US lawmakers are investigating some of the largest clothing companies in the world for using forced labor in their supply chains, potentially violating US trade law.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has written to Temu, Shein, Nike, and Adidas North America, asking about the use of materials and labor sourced from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region of China.

Any such use would be a violation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act of 2021, according to the letters. The Committee has given the companies until 16 May to respond to its questions about suppliers and supply chain policies.

Chinese brands Shein and Temu are also accused of using a 90-year-old loophole to avoid tariffs on goods sold to US consumers.

Sri Lanka's apparel industry, which constitutes the country's largest industrial export, is bracing for a significant decline of up to $1 billion this year, as global demand continues to slow down, warns a top industry expert, as reported by Reuters.

The industry earned $5.95 billion in 2022, playing a crucial role in pulling Sri Lanka through its worst financial crisis since independence. However, the sector is struggling in the first quarter of 2023, with a 13.8% drop in textiles and garment exports to $1.3 billion, according to the country's central bank. Additionally, exports in March hit a three-year low.

Yohan Lawrence, Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), says that the current slowdown in demand could result in a $1 billion reduction in exports this year. The United States, the largest buyer, saw shipments drop 22% to $470 million, while exports to the European Union fell 13% to $344 million. The industry's competitiveness has also been impacted by a 66% power tariff hike in February.

Garment exports from Sri Lanka declined by 18.8% in January 2023, standing at $388.9 million compared to $478.9 million in the same period last year, according to statistics released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Textile exports in January 2023 also fell by 1.2% year-on-year to $27.4 million, with exports of other made-up textile articles down 14.6% at $8.1 million, according to the central bank’s report titled ‘External Sector Performance’. Overall, 54.28% of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the period consisted of Textiles, garment, and other made-up textile articles’ exports, totaling $424.4 million and down 17.8% from the same period last year.

On the other hand, imports of textiles and textile articles dropped by 31.3% to $217.5 million, while clothing and accessories imports went down by 20.3% to $18.2 million during January 2023, according to the same report.

Gartex Texprocess India, a trade fair jointly organized by Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India and MEX Exhibitions, is set to showcase the latest innovations in textile and garment manufacturing.

With over 125 companies participating, the Mumbai edition of the event will feature a co-located Denim Show and a featured zone on Screen Print India-Textile, providing opportunities to tap new markets and evaluate new technologies.

The exhibition will offer a platform for industry professionals to showcase their latest products and collaborate on innovative solutions. As modern garment and apparel machinery increasingly incorporates automation, energy efficiency, and sustainability, textile producers are turning to updated equipment to streamline production and reduce costs. This has led to the introduction of high-quality, environment-friendly products that are capable of high-efficient production.

Gartex Texprocess India is considered one of the most trusted textile and garment machinery exhibitions in the country. The event's co-located Denim Show and Screen Print India-Textile will feature the latest technological offerings in screen printing, digital sublimation, and textile printing.

The trade fair will also see the convergence of CEOs, senior industry representatives, ministries and departments of the central and state governments, user industries, and specialists under one roof.

The Mumbai edition of Gartex Texprocess will feature top brands such as IIGM, E.H Turel, Balaji Sewing Machines, True Colour, Jaysynth, Mehala, Orange O tech, DCC, Epson, Jindal Worldwide, Raymond UCO Denim, and more.

The second edition of Gartex Texprocess India in Mumbai will take place from May 11 to 13, 2023, at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC.

China's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a Pacific Rim-focused trading bloc, is unlikely to be successful due to the country's poor track record on market access, according to US Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.

Hagerty, who sits on Senate committees for appropriations, foreign relations and banking, argued that Beijing's bid amounts to "rhetoric" and that other members of the CPTPP would not accommodate a country that behaves "in a predatory fashion".

The comments put Hagerty on the side of those opposed to the CPTPP, a later version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership that former President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2017.

The US has instead offered its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which focuses on improving environmental and labour standards as part of a "worker-centred" trade policy.

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework was launched by US President Joe Biden in May 2022 as a countermeasure to China's growing economic influence in the region. The framework aims to promote economic growth and development, increase investment in infrastructure, and support democratic values and human rights.

While the US has not yet formally joined the CPTPP, the Biden administration has signaled a willingness to engage with the agreement's members on trade issues.

In September 2021, the US and Japan signed a digital trade agreement that includes provisions on data localization and digital trade, and there have been discussions about the US potentially joining the CPTPP in the future.

The impact of the CPTPP on the global textile and apparel industry will depend on how effectively the participating countries implement the agreement's provisions.

Football legend and former Golden Ball winner in 2000, Luís Figo, has announced the launch of his own luxury fashion brand, LF.

The brand is named after the initials of his name, Luís Figo, and offers a high-end collection dedicated to the contemporary man who values refinement, details, and quality.

LF's range includes travelwear, sportswear, and "new chicwear" - a term coined by the brand that perfectly captures its inspiration. The brand aims to dress dynamic and out-of-the-ordinary men who love to appear impeccable on any occasion. LF's collection explores the moments that mark the lifestyle of a contemporary man and offers an approach to everyday life and style.

Figo's brand is not just a collection but a reflection of his values, which include savoir faire, elegance, class, and distinction. The LF collection will be available in selected stores from February 2024, and an exclusive selection will be available online from July 2023.

Italian luxury and lifestyle brand Ginori 1735 has opened its first store in South Korea, located in the heart of Seoul.

Developed in collaboration with South Korean actress and model Ko So-young, the store is inspired by the brand's iconic Oriente Italiano collection, and offers Korean enthusiasts access to Ginori 1735's best-selling collections.

The new store is part of the brand's international expansion strategy, which includes a distribution network spanning over 31 countries, an e-commerce channel, flagship stores in Florence, Milan, Sesto Fiorentino, and Paris, as well as selected dealers and a presence in high-level department stores and multi-brand specialty stores worldwide.

The brand's mission is to forward a modern Renaissance, a rebirth and rediscovery of the pleasure, personal expression, and art of everyday life.

Kontoor Brands, the parent company of denim brands Lee and Wrangler, announced a dip in revenues for Q1 2023. The company reported a 2% decrease in revenue to $667 million, with the international market weighing down the overall results due to the ongoing impact of Covid-policy changes in China.

International revenues fell by 14% to $149 million, while U.S. revenue for the quarter was $518 million, increasing by 2% over the same period in the previous year.

The results were mixed for the individual brands, with global revenue for the Wrangler brand growing by 3% to $423 million, while Lee brand revenues fell by 9% to $241 million. Despite the challenges, Kontoor Brands expressed confidence in the company's diversified growth strategy and its ability to generate sustained, profitable growth over time. Company also reaffirmed the 2023 outlook despite macroeconomic pressures that are expected to weigh on consumer demand in the second half of the year.

Looking ahead, Kontoor Brands expects fiscal 2023 revenue to increase at a low-single-digit percentage over 2022, with relatively balanced performances in the first and second half of the year.

Guess, the American fashion brand, has announced the appointment of Markus Neubrand as its new chief financial officer, effective August 1, 2023.

Neubrand, currently the group CFO of MCM Worldwide, brings with him two decades of experience in finance and operations in the fashion industry, including 17 years at Hugo Boss.

He will succeed Dennis Secor, who will remain with the company as executive vice president through March 31, 2024, to ensure a smooth transition.

Additionally, Fabrice Benarouche has been promoted to senior vice president finance, investor relations, and chief accounting officer, effective immediately. Carlos Alberini, CEO of Guess, praised Neubrand's leadership, operational, and strategy skills, and recognized Benarouche's contributions to the company.

The situation in Myanmar continues to worsen for the people and workers, more than two years after the military coup in February 2021. With the recent May Day celebration, the call for workers' rights and against violations of human rights is louder than ever. However, under the military dictatorship in Myanmar, human rights due diligence is impossible, and companies must plan a responsible exit from the country.

IndustriALL, a global union federation, supported a call by Myanmar unions for all multinational companies operating in the country to divest after the military coup. Companies that maintain operations in Myanmar are indirectly funding the military's war on its own people, contributing to a growing humanitarian crisis. The military has recently used airstrikes, killing over 100 people.

Wage exploitation, forced labor, and harassment against women are increasing, and violations against workers are becoming more frequent. The EU-funded MADE in Myanmar project, which aims to support the garment manufacturing sector by replacing unions with employer-selected "workers' representatives," is concerning.

Employers take advantage of the political situation to deprive workers of their rights, allowing serious human rights and labor rights violations to continue in Myanmar while helping the military gain legitimacy.