The Uttar Pradesh government aims to double its MSME exports in the next three years to touch Rs 2.40 trillion. The state exported nearly Rs 1.14 trillion and Rs 1.20 trillion worth of MSME products during 2018-19 and 2019-20 financial years. Besides, the government aims to tap the lucrative global textile supply chain by providing a competitive avenue to international buyers, who are currently procuring textile and fabrics from China. It is holding discussions with UP-based units with regards to providing an alternative vendors base in UP to international buyers sourcing goods from China.

The government also plans to host virtual exhibitions (e-exhibition) during the current fiscal year 2020-21. Through these exhibitions, the state will offer help to exporters under the flagship Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme. The UP Export Promotion Council will also organize virtual exhibitions for the state exporting firms.

The sudden transition to working from home has undermined American retailers that sell dress clothes. Men’s Wearhouse, Jos A Bank, Brooks Brothers, Lord & Taylor, Ann Taylor, Loft and Neiman Marcus are among the retailers whose parent companies have entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in recent weeks, having experienced a sudden drop-off in sales due in part to what industry leaders are calling “casualization.”

In 2011, Men’s Wearhouse accounted for 1 in 5 suits sold in America. Less than a decade later, demand for its suits has collapsed with its parent company Tailored Brands filing for Chapter 11 protection this month. The retailer plans to close up to 500 locations.

Revenue for men’s clothing stores is expected to decline by 13 per cent in 2020, according to research firm IBISWorld, and continue falling for several years. he pandemic has simply accelerated an ongoing pivot toward more casual wear in business, said Ray Wimer, an assistant professor of retail practice at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.

Some retailers, such as women’s apparel chain Chico’s have benefited from earlier shifts toward more casual wear. But some retailers say the decline in celebratory events is hurting them more than the pivot toward casual wear in the work-from-home environment.

Retailers that specialize in dress clothes are adjusting their strategies to avoid going out of business altogether. Brooks Brothers recently announced a tentative deal to sell itself for $305 million to SPARC Group, a conglomerate including mall owner Simon Property Group and Authentic Brands, which used a similar strategy to rescue fashion chain Aeropostale.

Last month, retailers across the globe adjusted 258,300 jobs to employ 14.8 million at specialty stores. Economic recovery also led to 1.8 million more jobs in the sector as unemployment rate fell to 10.2 percent from 11.1 percent in June. Nearly half of the retail job gains during the month came from apparel and accessories specialty stores, which added a seasonally adjusted 120,800 jobs last month to employ 924,500. Department stores increased payrolls by 45,100 to 1 million.

Despite improvement, troubling unemployment figures still play into a rough cycle that is made all the more brutal by the Coronavirus and is bearing down on fashion and the broader economy. Among the latest to get trapped were Lord & Taylor parent Le Tote and Tailored Brands, which filed for bankruptcy recently. While Tailored Brands is likely to scale back operations, Le Tote plans to liquidate its assets.

Even retailers that are managing to stay afloat through the crisis are expected to muddle along. Moody’s Investors Service doesn’t expect operating profits in retail to come back to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2022 — at the earliest.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s latest edition of the Higg Material Sustainability Index (MSI) shows the environmental impact of polyester has fallen from 44 to 36 – making it by far and away the most sustainable fiber on the planet. Meanwhile, Higg’s continues to attach the silk industry as its environmental impact per kilo has risen from 681 to 1086 per kilo.

SAC offers no explanation for changing the scores for silk and polyester. It remains secretive about the underlying LCA data on which the new scores given to silk and polyester are based

Kassatly argues that the Higg MSI cannot be trusted and lacks all credibility because, among other things, it ignores socioeconomic impact, it is cradle to grave only and it ignores the appalling environmental impact of polyester microfiber shedding.

A report by e-commerce aggregator, iPrice Group reveals Southeast Asians are looking for high-end brands online even more so after the pandemic struck. The report noted that as the region’s consumers are restricted from visiting physical stores due to the virus, there is an increase in Google impressions on the top luxury and sports fashion brands on iPrice’s platform.

Comparing January and February’s impressions versus May and June’s, iPrice concludes that French luxury retail brands garnered the most interest amongst consumers during this period. Their demand for skincare products increased by 1,205 percent while demand for bags increased by 877 percent.

Demand for Louis Vuitton’s products increased by a whopping 555 percent followed by demand for Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel products. The iPrice report found Southeast Asians are investing in luxury watches during the pandemic. Searches for luxury watch brands Rolex and Tudor were 160 per cent and 51 percent respectively during this period.

Although industries and livelihoods have been severely affected by the pandemic, interest in fashion brands has not wavered, as proven by the iPrice study. Southeast Asian consumers are still searching for luxury and fashion items. In China where consumers account for roughly one-third of global luxury sales, brands are now launching aggressive digital campaigns to cushion the coronavirus blow. Luxury brands such as Cartier, Montblanc and Prada have set up online shops in China in order to reach out to consumers from a distance.

PPE exports from Cambodia have gone up 130 per cent to $191.3 million in the first half of this year. The country’s exports of face masks during the period were valued at $2.5 million. Exports were largely driven by COVID-19 fears and a shortage of such equipment, the General Department of Customs and Excise said. The newly-incorporated Lyly Global Co – a local plant that produces face masks under the ‘Saffi’ brand – doubled its production of face masks to meet the rising demand.

In May, the Cambodian government granted a request made by the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) to allow the export of all kinds of infectious disease prevention items amid the pandemic. The government aims to support and encourage garment factories to produce face masks, medical equipment and medical clothing, to be sold domestically and internationally as the pandemic spurs global demand for PPEs.

Reports state, Bangladesh’s cotton imports, which witnessed a massive decline on account of COVID-19, are expected to rebound to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. As Khorshed Alam, Managing Director, Little Group point out, demand and consumption of cotton have started growing again following apparel manufacturing factories resuming production after the country-wide shutdown.

As per Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) data, Bangladesh imported 7.1 million bales of cotton in fiscal 2019-20, which is 13.4 per cent less than what it was a year earlier. Import of cotton took a massive hit after the government declared a two-month ‘general holiday’ on March 26 as garment manufacturing units as well as spinning and weaving mills had to wind up operations temporarily. However, from June onwards, as RMG units resumed operations, spinning and weaving mills also sprang back to action and cotton import gained momentum.

The government is taking various initiatives to curb Chinese imports. It plans to increase customs duty on close to 20 product segments including laptops, cameras, textiles and aluminum goods, while placing some steel items under import licensing, as part of its latest move to restrict imports from China.

In recent weeks, the government has been wary of duty hikes as it has noticed diversion of imports from countries with which India has free trade agreements, especially ASEAN members such as Vietnam or Thailand. In fact, the perceived inaction by the revenue department has prompted the commerce department to impose curbs such import licensing of tyres and TV sets, which many in the government believe is turning the clock back by a few decades.

Apart from some of the import restrictions, the government has made approval for FDI from China-based entities mandatory instead of the earlier system which only required companies to inform the Reserve Bank of India post-investment. Further, a registration system has been mandated for Chinese suppliers and contractors who wish to participate in government contracts.

Separately, the government is working on promoting domestic manufacturing by offering incentives to mobile manufacturers and pharma companies producing bulk drugs, with a few more sectors expected to be added in the coming weeks.

CaSandra Diggs has been named the new president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). She will report to Steven Kolb, Chief Executive Officer, and the board of directors. Diggs joined the CFDA in 2001 and till recently held the post of chief administrative and financial officer. In her new role she will be responsible for developing strategy and making decisions that further the council’s purpose to champion, educate and support its membership and the fashion industry.

In March, the CFDA launched “A Common Thread” fund-raising and storytelling initiative to raise both awareness and needed funds for those in the American fashion community who have been impacted by COVID-19. In addition to the numerous fashion and accessories companies, factories and retailers the initiative is financially helping, the CFDA also provided a $1 million donation to funding the new Icon 360 grant program from Harlem’s Fashion Row, which supports designers of color.

Since June, the CFDA has taken several steps to create systemic change in the fashion industry. It plans to create an in-house employment program specifically charged with placing Black talent in all sectors of the industry and revealed plans to create a mentorship and internship programs focused on placing Black students and recent graduates within established firms in the fashion sector. In addition, the organization plans to implement and make available to its members a diversity and inclusion training program. The CFDA also made contributions to several charitable organizations aimed at equalizing the playing field for the Black community such as NAACP and Campaign Zero, among others.

The Ho Chi Minh City Textile and Garment - Embroidery Association said that the number of orders of garment enterprises in the city has declined to 40 percent compared to the same period last year.

Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional markets of the garment industry, such as the US and Europe, which account for up to 70-80 percent of Vietnam’s garment exports, were almost paralyzed while the number of orders from the Asian region was small. Many garment enterprises have not received high-value orders, including suits and high-class shirts, while face masks and protective clothes, which are considered as life-saver for many enterprises, have seen sharp decreases in their prices due to excessive supply worldwide.

According to forecasts, if the situation does not improve soon, there will be about 60-70 percent of micro and medium enterprises facing the risk of closing down. Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) Vu Duc Giang said that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in consumer culture as people have shifted spending on essential products instead of laying too much emphasis on shopping as before. To manage to survive, many garment enterprises are returning to the domestic market, but domestic demand is also weak because people are tightening spending.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the first seven months of the year, textile production increased by 1.8 percent, clothing production decreased by 4.6 percent compared to last year. Garment and textile export turnover in the first seven months was estimated at US$16.18 billion, down 12.1 percent; fibers and yarns of all kinds decreased by 20.9 percent over the same period last year. It is forecasted that the total export turnover of the industry this year will be about $32.75 billion, down 16 percent compared to last year.