The Garment Technology Expo (GTE) 2018, held from January 19 to 22 at NSIC Complex, New Delhi, concluded on a positive note for both visitors and technology suppliers who displayed latest innovations.

On Day 4, despite being the start of the week, people came in huge numbers to make the 26th edition of the GTE a huge success. Industry leaders including G S Madan, M D, Madan Trading Company, Delhi; domestic brand and manufacturer Harjot Takkar, Director, Sahib Textiles (Tacfab), Sonepat; Consultant Pooja Makhija, Director, Fashion Futures, Delhi; and pattern services provider Shri Niwas Sharma, Director, Apparel Solutions, Delhi were present.

G S Madan explored automation in all segments from cutting to stitching and finishing, “As the industry is still on oxygen, the only way to survive is to adopt automation as much as possible so that we can reduce workforce and minimise cost,” he observed.

Technical and PD teams of various companies also shared upcoming developments. Nikita Gupta, Merchandise Manager, Sreepriya Exports, Kolkata opined her company is installing CAD systems and has recently started working on the lean project to boost efficiency. The key attraction at the fair was technology, the display of machine-to-machine communication systems powered by several tech companies like Juki, Jack, Hikari, Duerkopp Adler and Brother.

The display of Pick and Place heat seal machine by Cheran was much appreciated. The machine reduces the time of tag attachment in the garment by replacing conventional stitching with automatic sticker attachment. ‘Shirt Automation’ by Italian pioneer MAICA drew crowds at its stall. MAICA displayed ‘UAM 04’, an automatic placket attachment machine.

Digital printing was showcased by India-based ColorJet, which presented digital printer TXF at the fair. The printer offers speed of up to 24 sq. mt. per hour and can achieve print resolutions of up to 1,440 DPI. The company has ambitious plans in place to expand in apparel manufacturing hubs like Bangladesh and Vietnam. And as Smarth Bansal, Brand Manager, Colorjet points explained, “India is already our stronghold and now we are looking to capitalise on the lucrative opportunities in other emerging countries. We are looking to collaborate with local partners, especially in Vietnam.”

Aimed at increasing productivity, efficiency and creating an ecosystem of smart factories in India, the 26th Garment Technology Expo 2018, attracted about 350 companies and more than 21,000 visitors. The annual Garment Technology Expo’s is the flagship event of GTE New Delhi and is held in spring. This is Indian subcontinent’s largest show for apparel technology.

But what was really a star attraction in this edition was the ‘Apparel 4.0’ conference held on the second day of GTE. ‘Apparel 4.0’ is an interpretation and application of Industrial Revolution 4.0 in the apparel technology and apparel manufacturing sectors across the supply chain. The day-long conference was jointly organised by DFU Publications was aimed at educating the industry on how Apparel 4.0 is shaping and transforming the global fashion and apparel business. The discussions got a tremendous response and appreciation from industry stakeholders.

The conference was attended by distinguished stakeholders and experts from the industry who discussed major challenges the industry is facing in today's digital marketplace and how to identify them and what practical steps companies can take to digitize their value chain. H KL Magu, Chairman, AEPC, was the chief guest and inaugurated the conference in the presence of Zhang Min, Chairman, ShangGong Group, who also was the guest of honour. The opening remarks were offered by Sanjay Chawla, Founder, DFU Publications & FashionatingWorld. Speaking on the occasion, HKL Magu, spoke about the possibilities of adapting Apparel 4.0 in India especially with focus on export and what steps the Indian garmenting sector can take to be competitive in the global space.

Other well known experts who spoke on the occasion were: Mike Fralix, President and CEO, TC2, USA, Dietrich Eichoff, CEO & Chairman, Duerkopp Adler, Germany, Samath Fernando, CIO, Hirdaramani Group ,Sri Lanka , Darlie Koshy, Director General , ATDC, Prabir Jana, Head Research, NIFT Delhi and Ricky Sahni , Organiser GTE, among others.

Mike Fralix spoke on how millennials are disrupting the fashion supply chain, and technology is leading the Apparel 4,0; the introduction of sewbots and the resurgence of robotic systems in apparel making. Fralix also talked about the big shift taking place in the global garmenting market and how India being a resourceful country can take advantage of rising demand in the domestic and international market. Prabir Jana spoke on how the global apparel industry is moving fast towards adapting Apparel 4.0 and how China is emerging among the frontrunners. China over the years has become one of the fastest adapters of technology and the factory ecosystem is changing fast in the country.

Samath Fernando, stressed on the need of using cutting edge technology and how being technological sound can bring a big transformation in the entire sector. He also spoke on the efforts made by him towards technological improvement in his group and across Sri Lanka.

A panel discussion on Opportunities and Challenges for implementation of Apparel 4.0 in India was also a part of the conference. Rajesh Bheda of RBC, was the moderator with Darlie Koshy, DG, ATDC as session chairman, Raja N Shanmugam, TEA President, J D Giri, Shahi Exports, Sudhir Sekhri, GEA, R C Kesar, OGTC, Gunish Jain, Royal Datamatic, Vinod Aiyer, Fortuna Colours among the panellists. The discussions revolved around digitalization of apparel manufacturing processes, from design to production, creating a new organization and factory ecosystems, increasing flexible with optimized resources and smart factories.

Italian entrepreneur Silvio Albini, 61, was found dead unexpectedly in his house in Bergamo. His death was probably due to a stroke. Albini managed Cotonoficio Albini — the fine quality shirting manufacturing company that employs over 1,400 people and registers over €147 million in annual sales.

His company, founded in 1876, celebrated its 140thanniversary in 2016 and is led today by the fifth generation of his family.

The entrepreneur,who had been president of the Italian textile show Milano Unica and vice president of the Bergamo association of entrepreneurs, strongly believed in the importance of promoting and supporting Made in Italy products.

He had recently started a series of initiatives targeted at expanding his group’s presence in the smart casual segment through its own Albiate 1830 company and a collaboration project started with Candiani Denim designed by Matias Sandoval.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said recently that automation could render about two thirds of jobs in the developing world redundant. An ILO report on Textile and Clothing Sector in ASEAN states the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sector is at the highest risk of losing jobs to automation. Reports suggest Raymond will be firing 10,000 workers across its 16 manufacturing units in India. These workers will be replaced by robots in around three years

Adidas, in 2016, successfully tested an automated shoe factory, ‘Speedfactory’, using 3D technology and robotics. Under consideration is another automated plant in the US as well as its newest factory in 2018 in Arkansas which will house autonomous robots — and their human supervisors— will be able to daily manufacture 8,00,000 sports shirts.

Texprocess, a major trade fair for the international garment-manufacturing and textile processing industry, put on display a Digital Textile Micro Factory at its May 2017 show in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a live demonstration of an integrated production chain for apparel right from the design stage to digital printing to automated cutting to sewing.

The threat from automation is real and developing countries such as Bangladesh cannot escape this threat as “we service the same brands that will demand higher productivity, lower cost, lower carbon footprint, better working condition, quicker turnaround time, and flexibility” said an industry expert.

In Bangladesh, over four million workers in the garment industry are earning over 82 per cent of the nation's overall export income. The main ‘product’ of Bangladesh is the labour of the millions who take raw textiles and turn them into finished garments, however, much of this labour is concentrated in the final phase of production before shipping known as ‘Cut and Sew — the same process that Western innovation is working to automate. The question now is for how long Bangladesh can sustain production on the ‘low labour cost” advantage? A fiscal rethink may soon be necessary if the wave of automation causes large numbers of job losses. Then making the robot pay tax and using the money to retrain humans may be a solution to a problem.

Eco Fashion Week, a Vancouver-founded, not-for-profit event that highlights environmentally friendly designers and garments, has canceled its 13th edition for 2018 and will not move forward with additional shows. Following eight years and 12 editions, the fashion event dedicated to showcasing and promoting sustainable practices in the fashion industry, has canceled its 13th edition indefinitely.

Organizers of the Vancouver and Seattle-based non-profit event noted a lack of support, which made it increasingly hard to produce a sustainable event that its volunteers could properly organize. Founded in 2010, EFW offered a platform for 160-plus environmentally minded designers and labels from over 15 countries, including Vancouver’s own Mishel Bouillet, Obakki, and Bianca Bellatoni. It brought together 100 speakers and 80 vendors as part of its panel discussions, which saw figures like Esther Speck, vice president of global sustainability at Lululemon; local designers John Fluevog and Nicole Bridger; and Tony Shumpert, vice president of reuse and recycling at Value Village, converging in Vancouver to address how we can more sustainably produce, reuse, and dispose of clothing.

Although EFW is bowing out of Vancouver’s fashion circuit, Laroche hopes that designers, retailers, and consumers alike will continue to re-evaluate their own manufacturing and consumption habits.

Comfort, performance and luxury are key elements for Trident’s new sheet launches at Heimtextil this week. Trident’s new generation wrinkle-free finishing, creating a super soft sheet combined with comfort features such as moisture management and breathability. Air Rich yarn makes the sheeting soft and smooth. The collection was developed using a special technology that adds to the strength and the luxurious look also provide a smooth drape that lasts through multiple washings.

The Tetra Fine ultimate performance sheet provides an all-in-one offering of four key attributes: Moisture management, quick dry comfort, anti-pilling and wrinkle resistance.

NectarSoft is finished with a unique yarn and fabric treatment that helps remove weak cotton tendrils. The result is a lustrous, internally smooth and ultra-soft sheet with a graceful drape.

Hyde Park is a pure luxury collection made of 100 per cent Egyptian cotton. High 500-count construction provides strength and lustrous sateen weave. The brand is introducing products that enhance one’s bath experience with premium blends and innovation in yarn construction in their towel range.

The company in a statement said, “Today, the definition of luxury is focused more on our personal quality of life. Luxury, in its new context, is the enjoyment of the best in life.” Durasoft employs a unique innovation in spinning to create a luxuriously soft, absorbent towel with high resilience and minimal linting. Plush and thick from the start, the towels get softer and better with time. Their Tender Touch collection is crafted from a plush blend of luxury cotton, silk and Lenzing Tencel. The towels are breathable and more absorbent than a typical luxury towel as well as lustrous and silky soft. Using the mill’s Twist Management technology, the Feather Touch collection offers an extremely subtle feel as well as its eco-friendly attributes. This super thick and thirsty three-ply construction “takes our technology to the next level of luxury and sophistication,” the company said.

For the Stellar collection, Cashmere is intimately blended with cotton to produce a yarn that's naturally strong and traps moisture with a uniquely soft hand and luxurious appearance.

The North American market remains Trident’s largest trade area and it is expanding in Canada and Latin America. In addition, the company is putting a major focus on warehousing and drop ship this year as well as enhancing its design, product development and sales team in the US.

Target’s new denim collection, Universal Thread, is working towards becoming a one-stop shop for jeans with over 100 pieces from sizes 00 to 26W under $40. The collection is part of Target’s portfolio building initiative to roll out over 12 new, Target-only brands with unique points of view.

Universal Thread provides solution for a number of women’s fit problems with contoured waistbands, added back-rise coverage and slimming fabrics, while tackling the challenge of creating sustainable yet affordable denim. Select styles are made from recycled cotton. Jeggings are finished using Kitotex, a technology that uses Chitosan in the dyeing process to help reduce water, chemicals and energy consumption. A portion of the jeans have pockets made with Repreve polyester made from recycled plastic bottles.

The brand’s tagline is ‘the denim collection that’s true to you.’ Universal Thread uses a youthful and minimalistic aesthetic based on classics. Denim is coupled with baseball caps, silk kerchiefs, tees and natural leather handbags—similar to the accessible yet stylised looks that helped Madewell come to the fore.

The collection offers an encyclopedia of cuts including: skinny bootcut, mid-rise deconstructed skinny, mid-rise curvy skinny, mid-rise roll cuff boyfriend, high-rise skinny, high-rise jegging, high-rise wide leg, high-rise kick bootcut crop and high-rise wide leg crop. Universal Thread’s adaptive collection offers medium and dark wash bootcut jeans with a high-rise back, wider leg construction and flattened seams to help reduce pressure points.

Washes in the collection encompass light, medium and dark indigo, to white, grey and black. Floral embroidery and pops of coloured denim, like red, green and pale pink, add a summery feel to the line. The brand pays special attention to hems, offering released, split and raw hem finishes. Blouse options include off-the-shoulder tops and button-down denim shirts. Railroad jackets and embroidered Trucker jackets. Midi and mini-skirts, denim apron dresses and shirt dresses round out the collection. Universal Thread launches February 4 and will be available in Target stores and on Target.com.

Russia has guaranteed Bangladesh to provide duty-free and quota-free market access for Ready Made Garments (RMG) products soon. According to the discussion of World Tread Centre (WTO) Bangladesh gets duty-free and quota-free market access to Russia on 71 products but RMG was still not in the list due to some complications. To remove complications, Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Eurasian Economic Commission to be its member.

Soon Bangladesh will become its member and then RMG will get the duty-free and quota-free market access to the country. Meanwhile Russia wants to organise the next World Expo in 2025 and has asked Bangladesh to support them as it is one of members of World Expo who will elect the organiser through voting.

The New Year is looking good for Vietnam’s garment-textile industry, with exports estimated to fetch around $33.5 to $34 billion, up by 10 per cent year-on-year. Chairman of Hung Yen Garment Company (HUGACO) assesses the achievements recorded in 2017, thorough preparations of businesses and the government’s plan to support industry development will go a long way in helping the industry achieve strong growth.

The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VTAA), noted at the beginning of last year, the sector overcome various challenges caused by the pending Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the falling international demand for apparel. Vietnam’s industry reversed the trend from the second quarter of the year and ultimately managed an export turnover of $31 billion, a rise of 10.23 per cent as against 2016.

In the year, Vietnam’s garment-textile exports to major markets such as the US, the EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Russia went up by 7.2 per cent, 9.23 per cent, 6.1 per cent, 11.8 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively. The growth of the Vietnamese garment-textile sector is rated the highest as against that of other garment-textile exporters such as China, India, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia.

Vietnamese garment manufacturers’ are expected to get more orders in 2018, but face many issues including that caused by falling garment prices in many markets. Truong Van Cam, VTAA Vice Chairman, noted the domestic garment enterprises will have to compete with their rivals from Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh in terms of insurance, land, tax, transportation and customs procedure costs.

Le Tien Truong, General Director of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), suggested local garment-textile businesses focus on technological applications, investment attraction and the building of connectivity chains of the VTTA. Besides spending more investments in design, original design manufacturing (ODM) should be increased to 10 per cent to raise added values of products. To achieve the two-digit growth target in 2018, VTAA advises businesses to adapt to market changes, expand the domestic market and diversify products, while forming effective production chains.

A comprehensive trade show and conference, the Apparel Textile Sourcing Miami (ATS-M) trade show will take place from May 21 to 23, 2018, at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center in Miami. The event will bring to Florida hundreds of international apparel and textile manufacturers from countries worldwide including, China, India, Bangladesh, the US, Turkey, Pakistan and Mexico. And as Moishe Mana, Miami-based billionaire developer and CEO of Mana Group says, “We are committed to making Miami the nexus for commerce between Asia, North America, and Latin America.

We’re excited to have ATS Miami join this initiative as the fashion and apparel industry is one of our core verticals.” The ATS brand has established itself internationally with Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada, held every August in Toronto. In 2017 the event grew by over 50 per cent in attendees and international exhibits. The same formula of success is the basis for ATS-Miami. “The expansion of the ATS Brand to Miami is a direct response to the market demand and fills a significant gap for the US-&-Latin American markets,” said Jason Prescott, CEO of JP Communications, organiser of the event and parent company to TopTenWholesale.com and Manufacturer.com, the most expansive network of business-to-business sourcing platforms in the US. Millions of international members use these brands to locate wholesalers and manufacturers. ATS-Miami provides a unique opportunity for apparel and textile importers and retailers to intersect and access the most current importing information from the top industry insiders. The producers are coming from Asia to Miami.

ATS-M will feature three days-worth of seminars, panels and runway shows featuring acclaimed industry and government experts, covering topics from trade agreements to best practices with an eye on the changing Latin American market, as well as tips on how to choose overseas producers, plus new approaches on succeeding in the US market.