Universal Standard, the size-inclusive brand has collaborated with the UK fashion house Erdem to create an eight-piece collection anchored in white and indigo denim that merges notions of romance and utility.

As per Sourcing Journal, the capsule collection consists of two different styles of jean—a wide legged boyfriend jean and a high-waisted skinny jean with a double button sailor front—a denim boiler suit, a deconstructed denim skirt, a shirt dress and two floral print cotton blouses.

The collection pushes the design house out of its comfort zone of ethereal fabrics and into the world of size-inclusive denim. Erdem’s creative touches are evident in the romantic undertones found throughout the capsule collection such as ruffles and smocking. The collection also marks Erdem’s entry into a more accessible price point. While floral boyfriend jeans in the brand’s Spring 2020 collection retail for $540, the Erdem x Universal Standard collection retails for $120-$198.

Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, the United States is not yet ready to lift tariffs on Chinese imports, but could be open to talks with Beijing.

In January 2020, ex-president Donald Trump signed an accord between Beijing and Washington after a bruising trade battle that saw tariffs imposed by both sides. But the former trade lawyer warned that suddenly axing the levies could harm the US economy unless a policy reversal is communicated in a way that allows the government to make adjustments.

Tai said, while she recognized the tariffs were taking a toll on some US businesses, they had been imposed to remedy an unbalanced and unfair trade situation. She has already discussed Beijing's trade practices in calls with Japanese ministers, and in her confirmation hearings said she supported a holistic review on China.

To support the #CheckWhatsGood campaign, Tencel has launched a ‘good filter.’ The ‘good filter’ invites the public to use the filter to share all of the “good” things that they see and do each day for the planet. From choosing clothing made out of sustainable fibers and using metal straws, to bringing reusable bags to the grocery store or biking to the office, there are so many simple things we can do each day to make a difference for the planet. The "Good" filter can also be accessed through the IG Effects Gallery in IG stories.

The new action-oriented social media based campaign has been designed to encourage us all to "check" themselves this month and take stock of the small decisions we make & habits we build to support a healthier planet. The goal is also to help consumers of all ages understand that when they see a Tencel™ logo, they can trust what they are buying and know that it is sustainably sourced.

In addition to the #CheckWhatsGood filter, Tencel also plans to launch an assortment of interactive tips, tricks, and simple changes we can make for a more sustainable life, along with fun quizzes, informative events, and brand giveaways, all through their Instagram stories.

Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Association (TAPPI)will organize a virtual nonwovens conference as a part of Tappicon 2021 event of the from May 04-05, 2021. The event will kick start with a keynote presentation on the industry’s response to COVID-19 by Dave Rousse, President, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry Association (INDA). The highlight of the program is a power packed panel session on “Preparing for Future Pandemics and PPE.” Panel involves key leaders in the industry including Karen Bitz-McIntyre, Editor Nonwovens Industry magazine.

The event will bring leading organizations such as TAPPI and INDA to discuss the state of the sector and innovations in nonwovens and technical textiles. Speaking about the nonwovens field, Larry Montague, TAPPI President & CEO stated, “While the pandemic has taught us many things over the last year, one of the most significant has been the sizeable role nonwovens played in ‘stopping the spread,’ both in the healthcare community and beyond. Whether we’re talking about face masks, filters, various Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), or wipes, the industry was, and still is, on the frontline of this fight providing lifesaving protection.”

The conference features presentations from leading industry and academic leaders. A timely presentation on the recent advances in spunmelt nonwovens will be delivered by a representative from Exxon Mobil Corporation. Novel solutions to microbial problems will be dealt in a presentation by ViaClean Technologies. International speakers from India, United Kingdom, Turkey, and United States will deal with topics like design aspects of coveralls, nanofiber filters, etc.

The Intex South Asia – Bangladesh edition virtual expowasvisited by2000+ trade buyers from the textile and apparel industry of Bangladesh and also attracted overseas buyers from Sri Lanka, Spain, Mauritius, Finland, Italy, Peru and Algeria.

The buyers interacted with 70+ global suppliers participating from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United Kingdom (UK) through pre-arranged B2B meetings over Zoom and the Bee2Bee platform.

Intex South Asia Bangladesh was inaugurated virtually on March 22, 2021, by the Minister for Textiles & Jute, Golam Dastagir Gazi (Chief Guest) and JogiranjanPanigrahi, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India (Guest of Honour) in the presence of Mohammad Hatem, Former Vice-President, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA), Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President,India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and former President of FBCCI andDilip Chenoy, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The VIP Opening Ceremony of Intex South Asia Bangladesh was broadcasted live on Bee2Bee, YouTube and Facebook simultaneously.

Some of the leading buyers from Bangladesh whovisitedthe virtual platform and attended B2B meetings with interested suppliers were Aaron Denim, Epyllion Group, S. Oliver Overseas, Tom Tailor Sourcing, Windy Group, Asmara International Ltd, Bitopi Group, Decathlon Bangladesh, Dewhirst Group, Hoplun BD, Palmal Group, LCWAIKIKI, Herma Group, H&M Bangladesh, Li & Fung, PVH Far East, Louietex Manufacturing, Dird Group, etc.

Intex South Asia Bangladesh is endorsed and supported by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BKMEA), Chittagong Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, Bangladesh Chemical Importers & Merchants Association, India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dutch-Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Our international supporting organisations are Malaysia Knitting Manufacturers Association (MKMA), Thailand Textile Institute (THTI), Korea Textile Center (KTC) and China’s Zhejiang Province - Department of Commerce.

Analysts Wells Fargo and JPMorgan opine that Gap Inc is ready for a comeback amid an attempt to turn around the business. The company recently sold its kidswear brand Janie and Jack to Go Global Retail, a fashion and retail investment platform.

Gap acquired Janie and Jack in 2019 amid the Gymboree bankruptcy.

As part of Gap Inc’s Power Plan 2023, and exemplified by this transaction, the company is prioritizing strategic focus and resources behind the growth and potential of our billion-dollar brands in Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta. said Sally Gilligan, Head-Strategy.

Gap grew by over 300 per cent over the past 12 months. Its profit and sales have been steadily improving since the quarter ended in July, though analysts forecast a loss for the quarter that ends in April.

Analysts Well Fargo expects demand for new clothes to jump with vaccinations increasing and a massive accumulation of consumer savings. The firm believes as outside-the-home activities are more widely adopted, a flood of pent-up demand could drive a major rebound in apparel by 2021.

Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel plans to set up competence centers in Europe.

As per Textile Network, currently, the company manufactures interlinings for the European mass market at its site in Weinheim, Germany, while high-quality canvas interlinings for the European luxury market are made at the site in Sant’Omero, southern Italy. Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel is planning to bundle its technologies in competence centers in order to enable its European interlining business to thrive in future and to better fulfill the needs of European customers.

To accomplish this forward-looking ambition, Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel is planning to relocate two lines for finishing and coating from Weinheim to Sant’Omero, along with one line from the site in San Martín, Argentina. This line was decommissioned and disassembled in 2017.

The existing modern facility for base nonwoven production in Weinheim provides the ideal foundation for a competence center. Furthermore, weft production will continue in Weinheim.

Karl Mayer has launched the new 4D-Knit generation of warp knitted fabrics that opens up previously unknown possibilities in design and product development. by Ulrike Schlenker.

As per Textile Network, the double needle bar raschel machine does not produce a classic spacer textile with monofilaments for spacing, but the space between the cover surfaces is filled with a bulked yarn. In addition, differently shrinking yarns are processed in intelligent combinations on the front and rear side of the warp knitted textiles and different lapping techniques are used. During the finishing process, this leads to high-low effects with differentiated markedness. Voluminous fabrics with small and flat reliefs or deep and bulky shapes with various motifs are created.

Strict geometric arrangements with high-low effects are just as possible as expansive plastic wavy arrangements, sparkling fruit looks or complex imaginative designs with different height profiles. Even hole patterns can be seamlessly and freely placed incorporated into the textiles. Functional clothing and shoes in particular provide breathability and a stylish look with the mesh parts. Additional colour and shape effects can be achieved when using suitable yarns. Especially designers and product developers in the clothing sector can enter completely new territory thanks to these articles with their futuristic looks and voluminous structure.

Chinese and Turkish textile companies plan to supply uniforms for the Tunisian armed forces over the next three years for a value estimated at around $22.7 billion.

As per Nafaa Ennaifer, President, Tunisian Textile Federation, the contracts awarded to the foreign companies are valued between $21.2 billion and 22.7 billion.

According to Ennaifer, the deal to purchase 180,000 combat uniforms per year would deprive Tunisian companies of a transaction worth between 70 and 75 million dinars over 3 years.

The Ministry of National Defense argued that over the past three years, 73 per cent of government contracts in the military uniform industry have been awarded to local suppliers, TAP reports.

The Ministry of Defense favors local products and encourages Tunisian producers to get in tune with technical requirements so as to achieve efficient production lines.

The ministry added that the participation of local producers in tenders was low and not in conformity, in majority, with the required technical standards in coordination with the Technical Center of the textile.

To tide over disruptions like COVID-19 and become future-ready, fashion companies need to align themselves to new trends, says a new survey by IMD’s Center for Future Readiness. Pointing to the latest financial results of footwear and apparel brand Nike, the survey highlights its sales growth to $10.36 billion in the current financial year from $10.1 billion in the same period last year and credits this to focus on digitization.

Advance analytics to facilitate product movement

To discover the benefits of digitization in the fashion industry, the IMD center downloaded all reports published in the last 10 years by The Wall Street Journal. CNBC, The Financial Times. All corporate press releases were converted into an algorithm to track the digital evolution of fashion brands. It used hard market data to calculate the composite score. The survey measured fundamental drivers that fuel innovation in companies like their financial health, growth prospects, employee diversity, brand value, its degree of internationalization, and the early results of its innovation efforts.

The survey also analyzed the e-commerce presence of these brands in mobile apps, live-streaming, omni-channels, and their direct-to-consumer engagement. Further, it evaluated their fanbase on social media, their search volume on Google and their sustainability standards. Digitization can help companies offer customized products to customers within weeks. For this, they need to automate tracking and coordination with external partners. They also need to use advance analytics to gather the latest market insights. This can help them to categorize and move products based on demand. The survey also advises companies to discover stores that need specific products and deliver accordingly.

Not just an option

The survey showed, beginning its digital journey much earlier in 2017 helped Nike counter the negative effects of the lockdown-related store closures during the recent pandemic. The brand reopened almost 90 per cent of its stores. Yet, its digital sales are expected to continue growing in double digits, helping it to rebound faster. Therefore, digitization is no more just an option for fashion brands, it’s the only way they can stay relevant in the current turbulent market.