The Indian textile and apparel market is on its road to recovery, says the Export Preparedness Index 2021 report by NITI Aayog and the Institute of Competitiveness. The textile sector has been able to maintain a trade surplus due to rising consumer demand and the government’s increased efforts to boost the sector, it adds.

Textile exports from India increased 53.86 per cent during April-November 2021. Growth was mainly driven increase in shipment of cotton fabrics, made-ups and readymade cotton garments. The government has also achieved 68 per cent of the annual target of $44 billion for textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, in 2021-22, the report adds.

The report states, India’s textile exports mainly suffer from intra- and inter-regional differences in export infrastructure; weak trade support and growth orientation across states; and lack of research and development infrastructure to promote complex and unique exports. Also, India fails to exploit the Lewis curve for low-skill manufacturing compared with more skill-intensive exports, it adds.

To exploit this opportunity, India must boost its manufacturing capacity, the report adds. A comprehensive analysis of India’s export achievements, the report can be used by states and union territories to benchmark their performance against their peers and analyse potential challenges to develop better policy mechanisms to foster export-led growth at the sub-national level.

As a part of its expansion plans, NSE-listed exporter of fabrics and garments, Globe Textiles,(India) will acquire the garment manufacturing and processing unit of Vivaa Tradecom (VTPL). With a turnover of Rs 145.90 crore for the year that ended on March 31, 2021, the VTPL unit will enhance Globe’s garment capacity and in-house processing capacity post-acquisition

Globe has also reappointed independent directors Yogesh Vaidya and Bharat Samjibhai Patel. It offers a wide range of textiles, apparels and related services while also focusing on sustainability. Its product portfolio includes man-made and natural fiber fabrics, accessories and readymade garments. Incepted in 1995, Globe Textiles (India) manufactures and supplies a complete range of textile and apparel products and services. The company deploys qualified human and material resources to deliver innovative and tailor-made products and services through win-win business partnerships.

International sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are disrupting Bangladesh’s exports of key products such as ready-made garments. Port authorities in other countries have offloading containers filled with Bangladeshi-made apparel products or other export items bound for Russia, says Jashim Uddin, President, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The federation exports products worth nearly $700 million every year, he adds.

Many international chains with shops in Russia have also cancelled orders for Bangladesh-made apparel products, he adds. Bangladesh mainly exports apparel, jute, leather, home textiles and ceramic products to Russia. On the other hand, it imports Russian-made capital machinery, fresh and dried fruit and raw sugar, etc. Bilateral trade between the two countries had been rising since the 2018-19 fiscal year. However, the recent sanctions have made trade with Russia difficult and uncertain, says Rajiv Chowdhury, Managing Director, Young4Ever Textile.

Held in Ludhiana, this year’s edition of the four-day Garments Machinery Manufacturers & Suppliers Association (GMSSA) expo attracted huge crowds and generated a large number of enquiries by the exhibitors. Ram Krishan, Chairman, GMMSA says, the four-day exhibition of garment machinery and allied products showcased 2,000 products of about 250 brands. These mainly included machinery-related to knitting, weaving, dyeing, finishing, embroidery, printing and sewing machines, allied machines and accessories. Thousands of buyers and sellers from all over India visited the expo with numerous network meetings during the event. This paved way for business dealings of both machinery dealers and their buyers.

Narinder Kumar, President adds, all exhibitors received great response from the visitors in the expo and along with enquiries they have also got confirm orders. Exhibitors at this year’s expo also showcased machinery for utility.

The first adidas product to be made with the Spinnova fiber, the Terrex HS1 hoodie comprises a minimum of 25 per cent wood-based fibres alongwith organic cotton. The hoodie is made without dyeing or chemicals and works with the natural color, as per an Innovation in Textiles report.

The brand aims to make a limited number of the Terrex HS1 commercially available on adidas.com and in other selected retail outlets from July this year. Spinnova aims to provide radically sustainable and high-performance materials, says Janne Poranen, Co-Founder and CEO. The company has developed a fibre technology that does not involve any dissolving chemistry, and emulates the production of spider silk and spin filaments from cellulose.

The process uses no harmful chemicals and 99 per cent less water than cotton,, It also minimizes CO2 emissions in production and does not contain microplastics. Spinnova has also collaborated with the world’s largest wood eucalyptus pulp producer, Suzano to build Respin, a commercial scale fibre plant in Finland. The company aims to increase its global fibre production capacity to million tons within the next 10-12 years.

Several textile processors in India have increased prices as cotton rates surged to Rs 88,000 per candy and dyes and intermediate prices increased by 30 per cent. Textile processing units in Ahmedabad increased processing charges by Rs 2 per metre from April 1. This is likely to push up apparel prices by at least 7 per cent, says Naresh Sharma, Former Vice President, Ahmedabad Textiles Processors’ Association.

A few processing houses have increased charges due to rising coal, color, and chemicals costs. Closing of 500 textile processing units in Danilimda and Suez is shifting orders to Piplai and Narol units, leading to an increase in prices by these units. Many textile traders and garment manufacturers are terming this move unethical. The move will hit demand for clothes, opines Vijay Purohit, President, Gujarat Garment Manufacturers’ Association.

The association has released a circular stating that textile processing houses will have to finish orders as per earlier price commitments, adds Gaurang Bhagat, President. Traders have been asked to clearly mention grey quantity, processing rates, dyeing, design and delivery rate, while signing contracts with processing units.

The 18th edition of the "Maroc in Mode" exhibition focuses on the need for sustainability in the Moroccan textile and fashion industry. The event hosted by the Moroccan Association of Textile and Clothing Industries (AMITH) is on from March 30 to 31 at the Mohammed VI Exhibition Center in El Jadida near Casablanca. It highlights the need to make the industry more socially, environmentally, and economically responsible.

All types of textile business are participating including fabric makers, home textile creators, and accessory makers. The exhibition centre has dedicated one third of space to display textiles from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, France, Italy, Spain, and Uzbekistan. The event is part of the Association’s vision, ‘The Textile Sector 2035 - Vision and Convictions’, which aims to increase profits from Moroccan textile industry and its share in the global market.

The AMITH seeks to double the value of Moroccan textile exports to MAD 60 billion ($6.18 billion) by 2035. It also aims to increase Moroccan’s share of textiles in North American and Northern European markets by 20 per cent.

In response to the legislation, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed last December by President Joe Biden, the Alliance for Vietnam’s Democracy, has released a statement claiming Vietnam helps China bypass these sanctions by importing cotton from the Xinjiang region. World Bank stats show, China was the largest exporter of garments to the US between 2002 and 2020. However, the ban imposed by the Trump administrations on all cotton imports from Xinjiang in 2020 led to Vietnam usurping China’s position as the biggest exporter of garments to the US market.

Shipments from China diverted to Vietnam

As per 2019 data, China grows around 85 per cent of its cotton in the Xinjiang region. In the last few years, the country has witnessed a rapid growth in textile and apparel manufacturing in Uyghur. Yet, cotton shipments from the region have ceased in the last two years. Most of the cotton and cotton-based yarn, textiles and finished goods grown and manufactured in the Uyghur region are now transported first to Vietnam before being shipped internationally.

Vietnam has also emerged as one of the top two destinations, besides Bangladesh, for China’s export of raw cotton, yarn and fabric. Of the 53 international intermediary manufacturers that buy raw cotton goods from China, six are from Vietnam. These Vietnamese intermediaries supply their products to many well-known international brands and may have Xinjiang cotton in their supply chains, warns the Alliance for Vietnam's Democracy.

More than half of China’s cotton semi-finished products are shipped to countries within Asia, with Vietnam being the second largest importer, shows data from the UN Comtrade. These countries then produce finished garments from the semi-finished products to export around the world.

Growth in ‘cotton laundering’

This leads to ‘laundering’ of Xinjiang cotton, making it difficult to trace the origin of finished garments’ material. Laura Murphy, Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice believes, such an export strategy prevents end buyers from being directly involved in buying cotton from the Xinjiang region. International brands and wholesalers can buy from factories in third countries that have few visible ties with Uyghur Region-based companies. This guarantees a stable supply of Xinjiang cotton to the international market even as brands, governments, and consumers continue to protest against Xinjiang forced-labor-made goods.

Vietnam tops cotton imports from China

Between 2016 and 2019, Vietnam emerged fourth largest importer of cotton or cotton-mixed products from China in terms of product value and weight. The country also emerged the second largest export destination for semi-finished cotton products from China in terms of value and weight.

All five suppliers of Uyghur cotton including Jiangsu Lianfa Group, Luthai Textile, Huafu Fashion, Texhong Textile Group, and Weiqiao Textile, export a significant number of cotton intermediaries to Vietnam. A reputed company, Huafu has established production facilities in both the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Vietnam.

Ban fabric imports from Xinjiang, urges industry

World’s largest apparel producer, China exports most of its textiles and apparels to the US, Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Germany, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Hence, the Alliance for Vietnam’s Democracy has urged, compliance with the new legislation, cotton fabrics imported from Vietnam should also be banned as the cotton and other intermediaries used in these fabrics are imported from Xinjiang.

Forecasted to grow at 5.4 per cent CAGR till 2025, global luxury fashion industry is becoming increasingly multifaceted with its infusion of streetwear and growing investments in the metaverse. As per an Edited report, streetwear-inspired global luxury market is forecasted to grow to $382.6 billion in 2025. The sweatpants category will grow by 59 per cent, sweatshirts by 26 per cent and T-shirts by 14 per cent.

Investments in traditional workwear have been increasing since the onset of the pandemic. Luxury brands are also witnessing a 130 per cent Y-o-Y increase in demand for extended sizes. Currently, these sizes are available in only 7 per cent luxury apparel sold online. They need to be extended to offline retailers also. With animal hides no longer viewed as a status symbol, investments in animal furs have declined 27 per cent and exotic skins by 42 per cent Y-o-Y. The industry is increasingly opting for animal-free luxury alternatives like vegan leather whose demand has soared 20 per cent year-on-year

Quintessential streetwear items like hoodies, sweatpants, sneakers and T-shirts staples continue to form a part of luxury brands' collections. However, luxury brands have shifted away from bumbags to crossbody bags or duffels.

Demand for workwear grows

Streetwear brands like Fear of God and Stone Island continue to invest in third-party luxury sites. Both these brands have invested to acquire 680 per cent and 81 per cent stakes in these sites.

Reminiscent of pre-pandemic times, workwear essentials have grown on par with pre-pandemic levels in the luxury market. New shirt arrivals have increased 16 per cent and blazers 2 per cent Y-o-Y. However, demand for wide-leg pants has dropped by 31 per cent Y-o-Y.

Luxury collections to brighten up with new shades

Luxury assortments are expected to become brighter with the infusion of new shades. In 2021, the percentage of color pink in women’s wardrobes declined to 37 per cent from 43 per cent earlier. On the other hand, the percentage of color green surged from 6 per cent to 7 per cent, yellow from 3 per cent to 4 per cent and purple from 2 per cent to 4 per cent.

Demand for extended sizes grow

Luxury brands typically design garments ranging upto size XL for women and a 2XL for men. However, few retailers are extending their size offerings to serve growing demand from diverse body types. Sizes are on offer range from XL for women and 2XL for men.

Decline in fur demand

Investments in vegan leathers grew 20 per cent Y-o-Y. Demand for faux alternatives and teddy fixtures are also growing 78 per cent Y-o-Y while demand for conscious wool is rising 67 per cent. On the other hand, the value of fur and exotic skins has dropped though demand for wool continues to thrive despite 9 per cent Y-o-Y drop in value.

Pushing boundaries with metaverse

Metaverse is helping luxury brands push new boundaries to increase sales. Around 42 per cent of brands adopted metaverse and NFTs within the past year on their home pages. Designers are also coming on board with creation of new digital wearables and tokens. Gucci has emerged as a frontrunner by buying a plot of virtual land on The Sandbox and partnering 10KTF among its many metaverse projects. However, to increase their presence in metaverse retailers need to increase collaborations with experts.

As per the International Textile Industry Statistics published by International Textile Manufacturers’ Federation (ITMF) on productive capacity and raw material consumption in the short-staple organized sector, the number of installed short-staple spindles globally remained stable in 2020 at 221 million units from 2018. However, the number of installed short-staple spindles declined to its lowest level of 150 million units in 2002 while it rose highest at 250 million units in 2012.

Open-end rotors witness slight decline

The number of installed open-end rotors decreased slightly from 7.4 million in 2019 to 7.2 million in 2020. Scrapping of outdated machinery in China seems to have stalled the decline in observed in both segments in previous years. The number of installed open-end rotors rose to its highest level of 8 million in 2018 while it dropeed to its lowest at 6 million in 1990. Installation of air-jet spindles increased in all regions except Europe, East and Europe, West in 2020.

Shuttleless looms shrink for first time

For the first time, the number of installed shuttleless looms fell from 1.68 million in 2019 to 1.64 in 2020. Number of installed shuttles looms rose to its highest in 2018 while they declined to their lowest in below 1.0 in 1990.

Raw material consumption sees negative growth

Total raw material consumption in the short-staple organized sector declined from 46 million tons in 2019 to 41 million tons in 2020. Consumption had peaked during 2019 while it sunk to its lowest level in 1990. Consumption of raw cotton, synthetic, and cellulosic short-staple fibers decreased -12 per cent, -14 per cent, and -9 per cent, respectively during the year. The decline in consumption in 2020 reflects a decline in production due to the pandemic.

The International Textile Machinery Forum (ITMF) is one of the oldest non-govern-mental organizations. It was founded in 1904 in Zurich and convened at the initiative of the British cotton spinning industry. The organization adopted the name ‘International Federation of Master Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Association’. It was also referred to as the ‘International Cotton Federation’