Japan’s clothing retailer Uniqlo Co has clarified that the shirts, whose imports have been blocked by the United States, are made from cotton sourced from outside China. As per Japan Times, the shirts are made at a plant in China using cotton procured from outside the country. Uniqlo emphasized that there has been no confirmation of forced labor during the manufacturing process for the items.

In January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection blocked imports of Uniqlo brand shirts for possible violation of a US ban related to suspected forced labor in China's Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region.

Uniqlo said its imports of other products manufactured at the same Chinese plant have bee permitted. The shirts are not subject to seizure by US authorities although their import was not allowed. The brand clarified that it has no direct transactions with Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a major producer of Uyghur cotton under the wing of the Communist Party of China.

The cotton used in the shirts in question was sourced from multiple countries other than China and the company has submitted certificates of origin to the CBP.

Sustainability technology platform Higg aims to unlock a comprehensive view of a business’ social and environmental impacts in value chain operations. As per Eco Textile, since 2019, Higg has helped manufacturers improve their environmental scores by nearly 20 per cent in the two years since it formed.

The platform enables companies to measure, manage and share the social and environmental impacts of their value chain, It has become the industry's 'go to' for sustainability measurement since it span out from the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) in 2019. Higg has broadened its reach from around 20,000 users to more than 45,000, including tens of thousands of manufacturers in 120 countries; while more than 500 fashion brands have committed to using its brand and retail tool.

It has developed a suite of tools which together make up a comprehensive platform for sustainability insights for responsible consumer goods businesses, beginning with the fashion industry.

Higg has also been building its leadership team with former executives from Nike and Microsoft, and growing from 20 employees in 2019 to 73 today.

In its sustainability report for 2020, Danish fashion giant Bestseller claims to have achieved important sustainability goals despite the pandemic. As per an Eco Textile report, the company sourced 84 per cent of its cotton more sustainably in 2020 with organic cotton accounting for nearly a quarter of its total consumption.

Bestseller also increased the use of more sustainable man-made cellulosic fibres from 11 to 34 per cent, and increased the amount of recycled polyester used to 10 per cent of the total. The 2020 sustainability report also highlights Bestseller's success in achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals in line with the Paris Agreement and a 1.5°C pathway through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The retailer also launched the Fashion FWD Lab, an experimental platform, which acts as catalyst for collaboration with innovators and entrepreneurs to pilot and test new ideas and solutions. Its brands Vero Moda, Object and Selected became some of the first to produce garments at market scale from Renewcell’s Circulose fibre which is made from discarded textiles, such as production waste and worn-out garments.

Alongwith Cyclo and GMS Composite Knitting, Bestseller also developed a closed-loop system which recycles cutting scraps to make cotton yarn and fabric. Around 219 or its suppliers completed a Higg FEM assessment, representing 86 per cent of the company's supply chain by value.

Owner of brands like The North Face, Vans and Timberland, VF Corporation is creating a new 'Child Rights Action Pledge' to strengthen the protection of children’s rights and eliminate child labour throughout the global apparel supply chain by 2025.

As per Eco Textile, VF’s new pledge embodies all important work done by them till date and its aspirations to be a leading industry advocate for children’s rights. As a part of its pledge, the company plans to integrate the Children’s Rights and Business Principles developed by UNICEF, the United Nations Global Compact and Save the Children.

In addition, VF Corp aims to strengthen its child rights efforts through increased due diligence in upstream supply chain; a formal policy for the prevention, mitigation and remediation of child labor; a review of supply chain purchasing practices, including wages and working conditions for parents and caregivers and enhanced NGO partnerships focused on supporting children, advancing education and addressing the root causes of child labour

The United Nations has declared 2021 the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), even after a 38 per cent decline in the last decade, 152 million children across the world are still engaged in child labor.

Minnesota-based textile distributor Global Impex USA believes the world may face a severe cotton shortage due to India’s COVID-19 crisis. As per a Knitting Industry report, the sudden surge of new variant has heavily affected India’s fabric manufacturing. It has impacted India’s entire domestic supply chain and increased cotton prices to their highest in seven years, says, Sarvesh Jain, Representative, Mamta Global Trading.

Mike Sanders, National Marketing Manager, Akron, however adds, shortage may happen if countries go into complete lockdown. High fuel prices in India and lack of migrant workers is also leading to a rise in Indian cotton prices and may lead to a shortage in future, adds Jain.

Global Impex USA, has partnered with Umed Group, a global fabric manufacturer based in India that had to delay fabric shipments and manufacturing due to the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.

Global specialty materials provider Eastman will increase Naia Filament Yarn production capacity at its Barcelona site by 50 per cent by 2022 end. Through this expansion, the company aims to make sustainable fashion accessible to all and support new brand adoptions of Naia™ in women’s wear fashion, where there is a growing demand for sustainable fibers.

Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of advanced materials, additives and functional products, specialty chemicals, and fibers that are found in products people use every day. As a world leader in the diverse markets it serves, Eastman is focused on delivering innovative and technology-based solutions while maintaining its commitment to safety and sustainability. The company recently launched Fluid Genius™, a revolutionary new patent-pending product that equips engineers and operations managers with predictive insights to optimize heat transfer fluid performance.

The Cambodian subsidiary of China-based Ruixue Group, Ruixue (Cambodia) plans to set up a new garment factory in the administrative district of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. To be set up at a cost of $4.5 million, the factory will create 2,000 jobs in manufacturing women’s wear, including sweaters, dresses and handbags. The project has been approved by the Council for Development of Cambodia (CDC) chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The European Union is the largest market accounting for approximately 40 per cent of Cambodian garment exports, followed by the US, Canada and Japan. The largely export-oriented garment sector of Cambodia is the largest employer in the country, with women making up a substantial portion of the workforce.

Cotton Association of India (CAI) has revised Indian Cotton export estimates for the 2020-21 season at 65 lakh bales against 60 lakh bales projected till last month and 54 lakh bales projected a few months ago. Cotton futures traded firm at Rs 22,300 per bale on May 24. Futures delivery for May on the MCX index increased by 0.86 per cent to Rs 22,290 per bale while it increased by 0.85 per cent to Rs 190 in June. The value of May and June’s contracts traded so far is Rs 75.87 crore and Rs 81.44 crore, respectively.

According to Mohit Vyas, Analyst, Kotak Securities, higher stock revision by CAI, hit on-demand amid COVID blues and recent sell-off in ICE Cotton futures are likely to keep domestic cotton prices range-bound with negative bias in coming sessions. The forecast of the timely onset of monsoon in the country by IMD and Skymet this season is also likely to weigh on natural fiber prices in coming sessions.

Kontoor Brands plans to expand operations by increasing investments in Wrangler and Lee, focusing on the China market and growing digital business. As per a Women’s Wear Daily report, the company has made certain critical investments in Europe and Asia. It launched the Wrangler brand in China in December last year. The company also aims to strengthen its Lee brand in the country besides expanding its digital offerings. Another plan includes growing its digital business from 5 per cent of revenues in 2020 to 10 per cent by 2023.

The company also plans to expand category offerings in outdoor and fishing apparel, graphic T-shirts, women’s apparel and hybrid work and casualwear which is likely to be a feature of customers’ eventual post-COVID-19 wardrobe. An American clothing company, Kontoor Brands was a spin off from the V F Corporation in May 2019. The company sells denim under the Lee, Wrangler and Rock & Republic brand names. It also operates the VF Outlet chain of factory outlet stores.

Los Angeles-based label manufacturer Hi-Tech Printing & Labeling says fashion designers should include information about the causes they support on their clothing tags and labels. The company states, this will ensure consumers are reminded of the brand and the organizations or messages they support throughout the shopping process and each time they wear the item, further increasing the likelihood that they’ll return for future purchases.

Hi-Tech Printing & Labeling believes, in order to maintain the tags and labels’ durability for a longer period, they need to remain intact and legible through multiple cycles in a washing machine and dryer.

Retailers and designers also need to consider different types of tags and labels for individual pieces to ensure maximum comfort, says the Southern California manufacturer. While stronger woven labels pair well with looser-fitting outerwear, items that are more likely to come into direct contact with the skin, such as t-shirts, should have labels that are soft and comfortable to wear, like cotton tags, it adds.