With the world’s largest free trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) coming into effect on first day of 2022, there is a great deal of apprehension over the changes it will bring. Including the 10 ASEAN members, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, the RCEP agreement was passed at the 21st ASEAN summit in 2012, says a CCF Group report. The agreement aimed to establish a free trade agreement with unified market by reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers. The agreement encompasses the members’ trade in goods, services, investments and rules

Around 27.4 per cent of global trade value

Accounting for 30.9 per cent of the world’s population, RCEP member countries have a population of 2.37 billion. Their GDP accounts for 29.9 per cent of the world's GDP, exports account for 39.7 per cent of the world's exports and imports account for 25.6 per cent. The overall trade value of the RCEP member countries accounts for 27.4 per cent of the global. These countries are mainly exporters with imports forming a miniscule proportion of their imports.

Among the 15 RCEP countries, China accounted for 10.7 per cent imports and 24 per cent exports in the world, in 2019. It was followed by Japan with 3.7 per cent of imports and 2.6 per cent of exports. The third largest trading country was South Korea with 2.6 per cent of imports and 2.8 per cent of exports.

Textile and apparel exports account for 46.9 per cent

Of the total trade from RCEP countries, textile and apparel exports totaled $374.6 billion accounting for 46.9 per cent of the world, while imports totaled $138.5 billion, accounting for 15.9 per cent of the world. Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia and other ASEAN regions were the major exporters while China. Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand were net importers.

RCEP to spike competition for local enterprises

The introduction of RCEP is likely to reduce tariffs among member countries and drop trade costs. This will lead to increased competition for local enterprises not only from domestic but also foreign brands, especially Chinese ones. Except New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, other member countries mainly export clothing, supplemented by textiles, while Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand are largely importers. The upstream and midstream end apparel users were highly dependent on imports, while developed regions such as Japan and South Korea mainly imported textiles and apparel, which were the main places of consumption.

Rise in overseas investments

The RCEP agreement can help significantly lower tariffs and fulfill the commitment to open investment in services. Reduction in tariffs will significantly improve the competitiveness of RCEP member countries. Meanwhile the competitiveness of textiles and apparel from major production bases such as India, Bangladesh, Turkey and other major production bases has declined in RCEP. Investment barriers among RCEP member countries have also leading to a rise in overseas investment in the region.

A research team at the University of Georgia has introduced a new solution to toxic denim dyeing that eliminates noxious chemicals from the denim dyeing process while using a fraction of the water.

As per reports, the new denim dyeing method mixes cellulose nanoparticles made from wood pulp — a sugar called chitosan — with natural indigo dye to create a gel that can be applied to the fabric a single time to yield an intense indigo color.

The chitosan essentially glues the pigment in place after the fabric dries, creating a sort of matrix of dye that coats the fibers of the denim. The process does not require reducing agents as it doesn't involve dissolving the indigo dy. It reduces the amount of water used in conventional dyeing methods by about 96 percent.

The process is also non-toxicas the drying time for the chitosan dye is shorter and the new technique yields fabric of the same weight, thickness and overall feel as traditionally dyed denim.

Ted Sheely, Owner, Azcal Management Company has been awarded with the 2021 Cotton Grow Cotton Achievement Award.

A graduate from the University of Arizona, Sheely earlier worked on a farm in the San Joaquin Valley – first as an assistant to a foreman, then foreman, ranch manager, and eventually a partners.’”

The lessons learned drive his businesses and industry involvement today, especially in a production environment where water – or the lack, thereof – impacts every decision made on what to grow.

Currently, there are about 1,200 acre of cotton on the Azcal operation. Sheely grows both upland and Pima varieties, including 320 acres of organic Pima. With all Pima acres combined, its about a 50/50 acreage split with upland.

To better manage their own water supply, Azcal has its own water company to help keep track of the farm’s multiple deep wells, along with maintenance.

He was an early participant in the USDA/NASA Ag 20/20 Program, which studied the integration of remote sensing-based tools in precision ag management systems to increase production, efficiency, and improve job quality. He’s also on the board of the Global Farmer Network, a farmer-led, non-profit group that supports free trade and the freedom to choose the tools, technologies, and strategies needed to maximize productivity and profits in a sustainable manner.

In an effort to address concerns related to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the UK, premium contemporary womenswear show Scoop x Pure, to be held at the Truman Brewery London from February 08-10, 2022 will be held with safe and secure guidelines

As per Karen Radley, Founder and MD, Scoop, the event will ask all attendees, including visitors, exhibitors, contractors, venue and organizer staff, to show proof of COVID-19 status on arrival at the venue. Current government guidance also states that face coverings are required in most indoor public settings, including retail spaces and exhibition halls. This means that face coverings must be worn by anybody within the show space, including all exhibitors, visitors, contractors and staff.

Scoop x Pure London will showcase the very best premium and ready-to-wear womenswear and accessories collections from designers including Feri, Sancia, Louise Hendricks, Pom Amsterdam, Primrose Park and new faces including Way Out, Lam, BlankaPukara, Mou, Norr Copenhagen, etc.

The three-day Surat International Textile Expo (SITEX) 2022 generated Rs 250 crore, business this year, says Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), which organized the event along with the Southern Gujarat Chamber Trader and Industrial Development Council.

The exhibition commenced at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention centre at Sarsana on January 8. It was inaugurated by DarshanaJardosh, Union Minister of State for Textiles and Railways, in presence of CR Patil, President-State, BJP.

According to SGCCI, over 75 exhibitors from Surat and other parts of the country participated in the exhibition with machines made in European countries, as well as China and Japan. Buyers were registered from across the country. The centre of attraction was the latest hi-tech machines like the double rapier weaving machines, dobby rapier loom machines, and 1000 rpm high speed Air Jet loom machines.

AshishGuarati, Chairman, SGCCI says, in three days, exhibitors did business to the tune of Rs 250 crore. The capital investments in terms of installation of new machinery for the next four to six months are likely to be around Rs 1,300 crore. The shifting of orders for polyester bed-sheets for hotels and hospitals from China to India has resulted in a combination of man, machine and skills, for which updated machinery is required. This exhibition will play an important role in achieving this, he adds.

Jordan’s Textile and Readymade Clothes Syndicate says, reducing the customs duty to five per cent on clothes and footwear positively affects consumers’ purchasing power.

AsadQawasmi, Representative, Garment and Jewellery Sector says, reducing customs duty will stimulate economic activity and increase tourism shopping in the Kingdom”. It will also encourage people to buy clothes and footwear, and mitigate customs fraud, thereby reducing smuggling, Qawasmi adds

Hala Abdulla, a clothing shop owner in Amman, says, the decision could not cme at a better time as the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the clothing industry. JawdatAwwad, the owner of multiple clothing stores in Amman, adds, the decision will reduce smuggling and will decrease financial burdens on people working in the sector.

Jordan’s apparel and footwear industry employs around 56,000 individuals and consists of 11,800 facilities operating in different parts of the Kingdom.

To be held from January 18-23, 2022, the Paris Fashion Week Men will feature two new brands, namely; the US label Amin by Californian designer Mike Amin and VTMNTS, the new line characterized by “understated, sustainable luxury” that was launched in summer by GuramGvasalia, which both no longer appear on the definitive calendar.

In all this season, the Paris Fashion Week Men’s event will feature 76 labels, with 17 runway shows and 29 presentations in physical format (altogether, 46 in-person events) and 30 digital shows, as the French Fashion and Haute Couture Federation (FHCM) stated in a press release. As per Fashion Network, the presentation formats chosen by the labels might change “depending on the health situation and the measures introduced by the public authorities. Notably, PacoRabbanne and Alaïa will present their women's ready-to-wear collections during the menswear week.

Of the six new names joining the official Parisian menswear calendar for the first time this season, four will stage in-person shows: young British designer Bianca Saunders, French labels Bluemarble and EgonLab, and Danish brand Rains. The other two rookies, Japanese label Doubled and US label Kidsuper, have chosen to show in digital format.

The Pakistan Ministry of Commerce has decided to continue with the Textile and Apparel Policy 2020-25 and the Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) scheme to enhance export of value-added textile, says Abdul RazakDawood, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce.

At a meeting arranged by the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), the adviser assured businessmen that their problems would be taken up with Prime Minister Imran Khan and in the federal cabinet.

Highlighting the positive outcome of the “Make in Pakistan” strategy, the adviser pointed out that investment of billions of rupees was in the pipeline and new textile units were expected to be established.

The government has reversed the de-industrialization process. In August 2020, it announced the “Make in Pakistan” policy to promote export-oriented industrialization in the country

Under the policy, the government has reduced duties on hundreds of tariff lines including the raw material for industries to make their products competitive.

To be held earlier from April 10-12, 2022 in Davos, Switzerland, the ITMF Annual Conference 2022 has been postponed to September 18-20, 2022.

As per a Knitting Industry report, the event has been postponed due to the uncertain and unpredictable outlook with regard to travel and event restrictions caused by the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. The decision was taken by the ITMF Board in consultation with the two co-hosts – Swiss Textiles and Swiss Textile Machinery.

ITMF is an international forum for the world's textile and related industries founded in 1904. ITMF members are associations and companies covering the entire textile value chain – producers of fibres, textile machinery, chemicals, textiles, apparel, and home textiles. The membership is from more than 40 countries and is representing around 90 per cent of global production.

Global fashion brand Claire's Stores, Inc. has appointed Richard Flint as President of Europe where he will focus on growth across channels in the European market. As per reports, Flint will report to Claire's Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Vero.

With over two decades of experience in retail, Flint's proven track record in key leadership roles, along with his strategic approach to growing and evolving businesses, will help him expand the brand's international footprint throughout Europe. He will focus on amplifying Claire's European presence through a strong growth pipeline and developing the international supply chain to optimize the flow of products to customers through Claire's channels, with an added emphasis on its growing concessions business.

Most recently serving as Chief Growth Officer and Executive Board Member at HEMA Flint delivered significant growth through his digital and multichannel leadership and vision. He was also intimately involved in the company's M&A initiative, playing a key role in the leadership team responsible for the sale of HEMA BV in 2018 and the subsequent sale of the company to a private equity consortium in December 2020. Prior to HEMA, Flint served as the Vice President, Direct-to-Consumer at Nike, leading the company's business in Greater China, including the retail turnaround of its brand fleet, and dramatically increasing e-commerce performance across platforms and owned digital properties.