Spandex prices are falling in China. As per CCF Group, there has been a 17 per cent fall in spandex prices from August-September 2021 to mid-December 2021. The price spread between spandex and its major feedstock has been close to the level it was in early 2021.

In addition, spandex stocks increased to above 20 days and will tend to rise further. Downstream plants will observe the spring festival holidays from January. Spandex companies are estimated to have higher stocks with modest demand. Spandex enterprises are likely to control production amid weaker demand, mounting stocks and high costs.

Some plants have already started scaling down operations. Some plants may even start reducing output before the spring festival holidays when price is close to the cost line, inventories are piling up and the feedstock market is stable and firm. Meanwhile, the launch of new units which are scheduled to start operation in the first quarter of 2021 may be postponed.

Spandex exports from China were up 32 per cent from January 2021 to September 2021. Compared to 2019 exports were up by 29 per cent. Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Chongqing, Henan and Shandong are the major export suppliers of Chinese spandex.

Wake Forest University’s athletics department has signed a long-term retail apparel licensing partnership with Hanesbrands that includes Alternative Apparel, Champion and Hanes brands. The partnership involves CLC, Wake Forest’s college licensing agent, with Learfield. Nike will remain the exclusive supplier of uniforms for its athletic teams, coaches and staff and continue to offer licensed fan apparel. Athletics worked with its exclusive licensing agent, CLC, to identify growth opportunities in men’s, women’s, unisex, youth, infant, and toddler apparel across mass, mid-tier and campus retail channels.

This partnership was a clear focus for Athletics when looking to fulfill its goals of providing value to the university, Winston-Salem and Triad and the best fan experience in North Carolina. Wake Forest will partner with HanesBrands in further cultivating a relationship that will prove to be extremely valuable for Wake Forest University and the entire community, while it expands the retail availability of merchandise for students, alumni, fans, and anyone living in the Triad.

Wake Forest is a top national university with premier athletics programs and a treasure in its hometown of Winston-Salem. Creating this dynamic, long-term partnership is seen as a win for Wake Forest, Winston-Salem and Hanesbrands. Champion and the company’s other iconic brands will help students, alumni and fans celebrate the college experience.

Pakistan’s textile exports increased eight per cent in November 2021, reveals a Topline Securities report. The main reason was depreciation of Pakistani rupee. Growth was mainly driven by the low base effect due to Covid-led restrictions and volumetric growth in value-added segments excluding knitwear segment.

The major contributor in the significant recovery of textile exports is the value-added segment that includes knitwear. Exports of value added textiles recorded a growth of seven per cent. Exports of readymade garments increased 11 per cent, bedwear by nine per cent and towel exports by 28 per cent. Exports of the basic textile items during the month were up by nine per cent due to the strong growth of 12 per cent in cotton cloth exports compared to a growth of two per cent in the previous month.

In the first five months of the fiscal year, textile exports were up by 28 per cent led by strong growth in value-added textiles and basic textiles which were up by 28 per cent and 35 per cent respectively. Pakistan’s textile exports are expected to remain strong in the rest of this fiscal year. However, the slowdown in European economies and potential lockdowns due to Omicron can impact Pakistan’s textile export orders, going forward.

The merger is taking place under sections 230 to 234 of the Companies Act, 2013, and other provisions of the Companies Act 2013 (including any statutory modification or re-enactment or amendment thereof) as per the terms and conditions mentioned in the scheme of merger placed before the board. Further, the previously filed scheme was revised due to changes in the fresh valuation report.

Bhandari Hosiery Exports is engaged in fabric dyeing, fabric processing, fabric knitting and the manufacturing of garments and fabrics. Tikani Exports is engaged in fabric dyeing and manufacturing of garments. The consolidation of entities with similar functions would result in operational and administrative efficiencies, optimum utilisation of infrastructure facilities and available resources, reduction in costs by focused operational efforts, rationalization, standardization, simplification of business processes and elimination of duplication of managerial efforts.

Upon the scheme of amalgamation becoming effective, all equity shareholders of Tikani Exports (transferor company) will be allotted equity shares in Bhandari Hosiery Exports (transferee company) in the ratio of 1.7684623 equity shares (having a face value of Rs 1 each) in Bhandari Hosiery Exports for one equity share (having a face value of Rs 10 each) of Tikani Exports.

New resale initiatives and partnerships launched in 2021 have made secondhand fashion an integral part of the industry’s operating model. In recent times, the resale industry raised funds worth $210 million and $60 million through Vestaire Collective and Grailed platforms respectively. Brands Adidas and Yoox Net-a Porter also inked resale partnerships with resale platforms ThredUP and Reflaunt.

Currently, worth $130 billion approximately, the global secondhand fashion market is set to grow in double-digits through 2025, says a Business of Fashion report. Dominated by the US, growth is being boosted by factors like increased consumer demand, untapped growth potential and growing awareness about the resale potential amongst consumers.

Factors driving resale growth

As per BoF Insights’, five factors are currently driving growth of global resale market. These include: increased inventory with better features offered by resale platforms; favorable demographics; reduced stigma attached to secondhand goods; launch of limited edition collections or drops; sustainability.

Around 75 per cent consumers in the US plan to increase investments in resale in coming years the report says. Existing participants are likely to increase purchases or sale of secondhand fashion, accelerating the growth of the US secondhand fashion market in double digits upto 2025. Around 60 per cent general consumers in the US, France, UK and Germany have purchased secondhand fashion before, show consumer surveys from BoF Insights. Only 15 per cent of the surveyed consumers remain unwilling to purchase secondhand fashion, the report indicates.

Concerns impacting market growth

The survey also indicates an increase in investments by consumers on secondhand fashion. As against 5 per cent of their expenditure spent on secondhand fashion in 2016, consumers spent 10 per cent in 2020. However, this was significantly less than their expenditure on automotive and consumer electronic goods.

Further, the survey shows, only 5 to 7 per cent of total fashion inventory in ‘resaleable’ condition is actually being resold by consumers. Some brands showed reluctance to engage with resale due to concerns including cannibalization of firsthand sales. They were also apprehensive about the conduciveness of resale environment. However, they need to cast their apprehensions aside and aid platforms enhance the resale experience.

The impact of global textile and apparel industry on the planet is not unknown. Global consumption of cotton alone leads to 220 metric tons of carbon emissions besides utilizing 4 per cent of the world’s nitrogen fertilizers reveal studies. Since over 60 per cent of all textiles manufactured across the world are synthetic, and produced mainly from petrochemicals, their impact on the planet is quite alarming. Nevertheless, a TriplePundit report notes, a growing trend of manufacturing sustainable apparel and outdoor gear in the market. According to this report, many brands are launching sustainable products in the market. These include:

Sustainable apparel by Adidas

Adidas recently announced plans to incorporate more sustainable materials in its gear by the end of 2021. Moving forward the brand’s apparels will be made with around 60 per cent materials including vegan alternatives to leather, more circular materials and ocean plastic. In 2020, the brand introduced apparels and footwear made with 71 per cent recycled polyester. Around 15 million pairs of shoes contain ocean plastic. The brand has a solid trade record of meeting sustainability targets with its sustainable apparel and gear. In 2022, it plans to make 17 million pairs of shoes with 7,000 tons of plastics collected last year with Parley for the Oceans.

Backpacks from alternative materials

Nowadays, backpacks made with alternative materials are being introduced. For instance, German brand Got bag has introduced backpacks made with fishing nets. Priced at $99, these backpacks are perfect for commuting and travelling alike, says Mary Mazzoni, Senior Editor, 3p’s.

Fjällräven has also introduced the Tree-Kanken backpack. These 16-liter packs are sturdy. They are made with 90 per cent recycled water and eschew chemicals. The material used to make them is derived from spruce and pine trees in Sweden. The fibers used to make them are sourced from FSC-certified forests.

Buyback policy by denim brands

Many popular denim brands are deploying a blue jeans buyback policy. One of the most popular policies involves bringing in an old pair, and gaining a voucher to buy a new pair. Levi’s, Ariat, and Pacsun have introduced this policy. Through such programs, fashion companies aim to develop a strong brand loyalty besides showing they can have a sustainable apparel program

Partnerships can also help fashion brands take on the sustainable apparel challenge. Madewell, long a pioneer with jeans buyback program, has teamed up with online consignment and thrift shop ThredUP, to collect one million pairs of jeans, which otherwise could end up at the local landfill or incinerator, by 2023.

Gen Z drives the surge in thrifting

The sustainable apparel trend could also push the resale market to $80 billion by 2029, says a recent ThreadUp report. The market is being driven by Gen Z shoppers, adds a NPR report. The 1997-ish and later crowd is diverting their investments to sustainable materials. The fashion industry is also responding to these efforts us as evident from the popularity of apps such as Depop, on which Etsy plunked $1.6 billion to acquire earlier this year.

Use of recycled emissions in sports apparels

This summer, Lululemon announced plans to partner LanzaTech to develop yarn and textiles made out of recycled carbon emissions. This will help the company capture carbon from various feedstock, including synthetic gas, industrial emissions from industries such as steel, agricultural byproducts and household waste. The company has developed certain microorganisms that transform these carbon molecules into ethanol and other base ingredients that will eventually become fabric.

Focus on regenerative agriculture by Timberland

An early adopter of sustainability in apparels, Timberland alongwith its parent company VF Corporation has launched the first regenerative rubber supply system in the apparel industry. Aimed at bringing more clarity to the role of organic practices in regenerative agriculture, the new initiative will provide consumers an opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable supply chain.

A part and parcel of Timberland’s goal of sourcing 100 per cent of its natural materials from regenerative agriculture by 2030, the initiative will provide Timberland with significant leverage over the extent to which organic and regenerative farming can become similar.

Ethical fashion brand Nisolo has launched the Sustainability Facts Label that shows the impact each product has on the planet and on the people who manufacture the product. Nisolo’s Sustainability Facts Label will be attached to each Nisolo product. Each label includes a QR code that, when scanned, links to 200 data points that show how the product scored for people and planet. The hope is that this will allow customers to better understand the impact of the products they buy. The company hopes the breadth, depth, and simplicity of the Sustainability Facts Label becomes the bare minimum for sustainability and the floor for future labels to be built upon.

Nisolo is a disruptive, socially and environmentally conscious lifestyle brand creating value for consumers and producers in the fashion space. Based in the US and founded in 2011 Nisolo provides handmade leather products intended to push the fashion industry in a more sustainable direction. Its leather products and accessories include shoes, belts, bags, and bracelets which are sourced from local craftsmen. Greenwashing by fashion brands threatens progress toward sustainability in the industry. Less than five per cent of people who make clothing globally are paid a living wage.

Nike’s revenue rose one per cent in the second quarter. The company expects a low single-digit rise in third-quarter revenue but is confident of easing supply chain issues in its next fiscal year. Nike’s second quarter sales in North America, its largest market, jumped 12 per cent as a reopening US economy and the roll out of vaccines gave people the confidence to rush back to stores and splurge on sneakers for running and hiking.

Its direct-to-consumer business had record Black Friday sales in North America despite supply constraints heading into the holiday season due to months-long factory closures in Vietnam, where about half of all Nike footwear is manufactured. Those supply issues and fresh Covid lockdowns led to a 20 per cent fall in Nike’s revenue in Greater China in the second quarter. Nike’s weekly footwear and apparel production is at roughly 80 per cent of pre-closure volumes at its now fully open factories in Vietnam. The closures caused Nike to cancel production of roughly 130 million units.

Covid continues to impact the 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.

Nigeria’s cotton exports have been on the decline since 2016. This was mainly due to lack of supportive policies and critical infrastructure for growth of the sector. The overall performance of the industry has been in crisis. As per the International Trade Centre(ITC)’s Trade Map Nigeria exported cotton worth $7,037,000 in 2018 which dropped to $5,597,000 in 2020. Most cotton grown in Nigeria is done by smallholder farmers, each with less than 10 hectares land. Since 2016, Portugal has been the largest importer of cotton from Nigeria. Pakistan imported no cotton from Nigeria in 2016 and 2017. Vietnam imported no cotton from Nigeria in 2016 and 2018.

Right now, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali, are Africa’s four major cotton-producing countries. West Africa is the world’s sixth largest cotton producing region, with Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso some of the largest cotton producing countries. Establishing a garment supply chain in the region can boost the industry’s value by as much as 600 per cent. This would involve building capacity along the entire supply chain: spinning cotton into yarn, weaving yarn into fabric, and dyeing, printing and designing finished clothing. To this end, efforts are being made to bolster the supply chain and increase processing capabilities across West Africa.

Cotton is a commercial crop grown mainly for its fiber or lint and is commonly used in the textile industry. The cash crop generates income and welfare for over 250 million farmers across the globe.

Nike is looking to further expand the digital side of its business by tapping into emerging technologies such as nonfungible tokens or NFTs. The tokens are essentially digital deeds that verify the authenticity of the items they represent as unique. Nike also wants to sell NFTs of its sneakers, clothing and other goods stamped with its swoosh logo.

Nike has long dominated the scarcity model in the physical world by selling limited quantities of exclusive items and hyping their uniqueness. So Nike sees much white space to conquer in the digital realm as well. The apparel-and-sneaker seller has spent years beefing up its digital business by launching apps which offer users access to exclusive items and events. The digital investments have been a boon for Nike’s sales.

Overall, Nike’s net sales through online channels have outpaced sales through bricks-and-mortar stores for more than a year. Nike may also release real-world exclusives with NFTs and the tokens could be traded via digital marketplaces. Owners of the NFTs can request to have their virtual sneakers made into real ones. A range of fashion and other consumer goods companies are racing to claim footholds in virtual worlds where people are expected to learn, work, shop and be entertained.