Exports of clothing and footwear to the EU have been falling the enforcement of Brexit, says a recent study highlighting the impact of complex regulations and border red tape on businesses. Conducted by Retail Economics and online marketplace Tradebyte, the report reveals that exports of clothing and footwear to EU countries dropped from £7.4 billion in 2019 to £2.7 billion in 2023. This decline led to an 18 per cent overall decrease in sales of non-food goods exports to EU single market countries.

The report indicates, British brands and retailers have experiencing a significant drop in sales to the EU post-Brexit, despite the growth of the European e-commerce market. Particularly hit hard have been small and medium-sized businesses who have been bearing a larger burden from the increased red tape compared to multinational firms. Richard Lim, Head-Retail Economics and one of the report's authors, notes, some of this decline can be attributed to changes in trade routes. UK firms that previously repackaged Asian imports for sale in the EU have restructured their supply chains by establishing offices within the single market to circumvent border regulations.

The increased bureaucracy has also prompted many UK-based apparel manufacturers to relocate production to EU countries, adversely affecting UK jobs and skills. For instance, a long-standing sock manufacturer in Leicester has moved production to Italy, ending over a century of operations in the East Midlands.

The UK has also missed out on the surge in online goods sales in the EU since 2019. The report suggests, while the EU online retail market has added an estimated £323 billion in annual sales, Brexit-related trade complexities have hindered UK brands and retailers from capitalising on this opportunity. Lim describes this as a significant missed opportunity for UK brands.

The decline in trade value with the EU was partially mitigated by last year's inflation spike, which increased export goods' costs. Meanwhile, a separate report by the think tank ‘UK in a Changing Europe,’ highlights, while goods exports had declined, services exports had surged by nearly 30 per cent since February 2020. This growth has been driven by a boom in business services, making it the UK's largest export sector, surpassing manufacturing and transport equipment. The report notes, UK's services trade has not only recovered swiftly after the pandemic but has also exceeded pre-pandemic levels by late 2022, unlike services exports from France and Germany, which have declined.

The reason behind the resilience and growth of UK services exports, which were largely unaffected by Brexit rule changes, remains unclear, according to the report.

Rain Newton-Smith, Head, CBI, suggested reviewing the UK’s trading relationship with the EU as part of the business lobby group's wishlist ahead of the July 4 general election. She called for a ‘bold pitch’ to international investors and proposed that the 2026 review of the UK-EU trade deal could be an opportunity to reduce trading frictions affecting businesses.

The EU's Textiles, Clothing, Leather, and Footwear (TCLF) sectors are urging future EU policymakers to enhance their efforts to safeguard these industries, which provide over 1.5 million jobs and generate a combined turnover of more than €200 billion annually. The call comes from key industry players, including the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC), the European Confederation of the Leather Industry (Cotance), Euratex (the European Apparel and Textile Confederation), and industriAll Europe, all of whom have signed the Antwerp Declaration advocating for a European Industrial Deal.

The need for an EU industrial deal

The TCLF Social Partners stress the necessity of a comprehensive European Industrial Deal that complements the Green Deal, focusing on keeping quality jobs in Europe. The sectors face significant challenges such as intense global competition, high energy costs, an aging workforce, and a surge in new legislation. Given that over 99 per cent of companies in the TCLF sectors are SMEs, the call for increased support is critical to ensuring these industries can thrive amidst green and digital transitions.

Ensuring a just transition

A central demand is ensuring a just transition for TCLF industries and their workforce. The partners emphasize the importance of a robust industrial strategy that not only supports 'clean tech' investors but also aids in transforming existing industrial assets. This strategy should focus on maintaining and creating quality jobs, supported by a Just Transition framework that manages employment and skills effectively, provides security for companies and workers, and offers quality training.

Promoting skills development

A renewed industrial strategy must prioritize re-skilling and up-skilling. The TCLF sectors require a workforce equipped to handle new technologies and sustainable practices. Social partners play a crucial role in anticipating skills needs and organizing training, yet they need substantial support beyond existing frameworks like the EU Pact for Skills. Policies must attract young talent to the industry and ensure ongoing support for an aging workforce.

Enhancing social dialogue

Effective industrial transformation hinges on strong social dialogue. Sectoral social partners advocate for a regulatory environment that supports businesses and fosters mutually beneficial working conditions through collective bargaining and other mechanisms. Given the increase in EU legislation targeting TCLF sectors, it is vital that social partners are consulted appropriately, ensuring regulations are well-informed and sector-specific impact assessments are conducted.

Creating a stable regulatory environment

The TCLF sectors operate in a complex global market and require a stable and coherent regulatory environment to succeed. The EU must streamline and improve Single Market rules, enforce regulations uniformly, and conduct thorough impact assessments before proposing new legislation. These steps are essential to maintain the competitiveness of TCLF industries during their green and digital transitions.

Ensuring access to resources

Access to green and affordable energy is critical for TCLF sectors, especially in light of recent energy crises. Additional measures are necessary to secure decarbonized energy and ensure the sustainability of TCLF manufacturing. Beyond energy, securing access to raw materials with a focus on traceability and transparency is crucial, as is ensuring fair trade practices to prevent the influx of low-cost, non-compliant products.

Promoting fair trade

The TCLF Social Partners advocate for free and fair trade to maintain a level playing field. This includes preventing the dumping of low-cost products in the EU market and ensuring adherence to international labor laws and environmental standards. Support for SMEs in implementing new directives and regulations is also critical to maintaining competitiveness and sustainability.

Boosting demand for European products

Increasing demand for green TCLF products made in Europe is necessary to ensure economic sustainability. The partners support the production of high-quality, sustainable products, which should lead to decent wages and quality jobs. Incentives for consumers to buy European-made products and public procurement policies focusing on green and social production aspects are essential steps toward this goal.

The TCLF Social Partners are ready to collaborate with the new EU policymakers in the upcoming mandate (2024-2029) to implement an EU Industrial Deal that ensures the future competitiveness and sustainability of the TCLF sectors while safeguarding quality jobs across Europe.

The Schneider Group introduces Authentico, a brand committed to providing a transparent, verified, traceable, ethical, and high-quality wool supply chain—from farm to garment. Authentico strives to establish a global benchmark for premium, fully traceable, and responsibly sourced wool, verified through a comprehensive approach that encompasses every stage of the supply chain.

The launch event, hosted at Schneider Group’s Italian site in Verrone, introduces the Authentico Verification System. This system includes the Authentico Integrity Scheme, ensuring best practices at the farm level, focusing on animal welfare, mulesing-free processes, and sustainable land management. Wool is sourced from dedicated growers and processed in Schneider’s certified mills worldwide.

The Authentico Brand Guidelines provide criteria for all supply chain participants—spinners, weavers, knitters, garment makers, and retailers—to ensure alignment with the brand’s values. Additionally, the pioneering traceability platform TextileGenesis is incorporated to digitally track wool throughout the supply chain.

Schneider Group CEO Laura Ros emphasizes the company’s commitment to sustainability and traceability at both farm and industrial levels, guaranteeing respect for people and the environment. This commitment is reflected in the group’s certified network of mills and sustainable practices, including the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Program.

Founded in 1922, Schneider Group is a global leader in high-quality animal fibres. The group’s mills are RWS, GOTS, and SFA certified, and it is dedicated to reducing environmental impact through various sustainability initiatives.

Authentico will debut at Pitti Filati from June 25-27.

Held in Miami Beach, the 10th edition of the Miami Swim Week The Shows 2024 featured eye-catching swimwear shows, panel discussions, and a series of activities designed to introduce beauty and wellness to both men and women. The event not just showcased brands, but also helped designers connect with resources, consumers, and other supporters to help elevate their businesses, says Moh Ducis, Founder and CEO, The Shows,

From May 31-June 2, 2024, the event featured 50-minute facials from German skincare brand Babor at the Tara, Ink, Miami Swim Week Oasis. This included the debut of Babor’s Cleanformance Stress Defense Mushroom Cream, inspired by traditional Chinese medicine, offering customised treatments that left skin hydrated, plump, and glowing.

The Swim Week also organised a private dinner at Peruvian restaurant Pasta to celebrate its first US location in Wynwood. On May 31, Snatched Plastic Surgery held an intimate panel discussion exploring the relationship between body trends and fashion. Industry experts, including Claudia Borges, Founder and CEO; Dr. Paul Boulos, Plastic Surgeon and Lila Nikole, Swimwear Designer discussed aesthetics and fashion, moderated by Miami Fashion influencer Timur Tugberk.

Primarily held at the SLS South Beach Hotel, The Shows featured an array of designers from across the globe, showcasing their interpretations of ready-to-wear summer and resort styles. This diverse lineup included Miami-based Ema Savahl, Australian brand Omray Swimwear, and Salty Mermaid Swim, offering men’s swimwear that complemented their bikini sets.

On June 1, Fashion Group International South Florida collaborated with Art Hearts Fashion for the global Communiqué presentation at The Gates Hotel, led by Erik Rosete. This panel explored emerging styles and trends beyond 2024. Additionally, Sharpie Creative Markers partnered with lifestyle brand Acacia for their first-ever runway show featuring the Resort 2025 Collection.

Sharpie also supported the annual Swim Up Cycle Challenge, encouraging fashion students to design apparel using donated deadstock fabrics and Sharpie markers. The challenge celebrated Miami Swim Week’s 20th anniversary, with finalists showcasing their creations on the runway. The winner received mentorship, a cash prize, and a collection of Sharpie markers, judged by a panel including Gina Lazaro of Sharpie and representatives from Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Elle Magazine.

A vibrant blend of beauty, fashion and fashion, the Miami Swim Week 2024 fostered innovation and sustainability in the swimwear industry.

Gucci plans to organise the brand’s spring 2025 menswear show at the Triennale Milano museum on June 17. The show will be launched as a part of the Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week from June 14-18, 2024.

Earlier this month, Gucci launched its 2025 cruise collection along with the first destination show of Sabato De Sarno, Creative Director, at the underground concrete exhibition space Tate Modern Tanks in London.

Founded in 1923, the Triennale Museum blends fashion with a broader cultural conversation. The museum aligns with Gucci’s vision to provide a space for new encounters through exchange and the freedom evoked by art in its wider conception, says a statement by Gucci.

An art collector, De Saro’s passion for the arts is demonstrated throughout the newly renovated Milan Via Montenapoleone flagship, housing a selection of modern and contemporary works by both midcareer and established artists. The space also displays art pieces of various artists chosen by curator Truls Blaasmo including Lucio Fontana, Getulio Alviani, Liliana Moro and Franco Mazzucchelli, to Nathlie Provosty, Jaime Poblete, François Durel, Michael Rey, Herbert Hamak, Adji Dieye and Augustas Serapinas, etc.

Unveiled last December, the store at the museum pays tribute to Italian furniture designs. Some of the noteworthy pieces displayed at the store include Cassina’s ‘Utrecht’ armchair by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld; the ‘Maralunga’ sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina’s iMaestri Collection; the ‘La Bambola’ armchair by Mario Bellini, and ‘Tufty-Time’ sofa system by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, etc.

In line with the analysts’ expectations, sales of Zara owner Inditex grew by 7 per cent during Q1, FY24. To counter growing intense competition from rivals like H&M, the brand aims to chase new trends faster and expedite product deliveries.

In recent quarters, benefitting from improved shopping experiences, both online and in-store, the company outperformed many of its competitors. It currently faces intense competition from rapidly growing Chinese-owned online retailers Shein and Temu.

One of the world’s largest listed fashion retailers, Inditex’s sales during the first quarter of FY24 increased to €8.15 billion compared to the average analysts’ forecast of €8.1 billion, show results from an LSEG poll.

The company’s net profit during the quarter increased by 11 per cent to €1.29 billion in line with the €1.3 billion average forecast by analysts, according to the LSEG poll. This was against the 54 per cent rise in profits recorded in the first quarter of the last year.

Mohammad Ali Khokon, President, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has urged the government to ensure a smooth supply of gas and electricity for the textile industry.

The association also demanded a withdrawal of the 7 per cent VAT on jhut collection and 15 per cent VAT on recycled yarn by the next budget. Further, it called for a reduction in the tax deducted at source from textile mills for the entire process involving supply of yarn, fabrics, dyeing and finishing to only 4 per cent

To make the industry more competitive for export, the government needs to remove the import duty on manmade fiber products, the association said. Its last demand included measures to make bank rates more affordable as the association would need double state value addition after graduation to get access to major markets after graduation.

Aligning with its broader goal of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, the Indian government plans to accelerate growth in the technical textiles sector to upto 15-20 per cent over the next five years, as per a KPMG report. The government also plans to support startups in this sector by offering grants of upto Rs 50 lakh each to 150 companies engaged in making technical textiles such as Kevlar and Spandex. This funding is a part of the government’s allocation of Rs 375 crore for FY25 from the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM). The textiles ministry has also relaxed the royalty cap on this scheme to facilitate the growth of these start-ups. Start-ups planning to avail this fund need to deposit 10 per cent of the total fund allocation in advance. As of now, 10 startups are set to be approved next week with the remaining to be selected over the next few months

Another of the textiles ministry’s initiatives includes developing fabric-based artificial teeth with dental resins made from polyester to make dental implants more affordable. For this, expensive ceramic, polymer and composite implants are being replaced with research being conducted by institutions like AIIMS and IITs.

Further, the government plans to introduce new quality control orders (QCOs) for textiles products, including technical, protective and build-tech textiles to monitor substandard imports from China.

As of now, the government has brought bedsheets, pillow covers, shoe covers, napkins, baby diapers, orchard protection covers, fencing nets, and insect nets among others under the QCO’ ambit. It aims to bring over 2,000 products under the QCO ambit in the coming years.

The Q1, FY24 net profit of sportswear and footwear retail chain, Foot Locker plunged by 77.8 per cent to $8 million compared to the same period in 2023.

The company’s net sales decreased by 2.7 per cent in absolute figures and 1.8 per cent in comparable sales to $1.874 billion during the quarter. This decline excludes the impact of currency exchange and changes in the company's accounting scope.

Regionwise, Foot Locker registered a 1.4 per cent decline in sales to $1.369 billion in Ameriica while its sales Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) remained stable at $394 million (€364 million). The company’s sales in the Asia-Pacific region, however, dwindled by 23.4 per cent to $111 million.

For the full fiscal year, Foot Locker anticipates sales to either decline or grow by a single percentage point. The company’s robust performance during the first quarter of the year demonstrates the success of its ‘Lace Up’ plan, says Mary Dillon, President and CEO. This strategic plan positions the company for sustainable growth and value creation for shareholders, she adds.

Egypt's General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) signed a land deal with Eroglu Egypt for a 65,000-square-meter plot to build a readymade garment factory. This $40 million project in the Qantara West Industrial Zone is expected to create over 3,000 jobs and position the zone as a textile and apparel hub, according to Amwal Al Ghad.

The factory, built by Turkey's Eroğlu Global Holding A S, will focus on jeans production. With an annual target of 7.2 million jeans, 70 per cent will be exported while the remaining will cater to the domestic market.

This project marks the sixth of 15 planned for the zone, which has already attracted 144 projects with a total investment of $3.22 billion in fiscal year 2023-2024, according to SCZONE Chairman Waleid Gamal El-Dien.

Egypt's strategic location near the Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, makes it an attractive trade hub according to data analysis firm GlobalData. Their report highlights the importance of Egypt's textile and apparel sector, which accounts for 8 per cent of exports, 34 per cent of industrial output, and employs 10 per cent of the workforce.