Led by fashion powerhouses Hugo Boss and Elam, 14 brands and innovators have joined the CanopyStyle and Pack4Good initiatives. They have committed to end sourcing paper, packaging, and viscose textiles from the world’s Ancient and Endangered Forests and to scale up the use of Next Generation alternatives.

A key priority of Canopy’s work with brands is the accelerated commercial-scale production of game-changing Next Generation Solutions. With intensifying market demand for these circular-economy alternatives, today’s new brand partners are joined by four additional Next Generation innovators. These technology ventures are developing breakthrough production innovations to alleviate today’s sourcing pressures on vital forests.

The companies signing on to CanopyStyle and Pack4Good are committed to ensuring their viscose and packaging supply chains will be:

● Free of Ancient and Endangered Forests including all recent deforestation.

● Maximizing recycled and alternative Next Generation fibres (such as regenerated cotton or agricultural residues).

● Preferencing FSC-certified wood if virgin wood fibre continues to be used.

Messe Frankfurt France has launched the first Texcare Forum France to dynamize the offer for textile care.

The first Texcare Forum France will be held onSeptember 27at the CCI of Nantes St-Nazaire. The event will kick-start the sector's recovery and the development of its economic activity. It will bring together a fully representative offer of the industry: equipment, products, services and insurances, for textile care specialists such as laundries, drycleaners and launderettes. Around 15 exhibitors and partners are scheduled to attend, including:

Alliance Laundry Systems (PRIMUS), Association Française des Laveries (AFL), CTTN-IREN, Electrolux Professional, Fédération Française des Pressings et Blanchisseries (FFPB), Gemsys, Generali Assurances, Gesticlean / Brooclean, Girbau, Immel / Lavandys,Kreussler Textile Care, LM Control, Miele Professional, Royant. Institutions and associations will complete this array of professionals.

Messe Frankfurt France will focus on the latest advancements in this constantly evolving industry by staging a series of conferences throughout the day around four themes.

Broomfield, Colorado-based footwear company Crocs has launched a new bio-based version of its proprietary Croslite foam material, set to hit shelves around the world in early 2022.

Developed in collaboration with global materials science company Dow, the new bio-based Croslite is made from sustainably sourced waste and byproducts, transformed using Ecolibrium Technology. Crocs is the first footwear brand to go-to-market with this technology, which, it claims, offers “all the comfort you expect from Crocs, but with far less carbon.

The material will be incorporated into existing Crocs designs, including its now iconic classic clog, as part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of each pair of Crocs shoes by 50 per cent. According to the company, its decision to use the new material in its existing products, rather than create a separate sustainable line, will result in faster progress in its efforts to lower emissions.

In July, Crocs announced its intentions to become a net zero emissions brand by 2030 and the company also has plans to become 100 per cent vegan before the end of 2021. In addition, the company said that it is currently exploring sustainable alternatives for its packaging, as well as ways of extending the lifespan of its clogs through initiatives such as consumer-led donations, recycling and re-commerce programs. Crocs is also in the process of transitioning to renewably sourced energy in its offices and distribution centers.

A webinar organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Sri Lanka, with leaders of the apparel sector highlighted the industry’s prioritization of employee safety with adherence to comprehensive health measures, while ensuring business continuity and thereby the industry’s sustenance. The theme of the webinar was: The pandemic resilient corporate success of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry. It featured Aroop Hirdaramani, Director, Hirdaramani Group; Shirendra Lawerence, Executive Director, MAS Holdings; Hasib Omar, Executive Director, Moose Clothing Company and Jeeith Senarathne, Senior Manager, Star Garments Group It was moderated by Presantha Jayamaha, President, AMCHAM Sri Lanka.

The four leaders representing some of the industry’s biggest players assured while more than 90 per cent employees have been partially vaccinated, and 70 per cent have been fully vaccinated, companies are going above and beyond in adhering to the health and safety guidelines, seeking to provide the maximum possible protection to employees.

The apparel industry leaders acknowledged the government and health authorities for their contribution in vaccinating employees and the Joint Apparel Associations Forum (JAAF) in advocating vaccination of all employees. While prioritizing employee safety, the industry has to also focus on economic sustainability, to avoid dismantling the relationships that have been built over decades. These are critical to the future of the sector, which accounts for almost half the country’s export earnings. It employs 350,000 individuals directly, and has created 700,000 indirect jobs, and contributes 6 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), they noted.

Kornit Digital’s 2020 Impact and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) report, reiterates the company’s commitment to produce approximately 2.5 billion apparel items in a responsible manner by 2026. Kornit’s ESG goals include changing the way it conducts business, create meaningful impact in local communities, and achieves environmental sustainability, in addition to how Kornit will continue to build a diverse and inclusive company culture, foster employee growth and development, and empower fair and safe labor practices globally.

In addition to enabling eco-friendly production processes with technology and consumables that use less water, reduce waste, and minimize the carbon footprint, Kornit technology solutions also enable sustainable production on demand, which eliminates overproduction of apparel and other textile goods. A 2021 Life Cycle Assessment conducted on two flagship products, the Kornit Atlas MAX and Kornit Presto S, demonstrated that relative to traditional analog processes, Kornit’s digital production systems used up to 95 per cent less water and 94 per cent less energy, and produced up to 83 per cent less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the Presto S system and up to 93 per cent less water and 66 per cent less energy, and produced up to 82 per cent less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the Atlas MAX system.

Net sales of the H&M Group in local currencies increased by 14 percent during the third quarter 2021, i.e., in the period 1 June 2021 to 31 August 2021, compared with the corresponding period in 2020. Converted to SEK, net sales increased by 9 percent to SEK 55,585* m (50,870).

The Group’s strong recovery continues with more full-price sales and good cost control. The group’s sales development continued to be affected by the ongoing pandemic, with considerable variation between markets. Lockdowns and restrictions continued to hamper development, particularly in Asia. However, as restrictions eased, sales in store picked up in many markets while online sales continued to increase.

The brand shut 180 stores temporarily. Stores that remained open operated with restrictions on opening hours, number of customers and store space. Most of the H&M group’s markets still had restrictions resulting in reduced footfall and around 100 of the stores remained temporarily closed.

Gap Inc plans to sell a $1.5 billion junk-bond to help it buy back expensive debt raised earlier in the pandemic last year. The deal will slash the company’s borrowing costs as it focuses on growth after COVID-19 hurt clothing sales. As per a Business of Fashion report, split in two parts, the company’s new note will help fund a tender offer to buy back three secured bonds that Gap issued in April of 2020 with coupons ranging from 8.375 percent to 8.875 percent. The existing notes are backed by a first-priority claim on the company’s real estate, intellectual property and equity interests of some domestic units, and helped the company shore up liquidity last year.

Gap’s tender offer will be funded by proceeds from the new note sale and cash on hand, according to a news release. The company will pay investors a premium ranging from 106.25 to 116.5 cents on the dollar, depending on the notes and by which deadline investors say yes. The early deadline for the tender offer is Sept. 24, and the final deadline is on Oct. 8.

The company is also asking investors to accept changes to bond documentation that includes eliminating certain restrictive covenants and releasing the collateral for the notes. Its existing bonds currently trade well above par, ranging from 109 to almost 116 cents on the dollar.

Global fast-fashion retailers are expanding their footprint in new Latin American countries, including Guatemala, Panama, and Uruguay. H&M opened a 2,200-sq. mt. store in the Multiplaza Mall in Panama after postponing its 2020 launch due to the pandemic. Latin America has become one of the fastest-growing markets for the Swedish retailer, which is also present in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Puerto Rico and Uruguay.

Mango plans to open three stores in Uruguay. The first of these will debut in November at Montevideo Shopping, a mall in the country’s capital. Meanwhile, Bimbay Lola entered Guatemala in July; less than a month after its first opening in Peru.

Sports giant Decathlon is gearing up to open a store in Uruguay in November. The brand has already established its presence in other countries of South America including Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. The French company also plans to open a second Uruguayan store in 2022.

India’s leading PPE manufacturer, Mallcom India will inaugurate a new production line for nitrile gloves in its Falta SEZ unit.

The company anticipates larger export order volumes and has started ramping up its production capacity by setting up a new protective apparel manufacturing plant at Ghatakpur, Kolkata with a capacity to produce 2 lakh units per month, which should go live by April 2022.

The company is also working on CSR front as it has spent Rs. 31.51 lakh in CSR initiatives in FY20-21. It took a host of measures such as providing pandemic insurance of Rs. 1 lakh per employee, providing flexible working hours and continuous IT support to those working from home.

Revenues of Mallcom India grew by 14.3 per cent in FY20-21. In this fiscal, its profit after tax (PAT) increased by 39.8 per cent from Rs. 1,826.07 lakh in FY19-20 to Rs. 2,552.24 lakh.

In just five years, the company increased its production capacity in almost all segments and further strengthened its leadership position in PPE segment.

Despite facing certain challenges on account of cheaper imports, domestic oversupply and weaker realizations, Mallcom reported a capacity utilization of around 82 per cent, amongst the highest in India’s competitive PPE sector.

Its subsidiary, Mallcom Safety started production of high-performance outerwear and rainwear at its new unit at the Apparel Park SEZ in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, VF Corporation announced the 2021 winner of the Redress Design Award.

The first prize winner of the Redress Design Award, Jessica Chang, impressed the judges with her collection, which incorporated waste materials into designs to connect with and inspire consumers.

Chang will receive an opportunity to design a sustainable capsule collection with Timberland® available for sale in 2023.

One of the most prestigious sustainable fashion design competitions, the Redress Design Award reflects VF’s drive to foster the next generation of forward-thinking, environmentally-conscious designers in the apparel and footwear industry.

The virtual events took place from 1 to 11 September and 10 finalists from the US, UK, Germany, India and Greater China participated in the same. The event included educational challenges and master classes on advancing sustainability and circular design in the fashion industry through a variety of sustainable production solutions.

With a broader focus on the reduction of waste, the emerging designers secured their place in the competition by impressing judges with entries that offered climate positive apparel through zero-waste patterns, prolonged garment lifecycles, end-of-life disassembly, upcycling and minimal washing needs.