As per a Textile Focus report, a recent seminar hosted by the Vietnamese embassy highlighted the importance of enhanced partnership between Vietnam and India to boost Vietnam’s textile and clothing exports. The seminar was attended by 250 businesses, scientists and policy-makers.

Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador of Vietnam in India, highlighted the changes in global geopolitical scenario. He also emphasized on the rivalry and competition between major powers, and security conflicts and disputes. He opined that the pandemic gives India and Vietnam an opportunity to foster and complement bilateral relations, thereby contributing to the recovery and enhancement of supply chains in key areas.

Ashok Juneja, President of the Textile Association (India), said India exports apparels worth $16 billion and textiles worth $22 billion while Vietnam exports apparels worth upto $31 billion and textiles worth $5 billion. This offers sufficient room for cooperation in both countries in this region. By exporting natural fibers like cotton, jute, silk and wool, to synthetic fibers, such as polyester and nylon, India can enhance its textile and garment industry in Vietnam, he added.

Dr A Sakthivel, Chairman, ATDC & AEPC presided over the 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ATDC held on September 28, 2020. Organized via video-conferencing, the meeting was attended by over 70 leading industry members from across India. Among those present wertr: Usha Fabs, Jyoti Apparels, Monica Garments, Cheer Sagar, Goodwill Impex, Neetee Clothing, Trend Setters Intl, Madan Trading Co, SNQS Intl, PS Exports, KG Exports, Creative Garments, Twenty Second Miles, etc. These members assessed the Post COVID preparedness of ATDC and noted that training would commence from October 2020.

The members wanted steps to be taken for intensive training on productivity improvement and support for implementing ‘Apprenticeship’ scheme which has become mandatory now. Sakthivel informed about the recent steps taken in Tamil Nadu by ATDC alongwith AEPC in the World Bank Project ‘STRIVE’.

Rakesh Vaid, Vice-Chairman, ATDC spoke about the launch of ‘Pro-up’ or Professional Up-gradation programs for apparel exporters on-site basis for from January, 2021. ATDC has been selected by the Delhi government through DSFDC for training 1,000 candidates in trade program i.e. AMT, FDT. Merchandiser – Products Supervisor, Pattern Maker, etc in five ATDC’s centers across Delhi. The courses commenced from September 21, 2020 at Dwarka, Okhla, Ayanagar, Dilshad Garden and Rohini.

ATDC also launched digital online courses for all verticals with about 1,200 students in AVI vertical, 600 students in BVoc and 670- 700 students in DDU-GKY and 2400 candidates in National Sponsorship Progam . NSDC has renewed ATDC’s membership as a non-funded partner and as of March, 2020, uploaded over 68,000 candidates through NSDC Portal becoming one of the biggest vocational training provider in the country.

The Ministry of Textiles has empanelled to provide ToT training under which 14 training programs have already been conducted under the SMARTH initiative of MOT, GOI. In addition, ATDC has trained 2025 trainers in 82 batches through AMH-SSC. During the previous Financial Year in 2019-20, ATDC had conducted the first award and degree distribution function on November 21, 2019 wherein, 187 BVoc students had received their degrees from Dr (Prof) Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE.

During the year 2019-20, ATDC also emerged as the biggest training provider through CSR with support from GAP Inc, Groz Beckret, HCL, ONGC, RECL and many other corporates. ATDC has also completed Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of more than 22,955 candidates in 372 factories across India, probably the largest RPL implementing agency for Apparel Sector under NSDC.

Under Sakthivel’s leadership ATDC aims to join hands with AEPC for implementation of the World Bank supported ‘STRIVE’ Project for Industry Apprenticeship Initiative Cell and expand the work of Training of Trainers (ToT) through AMH-SSC. Another major feather in ATDC’s cap has been the GAP Inc’s PACE (Personal Advance and Career Enhancement) program having selected ATDC as an education and training partner for PACE since 2018. ATDC has trained over 8,000 candidates and 125 trainers under this program. For the current year GAP is extending freeship / scholarship for 232 girl students from disadvantaged sections of the society to pursue their studies.

ATDC is also rehabilitating migrant laborers. In UP, over 200 migrant laborers are being trained under RPL at ATDC Kanpur. ATDC expects to be sanctioned further RPL targets to be taken up in UP. ATDC is poised to play a significant role in the post COVID-era through digitalization of the courses and for generating new jobs in the industry Revolution 4.0 context by introducing new bouquet of courses relevant to the emerging challenges caused by the New Normal. The facilities extended by ATDC to society’s exporter members include:

10 per cent fee concession granted to the candidates being sponsored/ referred to ATDC in writing on letterhead by the esteemed members of ATDC (Garment Exporters) for training at ATDC centers under B Voc degree courses and 1 year AMT/FDT diploma courses.

20 per cent fee concession granted to the candidates being, sponsored referred to us in writing on letterhead by the esteemed members of ATDC garment exporters for training at ATDC centers under various short term courses / certificate courses.

• Mini textile abs for basic testing facility and training of technicians. Access to basic quality testing services in knits and woven segment to enable judicious purchase decisions in procurement of yarn and fabric through hard negotiations of price, based on quality parameters.

• • Resource & High Tech Centre Facility for advanced machines

• National Placement Cell to help in identifying skilled human resources

• ATDC-TOT academy (for providing training to trainers/professional of member companies)

• Exposure to latest technology and advanced training

• Circulation of ATDC E-News to the members

• ATDC pro-up Initiative

• On the requirement of garment industry ATDC is also setting up ‘ATDC-Smart Inside’ within Apparel Factories

• Designing and range development/fashion collection/sample development through Final Year B.Voc students at ‘Converge’ annual show of ATDC.

• ATDC Digital Learning Division and professional up-gradation center.

• ATDC portal and mobile app for providing online network of apparel value chain and services related with it.

• ATDC-KTM Centre of Excellence for providing technical support to Tirupur Knitwear Sector

• Conducting Recognition of Prior Learning Training (RPL) Programmes/TOT Training of Trainers. Gurpreet Kaur, Director (AA) & Secretary (BOG & AGM Matters), ATDC

Worth over $2.4 trillion global apparel industry, in India the industry employs millions of workers. However, the industry is plagued by various labor rights issues further exacerbated by the pandemic. COVID-19 has impacted India’s garment exports leading to order cancellations, inventory buildups and slower realization of export receivables. It has also affected domestic consumption as new store openings have stopped while existing ones are facing an inventory build-up.

Apparel prices in the domestic market are being impacted as exporters continue to dump their inventory in the domestic market. This is also leading to reduced engagement of casual labor, factory closures and subsequent return of workers to their native places.

Factory closures lead to rising unemployment

Several workplaces across the country are closing down owing to public health concerns and social distancing measures. This has left millions of garment workers jobless. Garment factories in Tiruppur had shut down even before the lockdown as orders from western countries were being cancelled. Two nearby villages – Allapuram and Mannapalayam – suffered the most as all employment in both villages ceased completely.

Garment factories in Bengaluru, Karnataka are suffering due to rising labor protests. In the first week of September, workers employed Shahi Exports’ Unit 8 in Bengaluru refused to enter factory premises as the management had refused to provide transportation services. Most workers employed in the factory cannot afford travelling expenses. Factory management decided to discuss matters with union representatives of Karnataka Garment Workers Union (KGWU) and find an amicable solution.

Promote labor rights

Indeed, it is high time the industry helps garment producers organize themselves within cooperatives. This would enable them to not only access finance and technologies but also facilitates sharing of best practices, boosts productivity and profits, and reduces poverty.

The industry needs to make more efforts towards promoting labor rights and social security, improving health and sanitation, and promoting adequate standards of living. Government intervention in the form of financial assistance, and developmental and welfare schemes can also boost the sector’s growth.

The prevailing crisis has amply manifested the plight of garment workers. In such a situation, the government needs to initiate measures to protect their livelihoods by making various supportive arrangements. The government should ensure maintenance of minimum labor standards in factories. It should trace supply chains in detail and initiate measures to mitigate the exploitation of garment laborers.

With many of migrant workers returning to the state, Tiruppur is again buzzing with industrial activity. Tamil Nadu was under a strict lockdown until September 7. Though visitors still require e-passes to enter the state, the government has eased restrictions for inter-district travel from September 1. Tamil Nadu has around six lakh power looms that employ around 10 lakh people directly, informs Velusamy, Secretary General, Tamil Nadu Powerloom Federation. Most of these laborers hail from the Southern districts of the state. They did not go back to their towns and villages during the lockdown.

Opening of transport aids laborers’ return

Laborers employed in Tiruppur have starting returning to the city. Some workers are arranging buses while some are availing of the transportation services arranged by their companies. More laborers are expected to return once railways open up, says Raja Shanmugam, President, Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA). Tiruppur district authorities issued e-passes to 274 companies to bring migrant workers back to the district.

Like Tirrupur, workers employed in spinning mills in and around Coimbatore have also starting returning to work. These mills employ around two lakh workers, of which, over 50 per cent hail from other districts and states, says K Selvaraju, Secretary General, Southern India Mills Association (SIMA)

Orders expected to spurt up

The apparent lack of demand has prompted fears of job losses in the industry. Powerloom weavers in Palladam expect a huge revenue loss due to a decline in demand. Many units have allowed their laborers to go home and come back when demand returns. However, the knitwear industry expects a potential spike in orders as its busy season begins in September and lasts till April the next year. The industry expects huge diversion of orders from Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia to Tiruppur

As the pandemic is expected to stay longer, suppliers in the Bangladesh readymade garment (RMG) industry now see a new prospect in PPEs, especially masks and gown. Public health experts recommend mask-wearing as a protective measure to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Many apparel manufacturers are now exporting face masks in bulk. But demand for gown from buyers has not seen an improvement.Industry insiders say that encouraged by higher demand for PPEs at home and abroad, many entrepreneurs are now making an investment on mask-production and added that the export amount of domestically produced PPEs will increase in the days to come. “New investment is also coming.”

Sources at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (BGMEA) said the export amount of masks increased by 883 percent to $ 2.69 crore between March and July this year from $ 27 lakh in the same period of last year.

According to the BGMEA’s data, in June this year, the number of masks in total exported to different countries stood at 1.9 crores which reached 1.24 crore in July recording a 1117 percent uptick in export compared to the same period in 2019.

NEO, an esports organization currently competing in EA Sports’ FIFA series, added Outfitter and Nike as collaborative apparel partners.

Outfitter initiated the collaboration between the three entities. In addition to the jerseys, which feature Nike branding across the 2020-21 FIFA esports season, Nike will also produce other NEO-branded products.

Outfitter is already partnered with another FIFA esports team, FOKUS CLAN, while Nike has existing esports collaborations with a number of teams including T1, SK Gaming, Vodafone Giants, and the Chinese League of Legends Pro League (LPL).

Over the weekend, NEO unveiled a new FIFA roster anchored by former world champion Spencer “Gorilla” Ealing and a new kit design, as well as a main partner in the form of paysafecard. NEO intends to expand into other esports in the future, as well.

Members of the Cotton 2040 Impacts Alignment Working Group, which includes the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Cotton Connect, Cotton Made in Africa, Fairtrade, MyBMP, the Organic Cotton Accelerator and Textile Exchange, have jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)–‘The Sustainable Cotton Aligned Impacts Measurement and Reporting Joint Commitment.’

The MOU sets the intention for the “Delta Framework”–which will become a credible and shared guide for impact measurement and reporting of core sustainability issues of relevance to the cotton sector.

The groups noted that the Delta Framework is voluntary and intended to apply worldwide to any cotton and coffee farming system, with the potential to be expanded to other agricultural commodities over time. Ultimately, this common indicator set will help brands and retailers to confidently track the impact of their sustainable cotton sourcing decisions, support upgrading of farmer services to encourage continuous improvement at the farm level and facilitate increasing transparency and communication with consumers.

The Delta Project is a joint effort of BCI, the Global Coffee Platform, the International Coffee Organization and the International Cotton Advisory Committee, and is supported by the ISEAL Innovation Fund.

The autumn edition of the Yarn Expo proved its importance to the industry as a vital business hub, and additionally this year as a chance to reconnect and recover both in-person and virtually. The leading first yarn & fibre industry event was held from September 23-25, 2020, at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Centre with 15,707 visitors.

Around 419 exhibitors from six countries and regions including China, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, the US, and Vietnam, took part in the fair. Yarn Expo answered the current and future needs of the industry, a number of themed areas and events featured at the fair. This included the China Fibre Fashion Trends Display Zone, China Knitted Fancy Yarn Trends Display Zone, New Fibre Horizon – Textile Material Innovation Forum, and Product Launch Conference, according to a press release by Messe Frankfurt.

Yarn Expo Autumn 2020 was held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition, PH Value, and CHIC, providing a concentrated overview of the latest trends and developments in the textile sector.

Fashion e-tail giant Asos has launched its first circular fashion collection following a collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion. The collection features 29 trend-led styles designed with industry-leading circularity principles, with no compromise on product or price.

The collection puts all of its learnings into practice with a focus on zero-waste design, manufacturing that minimizes waste, using recycled materials, selecting materials that will last longer, and creating items that can adapt to multiple ways of being worn. It also avoids too much material mixing that can hamper recycling efforts, and creates products that are easier to recycle at the end of their life.

The collection is also fashion-forward and led by the season’s biggest trends, challenging the misconception that circular and sustainable clothing can’t be fashionable. Its standout trend pieces include color-drenched tailoring, oversized cardigans and tees, mix and match stripes, square neck volume dresses, and mix-and-match jewelry in brown, lilac and neutrals.

Each product also features a QR code on its garment tag, helping consumers learn more about the firm’s circular design principles and how the product was made.

Gotabaya Rajapaksha, President, Sri Lanka says, it is imperative for local industries to commence production of standard and high quality textiles immediately. He explored the possibility of assigning the larger percentage of supply of school and security forces uniform material to local industrialists following an inspection visit to textile mills in the Dankotuwa Industrial Zone.

Rajapaksha first visited the Creative Textile Mill in the Dankotuwa Industrial Zone. The company has been importing threads from India, Pakistan and China to produce clothing material. Its production capacity is expected to increase to 100,000 meters per day while demand for annual school uniform is estimated at 11 million mt.

President Rajapaksa encouraged the company to recommence apparel production and requested it to devise a plan for the self-employed entrepreneurs to contribute to the demand for the school uniforms. Rajapaksa also inspected Creative Textile Mill Wattala, a branch of Dankotuwa Textile Mill which manufactures fabrics for the uniforms of the tri-forces . The Company employs over 1500 people. One of its primary functions is to dye fabrics as required by the security forces. Rajapaksa inspected the production of the National and Buddhist flags in the company and instructed the owners to increase the production to meet the local demand accordingly.