Tech is revolutionizing how apparel is made, sold, and worn. Shoppers expect their in-store experiences to be just as seamless as online shopping, which places significant pressure on retailers to deliver.

Augmented reality mirrors are changing the way consumers try on clothes. A person can stand in the mirror and get to see what the apparel is going to look like. Not only does this save time and help them to visualize the fashion, it eliminates the need to try on clothing that hasn’t been cleaned or has been tried on by many people.

Retail workers with access to options such as enterprise mobile computers, tablets, and RFID tags can better move customers through a sale. Much like consumers would use their phones to glean product information or availability prior to visiting a store, store associates equipped with enterprise mobile computers and tablets can instantly access product information, inventory data and more — allowing them to provide customers with a higher level of service on the sales floor without leaving their side.

A smart shoe paired with an app to adjust for fit can remember, via a paired app, how tight or loose a person prefers their footwear — not just one setting, but in different situations like warm-ups, gameplay and while resting on the bench.

International Cotton Advisory Committee forecasts world cotton consumption to reach a record high level of 27.3 million tonne in 2019-20. This is an increase of 1.4 per cent compared to the previous season. Global production, during the period, will increase to 27.6 million tonnes, an increase of 5.7 per cent compared to the previous season. This forecast is supported by a six percent rise in global yields to 817 Kg/ha.

The ICAC says price model, the Cotlook A Index will average 81.25 cents per pound in the upcoming season. The Cotlook A Index reflects the price movements of raw cotton, with a focus on deliveries in Asia. The ICAC’s projection would be lower than the Cotlook A Index of 88 cents/lb in 2018/19 and 83 cents/lb in 2017/18. The CIF Bremen price index for cotton on the European northern continent stood at 88.85 US cents/lb on 3 April. The CIF Bremen index reflects the daily value of cotton and is published by the ‘Committee for Standards, for the Determination of Value Differences and for Price Quotations’ at the Bremen Cotton Exchange.

Increases in worldwide acreage and production are also expected in 2019/20 as farmers, especially in the United States, China, India and Pakistan respond to favorable cotton prices compared to competing crops.

Taiwan’s textile industry has for many years supplied innovative solutions to many of the world’s leading sports and outdoor brands. Every major brand in the world depends on Taiwan for leadership in textile development, innovation and quality. As one of the leaders in chemical fiber, Taiwan has developed various functional and eco-friendly textiles for the global market, thereby being recognized as an international sourcing hub. After more than 60 years of development Taiwan's textile industry has evolved from a mass production textile supplier to a textile innovator equipped with a comprehensive yet integrated value chain.

While traditional textiles still have an important share in Taiwan’s textile output, the extraordinary performance achieved by local enterprises in the field of eco and multifunctional textiles has redefined Taiwan’s status in the global textile market place.

The Taiwanese textile industry has developed environmentally-friendly concepts and done recycled polymer and polymer blends. From yarns for apparel to industrial and sport accessories, recycled yarns are growing in importance and are a core part of Taiwan’s textile industry. Mixtures of new technologies and fashion allow new design elements that were hard to imagine in the past. Polymer based yarn developments in polyester, nylon, recycled and blended with natural fibers lead the way.

The Denim Show will be held in New Delhi from August 10 to 12, 2019. This is a platform for suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, designers and other stakeholders in the denim and allied industries. Prominent denim manufacturers like Ginni, Oswal, Jindal Textiles, Raymond UCO, Arvind, Reliance, Mafatlal will exhibit their products. Exhibitors will get the opportunity to present their latest innovations to the target clientele, which will help them in generating leads and closures within a short time. The presence of the who’s who of the industry ensures that the event attracts the right kind of audience. Besides catering to the needs of exhibitors, it also offers an excellent opportunity for visitors to take a glance at changes happening in the methods of denim manufacturing and understand how to overcome the challenges faced by the industry as a whole. It has, thus, become a one-stop shop where the entire denim fraternity can assemble to promote, witness and study the latest innovations in engineering.

This year, the show will be more special as apart from promoting new denim manufacturing solutions it will also emphasise on the concept of circularity in the denim industry. There will be a focus on eco-friendly technology and processes, and allow various stakeholders to give their valued insights for the benefit for the entire industry.

Kandla Special Economic Zone, based in Gujarat, has given Huntsman Textile Effects an award for the export of dyes, chemicals and digital inks. Huntsman Textile Effects, a global provider of high quality dyes, chemicals and digital inks, was awarded under the service and trading category for timely execution of exports, error-free documentation and on-time post-shipment formalities. The company has a warehousing facility in Gujarat. The facility is a consolidation hub and has an export capacity of 400 metric tons a month. The warehouse was previously recognized by the Kandla Special Economic Zone in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The top ten units of the zone are awarded in various categories such as manufacturing, trading, job works and export services, among others.

With operations in more than 90 countries and six primary manufacturing facilities in six countries (China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Thailand), Huntsman Textile Effects uses cutting edge technology to develop solutions and create innovative products with intelligent effects such as durable water repellents, color fastness, sun protection or state-of-the-art dyes which reduce water and energy consumption.

Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals. Its chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets.

Fast Fashion giant H&M plans to expand operations by adding 175 new stores to its network in 2019. Most of these stores will open in growth markets, while its number of stores in Europe is expected to reduce by 50. The brand also plans to create fast, efficient flexible product flow in the supply chain by including initiatives within advanced data analytics and AI. It will invest in various technology platforms and create new digital markets.

The first quarter results of H&M giant exceeded expectations on both profit and margin. The global retailer’s pre-tax profit was noted to be 1.04 billion Swedish crowns (A$157.58 billion) for the quarter spanning December 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019. This was well ahead of $708 million expected by the analysts. The brand’s gross margin increased 49.9 per cent to 50.0 per cent. Sales improved in many of its online and offline markets, including Sweden which grew by 11 per cent, the UK by 8 per cent, Poland by 15 per cent, China by 16 per cent and India by 42 per cent in local currencies.

H&M has been trying to improve its online offering by launching e-commerce sites in new markets, integrating digital and physical stores and providing faster delivery options. The retailer will also launch an upgraded loyalty programme shortly.

Groz-Beckert, a leading supplier of industrial machine needles, will exhibit its comprehensive product and service portfolio in the knitting, weaving, felting, carding and sewing product areas at the upcoming Techtextil and Texprocess trade fairs in Frankfurt. These fairs, to be held from May 14-17, 2019 in Frankfurt will focus on the trend theme Urban Living – City of the Future.

In knitting, Groz-Beckert will exhibit its portfolio of circular knit, legwear, knitwear and flat knitwear. It will focus on system solutions – precisely coordinated system components that enable smooth interaction and are designed to ensure uniform appearance of the goods and increased process reliability.

The company will also offer needles in new intricacies – including coated needles. It will display additional needle types in the patented litespeed plus version and new system components.

In weaving products, the company will exhibit its products for weaving preparation and weaving accessories. In addition, its stand will offer both special healds and new insights into monofilament. Another highlight of the stand will be the 3D print model of the staple fiber needling line (SVL).

Within the traditional nonwovens segment, Groz-Beckert will present details of the patented shape of working part of its Gebecon felting needle at the trade fair stand using a man-sized needle exhibit.

In sewing products Groz-Beckert will present various special application needles that increase the process reliability and productivity. In addition to the SAN 5.2 and SAN 6, the company will also introduce the redesigned SAN 10 XS special application needle. The sewing area will collaborate with INH (Ideal Needle Handling) quality management to help customers handle sewing machine needles besides providing a digital solution for documenting needle breaks.

Vietnam expects that with the Comprehensive and Progressive agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) its exports of garments and leather shoes to Canada will rise.

The 16 per cent to 17 per cent import duties on garment and textiles will vanish in four years while the 18 per cent import duties on leather shoes will be reduced to zero in seven to 11 years. Under the trade pact, Canada has pledged to remove 94.5 per cent of tax lines levied on Vietnamese products, and after four years, Vietnam will be exempt from some 96.3 per cent of the tax lines.

Canada offers great prospects for Vietnamese exports like garments and textiles, leather shoes and seafood. The country is an important bridge for Vietnamese firms to expand their markets in America. Demand for Asian food has been rising in Canada due to the increase in the population of Asian-Canadian people.

Trade links between Canada and Vietnam have improved after they joined the CPTPP. In the first two months of 2019, Vietnam’s exports to Canada were up 36.6 per cent year on year. The CPTPP comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam that altogether make up 13.5 per cent of global GDP.

Filo will be held in Italy from September 25 to 26, 2019. The yarn and fiber show will carry forward the FiloFlow sustainability project introduced in February 2019. This is aimed at increasing the sensitivity of companies toward the implementation of sustainable textile production processes.

Concreteness, professionalism, quality and efficiency are the four guidelines of the exhibition. Filo is a business platform where professionals from all over the world meet selected Italian and international companies. The first phase of FiloFlow includes a sheet that all Filo’s exhibitors will receive. The sheet collects information about the company (type, dimension, reports and communications with the stakeholders) and about production practices: raw materials that are used, supply chain’s traceability, energetic consumption, chemical management, waste management, environmental monitoring and implication for ethical and social activities. Participation of the companies in the project is voluntary and is based on self-certification. Companies which meet the required characteristics will be distinguished with the brand FiloFlow. Some of the products will be exhibited in the sustainability area of the show.

Filo organizes many events – both formal and informal – aimed at matching yarn and fiber demand and supply. The layout is efficient and rational, giving visitors a complete view of products from the exhibiting companies.

Factory audit compliance can improve transparency and cut costs for apparel manufacturers in Bangladesh who supply to the world’s leading brands. At present, factory owners in sourcing countries such as Bangladesh face an onerous number of audits from different apparel brands and retailers, most of them gathering the same information.

Audit information can be shared across all brands within one central database. Multiple factory checks and audit fatigue is a serious issue for suppliers. Greater transparency from brands, including improving information on staple clothing items such as jeans and T-shirts, can also help. At the moment the public is in the dark on such issues.

Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry has witnessed an unprecedented overhaul since the Rana Plaza disaster. Factories are adopting various safety initiatives and making their safety reports publicly available, which is unique in the global apparel supply chain. Third parties are auditing factories in a transparent procedure to check social compliance. Safety hotlines have enabled workers to register their concerns in the most transparent way. However transparency itself cannot be sustainable if buyers don’t make their business processes transparent. Cheap price of clothing was a key contributor to the Rana Plaza accident as suppliers cut corners to meet the requirements of buyers.