Versace will merge Versace Jeans and Versus. The merger will allow the company to further develop the Versace Jeans collections and at the same time not to lose the DNA and codes that made Versus so iconic. The Versace Jeans line is expected to hit the market soon.

Versus was first launched in 1989. In 2005, the brand underwent a four-year break, making a return in the fall of 2009. In fall of 2010, Versace teamed with Scottish designer Christopher Kane, who added a youthful, edgy and underground vibe. In 2012, Donatella Versace came out with a younger feel to the brand as a seasonless line focused on a strong digital presence. Capsule collections, co-branding projects and limited editions were undertaken under the Versus moniker with various designers and artists.

Over the past few months, Versace had been looking at ways to simplify the business model and impart a better focus and energy into the brand portfolio so as to continue being innovative and relevant. So the decision was taken to integrate its two contemporary collections into one. Versace was acquired last September by US group Michael Kors. Versace products are distributed via 200 monobrand stores and over 1,500 multibrand retailers worldwide.

The USA imported $3,088.98 million worth of apparels from Canada and Mexico during January to September 2018 period; the countries USA has been doing business with, under NAFTA, since 1994. The USA noted marginal decline of 0.30 per cent in its apparel import under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The import value, during the corresponding period of 2017, stood at $3,098.25 million.

Mexico’s apparel shipments plunged 2.77 per cent to clock in $2,593.53 million, while the figures were $2,667.29 million in the corresponding period last year. On the other hand, Canada got a considerable boost of 14.96 per cent in apparel export to USA with $495.45 million in the review period of 2018.

Mexico’s probably lost out due to the new United States-Mexico Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA 2.0, which came into force in late August this year. It has said to hamper US apparel import in September from Mexico.

India’s apparel exports grew 54 per cent in October 2018 as compared to October 2017. Textiles exports grew 28 per cent. Export of cotton yarn/fabrics/made-ups and handloom products during the period grew 25 per cent compared to October 2017. Export of manmade fabrics/yarn and made-ups during the month grew 31 per cent compared to October 2017. Carpet and handicrafts exports grew 52 per cent and 24 per cent during the month.

There has been a positive trend in exports for the entire textile value chain. The IIP production data for textiles and clothing also witnessed robust year on year growth during September 2018 as compared to September 2017. The textile and apparel industry saw a growth of 5.4 per cent and 20.9 per cent respectively during September 2018.

Growing positive trend shows visible signs of recovery after a difficult period. The industry was under major stress especially after the implementation of GST. The industry wants measures to boost exports and limit imports. Continuous growth in exports and the IIP index would result in boosting employment, scaling up production and most importantly making the ‘Make in India’ initiative a reality for the country’s textile and clothing industry.

United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) President Julia K. Hughes testified during the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s hearing on impact of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA) on U.S. Economy, consumers, and fashion Industry.

Her testimony highlighted the importance of trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the fashion industry, and the need for business continuity in this time of uncertainty in trade policy and expected cost increases. While USFIA is supportive of several key components of the new USMCA—particularly the maintenance of the Tariff Preference Levels (TPLs) and the elimination of the “visible linings” requirement for duty-free treatment—USFIA is nonetheless concerned about the continuation of the yarn-forward rule of origin and the addition of new regulatory requirements.

Hughes believes that the new regulations will make it more expensive and complicated for American brands and retailers to use the agreement. Therefore if US wishes to encourage companies to move their sourcing out of China, it should encourage them to do business with its closest neighbors.

Ted Schneider, President, Cotton Council International (CCI), at the Cotton Sourcing USA Summit in Scottsdale, Ariz introduced the US Cotton Trust Protocol; an integrated data collection, measurement and verification procedure that will document US cotton production practices and their environmental impact. The data is intended to benchmark farmers’ gains towards the industry goals and will provide global textile supply chain additional assurances that US cotton is produced in a responsible manner.

The details of the Protocol are being fine-tuned, and a pilot program will be launched in 2019 and fully implemented with the 2020 cotton crop year. Participating growers would be required to adopt a data tool that allows for the quantitative measurement of key sustainability metrics, such as the FieldPrint Platform from field to market.

Growers would complete a self-assessment checklist of best management practices; with a sampling of participating producers subjected to independent verification. The online interface and associated databases are currently being developed by a Memphis-based company The Seam.

The Valsad and Umbergaon power loom clusters have submitted a representation to the state government for granting of subsidy for electricity tariff on the lines of Maharashtra. The Umbergaon GIDC has 100 textile weaving units employing 15,000 workers directly producing shirting and suiting fabrics. Majority of units have been set up by the Mumbai-based industrialists and now they are facing stiff competition due to low power tariff in Bhiwandi and Tarapur in Maharashtra.

The Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA) has been representing the Gujarat government from the last two months for the reduction of power tariff in the new textile policy. The prime reason for reduction in power tariff is to stop the power loom weavers from shifting base from Surat and South Gujarat to neighbouring Maharashtra. According to industry association, the average per unit electricity tariff for industries in Gujarat comes at Rs 7.10, whereas it is Rs 3.54 per unit in Maharashtra.

Monforts technology is behind many denim innovations. As an alternative to conventional padding, especially for wet-in-wet solutions, the Monforts eco applicator can significantly reduce the thermal energy required for drying prior to the stretching and skewing of the denim fabric.

The ability of the eco applicator to significantly reduce energy costs has seen it rapidly accepted on the market. It slashes a company’s denim finishing costs. Monforts is now going a stage further in addressing resource efficiency by combining the eco applicator with its thermo stretch unit in the latest eco line concept.

The Monforts thermo stretch unit carries out the skewing (weft straightening), stretching and drying in a continuous process. The eco line system reduces energy requirements and losses, increases thermal transfer and keeps the drying energy on the textile material longer. As a result, energy savings of up to 50 per cent can be achieved. Exhaust air energy can also be reduced to a minimum, which has a positive effect on the emission load into the atmosphere.

Arvind recently installed India’s first integrated Monforts eco line which can handle fabric widths of 1.8 meters and operate at high speeds of up to 80 meters a minute. Monforts plans to introduce further innovations for denim during 2019.

Ifema is reorganising its fashion and footwear trade shows. Its global sector event will be renamed as Momad (the abbreviation of Moda en Madrid, or Fashion in Madrid in English) and bring together Momad Metropolis and Momad Shoes into a unified whole. The first edition of the new concept will be held at Feria de Madrid from February 8-10, 2019.

The new version of Momad will also welcome shoe manufacturers and brands, which will be presented alongside clothing and accessories exhibitors. And brands with an interest in attending both events will be able to do so for a special price. Momad will coincide with Bisutex, MadridJoya and Intergift in order to create synergies between all the events and attract the largest number possible of exhibitors and visitors.

On October, 17, 2018 the institution announced ShoesRoom by Momad, a new showroom format to replace Momad Shoes. The first edition will take place in La N@ve, an industrial site close to the centre of Madrid, on March 01-03, 2019.

Meghalaya recently operationalised its largest apparel manufacturing unit owned by the School of Livelihood and Rural Development (SLRD), the unit was originally set up in 2017 by the Union Ministry of Textiles, , and has remained idle since then. Covering an area of 45,000 sq. ft, the unit has three divisions. Two of them accommodate 105 sewing machines each, while the third division is equipped with 70 machines. It is expected that the unit will create 1,500 jobs in the region.

The unit was set up at South West Garo Hills district under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), an umbrella scheme for the development of various segments of textiles such as silk, handloom, handicrafts and apparels. Production at the unit has begun and will be ramped up in stages to meet the market demand in India and Bangladesh.

The retail industry has expressed concern that the proposed Brexit deal may not pass through Parliament, extending uncertainty for business. In case the deal is not passed, the UK would immediately leave the single market and customs union, and revert to the World Trade Organization rules, under which tariffs would be levied on imported goods from the EU.

Despite Prime Minister Theresa May announcing a draft agreement had been backed by the cabinet, the government has been in turmoil since. Seven politicians have resigned in protest at the proposal, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and pensions secretary Esther McVey. Several MPs are calling for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. The fallout is prompting speculation that the current draft will not pass the vote, which is expected to take place on 7 December, and increase the risk of a no-deal Brexit.