Uniqlo plans to open 200 stores in North America by 2027. The brand currently operates 72 stores across the US and Canada.  It plans to open over 20 stores, taking the brand’s total store count to 92 by the year-end. 

A few of the locations that the brand aims to open stores in 2024 include Providence, RI, in Spring 2024, a new market for the retailer, Tacoma Mall, Tacoma, Wash.; Alderwood Mall, Lynnwood, Wash.; South Shore Plaza, Braintree, Mass., and Staten Island Mall, Staten Island, New York.

Reasons for Uniqlo’s growth in the North America market vary from a focus on branding and customer interactions to providing superior products at valuable prices to customers, says Masahiko Nakasuji, Executive Officer, Fast Retailing Group and Head-Marketing, Uniqlo North America.

Since the opening of its first store in 2005, Uniqlo has grown a steady customer base in North America.  It has also established its own brand concept, called LifeWear to offer iconic products and enhanced store experience to customers. 

In 2022, Uniqlo North America opened an on-site repair service at its New York City flagship in SoHo. Called Re.Uniqlo Repair Studio, the hub can replace shirt buttons, mend seam rips and patch holes, among other services at a cost of $5. A part of the Re.Uniqlo program, the studio promotes a circular apparel system hallmarked by the four Rs: reduce, replace, re-use and recyle.

The year 2023 witnessed a dynamic tango in the global apparel trade, with export and import melodies weaving a complex symphony of triumph, transformation, and unexpected notes. Let's unravel the threads examining who danced to the rhythm of success and who grappled with new realities, both in sending and receiving fashion across borders.

Export: A Shifting Balance of Power

Top Gainers

• Vietnam: The undisputed maestro, Vietnam maintained its export dominance with a vibrant 15% growth. Skilled workforce, efficient infrastructure, and trade agreements fueled this success.

• Bangladesh: A consistent performer, Bangladesh kept the tempo high with a 8% increase, thanks to competitive pricing and strategic diversification.

• Turkey: A surprising comeback story, Turkey rebounded from recent challenges with a remarkable 12% growth, driven by high-value products, improved logistics, and a favorable currency.

Top Losers

• China: The long-reigning export king faced its first significant stumble in decades, with a 5% decline. Rising labor costs, environmental concerns, and Southeast Asian competition dampened its rhythm.

• India: Despite ambitious aspirations, India's exports faltered with a 3% drop or more, hampered by infrastructure bottlenecks, high logistics costs, and fierce regional competition.

• Sri Lanka: Economic instability and political unrest cast a shadow, causing a 7% decline in Sri Lanka's exports.

Import: Reshuffles across the Globe

Top Gainers in Imports

• United States: The insatiable fashion consumer, the US maintained its top spot with a steady 2% import increase, driven by a diverse appetite and global price competitiveness.

• European Union: Europe's fashion capitals remained magnetic, with the EU witnessing a surprising 5% import surge, fueled by high-end goods and strategic trade deals with Vietnam.

• Japan: Prioritizing quality over quantity, Japan's imports jumped 7%, seeking niche, functional, and sustainable offerings from Japan and South Korea.

Top Losers in Import 

• China: The manufacturing powerhouse surprisingly saw a 4% dip in imports, reflecting a focus on domestic production and self-sufficiency.

• Brazil: Economic woes led to an 8% import decline for Brazil, as currency fluctuations and rising domestic costs made foreign fashion less attractive.

• Russia: Geopolitical tensions and sanctions caused a drastic 15% import plummet in Russia, prompting diversification towards alternative suppliers.

Factors orchestrated these dynamic shifts:

• Shifting consumer preferences: Sustainability, ethical choices, and fast-fashion trends influenced production and import locations.

• Geopolitical shifts: Trade wars, rising shipping costs, and regional conflicts re-shaped supply chains and export destinations.

• Technological advancements: Automation and digitalization challenged the status quo, demanding adaptation and investment in these technologies.

Looking Ahead: A Collaborative Future

The global apparel trade promises a vibrant choreography in the coming years. Countries embracing shifting trends, investing in technology and infrastructure, and prioritizing sustainability will find their rhythm. As consumers become more conscious and demand diversity, the top performers in both exports and imports will continue to evolve. The future of this intricate dance lies in collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to a sustainable and ethical fashion landscape.

This year, Panipat’s textiles and blanket exports are expected to increase by 20 per cent as compared to previous years, says Preetam Singh Sachdeva, President, Panipat Industrial Association. 

According to Sachdeva, there are over 125 units manufacturing blankets in the town, especially both Mink and Flamo blankets having much demand not only in domestic market as well as in other countries due to better in quality as well as prices competitive as comparing to the blankets manufactured in China. The blanket industry records an annual business worth Rs 6,000 crore in international markets, supplying goods in United States, United Kingdom, Australia and many other countries.

Vinod Dhamija, President, Chamber of Commerce & Industry, notes, since the outbreak of the corona epidemic, foreign buyers have been diverting form Chinese manufacturers to those in Panipat. The blankets offered by these manufacturers are not only cheaper but also better in quality. This is resulting in a drop in procurement from the Chinese manufactures, adds Dhamija. 

Declining sales of textile goods and blanket manufacturers in China are compelling a large number of manufacturing units in the country to shut down, adds Dhamija Panipat manufacturers consume nearly 1,250 tonne thread daily with this trend growing day by day.

Despite malls witnessing an uptick in footfalls during the Christmas weekend, consumption across apparel category remained muted. 

Apparel retailers witnessed a subdued demand during the October-November festive season as consumers continued to spend with caution. While demand surged during Christmas, the weakness in consumption spilled into December. 

This year, consumers seem to have directed their spending to other essential categories. However, this may normalise next year, says Rajneesh Mahajan, CEO, Inorbit Malls.

Footfall in malls remained below expectations at 12 per cent of last year, notes Pushpa Bector, Senior executive Director, Head - Luxury and Shopping Malls, DLF Retail. Brands declared early discounts on account of weak winters which helped boost sales. The company expects sales to grow by over 15 per cent this year, she adds. 

To boost demand, brands pre-poned their end-of-season sales. The like-to-like sales of a few companies stablised. However, conversion on apparel remained low compared to previous years, adds Akhil Jain, Executive Director, Jain Amar, which retails a women’s fashion brand Madame.

Demand for fashion and gadgets remained strong, says Jayen Naik, CEO, Nexus Select Trust, the operator of portfolio of premium malls. The retailer recovered almost 130 per cent of its revenues before holidays. It expects fashion, jewelry, and gadgets to perform strongly this holiday season. 

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, shows, sales of garments and accessories grew by 11.50 per cent Y-o-Y from January-November 2023 to RMB 1,259.50 billion ($ 177.93 billion). 

Specifically in November 2023, China’s revenues from garments and accessories surged by 22 per cent to RMB 150.30 billion ($ 21.23 billion). 

The nation’s cumulative retail sales, during the period, grew by 7.20 per cent to RMB 42,794.50 billion or $6.045.72 billion. 

In November 2023 alone, China’s retail sales surged by approximately 10.10 per cent, to RMB 4,250.50 billion or $600.48 billion.

China’s retail growth in 2023 aligns with the shifting sentiment of Chinese consumers to increase their spending on apparel and fashion accessories.

KV Shrinivas, President, International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) urged the Indian government to make urgent policy changes to ensure uninterrupted access to raw materials at competitive rates. 

The Indian textiles and clothing industry has been facing significant challenges related to raw materials, including cotton and man-made fibres, and a drastic increase in power costs across various manufacturing states, said Srinivasan. He urged the government to remove the 11 per cent import duty on cotton, addressing the Quality Control Order (QCO) and price issues concerning PTA, MEG, Polyester, and Viscose, to establish a level playing field for the industry. He also condemned the government’s move to enforce QCOs on raw materials, stating it had negatively impacted the man-made fibre value chain.

Further, Srinivasan said, the government’s substantial incentives for new investments were making the industry’s existing capacities financially nonviable. India is the second-largest producer of raw materials. However, the country is yet to leverage this advantage, while neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, lacking such resources, have experienced exponential export growth rates, he added. 

In the period from January to October 2023, the United States encountered a significant 27.45% year-on-year decrease in trouser imports, tallying up to a worrisome $5.64 billion loss in the total value. This downturn raises concerns for global trouser exporters reliant on the US market.

Amid this challenging landscape, Vietnam managed to retain its lead as the top exporter to the US, despite a 29% decline, with exports totaling $3.02 billion. Bangladesh, the second-largest exporter, faced a substantial drop of 29.74%, reaching $2.57 billion, intensifying the competition with Vietnam in a sluggish market.

China, Indonesia, and India also grappled with significant declines in trouser exports, marking a broader trend of economic challenges in the global apparel industry. The industry now faces the critical task of navigating these hurdles and adapting to the evolving dynamics of international trade.

WHP Global has successfully acquired G-Star RAW, marking a pivotal step in the New York-based brand management company's expansion into the European market. 

The move includes plans for a new Amsterdam office. With the original owners retaining a minority interest, G-Star RAW's leadership, led by CEO Rob Schilder, will continue overseeing operations. 

This marks WHP Global's third successful venture in 2023, bringing their portfolio to over ten brands with a cumulative global retail sales exceeding $7 billion. 

In a separate development, WHP Global has entered a long-term licensing agreement with Fashioncenter, a Schmidt Group subsidiary, to enhance Lotto's presence in Central Europe.

Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwest China maintains its stronghold on the nation's cotton output, surpassing 5.1 million tons this year, marking over 20 years of uninterrupted leadership. 

The National Bureau of Statistics reveals Xinjiang's output constitutes a remarkable 89.5% of the country's total, driven by a 2.5 million-hectare planting area. 

Boasting unique natural conditions, Xinjiang emerges as China's foremost high-quality cotton production hub, orchestrating a shift in the nation's cotton landscape since the 1990s. 

The region's adoption of mechanized and intelligent cotton planting reflects advancements, positively impacting the livelihoods of growers and textile workers alike.

Data from Italy’s fashion sector body, Confindustria Moda shows, turnover of Italy’s fashion sector grew to €111.7 billion in 2023 as compared to 2022. However, the growth was solely restricted to values as sales volumes registered a notable decline. 

Italy’s apparel exports grew by 5.1 per cent €54.5 billion in the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year. Exports to the European Union grew by 47 per cent, while exports to non-EU regions covered 53 per cent. Confindustria Moda expects Italy’s exports to China to suffer with demand for domestic products rising in the country against imports,

Despite the growth in revenues, the fashion sector in Italy continues to suffer from a reduction in profit margins due to rising energy and raw material costs. Though energy costs are expected to return to pre-COVID levels, the industry remains uncertain over the future of raw material costs. 

Acknowledging these challenges, Ercole Botto Poala, President, Confindustria Moda urges the industry to make collaborative efforts to address shared needs in training, sustainability, and innovation, preparing for the sector's future challenges.