Around 1,140 readymade garment factories are likely to lose their membership with the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) as they have not paid membership subscription fees and have not been in export business for years. As per a New Age Bangladesh report, BGMEA has directed 1,140 inactive members to pay their subscription fees by October 31 to continue as the member of the trade body.

The association plans to cancel memberships of factories that fail to pay subscription fees and resume business by the deadline. Some units of BGMEA member factories have remained out of business since 2013. These are unlikely to resume due to the impact of quota phase-out in the RMG sector in 2005. However, they continue to retain the membership of the trade body to take part in BGMEA elections.

Shanghai’s import of garments and accessories from the European Union (EU) doubled in the first seven months of this year, according to Shanghai customs figures.

From January to July, Shanghai’s import totaled 13.47 billion yuan (about $2.07 billion), soaring 99.9 percent year on year, and nearly two times the export volume in the same period, which logged 7.04 billion yuan.

The customs figures also showed that in the first seven months, Shanghai's import of leather and fur products from the EU totaled 11.2 billion yuan, surging by 94.8 percent year on year.

France and Italy were the major direct beneficiary countries from surging imports by Shanghai. In the first seven months, Shanghai's trade volume with the two countries reached 61.21 billion yuan and 60.02 billion yuan, respectively, growing by 39.1 percent and 49.5 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, Shanghai's imports of cosmetics and personal care products from the EU increased by 21.2 percent in the first seven months, totaling 12.52 billion yuan.

The customs attributed the import growth to Chinese customers' increasing consuming power and interest in imported garments. Exhibition platforms such as the China International Import Expo have also played an important role in introducing more and more EU products into China.

Kidswear imports by the US increased by 40.08 per cent to $1.10 million during the January-June ’21 period.

As per an Apparel Resources report, this growth is attributed to rising momentum in back-to-school shopping in the US. The growth in the US kidswear market has given Asian exporters a reason to cheer as all major shipping destinations have grown in their respective shipments to USA in H1 ’21.

China topped with $256.43 million worth of kidswear export to the US, noting 49.82 per cent yearly growth in Jan.-Jun. ’21.

India remained ahead of other neighboring countries and clocked $172.79 million worth of kids clothing shipment to the US, growing at the rate of 53.78 per cent.

Vietnam accumulated $165.43 million revenues from its kidswear export to the US in H1 ’21. The South East Asian country noted around 49.43 per cent Y-o-Y growth.

Bangladesh shipped $127.72 million worth of kids garment to the US, increasing its value by 30 per cent on yearly note. The data suggest that kidswear is going to stay strong in the US for some time and it is highly unlikely that any negative disruption will take place.

Pakistan plans to establish cotton cluster villages to boost the crop while guaranteeing contemporary technology, said Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research.

According to Imam, Cotton has helped Pakistan economy and provided work opportunities for millions of people. He stated that one million bales contributed approximately Rs97.5 billion in revenue, and that the government had set a target of 10 million bales for the current season.

Pakistan used to export textile products worth over $15 billion annually. Last year, the country had to import 4.5 million bales of cotton for the local industry. The government is paying keen attention to white gold (cotton) and hopefully cotton would become a strategic crop in the future, he stated. He said modern farming techniques would be introduced to motivate other farmers.

The minister said that the government was striving to enhance cotton production by focusing on the seed quality, enhancing sowing area, mechanization and upgrading the research institutes. He urged the farmers to ensure clean picking of cotton so that they could fetch handsome prices for their produce.

MAS Silueta, a part of South Asia’s largest apparel tech company MAS Holdings, together with Australia’s Zena Sport has developed the Zena Z1 protective vest for the Australian athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. This product aligns with MAS’ commitment to inclusivity and empowerment, protecting athletes especially in sports such as goalball, which increases the possibility of accidental contact. Research carried out by the University of Deakin’s Centre for Sports Research indicates that Zena Z1 absorbs up to 70% of impact energy, indicating significant protection to female athletes against rib and breast injuries, a common occurrence in many sports.

The product enables a high level of protection and faster post-game recovery without compromising on comfort and mobility, while also maintaining its ergonomic appeal. Being ultra-lightweight, the protective vest can be worn for long periods, while its excellent fit due to contouring and flexibility also ensure that it stays in place.

This combination of factors has led to the growing popularity of Zena Z1. The product is already used for more than 20 sports, including Australian Football, Rugby, Goalball, Skiing, Handball, Basketball and several combat sports.

In developing the protective vest, Silueta, a part of MAS Holdings, collaborated closely with the founders of Zena Sport, Brad and Donna Johnson, who recognised the need for an advanced protective vest for female athletes competing in the AFL. Having understood the significant physical implications of impact sports due to their personal involvement with the AFL, Brad and Donna Johnson realised that female adolescents faced many rib and breast injuries that go unreported, despite their impact at a critical stage of physical development.

The Zena Z1 protective wear, manufactured by MAS Holdings using two patented technologies, plays a critical role in minimizing this impact.

The product also enjoys a favorable ‘environmental footprint’. The Reaction Injection Molding Technology used by MAS has less energy consumption than other comparable techniques, helping to reduce the product’s carbon footprint, while the patented rim technology helps reduce landfill waste, compared with traditional technologies.

Sportswear brand Nike has launched a campaign starring French footballer Leroy Sane to advertise its first ‘Move to Zero’ underwear line.

As per Fashion Network, Nike’s Fall '21 underwear campaign, shot by Michael Krosny, sees Leroy Sané model the brand’s first underwear made in line with its sustainable, emission-reduction goals.

Made from Nike ReLuxe, a textile made with at least 75 per cent recycled fibers, the collection also uses Nike’s ‘Dri-FIT’ technology, designed to help deliver maximum comfort throughout the day, the brand said in a release.

Move to Zero is Nike’s journey toward zero carbon and zero waste in its production process. With the aim to “help protect the future of sport”, the initiative comprises various eco-friendly changes to the brand’s production process.

Nike has recently undertaken numerous initiatives in line with its wider sustainability goals including its WeForest carbon offset plan with has the aim of planting a million trees. The brand’s sustainability targets for 2025 include a 70% reduction of its greenhouse emissions in owned and operated facilities and a tenfold increase in the amount of finished product waste refurbished, recycled, or donated, according to its latest ‘Impact Report’ for the 2020 financial year.

Leading total quality assurance provider to industries worldwide, Intertek has been accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board as an approved certification body for the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

Intertek is accredited for GOTS to certify in three scopes including mechanical textile processing and manufacturing operations and their products, wet processing and finishing operations and their products and trading operations and related products

GOTS is the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibers. It defines high-level environmental and social criteria along the processing and manufacturing of the organic textiles supply chain. GOTS aims to harmonise organic cotton standards to achieve international recognition.

GOTS sets worldwide requirements for environmentally friendly production systems and social accountability in the organic textile sector. GOTS, along with Textile Exchange’s OCS (Organic Content Standard), provide an impetus for increasing global organic cotton production and is a trusted tool to for companies to verify and communicate organically grown content claims to the industry. The GOTS requirements draws on the advice of, and input from, other relevant international stakeholder organisations and experts for regular standard updates.

H&M has collaborated with the Marsha P Johnson Institute to support LGBT projects. As per a Textile Value Chain report, the brand plans to organize shopping events for LGBTQ+ students aged 14 to 24. It recently staged a shopping spree at H&M’s main branch on Fifth Avenue in New York City called “Fresh and Fabulous for Fall.” Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, an Emmy-nominated actress and singer, and Elle Moxley, Executive Director and Founder, Marsha P Johnson, both attended the event.

In addition to the shopping spree, approximately 20 pupils received hair, cosmetics, styling, and a photo session. Participants also saw a preview for Moxley’s debut feature film, Black Beauty, before sitting down with Rodriguez for a fireside talk about Moxley’s experiences as a major activist and organizer in the Black and transgender communities. Aside from the New York City event, MPJI and H&M USA are collaborating with local LGBTQ+ organizations in the Los Angeles, Houston, and Columbus, Ohio metropolitan regions to provide shopping sprees and identity-affirming tools for LGBTQ+ students aged 14–24.

As a part of its collaboration with Turkey’s leading fashion school Vakko Esmod Fashion Academy, world’s leading industrial thread manufacturer Coats has sponsored a design competition for second year students on the Fashion Design and Creation Diploma Program.

A total of 22 Vakko Esmod Fashion Academy students presented their ‘casualwear’ themed design projects, which included experienced fashion industry tutors alongside Coats representatives. The designs were rated on the basis of their fabric, pattern and sewing stages, giving the future fashion designers valuable experience of presenting their creations to the industry. The creators of the top three designs were presented with a sewing machine and professional drawing pens from Coats at the competition which took place in July.

Coats maintains close relationships with fashion schools through initiatives such as design competitions, sponsorships and innovation workshops in order to support the development of creative and successful talent which will shape the future of the sector.

Due to increased precautionary measures, CHIC Shanghai has been postponed from August 25-27, 2021 to October 9-11, 2021. The event is likely to be attended by 500 brands who will present their entire range of the Chinese fashion market. It will introduce new innovations in the field of digital and hybrid formats for more flexibility in presentation, exchange and purchasing “As the most important meeting place for the fashion industry in China, the safety of all exhibitors and visitors of CHIC is our top priority.

The exhibitors will now present themselves on 62,000 sq m. These will include important industry players such as Jintianshi (menswear), Vini Bespoke (menswear), Zaijiu (womenswear), Jiebeidi (womenswear), Cofna (childrenswear), Laura Vita (shoes), Hattershub (headwear), Mannylonq (CHIC-Young Blood) and Dragon Heart (CHIC-Young Blood) and exciting up-and-coming designers such as Kimusso, Yujiantian and Wuma. The expected 60,000 visitors will also able to attend seminars and workshops on current topics such as Recognition and new opportunities of new retail in AI Fashion or 2021 Maker of Silk Road & Innovation of Design Infinity -- The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition of China Textile & Apparel SME.