In an open letter to European Commissioners Didier Reynders and Thierry Breton, Kalpona Akter, Head, Bangladesh Center for Workers’ Solidarity has called for strong rules against labor rights violations and access to justice for victims. The new rules should include mandatory value chain transparency so that everyone can easily trace a company’s production sites, or a T-shirt’s origin, Akter urges. Every year in April, when the survivors of the Rana Plaza collapse get together in memory of those who had died in the rubble, she is reminded what happens if workers’ rights are left to voluntary commitments, and what it takes for the victims to access remedy.

Akter says, the rules should ensure every company identifies, prevents and mitigates human right risks in its whole value chain, including the company’s own purchasing practices. She is a member of Clean Clothes Campaign’s global strategy board that has put forward concrete proposals for binding rules aimed at ensuring responsible business conduct in ‘Fashioning justice: a call for mandatory and comprehensive human rights due diligence in the garment industry’.

Japan has recorded a 2.13 per cent dip in apparel from January to May 2021. There has been continuous fall in woven garment imports. Japan’s import of woven clothing plunged by 8.35 per cent in these five-months. However imports of knitted garments were up 4.78 per cent in the same period.

Of the major shippers to Japan, China, India and Bangladesh registered growth in shipments. On the other hand, Pakistan, Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka recorded a fall in shipments. Japan is a sophisticated market, leaning towards small-lot and short cycle delivery of supplies. Consumption is diversified and quality expectations are high. High quality and expensive Indian garments are gaining popularity in Japan. Customers like selecting garments that have a different character when compared with dresses and kimono worn at such occasions as weddings and parties.

India Trend Fair was held in Japan, February 12 to 14, 2020. The trade show showcased Made in India clothing and accessories to Japanese buyers. The business matching event focused on knitted and woolen clothing as Japan is a major world market for wool, wool blended, and other textile products. The event featured over 300 product categories and over 25 pavilions.

Meryl Medical’s fabrics are based on the Meryl range of polyamide 6.6 yarns produced by Spain’s Nylstar. Fabrics based on this yarn range have proven to be more durable than, than cotton or polyester. The anti-shedding element is a property that is in the construction of the yarn. The non-shedding elements of the fabric are down to the Nylstar technology in the yarn. Meryl has worked closely with Nylstar to ensure the technology is put to best use in the highest quality fabrics. Meryl uses a hydrogen bonding to create strong molecular chains that seals in all microfibers in the yarns and the fabric is constructed to deliver exceptional touch with natural elasticity and the all-important (certified) non-shedding final product.

Meryl Medical’s fabrics are extremely versatile. The company has already manufactured bed sheets, pillowcases, polo shirts, face covers, tunics, doctors’ coats and many other apparel items. The business also involves the selling of fabrics directly to manufacturers.

The average lifecycle of textiles, including laundering, accounts for 6.7 per cent of all global greenhouse emissions, which is the equivalent of every person taking a 2,500-mile flight every year. Meryl Medical is passionate about the environment and sustainability.

Hermes’ Q2 FY2021 soared 127 per cent Y-o-Y and 33 per cent on a two year basis yearly basis. The brand‘s recurring operating income grew by 41 per cent to €1.722 million. Its net income reached €1.174 billion from €335 million a year earlier and €754 million in H1 2019.

The company’s H1 sales increased by 81 per cent at constant exchange rates compared to last year, and by 41 per cent compared to 2019. Wholesale activities improved by 46 per cent but remained penalized particularly by travel retail.

Hermes’ Asia sales excluding Japan rose by 87 per cent in H1 year-on-year and 70 per cent compared to 2019. They were driven by the strong performance in Greater China and the acceleration in sales in Singapore and Thailand. Its sales in the Americas grew by 115 per cent, with a Q2 acceleration being noted, and they rose 25 per cent over two years.

Japan sales increased by 59 per cent year-on-year and 22 per cent over two years while European sales excluding France rose by 52 per cent and were down only 3 per cent over two years. France sales increased by 35 per cent year-on-year, but declined by 16 per cent over two years.

Sales in Leather Goods and Saddlery segment rose by 63 per cent Year-on-Year and 25 per cent over two years while sales in the Ready-to-Wear and Accessories division, rose by 98 per cent over one year and 40 per cent over two,years. Silk and Textiles division’s sales rose by 72 per cent and 6 per cent, while Perfume and Beauty increased by 65 per cent on the year and 17 per cent over two years.

The European parliament’s recommendation to suspend Sri Lanka’s GSP+ status comes as a huge blow to the country’s apparel industry – which accounts for 47 per cent of the nation’s exports and 15 per cent of its industrial employment. As per a Daily News report, the Generalized System of Preferences or GSP, a preferential tariff system of the EU, helps Sri Lanka enhance export competitiveness in the apparel industry. The scheme also helps Sri Lanka create new jobs besides reducing the disparity between rural and urban incomes and increasing the participation of female employees in the workforce. It is a special incentive arrangement aimed at sustainable development and good governance in vulnerable, low and lower-middle income countries. The arrangement led to a reduction in custom duties to zero for EU countries in 2019.

Loss of GSP+ to make exports expensive

The loss of GSP+ status would make Sri Lankan exports to the EU 9.5 per cent more expensive than it is now. Already, Sri Lankan apparel is more “expensive” than its competitors. The loss would also threaten many small and medium enterprises exposing them to greater macro-economic vulnerability. Loss of GSP+ may also wipe out Sri Lanka’s razor thin profit margins in the apparel industry by making exports 9.5 per cent more expensive than its competitors.

Making Sri Lanka a self-reliant manufacturer

The Sri Lankan government has started negotiating with the EU to review its GSP+ facilities. It plans to highlight the progress made in implementing the conditions required to restore GSP+. Efforts to preserve trade agreements are likely to boost investors’ confidence in the Sri Lankan apparel industry. Sri Lanka will also benefit from growing technological prowess, ethical manufacturing, sourcing and sustainable manufacturing practices. Its apparels will become the preferred choice for customers in Europe, the United States, etc.

The Sri Lankan government needs to do everything in its capacity to restore the GSP+ benefits. This will provide it with sufficient time and resources to help to build and strengthen its apparel manufacturing capacities and make it self-reliant in this core market.

Pakistan’s knitwear export surged 36.57 per cent during 2020-21 over 2019-20. And it aims to increase its share to 20 per cent in 2021-22. The country’s earnings from knitwear exports are 25.83 per cent more than earnings from woven garment exports, 37.68 per cent more than exports of bed wear and 307 per cent more than exports of towel.

While Pakistan’s share in total world imports of knitwear is 1.83 per cent Bangladesh has 8.12 per cent share. About 30 per cent of small and medium units have closed in Pakistan in the last two years after the imposition of a 17 per cent sales tax.

Pakistan’s knitwear garment sector has topped the list of the textile groups for three years and it also provides the highest employment in the textile group. The country’s knitwear industry plays a vital role in value addition of the textile sector. There is a great potential of further development in this industry as there is substantial value addition in the form of knitwear apparel, sportswear, socks, gloves etc. Pakistan is diversifying knitwear products to bring more innovations and incentives to boost its exports. This sector has export potential despite remaining under pressure from its competitors mainly Bangladesh and the Far Eastern nations.

Telangana is India’s top supplier of cotton and the second biggest supplier of paddy. As a result, the state’s cotton purchase is nearly double that of Maharashtra, which stands second. In addition to the harvest acquired by individual businesses, the cotton crop was sold to the Cotton Corporation of India. Similarly, Telangana ranks second in paddy procurement. Punjab takes first place.

All crops are acquired from farmers at minimum support price as part of the Centre’s price support scheme, which is intended to eliminate intermediaries and help farmers. The procurement agency makes all payments to farmers for their produce straight into their bank accounts.

Telangana is in the process of formulating a textile and apparel policy that contemplates waiver of personal loans of handloom weavers. Fresh loans are proposed to be given at three per cent interest. Subsidies will be given for capital investment and purchase of equipment by entrepreneurs. Tax incentives and power subsidies are being examined. Some industrial parks will also be established in Telangana. Housing for workers and staff is proposed within the textile parks. The state has generated about Rs 73,000 crores in investments and created 2.56 lakh jobs. Telangana has achieved a year on year growth of 10.1 per cent in gross state domestic product.

Sales of French luxury group Kering nearly doubled in the second quarter. Comparable revenues rose by 95 per cent in the three months to end-June compared with a year ago, and were 11 per cent higher than their pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Growth was driven by North America, where retail sales were up by more than 260 per cent, and Asia. Gucci sales grew by 86 per cent over the period and account for more than half of the group’s revenues and 76 per cent of its operating profit. Fashion label Gucci is the star at Kering.

Kering will continue to invest and support its brands in the second half of the year but this would not come at the expense of profitability. While returning to substantial profitability, and leveraging the desirability of its brands, Kering is stepping up the pace of its investments in brands and strategic initiatives, notably to enhance the exclusivity and control of distribution. Kering has reached 88 per cent traceability for key raw materials and aims to increase the share to 100 per cent by 2025.

Gucci is celebrating its centenary year, keeping the buzz around the brand high with events and new collections, including one presented in April where Gucci designs were crossed with silhouettes and logos by Balenciaga, another Kering brand.

Filatex will increase polycondensation capacity by 50 TPD and set up additional manufacturing facilities for 120 TPD of polyester partially oriented yarn at its plant in Gujarat. The company is a manufacturer of polyester filament yarn and polypropylene filament yarn. Filatex currently has a polycondensation capacity of 1050 TPD at its plant. The polymer is used for manufacturing polyester chips, polyester POY, polyester FDY and polyester DTY.

Additionally, Filatex will replace two existing partially oriented yarn (POY) lines (144 ends) with two new POY lines (192 ends) along with replacing winders in one POY line with new winders. The company presently has a yarn manufacturing net capacity of 110 TPD at its plant at Dadra. This proposed project will increase the POY capacity of the plant by five TPD as well as improve the quality of the yarn produced.

Filatex is a game-changer when it comes to innovative products and the adoption of new technologies. The company has managed to maintain an edge over its competitors due to consistent product quality and low operating cost. It takes pride in its energy-efficient operations. Filatex has made rapid strides in exporting drawn textured yarn. Its present focus is on the polyester sector.

Century Textiles has sold its yarn and denim units to Manjeet Cotton. The company received a consideration Rs 62 crores for both the units. Mumbai-based Century Textiles and Industries is active in textiles, viscose filament yarns, cement, and pulp and paper. In the textile business, Century has two revenue streams: cotton fabric and denim units. The company has a vertically integrated plant at Bharuch for manufacturing cotton fabrics. The cotton division of is one of the oldest players in India and manufactures a wide range of premium textiles and supplies to many international players, including Royale Linen, Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Belk and US Polo. Century Textiles’ financial metrics have declined, mainly due to its high debt.

Manjeet Cotton is a diversified group with investments in raw cotton ginning, spinning, renewable energy, real estate and education. Founded in 1982 it has grown to become the largest ginner of raw cotton in India, with 1250 DBRs and operations spread across all the eight cotton growing states in the country. The company has 26 captive ginning and pressing units with a production capacity of over 1600 MT per day (10,000 bales), covering almost five per cent of India’s cotton production, and having a dedicated supplier base of over 4,00,000 farmers.