Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam magazine presents "Vietnam’s Fashion Journey 2000-2023," an exhibition celebrating the remarkable growth and diversity of Vietnam’s fashion industry. Showcasing over 100 creations from influential designers like Nguyen Cong Tri and Tuyet Le, the event offers insights into their biographies, collections, and global achievements.

Nguyen Cong Tri, a member of the Asian Couture Federation, contributes signature pieces from his renowned collections, including "Em Hoa" at Tokyo Fashion Week 2017 and "CONG TRI Fall/Winter 2019" at New York Fashion Week, where his designs garnered international acclaim. Tri's creations have adorned global icons such as Adele and Beyoncé.

Tuyet Le, a Hanoi-based designer, presents her exceptional designs worn by international celebrities like Cecilia Cheung and Pia Wurtzbach. Recognized as the Designer of the Year at the Harper’s Bazaar Star Awards 2022, Le has left an indelible mark on the fashion scene.

The exhibition, open until December 23 at the Global City urban area in Thu Duc City, also pays homage to Vietnam’s fashion evolution through reality shows like Vietnam’s Next Top Model and Project Runway Vietnam. An additional highlight is a dedicated section showcasing the traditional Vietnamese craft of silk and handloom weaving.

Nguyen Tran Thien Huong, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, emphasizes the exhibition's purpose: to commemorate Vietnam's fashion achievements in the early 21st century and honor those who have significantly contributed to its development. Admission to this exploration of Vietnam’s vibrant fashion landscape is free, inviting enthusiasts to delve into the country's sartorial evolution.

The Intex India 2023 exhibition concluded with resounding success, drawing prominent Indian and overseas buyers eager to explore the latest products and services for both domestic and export ventures. The event served as a hub for market intelligence, showcasing innovations, trends, and product diversification across the entire supply and value chain. Attendees connected with participating companies, opening doors to textile sourcing opportunities across India and beyond.

The show was inaugurated by Ms. Shubhra, Trade Advisor, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, with the presence of senior representatives from the Vietnam Trade Office in New Delhi, Confederation of Indian Textiles Industry (CITI), Okhla Garment & Textiles Cluster (OGTC), Udyog Vihar Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Karnataka Innerwear Association, and other key industry players.

Reflecting on the exhibition, RK Vij, Advisor, Indorama Synthetics, commented, "It's a very good exhibition with the latest display of yarn and fabrics along with accessories from all India and abroad. Delegates were enlightened to see the products physically. Ambience was also very good. All organizers were courteous, and the event was well planned.", resonating on the same lines, Vijay Mathur, DG & CEO, ATDC, observed, "Intex has become a must-visit international exhibition."

Intex India showcased a diverse array of textiles, trims & clothing accessories, dyes & chemicals, certification, and business consulting services, along with trade and investment opportunities in Africa. Among the leading buyers in attendance were Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Benetton Sourcing, Pepe Jeans, Pentland USA, Arvind Fashion & Lifestyle, Reliance Brands Limited, Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, Numero Uno, VIP Clothing, Bhartiya International, Celestial Lifestyle LLP, Celebrity Fashions, Go Go International, and Newtimes Group, among others. The exhibition also hosted overseas buyers from 10+ countries who engaged in fruitful meetings with participants during the 3-day event.

In addition to the exhibition, two special forums, Intex Textile Conclave (ITC) and Interactive Business Forum (IBF), provided platforms for business leaders and domain experts to present insights, exchange ideas, and unlock business opportunities. The Intex Textile Conclave (ITC) ,conducted by DFU I FashionatingWorld as Knowledge Partners, focused on the theme "Fibres of Fashion: Reimagining the Future of Textiles," featuring eminent speakers discussing topics such as 'Mapping India’s Fiber Market on a Global Canvas,' 'Fibres of the Future,' and 'Fabrics of Fashion & Functionality.' The Interactive Business Forum Seminar Series included a trends workshop by leading trends forecasting agencies WGSN from the UK and Fashion Snoops USA, as well as a session on the role of artificial intelligence in textiles and apparel.

Endorsed by leading industry trade bodies and business chambers, including CITI, The Textile Association (India) Delhi Unit, TEA, NAEC, GEAR, OGTC, DHMA, GCCI, and NCR Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Intex India marked its success as a premier international textile sourcing show in South Asia.

The organizers proudly announced that all three editions of Intex held this year in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India saw the participation of more than 400 exhibitors from 12+ countries. These exhibitions attracted over 10,540 domestic and international trade buyers from 20+ countries, showcasing the event's global significance. 

The next editions of Intex – The Premier International Textile Sourcing Show of South Asia – are scheduled to take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 30th May to 1st June 2024, and in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 7th to 9th August 2024.

Garment, textile, and apparel exports are projected to rise 2% to $1.33 billion by mid-2024, according to the Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP). 

Amid challenges from global conflicts, FOBAP explores new markets in South America and the Middle East. 

FOBAP eyes increased demand for basic wearables and high-end garments. 

The 2% growth relies on government initiatives, including more free trade agreements and addressing high power costs. 

Extension of the EU's Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) is expected to bolster revenues for the sector.

In a setback for Pakistan's economy, textile exports witnessed a 5.43% MoM decline, totaling $1.37bn in November 2023. 

Year-on-year figures also reflected a 3.52% decrease. Notably, the 5MFY24 cumulative textile exports dropped by 10.14% YoY. 

However, a silver lining emerged as the overall current account balance showed a $9 million surplus, breaking a streak of four consecutive monthly deficits. 

Textile products remained the country's primary export, comprising 50.31% in November, with key categories like Knitwear and Readymade Garments facing declines. 

Leather exports decreased, while sports goods exhibited a YoY increase but dipped slightly MoM.

American textile and apparel manufacturers are exploring new options to sell their locally made products. As per a Sourcing Journal report, domestic producers are establishing the American market as a hotbed of sustainable innovation. This was particularly highlighted at a US Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) webinar featuring Dr Sheng Lu, Associate Professor and Director, Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delware.  

In 2022, textile and apparel production in the US reached almost $28 billion, shows a report by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Similarly, data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) indicates, clothing and fabric exports from the country surged by 12 per cent last year to over $24.8 billion from a decade earlier.

Studies show that shoppers have a favorable view of clothing made in the US, and naturally regard these products as more sustainable and socially responsible. The country has access to the capital, talent and resources needed to foster innovation in the space

While analysing data from global fashion companies’ websites between January 2022 and September 2023, Hannah Laurits observed over 15,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) of US made apparel were developed with recycled materials. Another 6,000 SKUs made with organic fibers were on sale during that period in the U.S. and internationally. 

While US-made sustainable clothing is popular in the domestic market, more than half of the SKUs made with recycled textiles studied during this time period were sold outside of the country to countries in Europe as well as Canada. The percentage was even higher for clothing made with organic materials, revealing foreign shoppers’ favorable views of the US as a source of sustainable fashion. 

Slowdown in the Indian textile and apparel sector has kept worker wages flat over the past year with the impact varying across unit sizes.

In garment factories in Tiruppur, workers’ salaries declining by almost one third of last year. Export units in the city have reported 40 per cent job loss in the last six months with export orders declining to 60 per cent, says PR Natarajan, General Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress.

Garment factories in Bengaluru are facing labor shortage with workers’ switching to jobs at either shopping malls or metro rail stations. With 90 per cent of the workers in these factories being women, jobs with better pay and no harassment are being preferred, adds VPRukmini, President, Garment Workers’ Union. 

Having lost their jobs, workers in Karnataka are moving to other states like Gujarat and Telangana, states PradeepNatarajan, Mill Owner, Coimbatore. 

The textile sector in these states currently faces lack of orders, slump in rates for fabric weavers and spinners, and import of value added products. As per a study by the Textile Committee, the sector lost 2.14 lakh jobsfrom 2015-2020as exports declined while imports surged.

The industry also suffers frominsufficient data on the impact of the slowdown in the post COVID year; vast differences in labor profiles and systems between organised and unorganised sectors; migration of workers to better paying jobs and lower labor costs is other textile exporting nations.

R. Karumalaiyan, National Secretary, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, avers, the sector suffers from lack of Unionisationand insufficient data for the industrial surveys. It needs to address the needs of both its resident and migrant workers, adds Karumalaiyan. 

To protect local textile producers, the Nigerian Customs Service plans to ban the sale of secondhand clothes, popularly called Okrika or Gwanjo in local parlance in Nigeria.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, almost 80 per cent of the Nigerian apparel market is filled with secondhand clothes illegally shipped into the country from neighboring states. 

As per the database with UN Comtrade, Ivory Coasts imports around 13,066 tonne of secondhand clothes while Ghana imports 79,963 tonne.

Poor people in the region prefer to buy secondhand clothes as they are relatively cheaper and of better quality. The clothing items most in demand include men’s shirts, ladies cotton dresses, men’s cotton pants, men’s underwear, ladies chiffon dresses, and ladies’ t-shirts.

As per estimates, over 200 people in the country are directly or indirectly involved in the business of second-hand clothing. The trade helps stimulate the local markets and generate employment opportunities, says Malam Ibrahim, Senior Lecturer, Department of Marketing, Kaduna Polytechnic. 

The trade also helps Nigerian individuals improve their standard of living by providing affordable clothing options, he adds.

However, the invasion of secondhand clothes in the Nigeria apparel market is stifling the domestic industry leading to job losses and reduced opportunities for local manufacturers. Besides, the transportation and processing of secondhand clothing items also contributes to pollution by generating greenhouse gas emissions. The government can help prevent this by restricting the import volume or introducing minimum quality standards for them, adds Ibrahim.

Founded in 2005, Mohan Spintex India Ltd (MSIL) is likely to amongst the topmost textile companies by the end of this decade.

Currently having 4,500 employees, MSIL has a yearly turnover of $0.134 billion. The company manufactures products like s cotton, blends of cotton with polyester, viscose, modal, linen and lyocell fabric. The weaves include percale, satin, twill, damask stripe, pin stripe, dobby and jacquard. 

In the home textile segment Mohan Spintex offers a variety of products from flat sheets over mattress protectors to comforter shells. The company offers end-to-end solution for BCI cotton, organic cotton, Egyptian cotton and Supima cotton products. The Mohan group produces for leading Indian fabric & garment manufacturers such as Welspun, Himatsingka, Indo count, Mafatlal, etc. while it also exports to leading fabric and garment manufacturers all over the world, mainly the US, EU and China.

 In 2020, MSIL installed two Brückner machines. The Brückner Power-Colortherm continuous dyeing range is an oil-heated machine with 3,200 mm working width, one dyeing padder, one Eco-Steam Unit, an infrared dryer and respectively a cooling zone in the entry and the exit. The second machine is an oil-heated Power-Frame stenter with 8 chambers, horizontal transport chain and highest drying capacity.

The extremely homogeneous air volume and temperature distribution due to countered thermo zones and the proven split-flow air circulation system are the highlights of this machine. Their maintenance-friendly components help save production costs. 

The duty facility under the Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme has, for the first time, made Bangladesh the top knitwear exporter in the European Union. 

As per data from the Eurostat, from January-September 2023, EU's knitwear imports from Bangladesh reached $9 billion, exceeding he share of any other country, both in US dollar terms and in volume.

During the nine months, the bloc imported knitwear products worth $9 billion from Bangladesh against $8.96 billion from China.

EU's knitwear import from Bangladesh, during the period, weighed 571 million kg against 442 million kg from China, notes Faruque Hassan, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). 

One of the reasons for Bangladesh’s robust rise in knitwear exports to the EU is the country’s recent investments in high value-added items, especially activewear, adds Hassan. 

Last year, the EU imported clothing items weighing 1.33 billion kg from Bangladesh against 1.31 billion kg from China. In terms of value, however, its clothing imports were $7.3 billion less than China's.

Bangladesh also tops in the EU and the US in a few other areas in the garment sector.

For example, the country has been the leader in the EU in denim sourcing since 2014, with Turkey in second and Pakistan in third.

In 2020, the country overtook Mexico to become the largest denim exporter to the US. Pakistan came third in the largest market in the world.

Multiple supply chain disruptions during the pandemic provided a great fillip to the  textile and apparel (T&A) trade in the US as production reached a record high of $28 billion in 2022, as per statistics from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 

T&A exports from the country jumped by 12 per cent to over $24.8 billion in 2022, show figures from the study by the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the US Department of Commerce. The study details the production and export practices of 432 US textiles and apparel manufacturers.

A study by Shenglu Fashion shows, textile manufacturers in the US are concentrated in a few regions whereas apparel manufacturers are spread across the country. Both textile and apparel manufacturers have a large concentration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They also have limited vertical manufacturing capability. 

Most of the T&A manufacturers in the US use imported components, as per the OTEXA study. The likelihood of imported components being used is more amongst smaller T&A manufacturers, indicating a need to support these manufacturers to access textile input through mechanisms such as the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB).

The study further says, most of the exports markets for US-made T&A products are concentrated with 72 per cent of apparel mills and 57 per cent of home textiles manufacturers selling their products in less than two markets. These manufacturers sell a higher percentage of their goods in the domestic market. The markets for US technical textile manufacturers were most diverse with nearly 40 per cent exporting to more than ten countries.

Besides the Western Hemisphere, around 50 per cent of US textile and apparel manufacturers also export to Asia, Europe, and the rest of the world, as per the database with OTEXA.  .

Additionally, over 50 per cent of US T&A exporters leveraged US free trade agreements (FTAs). The use of FTAs was more common amongst textile mills in the US rather than apparel manufacturers. These exporters also used the USMCA agreement in large proportion to boost trade between the two countries.