In order to let domestic fabric and apparel manufacturers stay competitive, members of Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) have sought special export incentives for fabric and apparel makers back home. India’s textile and clothing manufacturers have been losing in competition to international counterparts in Bangladesh and China owning 70 per cent rise in yarn prices and high export demand. To support MSME exports, PDEXCIL members urged the government to provide providing intensives in the form of subsidy due to increased cost of yarn, logistics and raw materials over the past one year.

Bhart Chhajer, Former Chairman, PDEXCIL estimates, India’s yarn exports to China doubled in value terms and so have those to Bangladesh. Yarn exports to China increased over the past nine months especially after the US and the UK imposed a ban on procuring cotton from China’s Xin Jiang province, as a result of which Indian yarn makers gained in terms of order volumes.

While calling this a boon for domestic yarn makers, Chhajer says, the industry is not getting enough realization. Secondly, surging cotton prices have also boosted yrarn prices, increasing inputs costs and making Indian products less competitive in the international market.

Twenty strategic projects worth Rs 30 crore in the specialty fibers and geo-textiles were cleared by the India’s Ministry of Textiles under its National Technical Textiles Mission. Of these, 16 projects are in specialty fibers including five projects in healthcare, four in industrial and protective and three projects each in energy storage and textile waste recycling, and one project in agriculture, apart from four projects in geo-textiles (infrastructure).

The projects were cleared during a meeting held by Piyush Goyal, Textile Minister, who emphasized on the connection of the industry and academia for the growth of research and development in technical textiles in India. Goyal also stressed upon the importance of building convergence with academicians, scientists and researchers.

He highlighted, the industry should focus on the internationally high value-added products and building a structure of brainstorming around problem statements. In addition, inter-ministerial synergy is required for attracting mega research projects in the country, he added.

Previously, the Ministry of Textiles cleared 11 research projects worth Rs 78.60 crore on March 26, 2021.

To inspire innovations in the textile, garment and fashion industry, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, Cematex has launched a new initiative to support startups and selected young enterprises. Cematex will provide these enterprises innovative solutions for the textile and garment industry with a grant to exhibit at the Start-Up Valley during ITMA 2023. The Cematex Start-Up Grant will cover the rental costs of a special design stand and fittings, as well as entitlements such as business matching

Ernesto Maurer, President Cematex says, the Start-Up Valley will complement the ITMA Research & Innovation Lab. In addition to exhibiting at ITMA 2023, Start-Up Valley exhibitors can also take part in various onsite activities, including speaking at the Innovator Xchange and participating in the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award and Innovation Video Showcase.

To be eligible for the grant, start-ups must have a product or service that is within ITMA 2023’s exhibit profile. The company should have been incorporated for more than 8 years, and has either generated revenue for at least a year or raised capital from investors or grants from other incubator programs.

A key selection criterion is the environmental, economic and/or disruptive impact of the innovation, solution or product. Other criteria include the scalability of the innovation and its relevance to ITMA’s theme: Transforming the World of Textiles, and the four trending topics, namely advanced materials, automation and digital future, sustainability and circularity, and innovative technologies. Interested start-ups can apply for the Cematex grant by June 30, 2022. Winners will be announced by October 28, 2022. ITMA 2023 will be held at Fiera Milano Rho, Milan, from June 8 to 14, 2023. The exhibitor will include a dedicated chapter on textile reinforcement structures for composites.

The two-month old instructions issued by the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) are preventing industrialists in Panipat from completing their export orders. As per Lalit Goyal, President, Panipat Exporters Association, this is causing loss of Rs 100 crore for the industry every week. Industries in the city should be allowed to run in full swing for all seven days of the week, he demanded.

A manufacturing hub of textile products, Panipat has an annual turnover of Rs15,000 crore in exports and over Rs35,000 crore in the domestic market. But, industries here have to close for two days in a week. The CAQM had banned the operation of DG sets and also ordered industries to function for eight hours a day in October last year. Various industry associations protested against these orders after which the CAQM allowed to run industries full swing for five days a week.

Lalit Goyal, President, Panipat Exporters’ Association, said, this order will lead to a huge financial loss and damage our goodwill in the industry. He demanded a removal of this ban on industries’ operations. Vibhu Paliwal, General Secretary, added, the ban prevents exporters from taking on the Chinese business due to the ongoing pandemic.

S Narayanan, Member Secretary, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), informed, the representation of the Panipat Exporters’ Association has been sent to the CAQM along with the board’s recommendations. CAQM will make the final decision on the matter, he added

Announced with an aim to strengthen Indian textile industry, the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme’s operational guidelines have been issued by the Ministry of Textiles. The scheme will enable the industry to scale up operations, reduce logistics cost by housing entire value chain at one location, attract investment, generate employment and augment export potential.

As a part of the scheme, the industry will set up large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facilities for entire value-chain. These parks will be located at sites having inherent strengths for textile industry to flourish and have necessary linkages to succeed. The scheme aims to leverage Public Private Partnership model for fast paced implementation in a time-bound manner.

PM MITRA Parks will be set up on the basis of proposals received from state governments having ready availability of contiguous and encumbrance-free land parcel of minimum 1,000 acre. The land asset will be used to leverage/attract investment in the PM MITRA parks for development and maintenance of the parks with high standard specifications. The scheme has a budget outlay of Rs 4,445 crore including administrative expenses of Rs 30 crore over 7-year period up to 2027-28.

India’s corporate profitabilitydropped 100-120 basis points (bps) year on year and 70-100 bps sequentially in the third quarter of this fiscal, as per a CRISIL survey report. Revenues for RMG Garments and cotton yarn makers increased by 30-35 per cent year on year amid higher exports.

In an analysis of 300 companies, excluding those in the financial services, and oil and gas sectors, CRISIL Research notes a-year decline in 12 quarters. As many as 27 of 40 sectors tracked by the agency are likely to see a contraction in their EBITDA margins.

Margins in consumer discretionary sectors fell by 130-150 bps on-year, and in export-linked by 200-250 bps. For the first nine months this fiscal, EBITDA margin rose by 80-100 bps a year to 22-24 per cent, aided by the low base of last year. Corporate revenue grew by healthy 16-17 per cent to Rs 9.1 lakh crore, driven by surging commodity prices. Volume growth continued to underperform though price hikes provided some offset, added CRISIL

AATCC has released dates for a new online educational program Fluorescence and High Visibility for Textiles. The event will take place on February 23-24, 2022. This virtual event will feature industry experts discussing a variety of topics including color, innovation, technology, detergents, laundering, reflective tape, testing, product, and more. Early registration closes on February 15.

Presenters at the event include Rachel Applegate, Erika Simmons, Randy Mumford, Ken Butts, Michael Murphy, Denise Statham, Gregg Woodcock. SGS, Michael Hayes, Katie Aune, Roland Connelly.

AATCC is the world’s leading not-for-profit association serving textile professionals since 1921. AATCC, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, US, provides test method development, quality control materials, and professional networking for members in about 50 countries throughout the world.

Textile Tech Association was inaugurated on January 15 at the AHS Auditorium of the Government College of Applied Human Science in Dhaka. As per a Textile Today report, the association was launched with the slogan ‘Analyzing the opportunities & barriers for the female employee. Textile Tech Association will work on building a strong connection between head hunters and job seekers. It will also ensure the equity of both male and female employees for having the best output.

The association aims to be the voice of mid-level working women in the RMG sector says Sabrinna Sharmeen, Founder, Textile Tech Association, former student Govt. College of Applied Human science and Team Leader, Varner AS Bangladesh Liaison office. The inauguration was attended by Faruque Hassan, President, BGMEA as the chief guest. He said, Bangladesh offers many opportunities for women to prove themselves. They are working in many sectors like business, science, journalism, etc., and now in textile and clothing industry women’s initiative would be a millstone for the future economic development of Bangladesh, especially the textile and apparel sector with women empowerment.

The first panel discussion focused on opportunities for females in RMG and how the industry is preparing itself to welcome more females in this sector. The second panel discussion focused on the future of garments and textiles of Bangladesh after an unbelievable growth during COVID. The speakers talked about the clothing sector’s recent challenges, export, clothing price, and product innovation. Besides, they also focused on the need for collaboration between academia and industry and more participation of women in mid-management in this industry.

Reshuffling some of its top management roles, Swiss luxury group Richmont has appointed Laurent Malecraze new CEO of Dunhill. Mauro Girmaldi. Former CEO, Le Pintemps, takes over as the strategic advisor and will notably be in charge of AZ Factory, previously led by Malecaze. Grimaldi has been appointed strategic advisor to Fortunato, as reported by US magazine WWD, which indicated that Grimaldi’s main mission will be to oversee the operational running of AZ Factory.

Grimaldi, who was named global CEO of department store group Le Printemps in early 2020, is a highly experienced luxury industry executive. He was head of retail in France for Tod’s from 2001 to 2003, then took charge of the wholesale and retail business of Dolce & Gabbana, before joining Valentino, where he remained until 2007, as retail and wholesale director EMEA.

Grimaldi then worked for Salvatore Ferragamo, as head of western and central Europe. He left in 2013 to become vice-president of Elie Saab until 2015, before becoming the CEO of Emilo Pucci from 2015 to 2019.

Held from January 11-13, 2022, the latest edition of Pitti Uomo aimed at inspire participants despite non-participation by brands such as Cucinelli and Baldessarini and cancellation of events including Ann Demeulemeester’s fashion show. As the pandemic blocked international visitors from Asia and the US, the event was attended mostly by European visitors. Around 259 companies participated in the June 2021 edition of the event while 580 participated In the January 2022 edition. The event happened as a regular trade show without almost no events, parties or get-togethers but simply as a work and meeting occasion for insiders ready for a restart.

A vast selection of brands presented their new collections for Fall/Winter 2022-23. Italian brand DIS launched special sneakers that can be disposed of in 180 days as they are made with Ohoskin, a Made in Italy vegan alternative to animal skin obtained from orange and prickly pear byproducts, and a recycled rubber sole. Socks and knitwear brand, In The Box entered into a collaboration with Peanuts offering sweatshirts decorated by details made from upcycling old military clothes.