The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), has announced figures for the period ranging from July to September 2020.

Exports of Italian textile machinery declined in Q3 2020, although domestic orders increased by 20 per cent, signaling that Italian textile manufacturers are getting back to business.

The index of orders intake for textile machinery, as compiled by the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), for the period ranging from July to September 2020, decreased by 26% compared to the same period in 2019. The index value was attested at 72.4 points (2015 basis = 100).

Orders on foreign markets declined by 31 per cent, with an absolute index value of 68.2 points. However, an increase of 20 per cent was recorded domestically compared to the third quarter of 2019, with an absolute index value of 112.6 points.

ACIMIT represents an industrial sector that comprises roughly 300 manufacturers (employing around 12,000 people), which produce machinery for an overall worth of around 2.3 billion euros, of which 82% are exported. Creativity, sustainable technology, reliability and quality are the hallmarks that have made Italian textile machinery worldwide leaders.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) plans to raise valuable Foreign Direct Investment for the industry through its upcoming Garments and Textiles Investment Meeting on the theme: “The future of garments and textiles in Ghana’s industrialisation drive”.

The two-day virtual meeting, set for the November 04-05, will create a platform for the GIPC and key stakeholders in the garments and textiles industry, namely; the Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) and the Cotton Development Authority to discuss a plethora of issues akin to the industry.

Key issues to be discussed are industry insights and policies, finding practical solutions to challenges peculiar to the Ghanaian textile and garment industry as well as exploring the essence of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement to the industry.

From an investment perspective, the Center will lead discussions on how to leverage the enormous potential of the local garments and textiles industry to lure in needed investment and financial support.

The E.U.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which took effect on August 1, has laid down strict rules of origin for goods exported to the bloc.

Under its provisions, 77.3 percent of Vietnam's textile exports to it will enjoy zero percent tax within the first five years while the rest follow a seven-year roadmap. The EVFTA is the E.U.’s second trade deal with an ASEAN member country after one with Singapore, and one of the few with a developing country. It will see Vietnam eliminate 99 percent of its import duties over 10 years and the EU doing the same over seven.

Before the deal was signed, Vietnam's garment and footwear exports to Europe were given preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, with a 9.6 percent tariff on the former.

For the first two years enterprises can choose to continue to be taxed under the GSP program or EVFTA. From the third year, if a company does not meet the rules of origin as stipulated in the deal, the tariff rate will increase to 12 percent.

The Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) said the tax incentives under EVFTA are not attractive enough for businesses to switch from Chinese to Vietnamese fabrics since the former are 10-40 percent cheaper and delivered faster due to the scale of production.

Home-grown fashion brand Beyoung is logging Rs 3 crore revenue per month from its diverse product range. The brand caters to the latest fashion trends in T-shirts, mobile accessories, and other USPs like couple tees, custom products, and not forgetting the Plus Size apparels which have swept the mass market with an ace at a pocket-friendly price.

Beyoung is a self-funded startup launched with a capital investment of Rs.1 lakh. During the initial days, the brand created its unique presence on the social media platform with a massive brand launch. Further, the quirky t-shirt designs like Peeping Panda and Believe were the bestselling along with the plus size tees that grabbed the eyes of all age-groups. This has led to acquiring approximately 10 Million users till date. As Beyoung claimed, they are observing 2X growth in the customers every month.

Recently, in 2020 like every other brand Beyoung has also faced delivery issues as the shipping partners were not working at full force that led to slow down Beyoung’s shipments. Simultaneously, they noticed a reduction on the average basket size from Rs 750 to Rs 500 and orders from 40,000 to 20,000. However, amidst lockdown, Beyoung planned to come back with a headstart by launching several campaigns and safety essentials. No layoffs were recorded during and post lockdown. Shivam Soni confirms the exponential growth in the basket size and number of orders. Also, expecting the 3X growth in the consecutive 3 months.

UK retailers expect Christmas sales to be a disaster as government has ordered non-essential stores across England to shut for four weeks. As per Business of Fashion, UK retailers were already struggling to recover from the first lockdown last spring and laden with stock for Black Friday promotions and the holiday period. The new restrictions could prove fatal for some businesses, particularly if they’re extended beyond the initial four weeks.

They will have a huge impact, as 80 per cent profits for non-food retailers are typically generated in November and December, said Mark Price, Former Deputy Chairman, John Lewis Partnership Plc. As the new measures will continue to funnel business to digitally focused companies, though, online grocer Ocado Group Plc lifted its profit target, citing strong sales trends during the pandemic.

The New West End Company, a lobbying organization for more than 600 London retail and leisure businesses, warned that £2 billion of sales could be lost as a result of the latest lockdown. That would be a severe blow for the city’s West End entertainment district, where current sales were already down about two-thirds from pre-pandemic levels.

Burberry has joined forces with various charities to support young people across the world. The brand has collaboration with FareShare fund over 200,000 meals distributed across 11,000 charities and community groups across the UK. Burberry has also pledged support to UK youth organizations in Manchester, London and charities with a global reach. In London, it is working with London Youth to give grants to 15 youth centers to enable them continue their welfare programs.

In Manchester, Burberry is supporting Norbrook Youth Club and Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre to help charities in the Wythenshawe area. Alongside these youth centres, Burberry is contributing to Wide Rainbow, a non-profit based in New York City to provide art supplies, food deliveries and music education to young people in these communities.

In addition, Burberry is partnering International Youth Foundation to contribute to the Global Youth Resiliency Fund. This will enable young entrepreneurs and community leaders, especially in Asia, to develop solutions to challenges including closing nutrition gaps and unlocking access to livelihoods.

Toyobo Co will set up a joint venture company with Indorama Polyester Industries to produce yarns for automobile airbags. The joint company will build a new plant on the IPI factory site in Rayong Province, Thailand, and start operations in the first quarter of 2022.

Toyobo has long maintained partnership with IVL, which is committed to expanding its mobility-related business. Given that Toyobo and the IVL group are capable of effectively using their resources in Thailand, they agreed to establish the joint venture company to produce PA66 airbag yarns and ramp up efforts to expand their airbag business. The JV will be integral part of the Indorama Mobility Group.

IVL, with its presence in Thailand, is undertaking the manufacturing for the proposed JV, with 100 per cent offtake by Toyobo for its weaving plant. Toyobo will diligently meet global clients’ needs as the sole manufacturer capable of producing and supplying airbag materials ranging from yarn to fabrics at our five operations hubs in Japan, Thailand, China, the United States and Europe.

The Baptist World Aid (BWA) report estimates, 70 per cent fashion brands have taken positive steps to support vulnerable garment workers through the crisis. As per the report, around 50 million garment workers lost wages totaling $5.79 billion in the early part of 2020. BWA analyzed the efforts taken by over 400 well-known fashion brands to address the risks faced by their workers in the global fashion industry supply chain.

Top scorers were the brands that demonstrated action across all six COVID Fashion Commitments including; honoring supplier commitments; identifying and supporting the workers at greatest risk; listening to the voices and experience of workers; ensuring workers’ rights and safety are respected; collaborating with others to protect vulnerable workers; and, building back better for workers and the world.

However, the report also found 56 per cent fashion brands were unable to demonstrate actions in all six areas of the COVID Fashion Commitments. Some of these brands included Showpo, Lowes, P.E Nation and Rebecca Vallance. Despite this, the report indicates that 22 per cent of companies are strengthening worker voice systems while 16 per cent are implementing new systems through the crisis period.

Sportswear International reports, Premium Group has cancelled the Berlin editions of Premium, Seek and Fashiontech shows in January, to focus on Frankfurt Fashion Week. Scheduled in July 2021, the Frankfurt Fashion Week will be held in collaboration with Messe Frankfurt. Premium Group plans to hold a 'FFW Preview' to present the new locations in Frankfurt am Main and the concepts to journalists, brands and retailers" at the beginning of next year.

The sustainable trade show Neonyt will be held as per schedule from January 19-21, 2021in Berlin. Organizer Messe Frankfurt is currently reviewing the government's decisions and what consequences will be drawn from them. Premium Group a network of companies developing customized live entertainment and monumental events for a client base from around the globe. The group organizes two international fashion trade shows and a conference on the future of fashion twice a year in Berlin.

Ethiopia has set up a landmark fund in collaboration with UK and Germany to save thousands of jobs in its textile and garments industry and help to support the country’s economic recovery from COVID-19. With an initial investment of $6.5 million, the partnership aims to safeguard a critical industry and protect the livelihoods of those working within it.

Through the fund, textile factories in Ethiopia’s industrial parks can apply for wage subsidies – similar to the furlough schemes operating in many countries including the UK and Germany – and incentives to reward businesses that are able to adapt in response to COVID-19. The funding will kickstart the facility and the partnership may further expand its reach through additional support in the coming months.

The wage subsidy will cover a portion of total employment costs for textile factory workers in Ethiopia’s industrial parks. The fund will protect jobs, enable textile factories to keep running and support factories to build back better. Meanwhile, the innovation incentive will reward factories that have been able to demonstrate their ability to make their businesses more resilient in the face of COVID-19, including through the development of new production lines and partnerships