Minnesota-based eco-friendly apparel brand Abode Outside is expanding its wholesale program with four new outside rep agencies, enhancing its ability to serve key markets. Known for sustainable, four-season apparel, Abode’s wholesale growth follows its strong performance in e-commerce and an increasing presence in brick-and-mortar stores.

Abode's VP of Operations and Co-founder, Jake Baller, emphasized that the rising demand for affordable, sustainable apparel aligns well with their decision to expand retail partnerships.

This step is expected to boost the brand's visibility, bringing it closer to a wider audience while reinforcing its presence in the market. The company views this growth as essential to advancing its brand and connecting with environmentally-conscious consumers.

The recent additions bring Abode’s regional sales team to six, though the company is still seeking reps for the South and Pacific Northwest regions. This expanded team aims to provide better service to retail partners and enhance the availability of Abode’s eco-conscious products across the US.

Registration is now live for Source Fashion, Europe’s leading responsible sourcing event, taking place from February 18-20, 2025, at Olympia London. The event will feature hundreds of exhibitors from key sourcing regions like Turkey, Taiwan, Ethiopia, China, India, and Portugal, showcasing everything from white-label products to bespoke ranges. The new floorplan will highlight categories including Womenswear, Menswear, Footwear, Accessories, Luxury, and Technology & Services.

A major addition to this year’s show is Source Debates, an interactive stage where experts, brands, and attendees will tackle pressing topics in sustainable fashion. This platform encourages open dialogue, focusing on actionable solutions to the industry’s most critical challenges. The Catwalk Stage will also return, featuring live shows three times daily, along with panels and case studies from fashion leaders.

Event Director Suzanne Ellingham expressed her excitement for the upcoming show, emphasizing the importance of connecting global manufacturers with UK buyers. With a focus on responsibility and transparency, all exhibitors are audited to ensure ethical practices.

Source Fashion offers an unmatched opportunity for fashion professionals to source materials, explore new trends, and engage in meaningful discussions. Renowned brands such as ASOS, Paul Smith, Reiss, and River Island have attended past editions, underscoring the event’s growing influence.

Hayley Shore of PepsiCo and designer Jeff Banks both praised the event’s ability to inspire and foster innovation, with Banks particularly excited about the luxury segment and future growth.

Alibaba Group reported significant sales growth during this year’s extended Singles' Day event, which wrapped up on November 11. While the company did not disclose total revenue, it noted that 45 brands, including Apple, Haier, Midea, and Xiaomi, surpassed 1 billion yuan ($138.62 million) in gross merchandise value (GMV).

JD.com, China’s second-largest e-commerce platform, also saw a more than 20 per cent increase in shoppers compared to last year, though it did not release sales data. Data provider Syntun estimated that sales across major platforms rose 2.08 per cent last year to 1.14 trillion yuan, with third-party estimates for 2024 still pending.

Initially a 24-hour event, Singles' Day has expanded into weeks of promotions. This year's event, which began on October 14, was the longest edition to date. Despite a subdued economic environment, with low consumer confidence amid a property downturn, larger-ticket household items performed well. JD.com reported a 200 per cent year-over-year increase in home appliance sales, driven by a 150 billion yuan subsidy scheme.

Additionally, collectible toys, especially anime and gaming-related products, experienced surprising growth. Brands like MiHoYo and Pop Mart surpassed 100 million yuan in GMV. Young shoppers, such as Shan Yin from Hangzhou, spent on gaming merchandise and collectibles to cope with stress, reflecting shifting consumer trends during the festival.

The second edition of the Brands of India apparel trade show, organized by The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), was inaugurated on November 12, 2024, by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India to the UAE. Held at Za’abeel Hall 4 in the Dubai World Trade Centre, the exhibition presents over 150 Indian apparel brands, highlighting a broad selection of Men’s, Women’s, and Kids’ fashion. From casual and formal wear to athleisure, winterwear, and accessories, the event serves as a unique sourcing platform for international retailers, wholesalers, agents, and e-commerce companies.

In his opening remarks, Sivan highlighted Brands of India as a strategic initiative for Indian apparel manufacturers to capitalize on the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which facilitates duty-free apparel imports. He noted the opportunity for Indian manufacturers to attract global buyers amid supply chain challenges in other manufacturing hubs like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China, emphasizing Dubai’s role as a vital gateway to global markets.

Santosh Katariya, CMAI President, praised India’s position as a preferred sourcing destination known for low labor costs, flexible order sizes, competitive pricing, and on-time delivery. He noted that this year’s event brings together manufacturers from key production hubs such as Mumbai, Jaipur, and Tirupur, showcasing India’s manufacturing diversity and quality.

The show has drawn more than 1,500 pre-registered visitors from 60+ countries, including buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern and African nations. Notable retailers like Lulu Group, R&B and Landmark Group are among those in attendance. CMAI has extended exclusive privileges, including hotel accommodations and business matching services, to enhance buyer participation.

Running for three days, Brands of India is positioned as a comprehensive sourcing opportunity, with on-the-spot buyers also expected to attend.

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists(AATCC) has reintroduced its hands-on textile testing showcase, now called the AATCC Textile Test Zone, at the Functional Fabric Fair Portland Fall 2024. Building on the successful spring debut of its AATCC Testing and Standards Exhibition, the revamped Test Zone highlights new testing stations and methodologies for textile professionals.

Visitors at the Test Zone can engage with seven dedicated stations covering critical textile attributes-Color Acuity, Color Fastness, Moisture Management and Water Resistance, Laundering, Dimensional Stability, Stain Resistance, and Fiber Fragment Testing. Each station provides practical insights into maintaining high-quality standards and compliance.

Color Acuity testing includes tools like the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test and specialized lighting to support accurate color assessments. Color Fastness, essential for textiles in apparel and protective gear, examines resistance to factors like perspiration and washing. Moisture Management highlights tests such as Spray Testing and Pro Dry for fabric drying time, crucial for performance textiles.

AATCC’s focus on Laundering, Dimensional Stability, and Stain Testing reveals the impact of washing on appearance, shape, and stain resistance. The Fiber Fragment station addresses microplastic concerns with AATCC TM212, which measures fiber fragment release.

The AATCC Textile Test Zone allows attendees to gain a deep understanding of these testing processes, essential for advancing quality and sustainability in textiles.

APTEXPO 2024 kicked off today at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore, inaugurating a three-day event focused on advancing the textiles and apparel supply chain. Organized by the Singapore Fashion Council (SFC), the summit brings together industry leaders to highlight sustainability, technology, and partnerships.

Sharon Lim, President of SFC, welcomed attendees, emphasizing SFC’s commitment to collaboration across the supply chain to foster resilience and agility in the textile sector. Key industry representatives, including Poh Chi Chuan from the Singapore Tourism Board, Albert Tan of the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries, and Sun Ruizhe from the China National Textile and Apparel Council, addressed global trends and regional cooperation.

Moderated by SFC CEO Zhang Tingting, the first panel examined regional collaboration’s role in building sustainable supply chains, featuring executives from Weave, Browzwear, Jeanwest, Shanghai Challenge Textile, and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles. A second panel, led by Regina Leong, explored strategies to strengthen Asia-Pacific’s production capabilities, with experts from AFTEX, SEMBCORP, and other associations.

Two plenary sessions focused on global textile challenges and supply chain restructuring through technology and branding. Industry experts, including ITMF's Christian Schindler and EURATEX’s Dirk Vantyghem, discussed sustainability, while Jonas Wand of Foursource highlighted AI’s role in value chain transformation. The event continues through November 16, featuring more insights into textiles’ future.

Facing a challenging apparel market, US-based activewear brand Vuori has secured an investment of $825 million, boosting the company’s valuation to $5.5 billion. Led by General Atlantic and Stripes, alongside other investors, this latest funding round signals a strong confidence in the brand’s future.

Structured as a secondary tender offer, the investment positions the key investors as strategic partners, aligning them closely with Vuori’s vision for future growth.

Joe Kudla, CEO and Founder. Vuori, says, the expertise of the new investors will help accelerate the company’s expansion while ensuring sustainable global scaling. The brand will continue to produce high-quality activewear that creates lasting connections with consumers, he affirms.

This investment follows Vuori’s previous $400 million funding in 2021, which had valued the company at $4 billion. The latest financial boost underscores the brand’s momentum in the competitive athleisure market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7 per cent in the US through 2028.

The new funding will likely propel further innovation and expansion by Vuori in the global market.

ITMA ASIA + CITME, scheduled for October 28-31, 2025, at the Singapore Expo, has attracted a significant response from global technology providers, aiming to support textile modernization in South and Southeast Asia. As of the November 12 application deadline, 98 per cent of the 60,000-square-meter exhibit space has been claimed by 731 applicants representing 32 countries.

Organized by CEMATEX, the China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), and CCPIT TEX, this year’s event is hailed as the region's premier platform for showcasing textile technology advancements. Lieven Beke, Marketing and Product Manager at Picanol, emphasized the importance of the exhibition, noting its influence on the Asian market for introducing cutting-edge innovations.

CEMATEX President Alex Zucchi noted that demand for the 2025 exhibition has exceeded expectations, emphasizing that the event’s focus on automation and sustainable solutions aligns well with the region's rapid growth and modernization. CTMA President Gu Ping added that the exhibition will provide a vital opportunity for manufacturers in South and Southeast Asia to access advanced technologies.

North Asian industry leaders, including Japan Textile Machinery Association (JTMA), Korea Textile Machinery Association (KOTMA), and Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), are also actively participating, further reinforcing the exhibition's regional impact.

Among the various sectors represented, finishing technologies lead in participation, followed by spinning and knitting, reflecting a strong emphasis on sustainability in textile manufacturing. John Wu, Marketing Director at Texpro Precision Technology, shared his enthusiasm for showcasing digital dyeing and finishing solutions designed for sustainable production, recognizing the event as an essential venue to meet regional demand.

The exhibition is expected to provide a platform for meaningful industry connections and advancements tailored to the unique needs of Asia’s growing textile hubs.

Powerloom weavers in Tamil Nadu have urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to address their concerns regarding a proposed Quality Control Order (QCO) on viscose rayon staple spun yarn with the Central Government.

According to the Tamilnadu Federation of Powerloom Associations, no other country imposes QCOs on textile products. The entire viscose textile chain has been negatively affected since the introduction of the QCO on viscose fibre last year.

Tamil Nadu houses nearly 25 lakh powerlooms, with two lakh transitioning from cotton to viscose weaving in recent years. These powerlooms utilise around 70 per cent of the viscose staple yarn produced by over 80 textile mills in the region.

Due to the state’s monopoly in the production of viscose rayon staple cut fiber, mills have faced shortages, compelling them to import fiber costing Rs 25 per kg less than domestic options. However, last year's QCO on viscose fiber restricted these imports, slowing down the entire viscose textile industry.

In Sep’24, the Central government announced plans to extend the QCO to viscose yarn. With an already sluggish market, many powerlooms have been sold as scrap, and the QCO on yarn threatens to deal another heavy blow to weavers in the state.

The Federation has called on the Chief Minister to appeal to the Central government to remove QCOs on textile products to support the struggling powerloom sector in Tamil Nadu.

To boost the company’s production capacity by 4,550 tons annually, Bangladesh-based textile manufacturer Envoy Textiles plans to set up a new spinning unit with an investment of Tk97 crore. Slated to complete by Dec’25, the expansion will help the company meet the rising demand for cotton-polyester-spandex core-spun yarn.

The new unit will feature advanced ring spinning production facilities with machinery sourced from Europe and Japan. Approximately 60 per cent of the yarn produced in this expanded facility will be used to produce denims while the remaining 40 per cent will be designated for exports.

Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director. Envoy Textiles, states. the new spinning unit will more than double the company’s blended yarn capacity from 4,380 tons per year (12 tons per day) to 9,125 tons per year (25 tons per day).

For Q1, FY25 spanning July-Sep’24, Envoy Textiles increased its profit by 134 per cent Y-o-Y. The company’s net profits rose to Tk25.33 crore, up from Tk10.82 crore in the same period last year. The company’s revenues also increased by 40 per cent to Tk439.94 crore during the quarter.