King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has assured Bangladesh it will support the South Asian country in adapting to circular economy in the changed development scene. The two deltaic countries plan to enhance cooperation in various sectors such as climate change, women's development, sustainable manufacturing, technology, economy, and more. According to the circular economy work plan, people will be provided with high quality and safe products at economical prices. The products will be more sustainable than past products and can be remanufactured too. The focus will be on improved living, creative employment, and ensuring higher knowledge and skills. Both of the two countries could benefit equally from such cooperation.

European Union (EU) countries are first implementing circular economy themselves. Re-manufacturing is important to circular economy particularly, for the sake of maintaining environmental balance. By means of circular economy, the aim of the EU is to reduce carbon emissions to a specific level by 2030 and cut expenditure by at least €60,000 billion, as well as to ensure a minimum 80,000 jobs.

According to the EU website, the bloc has been working in accordance to a work plan drawn up in 2015. In the continuity of the concept of 'green growth', Europe and the rest of the developed world are now placing emphasis on circular economy. From 2025, EU countries plan to export goods to 27 EU countries will have to follow that system of production in order to remain in the competition. It will be compulsory to make it possible to remanufacture one-fourth of a product of countries exporting to the EU.

A report by Intermarket Securities (IMS) predicts Pakistan’s textile exports will fall by only 5-10 per cent in the FY 2021 rather than the 20 per cent predicted earlier. The report states, Pakistan’s textile industry will recover quicker from the crisis compared to competitors. This can be attributed to the country’s largest export market Europe coming out of the lockdown, its home textile exports going strong, and the added benefits it may receive from global orders being rerouted out of China.

The government has already taken measures to both protect exporters during the present crisis and remove longstanding barriers to competitiveness. Several input costs have been subsidized and Pakistan’s currency is no longer overvalued.

The IMS report predicts home textiles and healthcare segments will recover earlier than garments. There is an emerging demand for pandemic-related textiles such as masks and PPEs. The sector has corrected 9 per cent since the onset of the pandemic while expected upcoming demand of back-to-school and winter clothing can be key catalysts in further reviving the industry. Pakistan’s export-to-GDP ratio has shrunk from 17 per cent in 2003 to 9% in 2020 due to weak policy incentives, tough local business conditions and the rise in competitiveness of regional countries.

According to the report, though the pandemic and its socio-economic impacts have led to the worst global crisis since the financial crisis of 2008-09, massive government stimulus packages along with the lifting of lockdowns globally have led to a recovery in retail sales during May-June.

Based on order backlog of approximately CHF 490 million, an improved cost base and the signs of market recovery mentioned above, Rieter expects a stronger second half of 2020 compared to the first half of the year in terms of sales and profitability. The Rieter Group received building permit for its CAMPUS project in June 2020. The project involves building of a new customer and technology center and an administration building on an area of 30 000 sq m at the current site in Winterthur.

Order intake for the Rieter Group in its Business Group Machines & Systems in the first half of 2020 declined by 34 per cent. Its order intake in the Business Group Components also declined 34 per cent while that in the Business Group After sales declined 32 per cent. The group’s order backlog as of June 30, 2020, was around CHF 490 million

The group’s sales declined by 39 per cent to CHF 254.9 million compared to the previous year period. Machines & Systems sales decreased 46 per cent. This was due to the low order intake in the first three quarters of the previous year and deferred deliveries. Sales at Components fell by 29 per cent and at After Sales by 34 per cent.

Rieter noted signs of a market recovery in June 2020. At the end of June 2020, its proportion of producing spinning mills improved to 80 per cent from 40 per cent in April 2020.

Around total of 115 exhibitors participated in the debut Yarn Expo Shenzhen that was held from July 15-17 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center. The new edition of Yarn Expo provided the yarn and fibre industry with the ideal gateway to capture the potential of the strong apparel market in South China and Southeast Asia, it helped the industry recover and reconnect from the COVID-19 pandemic disruption, the co-organisers, Messe Frankfurt says. Some of the exhibitors at the exhibition included:

Consinee Group: One of China’s leading natural cashmere yarn suppliers to high-end fashion brands, Consinee introduced a series of sustainable and traceable cashmere products, such as their classic yarns of pure cashmere 12-gauge, antibacterial cashmere yarn, as well as a recycled yarn series.

Nantong Doublegreat Textile Co: The company showcased its newly developed polylactic acid blended yarn. Blended with combed cotton and polylactic acid, the product is naturally degradable and antibacterial, and will make knitted fabric smoother, lighter, softer, resistant to fluff and with good hygroscopicity.

Yarn Expo Shenzhen was organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK); the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; China Cotton Textile Association; China Chemical Fibers Association; and China Knitting Industrial Association. Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2020 will be held concurrently with Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics, as well as CHIC and PH Value.

One of the most technologically advanced knitting mills and fabric suppliers in the United States, Texollini recently launched T19 Performance face masks made with Lycra fibre. The fashionable masks were designed with protection, durability, comfort and breathability in mind.

The California-based company leveraged its 30 years of textiles experience and portfolio of more than 5,000 fabrics during the design and development process, eventually landing on the proprietary micro denier 3-dimensional scuba performance fabric. The multi-layer material is said to deliver a relaxed, comfortable fit for professional or recreational wear.The T19 masks, which are knitted, printed, cut and sewn in Los Angeles, are hand and machine washable. Multiple patterns are available.

Spread over 250,000 square-foot, Texollini’s state-of-the-art, vertically integrated knitting mill and textile manufacturing plant is located in sunny Long Beach, California, just minutes south of the fashion mecca that is Los Angeles, California. A fully automated, computer-monitored knitting mill, dye-house and printing plant capable of operating 24-7, allows ‘Made in America’ Texollini to turnaround orders quickly and efficiently.

Ijaz A Khokhar, Regional President, International Apparel Federation (IAF) and Chief Coordinator, PRGMEA informed that a large number of its members participated in ‘Digital Global Apparel Sourcing Expo' that started from July 15.

The event was organized by PRGMEA in collaboration with International Apparel Federation (IAF), Fourscore and Sourcing Journal. He said the Global Apparel Sourcing Expo is the world's largest and 100 percent digital trade show.

The PRGMEA members participated in a digital expo for the first time which would be an experiment for the members. PRGMEA was making hectic efforts for exploring more traditional and traditional markets for bring a big boost in exports of the country.

The PRGMEA members focused attention on visiting traditional and non-traditional markets in their personal capacity for assessing the demand of Pakistani products in these markets as well as trying to develop direct B2B links with their counterparts.

From July 03-05, 17,776 visitors attended ISPO Shanghai 2020 to learn about future developments and to experience new products in the segments of outdoor, snowsports, sport trends, running, health & fitness, water sports, and manufacturing & suppliers.

ISPO Shanghai 2020 gained a total of 350 brands to exhibit, hosted more than 50 industry forums and events, and attracted 17,776 visitors. Klaus Dittrich, Chairman & Due to COVID-19, many outdoor and winter sports brands either cancelled or delayed their plans at the beginning of the year and came all the way to ISPO Shanghai to complete their long-awaited launching plans. This also helped ISPO Shanghai to expand its segments of the exhibition this year. In addition, ISPO Shanghai 2020 partnered with IWF Shanghai 2020 and co-located with each other to showcase synergies in the cross-field sports industry.

ISPO Shanghai always crafted dedicated areas that allowed different sportswear and outfits to be presented in a rather intuitive way to the visitors. The Outdoor Lifestyle Village, ISPO Sports Fashion Zone, and Tracker’s Show gave both professionals and enthusiasts chances to take a closer look at products in different scenarios.

The ISPO Outdoor Lifestyle Village showed a variety of fashion outfits which can be used in different occasions, giving sports lovers more choices for outdoor activities. Brands gathered in the ISPO Sports Fashion Zone showcased their most dazzling products featuring both athleisure and sporting performance. The Tracker’s Show presented marathon outfits as well as trail running wear. In addition, it launched an online running challenge with 100,161 runners that finished the program.

The ISPO Lifestyle Stage carried people’s pursuits for sports life. With experts, KOLs, and enthusiasts on the stage, more than 30 discussions were held including brands‘ product launches, mountaineering dialogues, KOL talks, and the award ceremony.

Just weeks after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for its U.S. retail arm, sustainable denim brand G-Star Raw announced a global restructure to restore the balance between physical stores, strategic partners and online presence” and affect 10 percent of its employee base.

The restructuring was a months-long process that it kept confidential until it could inform colleagues, and was a result of the accelerated transition to online methods, which in turn hindered the performance of physical stores. In addition to restructuring its office, G-Star Raw will also restructure its store portfolio in several regions, but stated it will not be exiting any of those regions entirely.

The brand noted it is supporting affected employees and expects to finalize the restructuring within Q3 2020.

G-Star cited financial difficulties from the coronavirus crisis when it filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. According to Apparel Resources, the largest creditor listed in its bankruptcy is its landlord at 475 Fifth Avenue in New York, owed $426,007. In May, the brand also entered into voluntary administration in Australia.

Following a series of cancellations for prominent in-person trade shows such as the Informa Markets Fashion events in Las Vegas and SwimShow in Miami, International Market Centers has cancelled in-person trade shows scheduled in August for Atlanta and Las Vegas. However, permanent showrooms located in IMC’s properties AmericasMart in Atlanta and the World Market Center in Las Vegas would be open for appointments, Maricich said.

An IMC statement forecasted that 50 percent of its showroom tenants would be open during the times the markets were scheduled to be hosted and 40 percent of its traditional buyer base would visit. These markets include Prom & Social Occasion, scheduled Aug. 3–7, Atlanta Apparel, scheduled Aug 4–8, Atlanta Market for gift and home, scheduled to run Aug. 13–18, and Las Vegas Market, scheduled to run Aug. 30–Sept. 8.

To produce a safer environment, IMC said that pre-registration would be required for entry. Temperature screening and use of personal protective equipment will also be required. IMC plans to run its fall markets at AmericasMart on-site.

Sensitive Fabrics by Eurojersey launched its FW 2021-22 collection with its new MIMESIS promotional campaign – I wear, therefore I Am.

The FW 2021-22 ready-to-wear collection takes on a positive significance in its imitation of an ideal form of reality. An aesthetic evolution that is optimistic and oriented towards looking beyond what immediately meets the eye.

An imaginary channel, a sum total of real and imaginary elements, an encounter in which reality captures the imagination and in return gifts us the key colour of the collection, violet, the last colour of the rainbow, the most extreme point of the solar spectrum. It completes a palette of unusual tones and half-tones deriving from a moon-like pearliness, similar to a celadon glaze, in a panorama of bluish greys and purplish nuances. Saturated and complex colour ranges, rich in compositional allusions, timeless cosmic shades which are nevertheless perfect for a unisex collection that encapsulates nature in the high-performing features of Sensitive Fabrics: comfort, flexibility, durability.