Global lingerie market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.7% between 2023 and 2031, as per Transparency Market Research report. The global lingerie market was valued at US$ 96.3 Bn in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 171.3 Bn by the end of 2031.

The lingerie market, now also considered as an important fashion accessories has witnessed significant growth in the past few years due to the increase in popularity of western clothing in the women's category, and the rise in acceptance of various body types.

The rise in demand for comfortable innerwear among women and the increase in demand from online sales channels are anticipated to accelerate market expansion. The rapid growth of the innerwear apparel industry is projected to increase market size. The report also indicates that the availability of various lingerie types across all online and offline stores worldwide is likely to bolster market expansion in the next few years.

Europe held the largest market share in 2022 due to the presence of the largest fashion industry and an increase in people's income in the region. The rise in working women's population and presence of high fashion interests among them are projected to bolster the market in the region during the forecast period. South America, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa are anticipated to generate notable revenue during the forecast period due to improving economic conditions, rise in the number of women workers in different fields, and improving fashion industry.

Increase in women's employment is also a key driver for the growth of the lingerie market. Rapid economic growth in several parts of the world has propelled the participation of women in multiple businesses, especially in developing countries such as China and India.

In the past 30 years, the global supply chains have been instrumental in providing women with a gateway into the formal workforce. This has created remarkable opportunities for women to enhance their skills, augment their earnings and improve their living standards.

Despite the fact that the global supply chains have played a significant role in empowering women, particularly in the garment industry, there are still significant deficits in decent work, which exist in other areas of the labor market, such as discrimination, violence, and harassment.

As per ILO, garment industry, if it adopts more equitable policies and takes action, it could help millions of workers rise above poverty and foster inclusive economic growth.

Lenzing’s Tencel brand and RCGD Global, formerly known as Red Carpet Green Dress, have teamed up for the fourth year running to highlight eco-couture at the Oscars.

Sustainble Oscar occasion wear

Bailey Bass and Chloe East wore bespoke sustainable occasion wear made from Tencel branded fibres and Tencel LUXE filament yarn. The gowns were created in accordance with this year’s Oscars sustainable style guide, produced by RCGD Global. The aim is to promote sustainable materials and their positive impact on the environment in the fashion industry.

Harold Weghorst, global vice president of marketing and branding at Lenzing AG, said he hoped that “by giving sustainable materials a greater representation at the Oscars, we can draw attention to the need to lower the environmental impact of the fashion industry”. Meanwhile, Suzy Amis Cameron, founder of RCGD Global, said that working with Tencel allowed the organisation “to discover what sustainability means to them and how they want to represent the message on the Red Carpet”.

Bailey Bass wore a custom-made, cream-coloured halter gown made by New York-based designer Zac Posen using four cuts of fabric made from 100% Tencel LUXE filament yarn. The gown has an open-back design with an off-the-shoulder cuffed poet sleeves. Chloe East wore a custom Monique Lhuillier gown, with an A-line ball gown skirt and a black statement bow with sweeping ties made using Tencel Lyocell fibres. Both Tencel LUXE filament yarn and Tencel Lyocell fibres are fully biodegradable and compostable, having been derived from sustainable wood sources and produced using eco-responsible production processes.

Co-creating digital to physical

This year Tencel and RCGD Global worked with Web3 innovators institute of Digital Fashion and CLO Virtual Fashion to create a bespoke digital version of Zac Posen’s gown for Bailey Bass, highlighting the potential for digital design technologies to address the environmental issues associated with physical fashion and event dressing.

Swiss textile manufacturer Schoeller Textil AG has launched its latest sustainable textile collection, RE-SOURCE, at this year’s Performance Days textile fair in Munich.

The company's latest recycled textile collection is part of its comprehensive brand strategy, which focuses on creating holistic added value for the wearer, brand, and nature.

Sustainability and performance have been core brand principles for Schoeller Textil AG for over 150 years, and the RE-SOURCE collection aims to create a symbiosis of the highest quality, design, and current sustainability standards for consumers. The collection is made from bio-based, post- and pre-consumer materials such as recycled polyester and spandex and is equipped with Schoeller textile technologies to offer breathability, thermal regulation, wind and water resistance.

The RE-SOURCE collection also includes two textile innovations that have been lined with natural NATIVA merino wool, which is produced under the highest sustainability standards. The entire production process of NATIVA merino wool is 100% transparent and traceable for consumers using blockchain technology, meeting strict social and ecological requirements for animal welfare, land management, and ethical labor guidelines.

RE-SOURCE textile innovations are bluesign approved – the international standard for responsible and sustainable textile production.

Tessenderlo Group has announced aquired Picanol Group.

Picanol Group is a leading manufacturer of textile machinery and a major player in the global textile industry. The company, headquartered in Belgium, has a long-standing history of innovation and quality in the field of weaving technology. With a workforce of over 2,600 employees, Picanol has operations in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Tessenderlo Group, headquartered in Belgium, is a global industrial group with operations in over 100 countries and a team of over 7,000 employees. In 2021, the group recorded consolidated revenue of €2.1 billion, or €2.7 billion pro forma revenue including Picanol Group.

The acquisition of Picanol Group by Tessenderlo Group marks a significant milestone for both companies. For Tessenderlo Group, the acquisition will further strengthen its position as a leading player in the global industrial solutions market. With Picanol Group's expertise in textile machinery, Tessenderlo Group will be able to expand its portfolio of industrial solutions and offer its customers a wider range of products and services.

The acquisition of Picanol Group by Tessenderlo Group is expected to have a positive impact on both companies and the global textile industry as a whole. The combined strengths of these two leading players in the industrial solutions market will create new opportunities for growth and innovation, benefiting customers, employees, and shareholders alike.

Swedish Textile Machinery Association (TMAS) has demonstrated the potential of highly automated technologies in enabling textile companies in high-wage countries to compete in previously closed markets.

In a recent project, TMAS collaborated with its member companies, Automatex and Coloreel, to develop a fully automated machine that produces unique tote bags, providing companies with tools to differentiate in highly competitive fields.

The machine, developed by Automatex, is a fully automatic tote/consumer bag sewing unit that can produce fully finished bags in various sizes. The machine carries out all the necessary automated operations, including hemming, handle insertion, cutting, labelling, bag forming, and gusset forming, which previously had to be carried out manually.

The bags produced are still plain and uniform at this point, and with products that are intended to be used for as long as possible, personalization is the key.

To add decorative appeal, Coloreel's technology enables the high-quality and instant dyeing of a textile thread while it is being used in embroidery production. Additionally, the technology makes it possible to produce gradients in an embroidery design

TMAS Secretary General Therese Premler-Andersson believes that this collaboration emphasizes the positive potential of the latest Swedish digital textile technologies, which are enabling companies to generate new revenue streams wherever they happen to be located.

Mango, the Spanish fashion retailer, reported record sales of €2.68bn last year, a 13 per cent increase from pre-pandemic levels, as shoppers continued to spend on clothing despite inflation and the company expanded its presence in India and the US. Revenue grew 20 per cent from the previous year, with in-store and online sales benefiting from a post-pandemic appetite for fashion, despite tough competition in the sector. Net profit rose 21 per cent to €81m.

Company credited the return to normality last year and the end of Covid-19 restrictions for the company's success, as well as the opening of nine new stores in the US and its increasing presence in India, which is its leading market in Asia. In 2023, the company plans to open 35 new stores in India and expand its presence in the US to 40 stores.

Mango has 2,566 outlets worldwide and expects to open more stores this year, but only a third will be company-owned. Last year, Mango began transferring its 55 shops in Russia, which is under Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine, to local partners. Although 30 shops permanently closed, Mango still operates in 90 stores in Russia under franchise agreements.

The share of business generated by private labels in department store sales increased from 9 per cent to 16 per cent between 2019 and 2022, as per a new report by the International Association of Department Stores (IADS). The report has found that department stores around the world have been relying on their own brands since the Covid-19 crisis.

The rise in demand for private labels has been due to customers abandoning national brands in favour of cheaper options. For some department stores, developing their own brands is a way to improve profitability, especially as the pandemic has challenged them.

Department stores have repositioned their private labels in the high-end segment to maintain viable margins. Some see it as a way to compete with international brands, while others are pre-empting the high-quality essentials segment.

Private label retail prices have increased in line with overall price inflation. However, the higher prices have opened up a debate about going upmarket to justify a new price point. The report also found that private labels with the highest gross margins sell best.

Department stores are increasing the share of sustainable products in their collections and are keen to become more transparent. It is expected that private labels will continue to generate greater competitive and financial advantage compared to other commercial models found in department stores.

Bangladesh's top 31-60 apparel products saw a surge in export earnings in 2022, with a growth rate of 59.25 per cent. The products, which include men's and boys' woven overcoats, non-cotton woven shirts, and women's and girls' knitted blouses and overcoats, earned USD 4.28 billion in 2022, up from USD 2.69 billion in 2021 and USD 2.07 billion in 2020.

According to data, men or boys MMF woven overcoats were the highest exportable apparel item of Bangladesh, with exports worth USD 263.94 million in 2022. The second-highest item was men or boys non-cotton woven shirts, with exports worth USD 209.72 million in 2022, up from USD 111.22 million in 2021. Bangladesh's share of global imports for this item was 11.23 per cent in 2021.

In addition, the earnings from women or girls cotton knitted blouses increased by 50.63 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021, with exports worth USD 205.66 million. Other significant items included women or girls MMF woven overcoats, car-coats, capes, cloaks, anoraks, women or girls cotton woven jackets & blazers, men or boys cotton woven jackets & blazers, women or girls woven of rubberized or coated fabrics, M/B synthetic knitted trousers, woven clothing accessories, men or boys cotton knitted pajamas, women or girls cotton knitted coats, men or boys non-cotton woven trousers, women or girls synthetic woven jackets & blazers, women or girls MMF knitted briefs.

These 30 items account for 9.38 per cent of the total apparel export earnings of Bangladesh. The increase in earnings from these items is expected to boost the country's economic growth, as the apparel sector is a key contributor to its GDP.

The Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month showcased office uniforms made from indigenous tropical fabrics spun from natural fibers such as silk, banana, pineapple, and abaca, designed by local artisans.

The event, held annually in the first quarter, aims to raise awareness of local fabrics and promote collaboration between industry players and research institutions to promote innovation in clothing production.

The event, now in its tenth year, features a fashion show aimed at boosting the commercial production of indigenous tropical fabrics. It targets farmers, handloom weavers of natural textiles, retailers and millers, and producers of uniforms of various types.

The Philippines pioneered textile production in Southeast Asia, but changes in global trade, lack of technical knowledge and investment, and preferential policies led to a drop in the garment and textile industry’s export value from $3 billion in the 1990s to $1.2 billion by 2016.

However, the country remains competitive in the mid- to high-end market, primarily for its prized embroidery and intricate design capabilities, including handwoven fabrics made with indigenous fibers.