The second COVID-19 wave has led to loss of Rs 6,000 crore for the Gujarat Textile Industry, says Manoj Agarwal, President, Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA). He estimates production has declined 40 per cent in the state. Lockdowns in various states have led to a 20 per cent decline in business, he adds. Ashok Jirawala, President, Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Welfare Association (FOGWA) puts the daily loss in the textile industry at Rs 37.5 crore. He says, daily production in the state has dropped to 2 crore meter. At Rs 15 per metre, this works out to a daily loss of Rs 37.5 crore. He expects another 20 per cent workers to return to their native land in the next one month.

Sanjay Desai, President, Surat Autoloom Weavers Association (SAWA), informs, 750 waterjet autolooms in Surat are currently working at 50 per cent capacity due to loss of workers. Dipak Sheth, President, Yarn Broker Association (YBA), also informed that over 50 per cent workers employed in the yarn manufacturing sector have not returned. The overall situation in the state is dismal, notes Jirawala, He urged the government to release the yet unpaid Rs 600 crore input credit worth to the textile units.

Polyester enterprises in India are likely to continue facing pressure in the next two months. As per CCF Group, downstream buyers are expected to purchase polyester at low prices and adopt a sidelined attitude when PFY price is high on the back of weaker demand. Polyester Filament Yarn (PFY) companies may cut price periodically to improve sales and gain profit. Their sales may improve periodically. Downstream fabric manufacturing and twisting market will expand capacity substantially in 2021.

As per some manufacturers, PFY exports have reduced since the beginning of 2021.One company received 5,000-6,000 ton of PFY orders to India in March but almost did not take orders in April. Falling PFY exports to India also indicated diminishing textiles orders in India indirectly. Whether this portion of orders were transferred to China or other Southeast Asian countries is hard to be verified.

Traditional peak season performed worse than anticipated in March-April. Orders in the first half of year have gradually come to an end.. Printing and dyeing market witnessed moderate performance but was still worse than the appearance in March-April in the past years. Dyeing plants were supposed to run at around 95 per cent of capacity during peak season in previous years. May-July are traditional off-season on textiles and apparels market. Overall market may be in dilemma: Orders taken before will gradually complete delivery while new orders are limited. Operating rate of downstream plants may continue declining amid meager profit. Players will not see improving demand before mid-Jul.

Overall market may not be optimistic. Orders change in late-May should be noted. Domestic sales will be thin in May by convention but summer orders may be stimulated by the online shopping spree on June 18. Therefore, some downstream buyers may replenish feedstock. In addition, some small-batched export orders may gradually emerge from late-May by convention.

Faruque Hassan, President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) urged the government to provide more stimulus funds to enable factories to pay three months' salaries alongside festival allowances to workers. Hassan says, workers of export-oriented garment factories receive around Tk 3,000 crore every month as salary. The amount is already estimated and only the allowance money remains to be added, Daily Star reports.

According to him, many small and medium scale garment factories, are in trouble as they are struggling to survive with lower quantity of work orders from international retailers and brands during the time of COVID-19. He urged banks to support these suppliers. Last year, the government provided Tk 10,500 crore in stimulus funds to the export-oriented garment, leather and footwear sectors for the payment of salaries and allowances at only 2 per cent service charge.

However, factory owners have been lobbying with the government for a moratorium and deferral of repayment as most of the apparel exporters could not make a comeback to normal business practices because of the second wave of COVID-19. Local apparel suppliers have been running their factories amidst challenges since March last year for a dearth of work orders from the international retailers and brands.

The two-day virtual expo organized by India ITME Society in association with Supporting Indian Trade and Investment for Africa (SITA) initiative of the International Trade Centre (ITC), aimed to help Indian and East African textile businesses network and capitalize on marketing opportunities. As per S Hari Shankar, Chairman, India ITME Society, the platform enabled buyers and sellers to interact, showcase products, connect and network with relevant partners. Focusing on machinery, fibre, yarn, fabric, trimmings and accessories, the platform extends opportunities to both, buyers and sellers, says a report by the Hindu.

The expo held over 700 business to business (B2B) meeting that were attended by around 250 businesses from Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Govind Venuprasad, Co-Ordinator, SITA, said, through this expo, the online expo aimed to fulfill the gap created by lack of physical shows. Sheena Frida, Kenyan Fashion Council emphasized that the event has been accurately timed as the sector has been particularly badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its new sustainability report, Swedish fashion retailer KappAhl has promised to half its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to meet its climate change targets under the Paris Agreement.

It also reveals the share of KappAhl's range made using more sustainable materials or by more sustainable methods has increased to 70 per cent, against a goal of 100 per cent by 2025.

KappAhl has doubled its use of both sustainable cotton and sustainable denim, and also succeeded in switching 100 per cent of its energy to renewable sources in its own operations, the report says.

The company’s used textiles take-back scheme received 377 tonnes of textiles, during the period of the report, of which 85 per cent was sent for recycling.

KappAhl says it has also managed to remain profitable, maintain employee contentment and meet its obligations to its suppliers despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Sandra Roos, Head-Sustainbility, KappAhl’s said, going forward, the company will be directing greater focus at extending the useful life of garments, from design to manufacturing and wear.

A few Bestseller brands have adopted the Cotton made in Africa’s (CmiA) organic cotton, demonstrating the company’s ongoing work to increase its uptake of more ‘sustainable’ materials.

Earlier this month, Bestseller vowed to support farmers going organic with a new commitment of enrolling ‘in-conversion’ cotton into its portfolio.

This project, in partnership with CmiA, will look to build on this by encouraging farmers to convert to organic cotton farming.”

The cultivation of CmiA’s organic cotton is said to benefit both the environment and the people who harvest it. The Danish brand is laying the foundations for transformative changes within its cotton supply chain Just weeks ago, the firm also pledged to support farmers going organic with a promise that it’ll integrate their materials once their transition is complete.

Bestseller has also vowed to incorporate more in-conversion cotton into its portfolio to alleviate concerns for farmers.

Sudanese-born model Alek Wek has developed a colorful new capsule collection with Weekend Max Mara.

The Sudanese-born model worked with Max Mara’s in-house design team in Reggio Emilia to create the collection, a blend of her African roots, cosmopolitan lifestyle and artistic eye.

As per Fashion Network, the collection is an infusion of African culture with a London calling vibe and a touch of Boho. The fall/winter 2021 collection reaches retail shelves in September.

Weekend Max Mara was launched in 1983 as a casual outdoors weekend collection, but has evolved into an authentic Italian lifestyle brand with a distinct identity.

Wek’s take on Weekend Max Mara values includes softly tailored coats; sleeveless shearling vests over draped and flouncy dresses; sleeveless jumpsuits and high-rise flared jeans. Knits are rich and cold-weather perfect while a velvet coat that channels a vintage feel is a handsome highlight of the capsule.

Wek is the latest personality to collaborate with Weekend Max Mara, which previously launched collabs with Lucinda Chambers, long-time fashion director of British Vogue; Oscar-winning costume designer Gabriella Pescucci; and American artist Richard Saja inspired by the historical Royal Ascot races.

Israel’s manufacturer of nylon 6.6 fibers, Nilit has launched sustainable nylon fiber Sensil BioCare. Developed to help the textile and apparel industry address environmental challenges such as water consumption and its impact on the environment, the fiber breaks down faster in seawater and landfills.

Manufacturing according to Nilit’s Total Product Sustainability (TPS) criteria, Sensil BioCare is enhanced with a special technology that prevents it from wearing out and interfering with other performance additives, finishes or dyes.

The fibre was tested in both landfill soil and seawater simulations to understand its potential impact on both ecosystems. It showed disintegration in both simulated environments during the test periods in comparison to nylon fibre that does not include the special technology, the release added.

The fiber has been tested according to ASTM D6691 Standard Test Method for Determining Aerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials in the Marine Environment and ASTM D5511 Standard Test Method for Determining Anaerobic Biodegradation of Plastic Materials Under High-Solids Anaerobic-Digestion Conditions. These indicate that Sensil BioCare yarns will break down more rapidly than conventional nylon. These findings point to reduced waste accumulation in both oceans and landfills.

Apparel brand Max Fashions has opened a new outlet at Lippo Mall Puri in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The store offers a wide range of apparel collections —be it for men, women, and children— starting from basic dailywear to the trending fashion items. Socks, lingeries, as well as other fashion accessories

The Lippo Mall Puri outlet is also Max Fashions' eleventh store in the archipelago. The brand also already has 600 stores spread across the globe, including in Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and India. It offers more than 2,000 styles with a price under Rp 149,000 ($10.26).

The new store offers up to 25 percent discounts on all items. Shoppers can also get a glass teapot set as a gift for a minimum purchase of Rp 599,000. While shoppers with purchases of more than Rp 1.75 million will get an exclusive ceramic teapot set.

British multinational retailer Marks and Spencer Group plc, has appointed Fiona Dawson, Global President, Mars Food as its new Non-Executive Director from May 25, 2021. Dawson, who is part of the Mars, Incorporated Leadership Team, will join the Nominations Committee at the same time as joining the board.

Dawson started her career with Mars as a Graduate Trainee before rising to the top roles in the company. Her leadership roles include President of Global Retail and Mars Chocolate UK and European Marketing Vice President. She also has a strong track record in sustainability, health and wellbeing, particularly women’s entrepreneurship and human rights.

Archie Norman, Chairman, M&S says, Dawson’s focus on combining societal change with performance maker her perfect choice for M&S. She is known for turning around businesses, building and operating factories. She is a former president of the IGD, and knows the UK and global food retail industry better than anyone.

Dawson's appointment follows on from the arrival as a non-executive director of Evelyn Bourke former CEO of BUPA earlier this year.