Leading global supplier of jacquard technology, Staubli will showcase its state-of-the art technology for efficient weaving at the SITEX trade fair

The fair will be held from January 06-08, 2024 at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) in Surat, India.

Staubli’s products will be displayed in Booth 256 at the exhibition. The company will offer a wide range of yarn types along with dedicated solutions for processing synthetic fibers. Visitors to the Stäubli booth will observe the renowned S1692 cam motion, which handles up to 8 lifting units. It can weave a wide variety of applications and has been installed in numerous mills around the globe.  

Another product at the booth will be SAFIR S32 automatic drawing-in machine for filament warps. The machine is equipped with unique Stäubli AWC 2.0 technology, including double-end detection as a standard feature. The optional AWC 2.0 layer & offset management function allows the processing of complex repeats and double layers. Full of ingenious new features, this automation solution is an ideal way to improve the efficiency of style changes and streamline the mill’s downstream weaving process.

In a groundbreaking initiative, the Global Apparel Conference (GAC) brought together over a thousand participants from nearly 20 countries and regions. Held under the banner "Together for a Shared Future," the event, hosted by the China National Textile and Apparel Council, unfolded from November 16 to 18, 2023.

Industry in transition: A call for collaboration

The global apparel sector stands at the crossroads of change. The GAC sought to foster international cultural exchange as a means to address shared challenges and promote lasting communication. Through an array of events, including an opening ceremony, two galas, three themed forums, and parallel showcases, the conference aimed to gather insights, build consensus, and deepen cooperation.

Themed forums: Shaping the industry landscape

Diving into critical facets of the apparel industry, the GAC featured three themed forums: the Science and Technology Forum, the Fashion Forum, and the Sustainable Forum. Topics spanned "From digitalization to supply chain planning," "From fashion trends to cultural roots," and "From environmental protection concepts to production technologies."

Global Unity: Key takeaways from GAC plenary session

During the GAC plenary session, participants unanimously endorsed the principles of integration, cooperation, and transparency, encapsulated in the Global Apparel Conference Vision (Humen Vision). Riccardo Braccialini, President of Confindustria Moda, emphasized, "Interdependence, openness, and cooperation are essential for the future of the global fashion industry."

International representation: A united front

Representatives from prominent industry associations worldwide attended the GAC. From Confindustria Moda in Italy to Moda España in Spain, and BGMEA in Bangladesh, the collaboration echoed a commitment to the future of fashion.

Spectacular finale: Night of Humen

The conference culminated in the "Night of Humen," a dazzling showcase featuring creations by renowned designers such as Huang Guangchen & Guo He, Wang Yutao, and Mossi Traore. Mossi Traore, the recipient of the Pierre Bergé Fashion Prize, left the audience captivated.

Optimistic outlook for the future

Sun Ruizhe, President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council, expressed optimism about the future, stating, "The successful start of the first Global Apparel Conference confirms the international willingness to cooperate transparently. We look forward to the next event with even more global players in the industry participating."

The GAC has set the stage for a collaborative and innovative future in the global apparel industry, marking a milestone in fostering unity and addressing shared challenges.

India's newly-elected president of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation, K.V. Srinivasan, sees a significant opening for the country in the global textile market. 

With international buyers seeking alternatives to China, India has a prime opportunity. However, global demand slumps and rising inflation pose challenges. 

Srinivasan notes surprising domestic textile demand lows, even during festivals, emphasizing room for Indian industry competitiveness improvement. 

The Southern India Mills' Association recently felicitated Srinivasan, with ITMF Director General Christian P. Schindler highlighting global industry dynamics in a virtual presentation.

US Congress members, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, penned a letter urging the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) to support fair wages and labor rights for Bangladeshi workers. 

Criticizing Bangladesh's recent inadequate wage hike, the lawmakers called for AAFA's robust backing. The letter aligned with the Biden administration's stance and emphasized US brands' role in demanding better wages and rights. 

It urged engagement in Export Processing Zones, warning against repeating unfair wage-setting paths. Endorsed by various organizations, the letter stressed reassessing minimum wage decisions while upholding fundamental workers' rights.

With an unusually warm weather hitting sales of its autumn/winter collection, and consumers’ curbing expenses on fashion, UK-based fashion retailer Superdry expects its profit to dip this year.

A manufacturer of  jackets and clothing inspired by American vintage styles and Japanese-inspired graphics, Superdry tried to raise funds and control costs by limiting its expenses on digital marketing and existing wholesale business in the US. 

However, its business continues to remain low. For the six months ended October, 28, the brand’s retail sales declined by 13 per cent while wholesale sales fell by 41.1 per cent.

Currently, the brand’s sales are down by about 7 per cent on a like-for-like basis.

According to the British Retail Consortium, the brand’s retail sales in the UK remained tepid in November despite Black Friday deals.

Its revenues are expected to remain weaker than market expectations despite cooler, climatic conditions boosting sales, says Clive Black, Analyst, Shore Capital. 

Teijin Frontier has launched a new Microft MX high-performance fabric made from highly-deformed cross-section multifilament yarn. 

The yarn used to make the fabric is made by mixing single filaments of polyester and nylon using a unique spinning technology. These filaments produce deep colors and are give the fabric an appearance of a finely woven chambray due to difference in dyeing effect of both fibre elements.

Having a V-shaped highly deformed cross-section, the new fabric is both bulky and soft at the same item. Its nylon-polyester mix helps it combine desirable features from both materials, such as the abrasion resistance and color development capabilities of nylon and the water absorption, quick-drying properties and shape stability of polyester.

Teijin Frontier plans to promote the Microft MX fabric for use in 2025 spring and summer outdoor clothing and sportswear collections. The company will further broaden its applications to functional innerwear and fashion clothing, with an aim to sell 500,000 m per year by 2026.

Apparels combining style with functionality have been gaining in popularity in recent years, reports Teijin. Fabrics with superior functionality and new looks and textures are in demand, Yet, progress in developing materials combining the texture and functionality of polyester and nylon, has been slow, the company adds.

British sportswear brand BAM Bamboo Clothing has launched a new Flexa collection that blends bamboo-based fibers with Amni Soul Eco, a green fiber produced and distributed by Fulgar. 

On correct disposal, the fiber biodegrades ten times faster than conventional products. 

The new Flexa collection focuses on this accelerated decomposition. It offers seamless and comfortable sportswear that is ideal for toughest training regimes. The collection comprises a body suit, a top, women‘s leggings and a men’s active top.

The Flexa Balance Body suit in the collection is made entirely from the Amni Soul Econ fiber. It has a seamless structure and is ideal for yoga sessions. The crop top provides medium support during training. The top has a V shaped neck at the back which provides consumers with total freedom of movement. 

Leggings made with the Amni Soul Eco fiber are stretchy, hard-wearing and super-comfy during use. While Men’s Flexa Long Sleeve Active Top is ideal for open air running. 

An international leader in the synthetic fiber sector, Fulgar produces and distributes nylon 6.6 and covered elastomers in the textile and technical fabric sectors. Launched in the late 1970s at Castel Goffredo in Italy, Fulgar has carved out a position as sector leader on the international scene, confirming its international approach with new production centres and installations. 

United States became the largest importer of textile and garments products from Vietnam with shipments to the country surging to over $11 billion by the end of September 2023.

As per Vu Duc Giang, Chairman, Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), this year, Vietnam also expanded its export base to 104 countries and destinations. 

Japan followed as the second largest importer of textiles and garments from Vietnam with shipments worth $3 billion to the country. The third largest importer of textiles and garments from Vietnam was the European Union whose imports totaled $2.9 billion, South Korea, with textiles and apparels imports worth $2.43 billion ranked fourth, while Canada with imports totaling $850 million and China with garment and textile imports worth $830 million ranked fifth and sixth respectively. .

Jackets remained the most exported clothing item from Vietnam during this period with exports totaling $4.38 billion. Those were followed by trousers with over $3.85 billion worth of exports and shirts with exports of $1.87 billion.

Vietnam can reduce its dependency on large markets by diversifying markets, products, customers and partners, opines Giang. In 2022, the country earned an export revenue worth over $44 billion. However, in 2023, its export earnings are expected to decline by over 9 per cent. to over $40 billion. 

Despite numerous western companies exiting the Russian market amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, French sports and leisure goods conglomerate Decathlon continued to supply clothing to its Russian client Desport, through a 'shell company' in Dubai.

Decathlon supplied Kalenji jogging jackets, Wedze ski jackets, Quechua pants and shoes worth $12 million to the Russian company. The company airlifted these clothing items from their factory in Bangladesh, where they were by an intermediary company. 

Owner of Decathlon, the Mulliez Group, remains one of the few French companies to maintain its operations in Russia. Most of the company’s operations are concentrated in Auchan, which generates over 10 per cent of its sales. 

Despite the suspension of commercial activities in its Russian stores and online site a few after the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war, Decathlon secured permissions from the local authorities to sell its products in 36 stores owned by a Russian entity named ARM.

The goods were procured by Decathlon from it Asian suppliers and purchased by a subsidiary based in Singapore who transshipped the goods via Dubai

Pakistan achieved a remarkable feat by reducing its cotton imports bill to $2.4 billion in FY23-24, as the domestic production revived. 

According to annual projections for 2023-24, cotton imports may not even secure a spot in the country's top 10 import categories.

However, this remarkable feat was achieved amidst challenging economic circumstances, including strict central bank restrictions imposed due to a foreign exchange liquidity crisis.

The average burrowing cost for the entire year is expected to remain significantly above 15 per cent, says Muhammad Sualeh Ahmad Faruqui, Secretary of Commerce.  

The industry also suffers from the discontinuation of concessionary financing schemes and tightening of subsidised energy tariffs, he adds. 

Over the past three fiscal years, Pakistan’s cotton import bill averaged $2.25 billion annually, making it the fifth-largest imported component by the country. 

However, despite this, Pakistan is unlikely to meet cotton output target in this marketing year as production is likely to remain a million bales below the average production from FY18 to FY22, adds Faruqui. 

Contrasting global economic trends, with plummeting cotton prices and a potential recession in key export destinations also make the future of Pakistan’s spinning industry uncertain.

However, if Pakistan’s cotton production in the current year reaches the same level as that in FY21-22, its imports will remain restricted to 4.5 million bales. This will enhance the total domestic supply to 13 million bales, adds Faruqui

Demand for imported cotton in the local market has declined, avers Faruqui. Though the frequent shortfalls in domestic production necessitate imported cotton, a surge in demand in recent years, have boosted industry prospects, he adds.