Ian Syarif, Deputy Chairperson, Indonesian Textile Association says, the country will adjust its value added tax (VAT) rates on April 1, 2022. There were still be many gaps in application of VAT regulation as many businesses, especially fashion retailers, do not comply with the 11 per cent VAT creating an unfair playing field. The policy is even more punishing for entrepreneurs who regularly pay taxes, adds Syariff. A free market mechanism is likely to occur if buyers are not given a choice, he adds.

Highlighting online sale of used clothes, imported fabrics, and thrift store clothes, Syariff urges the government to apply VAT to the e-commerce sector also in order to create a fair playing field. Unless the VAT regulations are improved, the clothing industry will continue to suffer, Syariff adds.

Organized by the Syntheitc and Rayon Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), the three-day textile exhibition ‘Source India 2022’ generated a business worth $150 million despite recording only 75 visitors from 30 countries. The event raked in orders worth around $300 million that will be sealed after completing some formalities in the coming days. Around 52 exhibitors from India participated. Buyers from Africa, Europe, Turkey, the US and a few other regions visited the exhibition.

Eunice Gakungu, a buyer from Nairobi said, the exhibition was well organized and she could find products she was looking for. The exhibition will help India textile exports as majority of buyers are not going to China, say experts. Currently, Chinese suppliers are not in a position to supply orders on time and at old rates, they add.

Puma plans to launch an innovative manufacturing process to convert existing soccer jerseys into new ones. Called Re:Jersey, the project helps brand reduce waste and adopt more circular production models in the future, says a Spin Off report. The process involves chemically breaking down the garments into their main components, filtering out the colors and chemically reassembling the materials to create a yarn having the same performance characteristics as virgin polyester.

Currently, around 75 per cent Re:Jersey uniforms are made from repurposed soccer jerseys. The remaining 25 per cent are made from Seaqual Marine Plastic1, a material obtained from recycling marine litter into new sustainable products.

The products created as a part of the Re:Jersey project will be worn on the pitch during pre-match warm-ups by Puma clubs Manchester City, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Olympique de Marseille. The teams will wear the jerseys ahead of their respective league matches in late April and May, starting with Manchester City vs Watford on April 23.

Albstadt-based circular knitting machine and braiding machine manufacturer Mayer & Cie, has bagged a 2022 Top 100 award for its innovative processes in particular. The company recorded a 40 per cent sales growth to over €100 million last year and hopes to maintain its market edge this year. As per a Knitting Industry report, the company continued to rely on digitization of both its processes and products. Even in difficult years, it focused on optimizing core processes in order to be able to hit the ground running when the market recovers, says Sebastian Mayer, Chief Digital Officer.

Mayer now plans to make several investments in machinery especially at its headquarters in 2022. It recently launched new CHP cogeneration units. Since Q4 2020, the Albstadt textile machinery manufacturer’s order position has remained stable with orders from all over the world, especially its core markets Turkey, China and India.

In braiding machine division, order position recovered in 2021. Sales of new machines and, especially, spare parts exceeded the 2020 figures significantly. It aims to expand in this area by developing existing machines and launching new ones, says Benjamin Mayer, Managing Director

The 19th edition of ITMA 2023 is set to occupy all 12 halls of the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition complex in Milan, Italy as the exhibition has sold around 95 per cent space. To be organized from June 8-14 next year, the exhibition has so far booked over 111,000 sq. mt. of net exhibition space. It is expected to be attended by over 1,364 exhibitors from 42 countries.

Despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the response to ITMA 2023 has been overwhelming, says Ernesto Maurer, President, Cematex, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers. Charles Beauduin, Chairman, ITMA Services adds, ITMA has emerged as the quintessential platform for the industry to buy and sell, and to collaborate face-to-face.

The three countries with the highest number of exhibitors include Italy, Germany and Spain. Exhibitors from China, Turkey and India are also likely to participate in large numbers. They will span the finishing, spinning, weaving, printing, knitting, winding and nonwovens segments.

The global custom T-shirt printing market is expected to grow at a 9.70 per cent CAGR to surpass $9 billion upto 2032, as per a recent report by Future Market Insights (FMI). As per an Apparel Resources report, growth in this market is being triggered by the growing trend of wearing graphic, pre-printed T-shirts with movie logos and slogans.

Younger customers are opting for customized T-shirts due to the availability of a wide range of colors, patterns, garments, words or images printed on these T-shirts. This is spiking sales of pre-printed and creative graphic T-shirts. Brands are also designing custom printed T-shirts to raise social awareness, raise a voice and support a cause is on the rise.

The custom T-shirt printing market in the US is expected to contribute over 78.90 per cent of share in North America. India is expected to spearhead the growth in South Asia custom T-shirt printing market, with sales increasing at 16.60 per cent CAGR through 2022 and beyond. Whereas, sales of custom printed T-shirts in

Japan are expected to rise at over 15 per cent CAGR over the forecast period. Based on design, the artwork segment is expected to grow at 12.50 per cent CAGR from 2022 to 2032, adds the report.

India’s leading MMF manufacturing hub, Surat now aims to make a mark in garment manufacturing as well. The city currently manufactures around four crore metres of grey fabric annually. Of this, a small portion is used locally for manufacturing ethnic garments. The largest share is used to manufacture saris and the remaining is exported. Currently, Surat has around 1 lakh stitching machines. But, majority of these are used for stitching lace on saris, says Ashish Gujarati, President, Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI).

The city has around 200 medium and small size garment units. However, there are many new and emerging entrepreneurs, adds Gujarati. The Chamber is also exploring opportunities for garment parks in Surat and requesting the government to provide land. SGCCI also plans to participate in CMAI Fab Show in Mumbai next month to promote and explore opportunities in garment manufacturing in the city. It will organize workshops to create awareness about garment manufacturing at the event.

The exodus of western retail companies is compelling Russia to look at China, India, Iran and Turkey to plug the gap and combat its growing isolation in the face of sanctions. An organization representing developers, shopping centre owners and retail chain operators, The Russian Council of Shopping Centres (RCSC) is negotiating with corresponding representatives in the four countries about finding alternatives to western brands.

Through this, the council hopes to supplement or completely replace goods of the defunct brands with ones of a similar quality and design. Igor Maltinsky, Director-Development, Melon Fashion Group says, the main challenge facing domestic retail firms is the uncontrollable growth of production costs, due to huge increases in procurement and logistics costs, as well as many other related factors. The group owns four, mainly women, fashion brands: Zarina, Befree, Love Republic and Sela and had 846 stores across Russia and CIS at the end of 2021. It plans to launch an IPO this year.

Lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret is foraying into the swimwear market with an $18 million investment in Los Angeles-based brand Frankies Biknis. The investment is a continuation of the company’s efforts to expand partnerships with culturally relevant brands founded by women entrepreneurs, says Martin Waters, CEO, Victoria’s Secret Lingerie.

The acquisition also gives Victoria’s Secret a bigger piece of the fast-growing swimwear industry. The company offers swimwear brands like Frankies Bikinis, Beach Riot, Bfyne, Vitamin A, Miraclesuit, Baobab, Roxy and Skinny Dippers, among others, on its website. The investment in Frankies Biknis gives it further insight into the Gen Z and Millennial customer mindset, says Patti Cazzato, Head -Emerging Businesses. Victoria’s Secret seeks to curate relationships with brands that will help it access categories and customer segments it currently lacks in and culturally relevant brands.

Founded by Francesca Aiello in 2012, Frankies Bikinis has expanded into footwear, men’s swim seperates, , beauty, activewear, cell phone cases and ready-to-wear apparel, in addition to collaborations with names like Alo Yoga, streetwear brand Kith, model Sofia Richie, actress Hailee Steinfeld and tennis star Naomi Osaka.

Home textiles major Welspun India has forayed into the mattress category under its home linen brand Spaces.

As per a Daily Pioneer report, the company has launched 'SpacesMatchress' with a variety of offerings on the back of extensive market research as an extension of its home wellness offerings.

ManjariUpadhye, CEO, of Welspun India, Domestic Business, says, the company's deep understanding of stated and unstated consumer requirements helps it to innovate and offer the most relevant products and solutions to the country's diverse and fast-growing consumer base.

The brand offers customizable, orthopedic, firm and fab mattress ranges for different consumer preferences. These mattresses are available with the benefits of an in-built mattress protector, odor-free and anti-pilling, 12 years warranty, among others, the company said.

Welspun India’s move to enter the mattress category highlights the brand’s aggressive focus on the domestic market and its aim to capitalize on emerging opportunities in this high-potential segment with innovative offerings.