Vipul Organics has been awarded with the Oeko-Tex Certification for its pigment products under the brand name SunPrint for the textile industry. The certification will enable Vipul Organics to work with global textiles and garments companies committed to upholding a sustainable ecosystem. Mihir V Shah, Executive Director says, the certification will also help them broaden client base and target multinational companies focusing on safety and sustainability.

A definitive independent certification system, the Eco Passport by Oeko Tex is especially designed for manufacturers of process chemicals and chemical compounds. The passport certifies the safety and sustainability of the entire value chain of manufacturing textiles. During a multistep process, Oeko Tex analyses whether each individual ingredient in the chemical product meets the statutory requirements and that it is not harmful to human health. Both brands and manufacturers value the Eco Passport as credible proof of sustainable textile and leather production.

Chinese importers are cancelling or suspending orders of fashion goods from South Korea due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Beijing, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province and East China’s Jiangsu province. Fashion products from South Korea form a small percentage of bilateral trade between the two countries. However, the surge in cases is likely to cast a shadow over a wider range of imported goods from South Korea, a major trading partner of China.

All products from South Korea are currently being put in warehouses at ports for at least 10 days after clearance before being delivered for sterilization work and reducing risks. This is causing orders for South Korean goods to drop by atleast 50 per cent, as per a Global Times report. The top five items exported from South Korea to China are machinery, chemical products, plastics and rubber, base metals, and mineral products, according to the Korea Customs and Trade Development Institution.

Currently, China is South Korea's largest trading partner, largest export market and largest source of imports, while South Korea is China's fifth-largest trading partner. With the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership coming into force this year, China will gradually reduce tariffs on a wide range of products, including textiles and stainless steel produced in South Korea to zero.

German manufacturers of Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, VDMA reported 35 per cent increase in incoming orders in 2021 compared to the previous year. The association also reported 8 per cent increase in exports of sewing and other machines to €439 million. Most of Germany’s exports were destined for Poland, says a Textile World report. This was followed by the US and France, Exports of shoe and leather technology increased by 16 percent to €47.5 million. They were mainly targeted to the US, France and Mexico.

Exports of German laundry and textile cleaning technology also increased 6 per cent to €364 million during the year. The most important export markets were: Poland, Turkey and the US. Exports of Italian sewing and garment technology rose 11.5 per cent to €271 million and Italian shoe and leather technology also increased over 19 per cent to €284 million. Spain also increased its laundry and textile cleaning technology exports by 12 per cent to €87 million.

Monforts plans to showcase advanced finishing and coating technologies for the production of technical textiles at the upcoming Techtextil North America in Atlanta. As per Textile World, the company and its US representative PSP Marketing, Charlotte, North Carolina, will be in focus at the VDMA German Pavilion from May 17-19.

European-built Montex stenters are known for their robustness, reliability and economy. These stenters provide maximum efficiency, flexibility and ability to switch quickly from one fabric formula to the next, says Stefan Floth, Managing Director Monforts. The company has supplied machines to producers of airbags, flame retardant barrier fabrics and spacer fabrics, as well as high-temperature filter materials.

With energy prices continuing to go through the roof, Techtextil North America will emphasize on achieving energy and heat recovery with Montex stenters. The machines features such as the MonforClean system will enable customers to use waste heat from the drying process to pre-heat the drying air. This will allow them to reduce the requirement of conventional heat supply.

Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA) says, adoption of Tiruppur cluster model across 750 districts will help India boosts exports to $3 trillion in the near future. As per a KNN India report, a major textile hub in India, Tiruppur contributes 1.06 per cent to the country’s overall exports. Raja Shanmugham, President, Tiruppur Exporters’ Association opines, the cluster model must be developed across all districts on a particular chosen product line to help India achieve exports worth $3 trillion in the future.

The government must develop dynamic policies to enable districts to transform into an industry specific hub, he adds. According to Shanmugham, developed without any supporting factors such as airport or sea ports, the Tiruppur cluster has gained 1.06 per cent share in nation’s total export. India needs to develop more such clusters in future, he adds.

Ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka is interrupting business activities in the country. As per an Apparel Resources report , the Sri Lankan apparel industry is facing fuel and gas shortages, raising concerns over the industry’s ability to continue operations due to the prevailing challenge. It may take some time for the situation in Sri Lanka to normalize. Till then, apparel exports are likely to remain impacted.

Statistics released by Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association show, the nation’s apparel export revenues grew 11.54 per cent Y-o-Y to $ 468.12 million during February ’22. This was the highest exports revenues achieved by Sri Lanka in the last six years. In January too, the country registered the most export revenues generated in the first month of the calendar year in the last six year. The country had shipped $487.60 million worth apparel products during the month. Of total value, export revenues from the US grew 19.22 per cent Y-o-Y to $205.25 million. On the other hand, export revenues from the EU grew by 2.80 per cent to $130.81 million over February ’21.

A new report by Million Insights indicates, global men’s T-shirts market will grow at a 4.3 per cent CAGR from 2021 to 2028 to reach $ 54.1 billion by 2028. Growth will be triggered by rising demand for T-shirts from emerging economies. Shoppers are more likely to buy branded T-shirts. Rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly T-shirts among millenials will drive growth in this segment in coming years. Demand for cotton T-shirts will also to grow in some regions.

The online segment will grow at 5.5 per cent CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Manufacturers will partner online retailers to reach out to new buyers. Sales through company-owned websites and other e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, will also drive up growth of online distribution channel segment in the coming years.

Asia Pacific accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 40 per cent in 2020. Growing demand for T-shirts from developing countries, such as India, and China boosted demand from this region. China’s growing economy and rising purchasing power of its urban middle class will drive the future growth of this market.

Pakistan’s exports of textile products increased 21 per cent Y-o-Y to $1.65 billion in March 2022 compared to $1.36 billion in March 2021, informs All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA). Strong demand in the West before the summer season gave a huge boost to Pakistan’s textile exports during the period while other factors like resumption of economic activities led to a shortage of various retail brands, competitive utilities and borrowing rates.

On a sequential basis, Pakistan’s textile exports dropped by 2.3 per cent M-o-M, compared to $1.69 billion in February 2022. Cumulatively, textile exports surged by 26 per cent Y-o-Y to $14.26 billion in 9MFY22 compared to $11.36billion in 9MFY21.

Latest report from leading fittings solution provider True Fit names H&M, M&S and New Look amongst UK’s most favorite fitting brands. As per a Real Times report, the world’s largest apparel and footwear data set, True Fit’s Fashion Genome™, connects preferences and attributes from 89 million active members to data on over 17,000 brands across its global network. In 2022, True Fit’s shoppers selected H&M as the number one brand for its fit followed by M&S, New Look, Next and Nike.

Swedish fashion group, H&M,’s focus on transformation initiatives and investment in digital over the last two years, helped the brand to adapt to changing consumers’ needs, says Helena Helmersson, CEO. They helped the brand to raise pre-tax profits by 64 per cent during fourth fiscal quarter in November. True Fit’s analysis also demonstrated the role fit and sizing continue to play as an essential part of its customer engagement and loyalty strategy.

The list containing UK’s top 10 favorite fitting brands for 2022 included new entrants from Direct To Consumer (D2C) brands. These included sportswear and athleisure brands, Nike and Adidas, who leveraged digital as an enabler to create direct relationships with their customers, as well as British fashion brand, Boden, for whom D2C has become an increasingly important channel.

After a long and painful struggle, global cotton logistics is finally recovering from the pandemic-induced slowdown. As per the April 2022 edition of ‘Cotton This Month’ published by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), cotton consumption across the world is expected to remain robust at 26.16 million tons by the end of the 2021/22 season.

Global demand to outstep supply

Production meanwhile is likely to decline slightly to 26.43 million tons. However, it will remain sufficient to accommodate consumption. Global cotton supply of 57.129 million tons is likely to fall short of global demand of 57.133 million tonne. The Secretariat forecasts, current cotton price of the season-average A index for 2021-22 will range between 106 cent and126 cents, with prices stabilizing at 113 cents per pound.

Harbinger of change

Currently the US is in a much better position to effect changes in the global cotton industry. Being the world's largest exporter, the country can serve as an indicator of potential dangers in worldwide cotton shipping and logistics.

Forum for discussion

An association of members of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries, ICAC was formed in 1939, and the secretariat was established in 1946. The secretariat has 10 members originating from seven countries, primarily working from one office in Washington, DC. Its documents are published in English, French and Spanish, monthly summaries are available in Russian, and annual summaries are available in both Arabic and Russian. The association aims to serve the cotton and textile community through promotion, knowledge sharing, innovation, partnerships and providing a forum for discussion of cotton issues of international significance.

ICAC publishes ‘Cotton This Month’ at the beginning of every month with Cotton Update published mid-month. The report provides updated information on supply/demand estimates and prices in the cotton industry.