textile industry markets. It is this premise of clarity and understanding that makes Henderson perfectly matched to our mutual Visions and Mission.