A new report from RepTrak, a solution company that ranks global companies’ reputations among consumers, has ranked denim stalwart Levi Strauss & Co on the 14th position with a score of 76.6. The No. 1 spot was bagged by the Lego Group, with a score of 80.4. Each year, RepTrak ranks companies on seven parameters including products and services, innovation, workplace, governance, citizenship, leadership and financial performance. This year, RepTrak analyzed more than 2,000 companies, global revenue above $2 billion.

Ranking for the 2021 report was based on 68,577 responses it collected globally across the 15 largest economies through online surveys.

Like most companies, Levi’s Q2 sales dipped during the peak of the pandemic. However, the company was able to recover faster due to its omnichannel innovations and agile planning. It refashioned its stores into mini distribution centers besides switching to looser fits to suit consumer demand for comfort.

The company also expanded its partnership with accessible retailers like Target, and launched Levi’s SecondHand, its first buy-back program allowing customers to purchase pre-owned denim on the Levi’s website.

Besides, Levi’s also collaborated with artist, designer and political organizer Fresco Steez on a collection of 10 graphics that pay homage to Black political movements throughout history and those who led the charge. Recently, the company allied with the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community in light of increased discrimination and violence against the group.

The new industrial level SuperColor F10070H dye sublimation formal printer by Epson enables retailers to make high-quality customized clothing, with round-the-clock productivity at high speeds and lower price It also enables multiple ink configurations.

The SureColor F10070H offers multiple ink configurations, including Light Cyan and Light Magenta or Fluorescent Pink and Fluorescent Yellow. It enables producers to support just in time digital production, eliminating the need for stockpiling garments and allowing shops to easily replenish weekly demand. Moreover, the SureColor F10070H is one of the fastest in its price point and costs about half the price of competitive solutions available today.

With six new user-replaceable 4.7-inch PrecisionCore printheads and UltraChrome DS6 ink technology, the SureColor F10070H delivers industrial-level, roll-to-roll performance at speeds up to 2,635 sqft/hr with exceptional colour saturation and high contrast. Leveraging six-colors, including Light Cyan and Light Magenta or Fluorescent Pink and Fluorescent Yellow ink configurations, the SureColor F10070H provides the ability to expand color gamut and bring bright, vivid colors to the production of custom sportswear, fashion items, décor, soft signage, and more with high levels of personalization.

The cost-effective, high-capacity replaceable ink pack system holds 20L of ink per color, allowing for longer print runs with less user intervention. Engineered for demanding industrial environments, the SureColor F10070H includes advanced auto paper-tension control and a fabric head wiper for simple, continuous production with predictable performance.

The SureColor F10070H printer is equipped with easy-to-use Epson Edge workflow software featuring an Adobe PostScript 3 engine for color management, smart nesting, and pattern repeats. The printer also has a Epson Cloud Solution PORT, providing a live view of the printer fleet including production rates and printer utilization to optimize workflow.

At a webinar organized by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it plans to urge European Union to allow Philippine garment exporters use imported fabric or textiles under the bloc’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus. As per a Phil Star report, the GSP+ scheme allows duty free export of 6,274 products from the Philippines to the EU if these products originate from the country.

For Philippine garment exports to qualify for the zero duty, the country needs to use locally made fabric or textiles. However, Philippine garment exporters face difficulty in complying with the requirement due to limited sources of raw materials, says Allan Geply, Trade Assistant Secretary, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc.

Most raw materials are being sourced from China which do not qualify under GSP+, he adds. He urged the Union to amend this rule. Robert Young, President, Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP) said, the amendment would enable the country to ship $100 million worth of additional exports to the EU. DTI also plans to push for a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU.

COVID-19 is likely to lead to a decline in Indonesia’s clothing and textile exports during the first seven months of this year. As per Indo Textiles, Indonesia exports around 70 per cent to the United States, the European Union and the Middle East. In 2019, it exported clothing and fabrics worth $9,172.36 million Last year, the value of its exports fell 15.94 per cent year-on-year to $ 7,709.94 million due to the pandemic. It is expected to fall 6.72 per cent over the January-July 2021 period.

Since January 1 this year, Indonesia has implemented the Omnibus Law to create new jobs, increase investment, reduce taxes, simplify licensing procedures, and renew the ease of doing business for both domestic and foreign producers. Recently, the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) collaborated with the Indonesian Embassy in Mexico to boost home décor and textile exports to Mexico. The collaboration covers the Balinese clothing and textile market, as well as Indonesian furniture in Mexico.

The Indonesian textile and clothing industry employs about 600,000 workers. In recent years, around 20 per cent factories shifted production from West Java to Central Java due to lower labor costs. However, efficiency is much lower in Central Java compared to Jakarta and its surroundings in West Java.

South Africa’s largest cotton producer Benin’s exports are expected to surge 74.73 per cent during January-August 2021. As per reports, the South African country is likely to benefit from President Patrice Talon's re-election for the second term this month, and China's help to Beninese farmers in improving their farm productivity.

In 2019, Benin exported $144.39 million worth of cotton with monthly average of $12.03 million. Last year, its exports declined by 63.21 per cent year-on-year to $53.12 million as COVID-19 restriction hampered trade. The country is improving its bilateral trade relations with China which is supporting it to improve cotton productivity. Some agricultural operators in Benin have joined a one-month training session on Chinese expertise in farm machinery operation.

The ban on public transport is forcing may garment workers in Bangladesh to either walk long distances or pay many times the normal fare to travel to work. As per Thomson Reuters reports, Bangladeshi authorities have failed to provide transport facilities to garment workers. Workers are also being forced to work in unhygienic factory conditions, allege Kalpona Akter, Founder, Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity union.

However, most workers were pleased with their factories being exempted from the curbs after their earnings were hit by closures during Bangladesh’s previous lockdown. The garment sector was hit hard last year as clothing brands shut shops due to the pandemic and cancelled orders worth millions of dollars.

Although the industry has seen a recovery, the future is uncertain as European countries impose fresh curbs.

Pakistan’s value-added sector has warned importing duty-free cotton yarn from India will not ensure a sustainable supply of key raw materials. The government recently waived customs duty on cotton yarn but refused to allow imports from India. This facility is available till June 2021. Javed Bilwani, Chairman, Pakistan Apparel Forum said, any import or export of consignments takes two to three months as most ports are facing severe congestions

Another exporter Aamir Aziz said, shipping lines have also increased their freight charges five to six times and even then take too much time to ship the goods. Recent data shows export growth is the result of at least two months before production and shipment and the impact of shortage of cotton yarn is likely to be felt in the next few months, he added

Following the Spring Edition of Yarn Expo at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), the next editions’ dates have now been revealed. Yarn Expo Autumn will take place at the same venue from August 25-27, 2021 and Yarn Expo Shenzhen will be held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center from November 03-05, 2021.

Attracting leading fibre and yarn suppliers as well as quality buyers with the fairs’ wide range of products, the three editions of Yarn Expo will cater to the recovering industry by offering a year-round meeting place for the sector to come together to recharge their businesses.

Last year, Yarn Expo Autumn was one of the first yarn and fibre trade fairs to take place as scheduled since the pandemic outbreak. Participants reflected on the effectiveness of a physical trade fair to facilitate business recovery.

Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association(PRGMEA) has welcomed the withdrawal of customs duty on import of cotton yarn by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in order to ensure smooth supply of it to the value-added industry.

Sohail Sheikh, Central Chairman, said that the government’s earlier decision of withdrawing five per cent regulatory duty in December 2020 on the import of cotton yarn and now removal of customs duty will greatly support the textile sector and contribute to the country’s economic stability.

The decision would provide some cushion to the apparel sector, which is suffering a huge shortage of industry raw material, observed Ijaz Khokhar, Chief Coordinator. He asked the government to extend this relaxation of customs duty on yarn import till the country is capable of meeting textile value-added industry’s demand of 10 million cotton bales.

PRGMEA also reiterated its demand to the Prime Minister to pass directives for the forensic audit of the yarn producers to break cartel of cotton mafia. They demanded serious steps to break the textile industry cartel, giving it a strong message that no cartelization would be allowed to manipulate prices in future and if they commit such crime they have to face the full brunt of la

LNJ Bhilwara Group Company RSWM has been praised by the ministry of industries and Government of Rajasthan for achieving the highest export turnover in 2020. RSWM is listed on both Indian stock exchanges—the NSE and the BSE.

Riju Jhunjhunwala, Chairman and Managing Director, RSWM says, this achievement reaffirms the company’s commitment to the growth of its stakeholders, employees, the state of Rajasthan and Indian economy.

RSWM is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of synthetic and blended spun yarns from India and exports to 78 countries. The company has 10 state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, 441,000 spindles, 10,000 (MT/annum) cotton fibre dyeing capacity, 4,000 (MT/annum) yarn dyeing capacity and denim manufacturing capacity of 25 million meters annually.