Expo 2020 is being held in Dubai from November 26 to December 2, 2021. India is pitching for becoming the preferred sourcing partner for the global textile industry during the event. Global investors are being invited to invest in the Indian textile value chain and make it a preferred sourcing partner. The Textile Week at the India Pavilion sees many activities including roundtable discussions on India as a sourcing and investment destination for textiles along with the production linked incentive scheme. This scheme is aimed at domestic technical textile firms and manufacturers of fabrics and apparel in the manmade fiber segment.

India is the world’s second largest exporter of textile and clothing and focuses on both quality and scale of production to become a global manufacturing hub. India is recognized as one of the best sourcing destinations for garments, textiles and accessories. The textile share in India’s GDP is estimated at around 2.3 per cent and it is the largest employer, employing about 45 million workers. India’s FDI policy is recognized as the most liberal in emerging economies, which allows 100 per cent investment under the automatic route in the entire textile value chain. The textile industry has been encouraged to focus on speed, skill and scale and get into innovative partnerships.

Nike has been affected by the disruption in global supply chain for sneakers. Nike has voiced concerns about its ability to sell seasonal collections for year-end festivities, with half of Nike sneakers are sourced in Vietnam. In the last few weeks, the sector has hinted at the difficulties multibrand retailers might experience on stocks of Nike’s most popular products in the near future. Nike Futures orders for Spring/Summer ’22, and the balance Winter ’21 orders, stand cancelled. Nike has also indicated that re-stocking would not be possible until further notice. A few years ago, Nike announced it intended to prioritise direct sales channel and a limited number of close retail partners but the fact that the group’s retailers are having their orders cancelled is concerning.

Covid continues to impact global supply chain and create transportation disturbances. Like Nike, German groups Adidas and Puma are dealing with closures at their Vietnamese suppliers’ factories in recent months and with difficulties in shipping goods from Asia to the rest of the world. They are expecting stock-outs for some products during the year-end festivities. The same disruption is expected to hit the production of spring/summer 2022 collections.

Performance Days Munich which was to have been held in Germany, December 1 to 2, 2021, has been cancelled due to the sharp rise of Covid cases. The event organizers of Performance Days were in the final stages of preparations for the fair and the goal of being able to realize a fully booked fair with a portfolio like in pre-pandemic times seemed to be within reach. But the digital fair on December 1 to 2, 2021, will go on.

As a part of The Loop, there is the opportunity as of now to view online the fabric innovations and news for the winter season ’23/’24, this year’s focus topic, The Sustainable Future of Nylon, and the latest color trends. In the Marketplace, visitors will be able to view the numerous exhibitor products, including the Performance Forum’s curated sustainable fabric highlights.

Throughout the digital fair, exhibitors and fair visitors can look forward to extensive networking opportunities. For example, as part of the digital supporting program on December 1, with various expert talks, there will be discussion rounds and speakers via livestream and Q&A live from the studio. On December 2, the sustain and innovate conference on this year’s focus topic will kick off with discussions and panels.

KPR Mill has increased its total garment manufacturing capacity to 157 million garments a year. The company is one of the largest vertically integrated apparel manufacturing companies in India. Net profit jumped 115.23 per cent in the quarter ended September 2021 as against the previous quarter ended September 2020. Sales rose 27.39 per cent in the quarter ended September 2021 as against the corresponding quarter last year.

KPR Mill is an integrated textile manufacturing company from India. KPR Mill has opened a garment unit in Ethiopia. The complete set-up of the garment unit took about two months. Extensive training of the workforce took place in both Ethiopia and India. At full capacity, the company will employ 1,500 machine workers who will produce 50,000 garment pieces a day for the world market. So far, employment has been created for 700 people and export shipments have commenced to Europe and the United States.

For the six month period total income was Rs 2166.30 crores as against Rs 1498.74 crores in the previous year. Net profit was at Rs 410.29 crores compared to Rs 172.84 crores in the previous year.

GHCL will invest Rs 500 crores in Tamil Nadu. The chemical and textile company will set up 40,000 ring spindles in Tiruchirappalli district to produce synthetic and synthetic blended yarn to cater to the knitting and weaving segments. GHCL also plans to develop an extra high tension power transmission facility to ensure uninterrupted power supply. It will install another 40,000 ring spindles with 24 knitting machines in Madurai district to produce 100 per cent cotton yarn and knitted fabrics.

In order to fulfil its commitment towards sustainable business practices and reduce its carbon footprint, GHCL proposes to set up a 20 MW solar power park. At the moment, 52 per cent of the energy requirements of GHCL’s yarn business is fulfilled from renewable resources. Once the project is completed, almost 70 per cent of GHCL’s energy requirement for the spinning business will be from renewables. Going forward, GHCL will further enhance its energy portfolio to fulfill almost 90 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources.

GHCL is an Indian group with a footprint in chemicals, textiles and consumer products. It has commenced the new fiscal year on an encouraging note with substantial gains across all its business segments.

Italy’s Design and Training Services Centre (GSC) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have launched Creative Jordan, a project to support and encourage the textile value chain in Jordan. The aim is to create employment and economic opportunities in Jordan. It will directly target textile manufacturers. Besides the provision of technical training to actors of the value chain, one of the objectives of this project is to create new successful brands and collections under two fashion brands, JO! By Creative Jordan and Khayt, which are the storytelling umbrella of the fashion sector and be further promoted in the international markets.

Through capacity building and effective linkages, the project will play a key role in enhancing economic opportunities and job creation in Jordan’s textile and fashion value chains. The prospective outcome of the project is streamlined to be in line with Jordanian law and with targets set in Jordan’s economic growth plan.

The project will enhance income-generation opportunities and job creation in the textile and fashion value chains through capacity building and effective connections in the local market. It will target women and improve their capacities so as to lead an increase in their economic participation, and effectively foster local women empowerment and gender equality. Women will represent at least 40 per cent of the project’s direct beneficiaries.

Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) has launched the CMAI Arbitration Cell. The Arbitration Award will offer legal strength to the recipient. The cell will provide support to the members, consisting largely of MSME manufacturers. CMAI has designed its Arbitration Rules and Regulations keeping in mind the industry practices and while time ensuring fairness and equity to all stakeholders.

CMAI’s Research on Indian Domestic Market estimates the market size is around Rs 6.5 lakh crores. Even a minuscule if 1 per cent disputed, delayed or denied payments, the amount be around Rs 6,500 crores. This clearly underlines the need for a quick, efficient, and economical mechanism for resolving such disputes and complaints.

Speaking at the launch Shaunak Thakker, Lawyer and Fellow of the UK Arbitrators, underlined the usefulness of the arbitration process, and complimented CMAI for introducing this concept in their activities. Rajesh Masand, President, CMAI, informed the Panel of Arbitrators of CMAI will include leading members of the industry with impeccable credentials, legal luminaries, as well as individuals of high repute. The Panel will also include members from other trade associations from all over the country.

A book on CMAI Arbitration Rules and Regulations was also released by former President Ashok Rajani and other dignitaries. CMAI also launched the CMAI membership card which offers members a variety of benefits and discounts from close to 25 topbnrands and retailers of the country.

Cotton yarn prices have increased over 20 per cent in the past three months in India. Prices of superior quality yarns 40 CWC and 60 CWC have increased to Rs 405 a kg from Rs 330 and Rs 500 from Rs 415, respectively, in the past three months. Yarn prices normally keep pace with the raw material i.e. cotton. Yarn prices move in tandem with cotton and demand in the apparel sector. The demand for garments has seen a northward trend after the opening up of Covid related restrictions Cotton prices have sky rocketed and have not come down even with the onset of the new cotton season. Domestic prices have galloped in line with the global trend due to lower production and supplies. For instance 30 counts CCH yarn, used by hosiery units, is currently quoted at Rs 340 to Rs 345 a kg. When the Covid pandemic broke out in the country in March last year, the yarn was quoted at Rs 165 to Rs 170 a kg.

While Shankar-6 cotton prices have increased 80 per cent since October last year, 40s count hosiery yarn rates have gone up only by 58 per cent during the period. However the policy is to let cotton growers enjoy the current good prices they are getting.

Guess’ net revenue for the third quarter increased 4.4 per cent. Compared to prior year quarter, net revenue was up 13 per cent. Net earnings for the third quarter increased 140.5 per cent. Compared to fiscal 2021, third quarter earnings were up 13.3 per cent. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased 150 per cent in fiscal 2020.

Earnings from operations rose 190 per cent in the third quarter of fiscal 2020. Compared to the 2021 quarter, earnings from operations increased 47.7 per cent. Operating margin in the period increased 6.5 per cent to 10.2 per cent from 3.7 per cent in the third quarter of fiscal 2020, driven primarily by lower markdowns, higher initial markups, overall leveraging of expenses and lower occupancy costs, partially offset by higher performance-based compensation. Operating margin was up 2.4 per cent to 10.2 per cent from 7.8 per cent in the same prior-year quarter, driven primarily by lower non-cash impairment charges, lower markdowns, higher initial markups and overall leveraging of expenses, partially offset by higher performance-based compensation.

All in all, Guess delivered a 10 per cent operating margin in the period, driven by strong gross margin expansion, as a result of lower promotional activity and improved IMUs in spite of increased freight costs related to the supply chain disruptions experienced in the market.

Arise Integrated Industrial Platform and Fiber Trace has started a new pilot program in Benin. The partnership aims at enabling vertically integrated mills in the Republic of Benin to trace, verify and audit the lifecycle of their garments from spinning mills to stores, sharing the journey of Benin premium cotton with end consumers. The aim of this agreement is also to improve Benin’s position in terms of textile innovation and technology, improving visibility, resilience, securing economic competitiveness and creating a thriving value chain for African agriculture as the country is expected to reach a 98,000 ton cotton processing capacity a year by the end of 2023.

Arise Integrated Industrial Platform is a pan-African developer and operator of industrial parks committed to help Africa thrive. Fiber Trace embeds luminescent pigments on the fiber at the spinning mill. The pigments, indestructible throughout the entire textile processing cycle, can be read and tracked at every stage of the supply chain, and each audit is recorded on the blockchain making the information secure, accessible and irrefutable. Fiber Trace will provide transparency and true custody of supply chain solutions for brands and suppliers across the globe working with African manufacturers and supporting the growth of best practices in agriculture on the continent.