Alan Wheeler, Director, The Textile Recycling Association (TRA) has urged the sector to reduce consumption of new clothes. He spoke on the eve resources charity WRAP formally unveiling its voluntary Textiles 2030 on April 26. Textile 2030 vision aims to slash the impact that textiles have on the environment over the next decade. To achieve this, the sector needs to collect more used textiles, without losing financial viability of the industry.

Instead of supporting jobs in textile production, governments need to support new jobs in the textile recycling industry, added Wheeler. New production houses need to use recycled fibers in their new textile products, he added. The Textiles 2030 comes after WRAP’s SCAP 2020 program missed its target for waste reduction.

While targets were met for reducing water consumption and carbon, the amount of textile waste being sent to landfill or incineration fell by 4 per cent since the 2012 launch, WRAP said, against a target of 15 per cent.

T-shirt imports by the US declined by 10.70 per cent to $ 2.92 billion in the January-February ’21 period from $3.27 billion in the corresponding period of 2020. As per Apparel Resources, import volumes declined 8.04 per cent to 83.68 million dozen during the period.

All major apparel shippers recorded a dip value-wise in T-shirt exports to the US, except China. China’s exports grew 5.37 per cent Y-o-Y to $ 403.87 million. It exported 13.51 million dozen T-shirts, a 17.58 per cent yearly growth. Bangladesh’s exports grew 2.87 per cent on a yearly basis to 5.35 million dozen, which valued $ 129.10 million and declined by 3.52 per cent in the January-February ’21 period.

India’s exports declined both in terms of quantity and value. The country clocked $ 140.42 million in January.-February. ’21 to ship 4.21 million dozen of T-shirts and noted a marginal drop of 0.06 per cent on Y-o-Y basis during the period.

Eighteen major brands including Boohoo, Asos, Primark, Next, M&S, Primark, and John Lewis have joined Textile 2030 Scheme that aims to reduce the sector's significant environmental footprint over the coming decade. The initiative launched by waste charity WRAP, commits fashion retailers to halving their carbon emissions by the end of the decade and reducing the aggregate water footprint of their products by 30 per cent.

Alongside pledges to reduce water use and cut carbon emissions, signatories have also committed to using more recycled materials in their products and to pilot and implement business models centred around the reuse of old clothes. The national scheme is set to join a global network of initiatives geared at reducing the environmental impact of clothing around the world dubbed the Textiles Action Network, WRAP said.

MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee held an evidence session today to discuss how the scheme can put the UK fashion industry on a pathway to net zero emissions while incorporating greater circularity across business models. The session also investigated how the planned Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for the textiles industry could be designed to support the initiative and incentivize sustainable design within the fashion industry.

Puma Q1 sales grew 25.8 per cent currency adjusted (ca) to € 1,549 million. Its gross margin grew by 48.5 per cent while operating expenses (OPEX) increase by only 8.6 per cent. Wholesale business increased by 24.3 per cent (ca) to € 1,202.0 million, despite lockdown-related store closures in several markets and supply chain constraints in North America. The Direct to Consumer business (DTC), which includes owned and operated retail stores as well as e-commerce, increased by 31.3 per cent (ca) to € 346.8 million, driven by strong growth in e-commerce of 74.9 per cent (ca).

During the quarter Puma launched the She Moves Us communication platform to celebrate women. It also unveiled the Only See Great brand campaign to spark optimism and self-belief. Alonwith Neymar Jr, the brand launched a new Creativity collection, featuring the Future Z 1.1 football boot as well as shorts, training accessories and off-pitch apparel. Its new Re:Gen collection regenerates textile industry waste into new products.

Mulberry expects to report a small underlying profit before tax for the 12 months to the end of last month (FY21). As per Fashion Network, the company expects FY 21 revenue to be lower than the previous year. However, it will also reduce its losses as customers have remained loyal to the brand during the pandemic period.

The group has recorded strong growth in its Asian markets while its digital sales have also accelerated. Its improved margins due to lower markdown sales suggest that other markets may also improve on easing of the lockdown restrictions. Mulberry is a luxury fashion company founded in the United Kingdom in 1971, known internationally for its leather goods. Mulberry has stores throughout the UK and all over the world including Europe, the US, Australia and Asia. It has registered offices in Somerset, London and New York City. Mulberry continues to make designer leather goods at its original Somerset factory, called The Rookery.

Kornit Digital has launched its new Max technology in printing, establishing a new standard for on-demand fashion and apparel production. The Max technology surpasses industry norms for retail quality on multiple fabric types with previously unattainable print applications. One of its key features is XDi which delivers revolutionary 3D capabilities for new, high-density graphic decoration that can simulate embroidery, vinyl, and heat transfer in a single, waste-free digital process. The new XDi, which is based on Kornit’s patents, allows fulfillers and brands to expand their offerings to include new-to-market, innovative decorations without the inefficiencies and cost of operating analog technologies.

Kornit also launched the ActiveLoad Automation technology, a new robotic system to significantly ease the burden of manual and labor-intensive media handling in the textile decoration industry. The new technology ensures continuous production and consistency, while decreasing human error and fatigue, regardless of employee experience and training, for ultimate results and best operational efficiency.

Afterpay Australian Fashion Week (AAFW) is scheduled from May 31 to June 4, at Carriageworks and other select venues throughout Sydney. Around two dozen designers, dubbed the ‘2021 Changemakers.’ will participate in the official AAFW event in various capacities.The event will include shows, presentations, trade showrooms, virtual content and programming with highlights including the return of Romance Was Born show, Afterpay’s ‘Future of Fashion’ Runway presenting the first collective showcase and the Indigenous Fashion Projects featuring the collections of leading First Nations designers.

Runway shows will be complemented by trade showrooms, The Suites, which will host AAFW’s visiting buyers and media, and will feature a curated selection of Australian designers. AAFW will also launch AFC Virtual on ORDRE, a luxury online wholesale portal, designed to increase trade outcomes for Australian fashion designers.

Additional conversations and special events at the Fashion Week include Nicky and Simone Zimmermann in talk with Vogue’s editor-in-chief Edwina McCann.

London-based global information provider IHS Markit has, said prolonged COVID-19 surge has negatively affected India's economic outlook. According to Statistics from National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency of India, electronic manufacturing is among the hard-hit sectors in the country

Canalys, a global IT analyst firm, predicts smartphone shipments to plunge during the second quarter in the Indian market due to the worsening pandemic situation. Chinese textiles enterprises expect a huge rise in international orders, making factories working in full swing. However, analysts believe the flow of textile orders from India should be temporary, as textile industry is labor-intensive. Labor costs in China have been rising over a number of years and many such factories have been transferred to Southeast Asia.

Normally, India is a processor on the API supply chain between China and the final destinations in Europe and the US. But buyers are seeking to skip India on the supply chain due to its serious epidemic outbreak. A manager with an API exporting company based in East China's Shandong Province, added that the orders directly from the third countries are increasing in the past two weeks by around 10 percent after India's epidemic, including countries in Europe, South America and Southeast Asia.

According to Japanese Chain Stores Association (JCSA), apparel sales in the country increased to 72,027.55 million yen ($665.10 million) in March ’21 as against 47,561.47 million yen ($432.51 million) in February ’21. Growth could be attributed to an increase in total number of shops associated with JCSA in March ’21. The number of shops that remained open increased from 11,014 shops of 56 companies in February to 11, 789 in March. Of total revenues, menswear category registered revenues of 11,519.80 million yen ($106.37 million) revenues during March ’21, noting 21.40 per cent surge on M-o-M basis. On a Y-o-Y basis, menswear sales grew by 6 per cent as compared to sales figures seen in March ’20. Women’s wear revenues increased 53.70 per cent to 18,350.70 million yen ($169.45 million) in March ’21 on M-o-M basis and 12.30 per cent growth on Y-o-Y basis.

All other type of clothing including kid’s wear and unisex products too grew significantly by 61.30 per cent on monthly note to 42,157.07 million yen ($389.27 million), while the growth on Y-o-Y note was 4.70 per cent.

Fitting room closures due to the pandemic has left most shoppers guessing the size of their garments, spiking rate of garment returns. To help these shoppers find their right fit, a number of new fit-tech startups are emerging.

Artificial intelligence at stores

FitMatch one such startup, opened a first-of-its-kind fit studio in Chicago’s Oakbrook Center. As per Vogue Business, the studio scans people to make product recommendations. As per Jessica Murphy, Co-Founder, Fit Analytics, FitMatch applies artificial intelligence in physical stores of brands like Levi’s, Ralph Lauren and Kate Spade.

The startup’s pilot projects in Houston and Miami attracted millennials and Gen Z customers, with the average age being 27, says Haniff Brown, Founder and CEO. They collected more than 12,000 customer measurements and more than 1.8 million unique data points, while 80 per cent of shoppers who entered the studio were measured. Customers using this tool can buy items online or find them in-store. The startup also developed a concierge-style service where the store brings customer-selected items to the fit studio.

Four times increase in conversions

Online hi-tech tool, True Fit has over 180 million registered users, who provide information on height, weight and the size and information on their best-fitting pieces of clothing. Brands that adopt the True Fit tool have recorded a four times increase in conversions double-digit decrease in fit-related return rates, The platform adds about 2 million new users every week, informs.Jessica Murphy, Co-Founder Fit Analytics

True Fit is partnering retailers to install a new app in stores to help customers scan QR codes or bar codes to see personal recommendations, or access a personalized catalogue from within the store. Retailers who have adopted this tool include Macy’s, Ralph Lauren and Lane Bryant.

Fit Analytics, which makes size recommendations based on an online survey has adopted an online quiz for in-store associates. The startup has helped Brazilian women’s wear brand Amaro increase conversions by 2 per cent and decrease returns by 4 per cent.

Changing tastes make mainstream adoption challenging

Brands are also providing fitting technologies to in-store associates. The digital measurement tool launched by 3D Look has been adopted a lot of companies. Tailored Brands adopted 3D Look’s online consumer facing tool to help tailors measure customers with an iPad, says Whitney Chathcart, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer

Even as adoption off these technologies is increasing, they are yet to become mainstream as fashion specifications keep constantly and syncing all together at one time is challenging, opines, Karen Katz, CEO, Neiman Marcus. According to Fokke de long, Founder and CEO, Suitsupply, a Dutch suiting brand, sometimes, even simple technology works. The company has launched ‘Safe Shopping Screens’ that tailors can reach through. These mirrors provide customers with a sense of familiarity as they gear up for a new shopping experience.