The 2019 China International Garment and Textile Fair(CIGF) will reinforce the role of digitalisation in enabling the Chinese textile industry to ‘go global.’ To be organised by the CIGF office of Dalian Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, the fair will be held in Dalia from September 07-09, 2019.

The fair will be based on the theme of ‘Quality Fashion’ and will bring together more than 1,000 clothing businesses from around the world, attracting international apparel executives, fashion designers and experts in the textile industry as well as their Chinese counterparts. A total of six pavilions will be built in the international exhibition zone covering an area of over 4,000 sq. mt. This will include the pavilions of Asia, Europe, Western Fashion, and Western Life; as well as those of Italy and South Korea, choosing to go their separate ways given their high-profile positions in the fashion world.

In terms of domestic business promotion, around 2,500 professional buyers, brokers and dealers from 300 shopping centers in 80 Chinese cities will attend the promotional events and seek to build business connections during the fair. Apart from the business promotion activities, the fair will also unveil three research results. These include a research on the development and future of China's apparel industry, a white paper about the development of business attire in China, as well as China National Garment Association (CNGA)'s protocols for smart manufacturing of clothing.

Besides, a summit on integration of information technology and industrialisation for China's textile industry will also be held during the fair. It will focus on international trade trends, as well as the textile industry's contribution to the industrial internet, exploring the application of AI and 5G technology in the garment and textile business, in order to further promote information-sharing among related business entities.

Speaking at the recently concluded 69th National Garment Fair, Rahul Mehta, President, CMAI urged the government to pass rules of origin for raw materials exported to Bangladesh. According to the rules, a minimum amount of raw materials (fabric) used for garment, which are exported from Bangladesh to India, should be made out of materials either manufactured in Bangladesh or imported from India. In other words, materials of third country should not be permitted in garments exported by Bangladesh to India. In addition, Indian apparel industry should also get duty free access to Bangladesh under the FTA. There is good scope of exports of women ethnic wear to Bangladesh.

India has an FTA with Bangladesh, whereby garments can be exported without any payment of duty into India. In the absence of any Rules of Origin, Bangladesh manufacturers are importing duty free fabrics from China, converting them into garments, and exporting in to India – thereby virtually providing duty free access to Indian markets for Chinese fabrics. It is important to note that the imports of garments from Bangladesh has been growing at the rate of 82 per cent over last year, and 161% over 2016-17, and has now reached US$365 million. If this continues, imports of garments from Bangladesh are likely to touch US$3.6 billion by 2024-25.Ironically, exports of garments from India into Bangladesh is subject to a net duty of almost 125%.CMAI has urged the Government to take immediate steps, otherwise if this growth of imports allowed to continue, the industry is set to lose 10 lakh jobs by 2025.

Vayu Garware is the chairman and MD of Garware Technical Fibers. He is a business graduate. He joined Garware Technical Fibers in 1995 and under his leadership the company has expanded its product geographies from India to more than 75 countries globally. He has been intimately involved in the growth of the company and responsible for the transformation from cordage focused to a technical textile company. Under his stewardship, delivering innovative application-focused solutions to customers has been ingrained as part of the DNA of the company.

A firm believer in systemized processes to drive operational excellence in delivering value to customers, processes like TPM, Kaizen, 8D, and many more were institutionalized during his tenure. Since he was elevated as chairman and managing director in November 2011, the company has diversified into new business segments in line with the objective of delivering innovative solutions worldwide. He is a philanthropist and under his guidance the company has focused on social engineering through skill development initiatives and education for underprivileged children. His vision is to make the company a leading global player in the technical textile space.

Garware caters to various segments like aquaculture, sports nets, agriculture, geotextiles etc. through a diverse range of netting products, ropes, coated fabrics and others.

London Textile Fair was held from July 16 to 17, 2019. The event hosted 515 exhibitors from across the UK and Europe. Buyers from retailers and brands including Gucci, Zara, H&M, Reiss, Ted Baker and French Connection were in attendance.

The difficult retail market led to fewer buyers. Tough trading conditions are one reason. Retailers have smaller budgets and margins are tighter, which means that orders are shrinking and businesses aren’t taking risks design-wise. Everyone is playing it safe and producing the same thing because they know it works. Another reason could be too many trade shows. People are being fussier about which ones they attend. Brexit is also impacting trade. Everybody seemed to be holding back on spending this edition pending the Brexit decision in October. This has knocked a lot of European business, especially in Italy. There’s too much uncertainty.

London Textile Fair is the UK’s premier platform for fashion fabrics, clothing accessories, print studios and vintage garments. It provides manufacturers and their agents the opportunity to showcase their products to the most influential British buyers and designers. The show has developed into a quality event for the fashion fabrics business in the UK. The fair was first organised in 2008.

The West Bengal Khadi and Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) will soon apply for geographical indication (GI) for its muslin fabric. The work for preparing the necessary documentation for making the application is in its final stages. The board is collating the age-old gazette notifications, different publications in newspapers and magazines to establish the golden history of muslin in the best possible way.

It is also making a detailed documentation on the steps taken in recent times to boost muslin production in the state. It may be mentioned that in Bengal, there are primarily seven districts, which can be identified as major pockets of muslin fabric like Murshidabad, Birbhum, Nadia, Burdwan, Malda and Hooghly and Paschim Medinipur.

There are around 900 to 1,100 families engaged in muslin production. More importantly, even though muslin is produced in some countries of West Asia, their artisans can hardly go beyond 200 count. It is only these six districts that yarns of 500 counts and more are produced. Such fine yarns are of high demand in the international market, especially in Japan.

In July 2015, the state MSME department had started Project Muslin for revival and rejuvenation of brand Khadi and wooing back some of the traditionally skilled artisans who left the handloom sector and sought employment in less-skilled sectors.

Liva participated in the Delhi edition of Yarnex exhibition to facilitate its brand partners. Liva focused on knits, woven fabrics and stoles at the show. The range was carefully crafted to meet requirement of western and ethnic womenswear. Buyers appreciated the collection exhibited by Mercury, Mukut Mani, RK Handlooms and Shree Sakthi Vinayagar at the Liva pavilion, according to a press release by Liva.

Unlike other fabrics that are boxy or synthetic, Liva is a soft, fluid fabric which falls and drapes well. The new-age, naturally sourced fibre made into fabric in pure or blended form, transforms not just the garment but also the person wearing it. It is comfortable, soft, natural, and eco-friendly.

Birla Cellulose represents the pulp and fibre business of Aditya Birla Group, is India’s pioneer in Viscose Staple Fiber (VSF). Birla cellulose fibres are of 100 per cent natural origin, highly absorbent, have an especially good feel, and are completely biodegradable.

The US is likely to impose tariffs worth $7 billion on imports from the EU. The proposed tariffs are connected to a 14-year dispute over rival aircraft subsidies involving American firm Boeing and European firm Airbus.

The list of EU imports that may see duties includes handbags, sweaters, vests made from wool, cashmere from Kashmir goats and cotton, and apparel items like men’s and boys’ suits, women’s and girls’ cotton pajamas, cheese, liquor and food items. A World Trade Organization ruling found that Boeing rival Airbus had received illegal funding for several of its aircraft models. In the dispute, which began in 2004, the United States argued that the EU gave Airbus billions of dollars of launch aid that resulted in an unfair advantage for Airbus. Specifically, the United States asserted that the aid allowed Airbus to gain market share in Europe, Australia, China, South Korea, and elsewhere.

Meanwhile the US is still trying to resolve its trade dispute with China. And there have been rumblings that the US might be targeting Vietnam. The southeast Asian country has seen some benefit from the US-China trade war as apparel firms look elsewhere–with Cambodia and Bangladesh in the running, too–for sourcing and manufacturing production.

Under Armour has joined Alvanon to create a fleet of 3D avatars to digitize and standardize sizing in the fashion world. They will use the avatars to replicate UA’s proprietary fits, while fleshing out a complete spectrum of real bodies from infant size 0 to men’s 5XL. The project will allow brands to create products with improved sizing and standardization, increasing fit accuracy—ultimately decreasing sizing fears among consumers, especially those who buy online.

Under Armour turned to the technology to reduce the time and cost of product development and to decrease the number of physical samples made during the creative process. Under Armour has been using 3-D in its core size for some time and this was the next progression to develop a full-size range and make sure everyone in the market was fitted exceptionally well. Under Armour has already partnered on Alvanon’s Body Platform project—an ongoing effort to encourage brands and retailers to share their 3-D fit and core body standards with supply chain partners.

Alvanon has worked with brands to create a library of virtual bodies, each representing a specific brand’s fit standards. As much as 30 per cent of all returns are based on poor fit.

The University of Georgia will serve as the Official Academic Partner for the upcoming edition of Texprocess Americas to be held in Atlanta from May 12-14, 2020. The event will be co-produced by SPESA, an industry association for suppliers to the sewn products industry that includes apparel, upholstered furniture, home textiles, transportation interiors, leather goods, footwear, and industrial textiles, and will once again be co-located with Techtextil North America.

The multi-faceted partnership will continue its mission in benefitting the University of Georgia and the North American textile and sewn products industries by utilising expertise from the university’s world-renowned faculty and staff to provide top of the line educational opportunities for all Texprocess Americas attendees; providing exhibiting and visiting companies direct access to latest research from the world’s leading materials programs; gaining exposure for the university’s undergraduate and graduate research programs and their industry contributions through special feature areas on the Texprocess Americas show floor; facilitating future careers and strategic partnerships through collaboration with the university’s administration and shining a spotlight on the high level of global innovation and industry development coming from all levels of the North American textile and sewn products industries.

Levi’s has teamed with Wardrobe.NYC to offer Release 04 Denim, a men’s and women’s capsule collection centered around essential denim garments.

Release 04 Denim offers two bundles, a four-piece collection and an eight-piece collection. Each collection is based on classic staples and washes that transcend seasons. The women’s four-piece bundle offers a white T-shirt, double breasted blazer, Levi’s vintage western shirt and 501 jeans. The eight-piece range adds a ribbed tank, trench coat, a boxy denim jacket and the choice between a midi or a mini jean skirt. The four-piece bundle for men also offers a blazer, T-shirt, denim shirt and 501 jeans. The expanded wardrobe includes a trench coat, knit sweater, jean jacket and denim shorts.

Levi’s is a legacy denim brand. Through this venture, Levi’s aims at building a better wardrobe. Wardrobe.NYC was launched in 2017 and aims at providing consumers luxury-quality pieces. Previous collections by Wardrobe.NYC have focused on tailoring, sport and street wear.

Bundling high quality pieces with the potential for various combinations taps into a larger trend that stretches far beyond the fashion industry: minimalism. Today’s fashion consumer is scaling back and downsizing because of fashion’s impact on climate change and the general concept of using ethics to guide brand loyalties.