Volcom is a sports and lifestyle brand. It was acquired by Kering in 2011. The sale follows Kering’s decision to focus on the development of its luxury houses. The disposal will not have a material impact at the group level, either in terms of net result from discontinued operations (a non-significant capital loss) or cash flow (proceeds from disposal).

Kering manages the development of a series of renowned houses in fashion, leather goods, jewelry and watches like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. By placing creativity at the heart of its strategy, Kering enables its brands to set new limits in terms of its creative expression while crafting tomorrow’s luxury in a sustainable and responsible way. Kering is enhancing its omni-channel capabilities. Kering is working on a suite of apps, the first of which is a store experience app that enables sales associates in-store to access stock levels in real time to provide their customers with a fully personalized service. Via the app, sales associates know instantly if a specific size or color is available in-store or if it can be ordered from other stores; they can also give customized styling recommendations.

India’s apparel exports are estimated to fall by four per cent or five per cent this year. Though exporters are targeting new countries, India has not been able to capitalise on the opportunity, mainly because of the cost advantage enjoyed by Bangladesh and Vietnam. The problem is further compounded by increasing competition from other exporting nations such as Cambodia and Bangladesh which enjoy lower labor costs than India. Demand from key import markets such as the Middle East, France, Sri Lanka and Sudan has been continuously on the decline in recent months. Exports have fallen between 16 per cent and 49 per cent.

Tamil Nadu is India’s biggest apparel exporter, followed by Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and Punjab. These five states account for over 92 per cent of India’s apparel exports. The major exporting countries are the US, the EU (mostly Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands), the UK, and the UAE. These four markets import 75 per cent of India’s apparel shipments. Markets that have seen an increase in demand for Indian apparels in the past two years include the US, UK, Japan, Chile and Israel. Overall, exports in these markets have risen between 23 per cent and 51 per cent.

The most promising new names on the Chinese fashion scene will star next June in Florence at Pitti Uomo 96’s guest nation project, promoted by the Pitti Immagine Discovery Foundation in collaboration with the Shanghai Fashion Week. The project will showcase 11 Chinese designers, and culminate in a show by the creative duo in charge of Chinese label Pronounce, Yushan Li and Jun Zhou, also featuring on the catwalk a deconstructed version of the Converse Jack Purcell sneakers.

For the occasion, Pitti Uomo will also host an exhibition by Leslie Zhang, one of China’s foremost fashion photographers. The 11 labels taking part in the guest nation project are 8on8 by designer Gong Li, who was awarded a Grand Prix LVMH Scholarship, Danshan, Ffixxed Studios, Junwei Lin, Percy Lau, Private Policy, Pronounce, Samuel Guì Yang, Staffonly, The Flocks and Untitlab.

Brazil is promoting its apparel and textile industry in Mexico through a series of roadshows. Executives from Brazilian companies like Dohler, Scanone, Ober, Suominen and Fibertex are meeting companies in the cities of León, Aguascalientes, Guadalajara, Puebla, Monterrei and Mexico City.

The trade mission is aimed at companies in the technical fabrics and nonwoven fabrics segments. Mexico happens to be a market with lots of potential since there are very developed technical fabric and nonwoven fabric industries, such as footwear, civil construction, automobiles and more. The roadshow is being held from April 1 to 4, 2019 and being organized by Texbrasil (Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program), a partnership between the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency and the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association.

Brazil’s apparel market is expanding at a substantial CAGR. Brazil is one of the largest exporters of apparel and fashionable goods. Arab countries are some of the largest importers of apparels and textiles from Brazil. The United Arab Emirates accounts for the highest imports from Brazil, followed by Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco. Advanced techniques used in manufacturing helps manufacturers meet the demand from various countries. With the recovering economy, the apparel industry is expected to rebound over the coming years.

The safety of workers making clothing for global brands like Adidas and H&M could be at risk if Bangladesh's Supreme Court moves orders a factory inspection mechanism set up by European fashion labels to shut down. The government has shown a shocking level of unreadiness to take over from the Bangladesh Accord — signed by about 200 major brands and unions after the 2013 Rana Plaza disaster — including Clean Clothes Campaign.

Bangladesh, the world's second-largest garment producer, is capable of monitoring the country's thousands of factories through its Remediation Coordination Cell (RCC), which is currently responsible for the safety of 745 factories.

Worker safety has come under scrutiny in Bangladesh after the Rana Plaza factory collapsed, killing about 1,100 people, and putting big brands under pressure to ensure their products are responsibly sourced.

The Supreme Court is considering an appeal by the Accord against a ruling last year which ordered it to shut down, following a petition by a factory owner who was prevented from working with Accord brands and accused of false test results. None of 745 factories under the government's RCC inspectors has eliminated high-risk hazards — such as lockable exits that could trap workers during a fire — identified at least three years ago.

The Clean Clothes Campaign report said that Accord had banned 114 critically unsafe factories from supplying its signatory buyers, but half of these facilities remain open under the government's inspection program.

American Apparel’s latest women’s jeans styles include a non-stretch cropped wide leg jeans, a super skinny jean with two-way stretch, a stretch pencil jean and a button flare jean. The brand’s core item, 100 per cent cotton high-waisted mom jeans, are offered in an array of vintage-inspired washes like rainbow wash, pink tinted wash and marble blue wash. The women’s assortment also offers high-waisted cuffed shorts, a button-front A-line mini skirt and an American Apparel signature—denim hot shorts—in sizes XS-XL. For men, American Apparel offers skinny, slim and straight fit jeans in classic light, dark and black washes.

American Apparel first introduced denim to its line-up of US-made basics in 2011 using similar 14 oz. 100 per cent cotton fabrications that’s prominently featured in the new collection. Other brands offering extended size ranges include DL 1961, Reformation and Forever 21.

American Apparel at one time underwent a series of setbacks, including the removal of its controversial founder Dov Charney from his CEO position and bankruptcy in 2014. Gildan Activewear acquired the company in 2017 and relaunched the brand the following year with a message that emphasizes on quality and comfort.

Accounting for over 82 per cent of total global retail ecommerce sales, the top five retail ecommerce markets will reach roughly $3.563 trillion this year. These markets will represent more than 85 per cent of worldwide retail ecommerce sales by the end of 2022.

Topping this list will be China, whose retail e-commerce sales will grow over 30 per cent to reach nearly $2 trillion in 2019. The second spot will be occupied by the USA, whose retail ecommerce market will reach $600.63 billion in sales. The UK sales will reach $137.08 billion while the retail ecommerce sales growth in Japan and South Korea will increase by 4.0 per cent and 11.1 per cent respectively.

The current share of each of these countries' is influenced by their growth in exports, as well as heavily entrenched methods for online payments—Alibaba with Alipay in China, Amazon with high credit card use in the US, and Rakuten with Rakuten Pay in Japan. Additionally, the continued expansion of luxury goods being sold online has played a supporting role.

Factors driving growth in each country

Driven predominantly by increasing use of online shopping in rural areas and rising income, China, with 55.8 per cent, has the highest share of ecommerce retail sales worldwide. This is partly due to its large population (1.4 billion) and the explosive growth of middle class. The country’s ecommerce landscape is dotted with powerful pure-play etailers like Alibaba and JD.com, as well as traditionally offline players such as Suning and Gome.

High-performing retail ecommerce categories like computer and consumer electronics as well as apparel and accessories drives growth in the US e-commerce market. This year, computer and consumer electronics will account for 21.7 per cent of total retail ecommerce sales. Apparel and accessories category will increase 20.4 per cent to $122.76 billion. By the end of the forecast period, computer/consumer electronics and apparel/accessories will reach $190.31 billion and $181.20 billion in sales, respectively.

The UK sales growth will be driven by Amazon’s burgeoning presence in the country’s neighboring markets. The platform's sales will ultimately benefit overall consumerism in the UK. Prime will be at the core of Amazon’s European expansion. As per Periscope by McKinsey, more than half internet users in Italy, Germany and the UK have a Prime account as of July 2018.

With 4.0 per cent growth, Japan will be the smallest of the top five retail ecommerce markets, largely because of the country's slower domestic demand from its aging population. However, the country’s increasing exports are likely to push retail e-commerce growth.

With domestic demand-based limitations similar to those in Japan, South Korea can expect continued growth in exports to its Southeast Asian neighbors. This will occur as incomes rise in these countries and buyers become more comfortable with online shopping.

Ecommerce will thus continue to represent higher and higher share of retail spending as rising incomes will to fuel online shoppers’ appetite for more expensive goods.

The global viscose staple fiber market is growing at a CAGR of 5.79 per cent. Viscose staple fibers or artificial cotton fibers are natural and biodegradable. These fibers are obtained from wood pulp and cotton pulp, which share the characteristics of cotton fibers. These are versatile and easily bendable fibers and have a wide range of application in apparels, home textiles, home furnishings, dress materials, and woven and knitwear.

One of the factors driving market growth is the growing demand for apparels and clothing. The rising demand from the textile and apparel, non-woven, and specialty manufacturing sectors has also hugely attributed to the growth of the market. Woven segment dominates the global market with a 80 per cent share. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 65 per cent market share. Asia-Pacific, the largest market for woven fabrics, is witnessing a healthy growth due to the increasing demand in countries like India and China. Small regions, such as Bangladesh, have witnessed an increase in population and living standards, driving up demand for knitted fabrics. China is the largest producer and consumer of viscose staple fiber in the world. The country accounts for 65 per cent of the total world production of viscose staple fiber.

US exports of fiber, textiles and apparel were up 5.4 per cent in 2018. Investment in fiber, yarn, fabric and other non-apparel textile product manufacturing was up 79 per cent compared to 2009, when industry production began a slow turnaround.

With its productivity, flexibility and innovation, the US textile industry has cemented its position in the global market. The United States is especially well-positioned globally in the fiber, yarn, fabric and non-apparel sewn products markets. It is the second largest individual country exporter of these products. Shipments to the countries of former North American Free Trade Agreement and the Central American Free Trade Agreement account for 47.5 per cent of textile supply chain exports. The US textile industry’s commitment to capital re-investment and a continued emphasis on quality and innovation makes it well-positioned to adapt to market changes and take advantage of opportunities as 2019 moves along.

Employment in the textile and apparel supply chain rose in 2018 as compared to the prior year. This came even though factories have become more automated, and many jobs have been converting to technology-oriented positions sometimes not even classified as textile or apparel jobs from more hands-on spots like sewing machine operators.

Heimtextil will take place in Germany, January 7 to 10, 2020. This is a trade fair for home and contract textiles. Amsterdam-based Stijlinstituut is conceptualizing and implementing the trend book at the trade fair. Over two days, on March 20 and 21, 2019, trend researchers brought together the relevant trends from architecture, interior design, fashion and art and discussed their impact on home and contract textiles. Particularly striking this year was the broad range and wealth of inspirations and exemplary projects, which, despite their apparent diversity, combined to form a coherent overarching trend story. Stijlinstituut Amsterdam will use the result achieved together to determine five design orientations over the coming months that will be staged in a tangible way for the industry and illustrated by products presented by Heimtextil exhibitors.

Heimtextil trends 20/21 will be supplemented by a materials library that will present innovative, sustainable materials and demonstrate their specific potential for the industry and interior design. The Heimtextil trend book, which will be available from September via Heimtextil, and the high-quality trend space during the fair will provide concrete illustrations of the trends with regard to themes, colors, materials, textures and patterns.