The Lycra Company has appointed Gary Smith as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective November 27. He replaces, Dean Williams, acting CEO since August. Smith will also assume additional responsibility of the chief financial officer and assist with the brand’s transition. His role as the new CEO will include leading Lycra's global organisation. 

With over 25 years of experience in the consumer products industry, Smith was earlier engaged with Hatteras Yachts, a custom motor and sports fishing yacht company, as the CEO. At Hatteras Yachts, he led the turnaround and subsequent sale of the company. He has also worked as the CEO of Polartec, and spearheaded transformation efforts at the textile company. As the previous president of The Timberland Company, Smith spearheaded its outdoor group. 

The Lycra Company produces fiber and technology solutions for the apparel and personal care industries. Its brand portfolio include: Lycra, LycraHyFit, T400, CoolMax, Thermolite, Elaspan, Supplex, and Tactel.

Prominent Spanish company Jeanologia unveiled its groundbreaking innovations at ITMA Asia 2023, on from November 19-23 at the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center. This exhibition provides Jeanologia with a platform to present cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the Chinese textile industry.

Jeanologia’s innovations focus on the creation of garments with minimal water usage, zero discharges, and leverage digitization and hyper-automation. Among the featured technologies is the atmospheric washing process, showcasing the company's proprietary G2 ozone technology with the patented INDRA system. Additionally, Jeanologia is introducing its latest advancement in laser technology, the Flash system, a sophisticated combination of hardware and software featuring an intelligent algorithm that dynamically controls laser energy, significantly accelerating garment marking.

Another noteworthy innovation on display is the Colorbox technology for garment dyeing. With this advancement, Jeanologia transforms the conventional method of garment dyeing into an environmentally friendly, efficient, and faster process. Overall, Jeanologia's presence at ITMA Asia 2023 underscores its commitment to driving positive changes in the textile industry through sustainable and innovative solutions.

The upcoming 20th edition of Colombo Fashion Week (CFW), or the Luxury Resortwear edition, is set to prioritize circularity and fashion as a soft power. Scheduled for November 29-30, 2023, the event will not only showcase sophisticated resortwear and occasionwear but also mark the relaunch of the Fashion Design Council of Sri Lanka (FDCL).

Ten designers, including Charini Suriyage, Amilani Perera, Asanka De Mel, Fouzul Hameed, Dinushi Pamunuwa, Kamil Hewawitharana, and Karma, will present their collections over the two-day event. The show will attract prominent designers from India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Colombo Fashion Week will host a Circular Design Mindset, a sustainability workshop organized under the Responsible Fashion Council. Sanjaya Senarath, Chief Marketing Officer of Nations Trust Bank, notes the partnership underscores the commitment to support emerging entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka's fashion industry, providing an opportunity for the bank's high-end card segment to engage with the fashion presented by CFW.

The Luxury Resortwear edition has secured partnerships with Shangri-La Colombo, Nations Trust Bank, American Express, Lakme, Tressemme, Vision Care, Hameedia, Ramani Salons, Wijeya Newspaper, Hardtalk, and Emerging Media.

Scheduled from February 22-24, 2024, the 20th edition of the International Istanbul Yarn Fair, one of the largest global event in the yarn industry, will take place at the Tuyap Fair Convention and Congress Center in Istanbul. Anticipating the participation of over 600 companies and more than 15,000 professional visitors, this event is poised to be a major gathering within the industry. In comparison, the 19th edition, held from June 1-3, 2023, saw 58 companies and representatives from 22 countries, attracting 12,677 sectoral professionals from 86 countries.

Organized by Tüyap Fair and Exhibition Organization the fair is an important platform for leading industry brands to exhibit their products, facilitating their access to both domestic and international markets. The event features a diverse array of exhibitors from four continents.

A broad range of products will be showcased at the fair, including, but not limited to, cotton yarns, elastane yarns, wool yarns, acrylic yarns, viscose yarns, polyester yarns, silk yarns, nylon yarns, textured yarns, fancy yarns, organic yarns, polypropylene yarns, regenerated yarns, metallic yarns, technical yarns, hand knitting yarns, fibers, bobbins, spools, reels, textile dyes, and chemicals. The fair serves as a comprehensive platform for industry professionals to explore the latest trends and innovations in the yarn sector.

In September 2023, the value of apparel imports by Canada witnessed a notable decrease of 13.61 per cent, falling from $1.14 billion in August 2023 to $979 million. On a year-on-year basis, Canada experienced a significant decline in apparel imports, with a drop of 29.13  in September 2023 compared to the same month in 2022.

Analyzing the top exporting nations, only Indonesia saw an increase in shipments, while imports from India registered a substantial decline of 10.42 per cent, reaching $297.17 million for the January to September 2023 period. Similarly, imports from Vietnam decreased 8.85 per cent to $1.17 billion during this period, and imports from Bangladesh witnessed a decline of 12.54 per cent, amounting to $1.14 billion in the review period.

Latest stats from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal, prices of men’s apparels rose 5 per cent in October 2023 as against the previous year. Comparatively prices of women’s apparels, rose just 1.6 per cent during the month.  Prices of all items in men’s wear category surged 3.2 per cent in October, which was less than half the 7.8 per cent increase seen a year earlier.

Over the past decade, prices of men’s apparel have increased by around 2 per cent. Most of this rise is led by a 14.2 per cent increase in prices of underwear, nightwear, swimwear and accessories and an 8.9 per cent boost in the prices of pants and shorts. 

A host of factors have worked together to push up prices these included the cost of raw materials and production. In contrast, prices of women’s wear have declined by 6.2 per cent since October 2013. In fact, prices of women’s dresses have registered a massive decline 17.3 per cent. 

Tiruppur Exporters Association says they have observed heightened demand for budget-friendly garments this year. Basic T-shirts, priced at $2 per piece, are experiencing a surge in popularity, overshadowing demand for fashion garments priced between $8 and $20 per item. Even during Christmas and New Year season, apparel trade in the country has failed to witness the usual joy, mainly due to a slowdown in demand from the US and European markets.

As Raja Shanmugam, Managing Director of Warsaw International, both US and European markets are grappling with high inflation resulting from increased post-pandemic demand and supply chain disruptions amid the Russia-Ukraine war. KM Subramanian, President of the Tiruppur Exporters Association, notes demand during the Christmas and New Year seasons has declined almost 40 per cent. The smaller units within the industry have been particularly adversely affected by this downturn.

Spanish eco-technology pioneer, Jeanologia, is showcasing its cutting-edge advancements at ITMA Asia 2023, held at the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center from November 19 to 23. Positioned at stand H6A11, the company is unveiling disruptive technologies set to revolutionize the Chinese textile industry, emphasizing efficiency and sustainability.

At the forefront of these innovations is the ability to produce vintage-style garments without water consumption, waste minimization, and zero discharges. Leveraging digitalization and hyper-automation, Jeanologia aims to propel the Chinese textile industry into a new era of eco-efficiency.

Jean-Pierre Inchauspe, Business Director at Jeanologia Asia, notes the company's 18-year commitment to supporting the Chinese textile industry in its journey toward digitalization and sustainability while concurrently reducing costs. The introduction of the Jeanologia Hub in Hong Kong in 2020 has furthered collaboration, enhancing the industry's competitiveness.

Inchauspe announces a pivotal shift with the incorporation of air-led technologies, marking a new phase for the Chinese textile industry. Embracing a circular approach, the innovations promise an eco-efficient, digital, and automated production process.

Among the featured technologies is the atmospheric washing process using G2 ozone technology, achieving garment aging with minimal water usage and eliminating chemical or pumice stone use. The Flash system, a novel laser technology, stands out for its dynamic energy control, enabling faster garment marking with unparalleled efficiency.

Jeanologia's Colorbox technology for garment dyeing is also highlighted for its eco-friendly approach, significantly reducing water, chemicals, energy, and salt usage compared to traditional methods.

With over 15 years of collaboration with the Chinese textile industry, Jeanologia solidifies its position as a technological partner, boasting over 100 clients, 300 installed pieces of equipment, and contributing to 10% of jeans production in China. The company's local teams continue to support the industry, driving sustainability and efficiency benchmarks.

RUDOLF HUB1922 takes a groundbreaking leap in response to the surging demand for truly sustainable technologies, particularly within the textile and apparel industry. Unveiling its revolutionary textile chemistry at Denim by Premiere Vision Milan, the company introduces a visionary range that signifies a genuine evolution. This innovative chemistry represents a significant stride in addressing the critical need for sustainable solutions, utilizing raw materials sourced from organic and plastic waste, as well as renewable feedstock.

Head of RUDOLF HUB1922, Alberto De Conti, underscores the radical nature of this evolutionary textile chemistry, asserting that the approach confronts waste generation by transforming discarded materials into valuable resources. The utilization of waste and renewable feedstock for textile chemical production marks a paradigm shift, reducing the industry's reliance on non-renewable resources and endorsing a circular economy model.

De Conti emphasizes the importance of effective communication and education for the successful integration of chemicals derived from organic and plastic waste, along with renewable feedstocks. He highlights the necessity for collaborative efforts among scientists, fashion designers, and manufacturers, stating that such partnerships are paramount for propelling a collective shift towards sustainable practices. According to De Conti, this collaborative approach makes eco-friendly fashion the standard, minimizing the industry's environmental impact and fostering a more sustainable future.

Bluesign, a pioneering force in environmental stewardship within the fashion industry since its establishment in 2000, continues to reshape the textile landscape through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions. Collaborating with industry giants like Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Nike, and Adidas, bluesign has elevated the bar for sustainable practices, emerging as a premier provider of eco-conscious solutions.

A recent milestone is the collaboration between bluesign and ERCA, resulting in the revolutionary REVECOL line. Developed in conjunction with ERCA's Textile BU, this product range seamlessly fuses high-performance attributes with a commitment to well-being and environmental preservation. ERCA's rigorous testing for biodegradability and aquatic toxicity, coupled with the GRS certification for the REVECOL range, underscores a new standard for responsible manufacturing, aligning perfectly with YKK's Sustainability Vision 2050.

Madewell, a frontrunner in mainstream sustainable fashion, joined forces with bluesign in 2022 to revolutionize denim production. Their collaboration emphasizes environmental enhancements, worker safety, and resource efficiency, introducing bluesign Approved ISKO fabrics and establishing the "bluesign DENIM" concept—a benchmark for clean chemistry and sustainable production processes.

In a significant move toward sustainable footwear, Vibram and bluesign formed a dynamic partnership in November 2022, driving progress in chemical standards. Their collaboration on certifying Vibram's Component Shoe signifies a notable stride towards a sustainable future in footwear production.

Bluesign and its brand partners, at the forefront of environmental consciousness, are steering the industry toward a more sustainable and responsible future.