The worldwide polyester filament yarn market is expected to grow to $106.23 billion by 2030. As per Reports and Data, the market development will be fuelled by rising utilizations of polyester fiber yarns among the end-clients.

Polyester fiber yarns have great flexibility, shape maintenance, wrinkle obstruction, remarkable wash and wear execution, launderability, and life span, among others, and subsequently, track down broad application in different sorts of attire textures. It is utilized to make elegant dresses, and climate safe apparel, and is a favored material for youngsters’ wear. Developing interest from the development business is probably going to help the market interest. Polyester Fiber Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) is utilized in concrete substantial asphalt material. Polyester fiber yarns are impervious to antacid assaults, and PFRC tracks down use as overlays and in asphalt quality cement. The utilization of filaments might bring about a concrete investment funds of almost 10.0%, and with fly debris, the concrete saving might be expanded to around 35.0%. Polyester fiber yarns, inferable from their non-biodegradable property, are utilized in concrete substantial street works, consequently aiding the protection of the climate.

Key members incorporate Tongkun Group Co., Shenghong Corp., XinFeng Ming Group, Reliance Industries Ltd., Reliance Industries, William Barnet and Son LLC, Hengli Group, Indorama Ventures Public Company, Polyfibre Industries, Toray Industries Inc., and GreenFiber International SA, etc.

Delhi-based sustainability focused organization, the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB), has released a new report titled ‘Circular Textiles and Apparel in India: Policy Intervention Priorities and Ideas’. The report is based on secondary and field-level research and engagement with key stakeholders. It makes specific recommendations for incorporating principles of circular economy in the sector. CRB launched the report to identify priority areas for Circular Economy interventions in the Indian textile and apparel value chain. The report highlights the potential for the apparel and textile sector and recommends policy interventions to support its growth.

It states, linking circular economy priorities with social benefits such as fair wages, good working conditions, augmented by transparency in business practices, may open new business opportunities for the apparel and textile sectors. The sector can boost exports by adhering to global norms and voluntary sustainability standard, says the report. It can also create new jobs by prompting and formalizing activities such as recovery, repurpose, repair and recycling of garments, managing post-production and post-consumer textiles waste, etc, it adds.

Spinners Association (Gujarat) or SAG plans to invest Rs 3,500 crore over the next year and a half for adding 7 lakh new spindles in the state to boost its spinning capacity. As per SAG, many spinning mills in Gujarat plan to expand operations while 10 new spinning mills are expected to start operations during this period. Saurin Parikh, President, SAG notes, at least 7-10 lakh spindles will be added across the state over the next 18-24 months.

Gujarat currently has about 110 spinning mills with an installed capacity of 45 lakh spindles. Most of these mills were set up after the implementation of the Textile Policy of 2012. Bharat Boghara, Chairman, SAG adds, Gujarat did not have significant spinning capacity till 2012 despite being a leading cotton producing state. The state needs to increase spinning capacity to create higher demand for cotton.

Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co) has joined a multi-stakeholder organization - the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) to make supplies more secure and measure social and environmental impact on organic cotton farming. As an OCA member, Levis Straus will help increase the global organic cotton supply besides helping the program empower organic cotton farmers. Jeffrey Hogue, Chief Sustainability Officer, LS&Co says, the program will bring measurable improvements to farmers’ livelihoods and local communities, creating conditions for change. It will enable the company to source more sustainable cotton for its products besides providing new opportunities to resolve industry challenges.

LS&Co.’s participation enables the company to source more responsible fibers. In a sustainability report published in September, the company pledged to reach 100 percent more sustainable cotton by the end of 2025.

Earlier this month, OCA launched Textile in Transition, a multi-year project targeting transparency and fairness across the organic cotton sector. The project has attracted brand partners Bestseller, G-Star Raw and Essenza Home. Funded by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency Fund for Responsible Business, it leverages OCA’s established Farm Program in India to support the participating companies in achieving transparency while improving farmer livelihoods, worker rights and environmental impact.

Century Textiles plans to focus on offering new products after considering retail price points. It also plans to focus on blending manmade fibers and expanding into new markets such as Australia, Saudi Arabia and Russia. In Q4 FY22 Century Textiles & Industries’ consolidated net profit increased to Rs 84.43 crore as against a net loss of Rs 4.89 crore in Q4 FY21. Net sales was up 44.62 per cent to Rs 1,186.22 crore during the quarter over Rs 820.21 crore in Q4 FY21. Consolidated EBITDA grew 66.25 per cent to Rs 133 crore in Q4 FY22 as against Rs 80 crore in Q4 FY21.

Century Textiles and Industries’ textiles annual turnover grew 54 per cent Y-o-Y during Q4 FY22 backed by strong sales growth and improved operational efficiencies. The company’s capacity utilization reached 97 per cent during the quarter as compared to 92 per cent in Q4 FY21. The company also launched home textile product for domestic market under the brand name 'Hill & Glade'.

The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) will hold a four-day-long ‘Global Textile Trade Fair’ in three states of the United States -- Atlanta, New Jersey, and Los Angeles from June 9. This first-of-its-kind Global Textile Trade Fair will endorse the official logo of the Ministry of Textile, Government of India. It will be supported by the Consulate General of India in Atlanta and various American institutions and organizations.

To begin from Atllanta, Georgia, the three-day textile show will showcase a wide range of products including polyester, nylon viscose, Indoethnic wear, home textile, medical textile, clothing and garments, handicraft and handloom, and Khadi. The exhibition will depict fabrics and styles from Surat and across the country.

It will be attended by buyers sellers and textile manufacturers from across the globe, the Atlanta exhibition will be followed by a B2B and B2C exhibition in New Jersey on June 17 and the B2C Table Top Buyer-Seller meeting n Los Angeles on June 19. Featuring home textiles, the exhibition will also be attended by hotel owners and associated agents.

In a letter sent to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has reiterated the US apparel and footwear industry’s strong support for the Sri Lankan garment industry during this time of crisis and transition.

Steve Lamar, President, says, AAFA recognizes any significant changes in sourcing during this time could have a major impact on Sri Lanka’s garment industry, the hundreds of thousands of workers the industry employs, their families, and the Sri Lankan economy. Therefore, he says the organization commits to being cognisant and mindful of the current situation, and the industry’s ongoing commitment to consider the impact on workers, in any sourcing decisions.

Meanwhile, the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), Fair Wear Foundation, Fair Labor Association and British Retail Consortium have signed a joint call to action, encouraging companies sourcing from Sri Lanka to take specific steps to support workers, suppliers, and the sector at large, during this difficult period.

The ETI says it has been engaging with economists, industry associations, worker representatives, and member companies operating in Sri Lanka, to better understand implications on workers and the industry at large. These meetings have helped to present a clearer picture of the current crisis and steps stakeholders are taking to alleviate risks to workers and suppliers, it says.

Bluesign is developing a partnership with Higg. They partnership is aimed at developing stronger data and service offerings for their customers to eliminate redundancies and accelerate environmental performance in the supply chain.

The parties aim at more advanced integration of data for their customers in order to help textile manufacturers improve chemical management, reduce the risk of water toxicity, better understand and address human health impacts, and eliminate chemicals of concern from upstream production processes.

Through their new collaboration, Higg and Bluesign intend to develop stronger data and services offerings for their customers to eliminate redundancies and support Bluesign’s impact services. The companies will explore how mutual customers can share data between the platforms, with Bluesign facilities gaining access to Higg’s facility tools.

Launched in 2019, Higg delivers software and services for measuring, managing, and sharing supply chain performance data. From materials to products, from facilities to stores, from emission to working conditions, Higg unlocks a complete view of a business’s social and environmental impact.

Bluesign, founded in 2000, is the solution for sustainable textile production. It eliminates harmful substances right from the start of the manufacturing process and sets and controls standards for environmentally friendly and safe production and ensures that the final textile product meets stringent consumer safety requirements worldwide.

Indonesia aims to achieve textile and garment exports worth $13-14 billion this year, according to the country’s Industry Minister AgusGumiwang Kartasasmita.

The existence of Making Indonesia 4.0 will encourage the transformation of the textile industry to make it more competitive and innovate in an effort to compete and answer global market demands.

To accelerate the implementation of the Fourth Industry Revolution, the textile industry will utilize several key technologies to beat the global competition, including artificial intelligence, novel fabrics, Internet of Things (IoT), rapid data analysis for quick adaptation, mobile commerce, virtual and augmented reality (VR), online vector editors, 3D printing, blockchain technology, and sustainable practices.

The Industry Ministry has initiated a strategic step in the form of a 35% import substitution program in 2022 to encourage the increased utilisation of existing industries, as well as boost investment in Indonesia. It is also carrying out a machine and equipment restructuring programme in the fabric refinement and fabric printing industries.

According to Kartasasmita, this effort has been proven to increase production capacity, production realization and energy efficiency by 21.75 per cent, 21.22 per cent and 11.86 per cent respectively, as well as raise sales volume, both domestically and via export, by 6.65 per cent.

Largely ignored till now, sports bras are getting the attention they deserve from activewear companies. Adidas for example has launched its most robust sports bra collection offering 42 new styles in 72 sizes, says a Business of Fashion report. Last Fall, brand ThirdLove launched a sports bra collection with half-cup sizing and adjustable hook-and-eye closures. Launched in October, Under Armor’s collection-SmartForm Rush bra, incorporates infrared technology that enhances performance. The bras in this collection have adaptive cups that mould to the body. Another brand Gymshark is launching a new sports bras collection with improved sizes and materials.

Global sports bra sales grew 54 per cent to hit $3 billion in 2021, says a NPD Group report. Overall sportswear market reached $325 billion during the year. McKinsey & Co projects, the market will grow 8 to 10 per cent annually. This encourages sportswear brands to develop new sports bras styles. Adidas for example is attracting female shoppers with new product assortment, says Amy Charlton, Senior Director and Head-Global Product, Adidas.

Evolution of sports bras

Earlier, made from mundane materials in typical small, medium and large sizes, sports bras are now being developed more scientifically. Brands are teaming up with biomechanical scientists to launch bras that withstand various durability tests. Adidas has joined hands with Joanna Wakefield Scurr, Professor, University of Portsmouth and a pioneer in breast health research.

In fact, brands are offering a variety of sports bras for different activities. Adidas has launched different bras for running, yoga or high-intensity training. Brands are also focusing on consumers’ movement, function and durability while launching products. Some leading brands in this space are: Lululemon, Athleta, Nike, Under Armor, Victoria’s Secret and American Eagle’s Aerie. Emerging direct-to-consumer brands like Girlfriend Collective, Alo Yoga, Vuori, Gymshark and Oner Active are also responding to demands with new fits and materials, says Nina Marston, Senior Analyst, Euromonitor. And larger lingerie brands are positioning sports bras as a part of their loungewear collection.

Adopting size-inclusivity

Feedback from social media is making sports bra product development easier for brands. Last summer, Brand Brooks Running added mesh to the back of sports bras besides strategically placing a perforation around cleavage. Meanwhile, brands are also focusing on the needs of plus-size women and launching different types of bras for activities like boxing or horseback riding.

Minute product details like seams and closures are being paid attention to while designing. Brands like Under Armor and Lululemon are laminating their bra seams to make them more comfortable. However, brands need to focus on making their bras more functional and easier to wear.