The Madhya Pradesh government will set up a textile tourism circuit in Chanderi, Maheshwar, Srangpur and Bagh districts. These places are famous for fabrics and prints and also help to get tourist for their palaces, temples and archaeological sites. The government also plans to set up textile parks in these places where tourists can buy directly from weavers. It would reduce the price of products to around 40 per cent as there is no middle men involved in the process. The buyers would also be offered options to customize their dress material designs.

From carpet weaving to using different kinds of embroidery styles, textile printing, weaving of the silk and many other traditions, Madhya Pradesh has carved a special identity for itself. Weavers, printers and designers in the state keep themselves updated with the ongoing trends for catching up the pace. The initiatives are being undertaken by the MP Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation. Chanderi and Maheshwar are fast emerging as tourist destination in the country.

Bangladesh earned $3.24 billion from apparel shipment in July though the amount is 1.98 per cent lower than a year ago, shows data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Of the total garment shipment, knitwear exports grew by 4.30 per cent year-on-year to $1.75 billion while woven exports fell 8.43 per cent to $1.49 billion. Earnings from apparel shipment in April, May and June stood at $0.37 billion, $1.23 billion and $2.28 billion respectively.

Personal protective equipment (PPE), masks and other hospital textiles made it to the list of new export items for Bangladesh as a good number of buyers are placing work orders for these items amid the pandemic. If more retail stores reopen in Europe and the US, garment exports from Bangladesh will grow further as the pandemic has failed to dampen the demand for basic apparel items, exporters said.

Sweater factories have now put their best foot forward to meet the deadline for the shipments of August, September and October, said Mostafa Sobhan Rubel, Managing Director of Dragon Sweaters. If the current state of business continues, Abdullah Al Mahmud Mahin, Managing Director, Mahin Group expects his company's earnings this year to be 20 per cent less than last year's, but if a coronavirus vaccine arrives by mid-September, they may witness about a 15 per cent jump in profit.

Bangladesh will start to see stronger export figures from the first quarter of 2021 as more clothes are being bought online, with a massive 76 per cent rise in online sales in the US, said AK Azad, Managing Director, Ha-Meem Group. His factories are running at more than 60 per cent capacity at present.

Work orders are slowly coming back with the knitwear sector is doing better than woven products, said Azimul Islam, Managing Director, Alif Group

According to the group, Partnership for New York City, in addition to national chains nearly one third of Manhattan’s 230,000 small businesses are likely to close for ever as restaurants and bars struggle to pay rent with social distancing sapping business. So far, landlords are trying to avoid price cuts as they wait for a rebound. Still, they’re losing patience amid pressure to make their own debt payments. Lawsuits are piling up as many tenants continue to withhold rent payments.

Vornado Realty Trust, a major New York landlord, wrote off $36 million in rent, including for the lease on JC Penney’s store at the Manhattan Mall. While some landlords are reaching deals to defer rent, some defaulters are refusing to leave. Tenants of Boston Properties Inc have refused to give up their space despite not paying rent for months. Lack of new leases could force landlords to turn to pop-ups, flexible lease arrangements and payment deferrals to find tenants, according to Jay Norris, CEO of Guesst, a digital retail platform.

A study by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the South African Cotton Cluster (SACC ) views South African fashion designers can help revive manufacturing and create jobs in the country post COVID-19. Titled, ‘Assessing the Economic Value of the Designer Fashion Sector in South Africa’, the study concludes designers have substantial growth opportunities within an evolving local middle-class market estimated to be worth approximately R180 billion.

It notes the sector can aggressively target the growing upper-middle class of South Africa. It also identifies opportunities for this segment to position itself in line with changing societal trends and influences, particularly when it comes to growing the ‘slow fashion’ segment of the clothing market. Researchers note that international markets have already begun to shift their buying behavior towards ‘slow fashion’ which favors small-scale, responsibly-produced products. The South African designer clothing sector is incredibly well-placed to adopt this slow fashion mentality and cater to this growing trend, says the study.

Latest data from OTEXA shows, US apparel imports fell 43 per cent on Y-o-Y basis in June ’20. The total imports valued at $3.97 billion as against $6.94 billion in the same month of 2019. However, imports surged by 49.81 per cent in June ’20 over May ’20. The performance in June was the best amongst all three months of April, May and June. The total value of apparel imports in April was $3.41 billion.

In volume-terms, US apparel imports slumped by 34 per cent on Y-o-Y basis to 1,500 million SME. Its imports from China tumbled by 49 per cent in June ’20 to $1.15 billion with fall volumes being 32 per cent on Y-o-Y basis. However, on a monthly basis, there was a massive rebound of 59.60 per cent in the Chinese shipment to the USA in June ’20 over May ’20.

US’ imports from Vietnam declined 20 per cent to $848.87 million. However, its monthly imports from the country in June ’20 increased by 35.92 per cent. Yearly imports from Bangladesh declined 56 per cent in June’20. However its monthly imports surged by 36.62 per cent to $230.15 million. And imports from India declined 63 per cent in June ’20 over June ’19 to hit $113.45 million from its apparel exports. However, its monthly imports in June’20 surged by 80.13 per cent over May ’20.

As the pandemic stretches on, retail bankruptcies have reached an all time high in a decade. COVID-19 is bleeding the US retail industry with around 43 retailers filing for bankruptcies so far, says S&P Global Market Intelligence report. Latest retailers to go into administration include Le Tote, owner of Lord & Taylor, and Tailored Brands, parent company of Men’s Wearhouse. There have already been more retail bankruptcies in the US this year than in the past eight years, reveals S&P Global. The pandemic has compounded retailers’ challenges already facing a dip in sales due to consumers growing preference for online shopping. What’s more the list retailers who filed for bankruptcy in the last few months include some of the biggest names and brands.

Brooks Brothers

The men’s apparel maker Brooks Brothers filed for bankruptcy on July 8, listing liabilities of between $500 million and $1 billion. Simon Property Group and Authentic Brands Group hope to salvage at least 125 stores of the apparel maker’s stores through their $350 million bid.

Ascena Retail Group

Listing more than $1 billion in liabilities, Ascena Retail Group, filed for bankruptcy 11 on July 23, 2020. It plans to permanently close majority of its Justice stores along with a few Ann Taylor, Loft, Lane Bryant and Lou & Grey stores. It will also close all of its plus-size Catherines stores.

Le Tote

The fashion rental start-up and owner of department store Lord &Taylor filed for bankruptcy on July 2. It listed between $100 million and $500 million in estimated liabilities. It is currently looking for a new owner, but will continue to sell merchandise online and in stores.

Tailored Brands

Tailored Brands, owner of clothing brands like Men’s Wearhouse and Jos A Bank, plans to reduce the company’s funded debt by at least $630 million through its restructuring.

Neiman Marcus

When Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy, it had over 40 stores across the US. The upscale department store chain Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy on May 7, listing liabilities of more than $1 billion.

JC Penney

Planning to emerge as a smaller company, Texas-headquartered department store chain JC Penney filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 15, listing more than $1 billion in liabilities. The company closed over 150 stores besides laying of 1,000 employees. It now plans to sell itself to avoid liquidation.

Pier 1 Imports

The Texas-based home décor specialist, Pier 1 Imports was forced into liquidation as its plans to find a buyer proved unsuccessful. The retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 17, listing $340.6 million in liabilities.

Modell’s Sporting Goods

American’s oldest sports goods retailer, Modell’s Sporting Goods was already facing a stiff completion from Amazon and had suffered a poor 2019 season. The pandemic forced the retailer to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 11. The retailer listed liabilities between $1 million and $10 million in its filings.

Lucky Brand

With more than 200 stores in shopping malls across the country, denim brand Lucky brands plans to close 13 locations permanently. The Los Angeles based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 3 as it liabilities over $100 million.

Global response to ‘ban plastic’ call has been quite encouraging with people discarding most of their plastic bottles and bags. However, this is not enough to control rising plastic pollution as majority of microscopic, hair-like plastic fibers are not visible to the naked eye. They easily course through water and air, accumulate on beaches, in intertidal zones, and even in Artic Sea ice. These synthetic microfibers are thin pieces of plastic, a sub-category of microplastics that resemble a strand of hair. Only 6 per cent of the total plastic that enters the oceans can be viewed by naked eye as rest of it sinks to the seafloor by breaking into small micro particles.

Addressing multiple levels of plastic pollution

Quicker turnout of styles and increased number of fashion collections per year has ramped up demand for plastic-infused clothes, says a 2017 Ellen MacArthur Foundation report, ‘A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future’. Manufacturers add plastic additives such as antioxidants, dyes or fire retardants to the virgin while making clothes. These microfibers originate mainly from clothing made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, and nylon.

Industry experts, government, and academia need to address this plastic leakage at multiple levels from production, fabrication, usage, and washing of synthetic textiles to wastewater treatment plants. Fashion Pact -- the agreement between 32 companies and 150 brands -- helps the fashion industry lessen its environmental impact by encouraging clothing companies and brands to achieve zero gas emissions by 2050, restore natural ecosystems and protect species, and reduce the use of single-use plastic.

Accelerating efforts around microfiber pollution

Industry leaders can also join the Conscious Fashion Campaign, which encourages global leaders to achieve Sustainable Development goals. Additionally, the Clean by Design Program launched by Sustainable Apparel Coalition encourages multinational corporations to minimize environmental impacts of their suppliers abroad. These initiatives help the industry to build a network of companies to accelerate efforts around synthetic fibers and microfiber pollution.

Companies are also seeking a Certified B certification from non-profit organization B Lab to indicate their compliance to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.

Opportunities for innovative solutions in material science

A study by Patagonia and University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), found wastewater treatment plants can capture approximately 40 per cent of the microfibers produced by top-load washing machines. These microfibers travel through soil, water, and even air to all regions of the globe and are thought to comprise up to 35 percent of primary microplastics in the marine environment.

Companies and scientists across the globe are collaborating to address this problem of microfiber pollution. They are incorporating products such as the Cora Ball, Guppyfriend, and Filtrol with washers to catch excess microfibers. While these innovations do not completely solve the problem, they are help address the issue at the individual household level.

Internal and external pressures to reform fashion are creating opportunities for the launch of innovative solutions in material science and chemistry as well as environmental science, says Ellen McArthur Foundation. Experts need to strengthen the research on microfibers to fashion industry move towards a plastic-free future.

Unifi, a leading innovator in recycled and synthetic yarns, expects demand for its Repreve fabric to grow in non-traditional markets as more brands seek out ways to reduce carbon footprints in their raw materials.

The company posted a sales decline to $606.5 million in fiscal 2020, which ended on June 28, compared to $708.8 million last year. It incurred a net loss of $57.2 million compared to net income of $2.4 million in FY19. The operating loss was $8.8 million compared to operating income of $10.9 million in FY19.

Gross profit for the year fell to $39.0 million (FY19: $66.3 million). Selling, general and administrative expenses were down to $43.8 million ($52.6 million). Sales of Polyester during FY20 dropped by16.6 per cent to $309.1 million. Sales in Brazil plunged by 28.7 per cent to $73.3 million and nylon sales decreased 31.3 per cent to $67.3 million. However, sales in Asia rose 15.2 per cent to $153 million.

The volume of retail sales in the eurozone rebounded in June to levels recorded in February before lockdowns completing a recovery that began in May after record drops in March and April.

Sales in the 19-country currency bloc rose by 5.7 per cent in June from May, according to Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office. Spending on clothing and car fuel drove the gains.

The increase in sales was smaller than the 5.9 per cent forecast by economists polled by Reuters, but that was largely offset by an upward revision of May sales. Eurostat said that the volume of shopping increased by 20.3 per cent in May, revising its earlier estimate of a 17.8 per cent increase.

The two consecutive increases in sales fully offset the record declines in March and April, when many eurozone countries imposed lockdowns to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The shopping volume in June was 1.3 per cent higher than a year earlier, the first annual rise since February. Month-on-month, retail sales went up in June by double digits in Ireland, Spain and Italy, but fell again in Germany and Austria after large increases in May.

Sales of textiles, clothing and footwear grew by 20.4 per cent month-on-month in the eurozone, after a record 224.1 per cent jump in May.

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan exporters will hold Made in Uzbekistan Textile online business forum from Aug 25-27, 2020.

The forum will include leading textile companies from Uzbekistan as well as Azerbaijani enterprises and retailers interested in Uzbek products. It will help create opportunities for manufacturers of export-oriented textile products to find new distributors, expand partner network, and create joint ventures with Azerbaijani companies.

The forum will hold business meetings that will be attended by buyers, distributors, specialists of sewing enterprises, ateliers, representatives of retail chains and investors from Azerbaijan.

The Uzbek side will be represented by leading companies in the textile industry, including Urganch Bakhmal LLC, Alliance Textile LLC, Oqsaroy Textile LLC, Khantex-Group Ltd., Imron Textile Group and others.

The forum will hold bilateral meetings on a fully automated platform specially developed by Azerbaijan's Caspian Event Organizers.