Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, its new Lurapret® N5396 & N5392 liq, a water-based ultra-low VOC polyurethane (PU) polymer coating technology at ITMA 2019.

The innovation was developed in compliance with “ The Archroma W ay: safe, efficient, enhanced, it’s our nature”. The approach finds its origin in Archroma’s deep belief that it is possible to make the textile industry sustainable, economically and ecologically.

Lurapret® N5396 & N5392 liq have been developed to provide textile manufacturers with an additional water-based option that delivers high performance to the coated fabrics of demanding applications, such as indoor and outdoor textiles, nonwovens and papers.

Initially developed for the chemical bonding and coating for backpack and other industrial products, Lurapret® N5396 & N5392 liq also improve the mechanical properties of the treated material such as their tensile strength and scratch resistance.

The new products will be the core of Archroma's Safe Seats system. The system, which combines Lurapret® N5392 & N5396 liq with Archroma’s halogen -free* Pekoflam® STC p flame retardant, allows to create a halogen -free* flame retardant coating system for synthetic leather upholstery.

Using Lurapret® N5396 & N5392 liq together with Archroma’s Nuva ® N2155 & N4547 soil protection and release finishes, enables customers to achieve highest standards in water - repellence and waterproofness.

Lurapret® N5396 & N5392 liq can be applied by impregnation, coating (paste or foam), and spray, and are compliant with the ZDHC and bluesign ® requirements.

"Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, launched its new Foron® SP-WF, a range of high wet-fast disperse dyes for sportswear and active wear applications, at the ITMA exhibition."

Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, launched its new Foron® SP-WF, a range of high wet-fast disperse dyes for sportswear and active wear applications, at the ITMA exhibition.

The Foron® SP-WF dyes are especially suited for the coloration of polyester fibers and microfibers, and polyester/elastane blends, in exhaustion application.

The Foron® SP-WF dyes were developed in compliance with “The Archroma Way: safe, efficient, enhanced, it’s our nature”. The approach finds its origin in Archroma’s deep belief that it is possible to make the textile industry sustainable, economically and ecologically.

The new product is at the core of Archroma's Fast Sport, a coloration system for polyester knitted sportswear, providing the best fastness in the shortest possible time with a reduced environmental footprint.

The Foron® SP-WF range which includes primary and ternary color grades has been developed to fulfil the high color wet fastness and perf ormance requirements of sportswear manufacturers and brands.

Moreover, the core ternary color grades enable deep shades at lower dyeing temperatures on sensitive polyester/elastane fabrics without causing excessive fiber damage, saving energy resources and meeting the high fastness demand of leading brand companies.

When using Foron® SP-WF dyes as part of the Fast Sport system, manufacturers can in many cases have the potential to significantly reduce their consumption of time, energy, chemical, and water, as well as their CO2 emissions.

"The 15th edition of Interfiliere Shanghai will be launched from September 26-27, 2019 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center in Shanghai. This autumn edition will bring together various professionals from the lingerie, swimwear and sportswear supply chain who will explore a wide range of offerings by Asian and overseas suppliers, from must-have essentials of the season to new innovations and sustainable solutions as well as the possibility of flexible MOQ."

The 15th edition of Interfiliere Shanghai will be launched from September 26-27, 2019 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center in Shanghai. This autumn edition will bring together various professionals from the lingerie, swimwear and sportswear supply chain who will explore a wide range of offerings by Asian and overseas suppliers, from must-have essentials of the season to new innovations and sustainable solutions as well as the possibility of flexible MOQ.

Trend Forum & Prototype Fashion Show

Concepts Paris in collaboration with its suppliers will unveil the Spring/Summer 2021 collection that will showcase latest products from across the globe through prototype fashion shows.

The Green Village

In response to the environmental and ethical issues in the industry, Eurovet presents the Green Village that will publicise the importance of being “Green”, and showcase both existing sustainable solutions and those proposed by the exhibitors.

Asia Young Label Awards

Following its successful debut in Shanghai in 2018, the Young Label Awards encourages upcoming young designers from Asia Pacific, to explore their dreams fearlessly. Brands from the swim, lingerie and activewear categories compete to win a free booth at Unique by Mode City.

The Essence

Over the past years, China has evolved significantly from being the world’s factory to becoming the fastest developing consumer market in the world. The country is witnessing a new class of consumers, who are being encouraged by their growing incomes, new media and technologies. Chinese brands are embracing their own culture besides opening up to a wider and international stage. The Essence curated by Eurovet offers an opportunity to these Chinese brands to speak their own languages and unique stories.

"With many high-end brands retailing in the city, Hong Kong, for nearly two decades, was known as the Shopping Mecca of the world. The city offered the best, the latest and the greatest of European and American fashion. Be it clothing, accessories or electronics, it stocked everything from the world’s most reputed brands like Prada, Chanel Kate, Spade, Gap, H&M, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Gucci and Zara. "

With many high-end brands retailing in the city, Hong Kong, for nearly two decades, was known as the Shopping Mecca of the world. The city offered the best, the latest and the greatest of European and American fashion. Be it clothing, accessories or electronics, it stocked everything from the world’s most reputed brands like Prada, Chanel Kate, Spade, Gap, H&M, Christian Dior, Giorgio Armani, Gucci and Zara. Now, however, trends are changing. European and North American brands are scaling back their expansion plans and exercising more fiscal trends. Taking advantage of this, many Asian brands are filling the market with their products.

The early movers

Two of the earliest entrants into the market include Muji and Uniqlo, the Japanese home ware and casual fashion brand whose presence spans right from the modern Shibuya towers to the 18th century heritage buildings in Barcelona. Of these, Muji is opening a new store in Pacific Place while discount retailer Don Quijot plans to open an outlet in Hong Kong. This outlet will be a part of the brand’s regional expansion plan that also includes Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea and the US. Korean cosmetics brands such as Innisfree, Etude House and 3CE are also opening new shops in several international locations along with Gentle Monster and Line Friends

Joining the brigade

Chinese casual apparel brand Meters/bonwe, tech brand DJI and restaurant chains Haidilao recently opened outlets in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung forayed into Japan, the UK, the US, Thailand, Australia and other markets. Singaporean shoe brand Charles & Keith also opened an outlet in Jakarta, Shanghai and Taipei. The brand already operates more than 300 stores in Indonesia, the Philippines, the UAE, India, South Africa. Michelin-rated diner Putien has launched in Jakarta, Shanghai and Taipei.

Shifting demands and ease of operation facilitates movement

The reasons for this sudden influx of Asian brands into the worldwide markets are many. Prominent amongst them is shifting demands of consumers who constantly seek novelty in their products. Also, it is easier for these brands to open their stores in Asian countries where they already have either a physical or an online presence. As Asian products are known for their cheaper rates than their western equivalents which fits the shifting consumer demands perfectly.

Factors such as proximity and logistics are also boosting demand for Asian products with three of the world’s busiest ports — Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai — on the doorstep making regional expansion a logical choice for these brands. Though there are likely to be many challenges in the way of this expansion, Asia definitely seems to be next destination for many European brands as of now.

Dutch fashion brand G-Star has joined forces with the Swiss chemical company Archroma for the creation of a sustainable new fall collection dubbed ‘Dyed By Nature'. The series spans separates such as jackets, sweatshirts, jeans and T-shirts for men and women, all dyed with natural ingredients such as upcycled saw palmetto leaf leftovers and beetroot waste that the brand promises are "traceable from earth to product." The result is a range of pieces in soft, earthy hues such as tea rose, navy blue and olive green. The collection has been fabricated using materials such as organic and recycled cotton, and Tencel.

The collection is the fruit of an ongoing collaboration between G-Star Raw and EarthColors by Archroma, kickstarted in 2017. It is the latest in several attempts by the brand to focus on environmentally friendly fashion, following on from a 'G-Star RAW for the Oceans' collection made back in 2014 using recycled plastic, and its ongoing ‘Renewed' denim concept -- first launched in 2012 -- that sees jeans given more than one chance at life

Cotton accounts for 51 per cent of the total raw material cost in the Indian textile industry. This puts domestic industry margins under pressure. The cost of raw material inflation can’t be passed on due to subdued consumer demand. Meanwhile, yarn production has been fluctuating over the last six months, although the production average has been maintained. Exports have risen to more than 30 per cent during March 2019. Prices of cotton yarn are co-related to raw cotton prices and thus have seen an upward movement in line with raw cotton prices. Synthetic fabric has seen a gradual revival in demand due to decreased cost of production, which is a function of crude oil prices. Partially-oriented yarn and texturized yarn prices declined by eight per cent and seven per cent month on month.

India’s readymade garment exports have decreased. Removal of tax incentives for exports has made India’s textile goods less competitive vis-à-vis Vietnam and Bangladesh. Decreasing exports and weak consumer sentiments have impacted the industry’s capacity utilisation. But overall apparel production improved by 34 per cent for April 2019 and exports improved by 18 per cent for May 2019. Capital expenditure in textiles has been majorly to replace machines with new technologies and shift to premium/ niche products in the existing line-up.

India’s cotton crop has fallen by around 15 per cent this year mainly because cotton yields have drastically dropped. There were no rains last year in the month of August and September. Most farmers now want to take two or three crops and don’t want to keep cotton plants after December. States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka are facing a huge deficit of rains.

Many textile mills in North India and South India are planning to cut production due to a lack of demand as well as demand-supply imbalances which is severely going to impact margins. Spinning mills which are small do not have facilities to import cotton. That is severely going to affect the margins of the textile industry. The industry has been severely impacted by the US-China tariff war. China is a major importer and exporter of textile products. Logistics costs are about ten per cent of the total cost but they have to be incurred. But a lot of import is still going on.

Cotton prices around the world have come under pressure. In India, prices have dropped to Rs 44,000 a candy compared to Rs 47,000 just ten days ago. Globally, cotton prices are currently ruling at Rs 42,000 a candy.

Vietnam’s revenues from apparel exports to Japan during January to June grew 8.61 per cent from the same time last year. As a large trade partner of Vietnam, Japan is expanding imports for a wide range of products from Vietnam and the garment and textile industry holds huge potential. Vietnam sells shirts, suits, sportswear, children’s clothing and towels to Japan. Vietnam’s textile and garment industry is gearing toward sustainable development through balanced exports to all markets, and that includes Japan that has sound political relations with Vietnam. Many businesses have won contracts to ship products to the market by the end of this year. Besides, Japan was the first market for Vietnamese garments and textiles when the country had not joined the World Trade Organisation.

However, Japan is a market that holds strict standards for imported products. In addition exporters should be well prepared before entering the market due to its complicated distribution system and high costs of trade promotion. Japanese partners place orders for a small quantity of clothing with original designs and require shipments in a very short time. So firms must have sufficient materials to fulfill the contracts. They must improve their fashion design capacity and competitive edge.

Revenues of UK luxury fashion brands and retailers are up 1.9 per cent year on year. Especially, brands founded since 1990, such as Lulu Guinness and Stella McCartney, are the luxury sector’s main driver of growth. Turnover at these luxury businesses has grown at an average rate of seven per cent over the past 12 months compared with 0.7 per cent at fashion brands established prior to World War II.

One reason is that younger businesses put sustainability and e-commerce at the heart of their strategies, which has attracted affluent millennial consumers. These faster-growing businesses are changing the perception that British luxury brands are a little old-fashioned and conservative. On the other hand heritage brands are aiming at being seen as truly elite and developing their online retail offering to appeal to younger consumers.

For most British consumers, the luxury offering is closely tied to tradition and heritage. While they have very broad brand recognition, consumers do not see them as being part of the truly elite group of luxury businesses. Being able to move those brands upmarket and grow sales of higher-margin products is the key target for British heritage brands over the next five to 10years.

An incubation center in Tirupur is promoting production of banana-silk clothing. India happens to be the largest banana producer in the world. Banana fiber was primarily used for making ropes, mats, and some other composite materials. With increasing environmental awareness, and the growing importance of eco-friendly fabrics, the banana fiber is finding application in other fields such as garments and home furnishings. Banana cultivation in a 1000 acre plantation is capable of generating revenue of Rs 16 crores if the fiber is extracted on a large scale and utilized for clothing. Rugs made from banana silk yarn fibers are popular the world over. Banana fiber is also used to make cushion covers, neckties, bags, table cloths, curtains etc. In Japan, it has long been used for making traditional dresses like the kimono. It’s lightweight and comfortable to wear, and is preferred by people in Japan as summer wear.

In fact, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is promoting the use of banana fiber for making handmade paper bags, statues, pen stands and garments. Once the fabrics match the three categories of fineness, softness and durability, fine, soft and durable yarn will be extracted from banana leaves and stitched into clothes.