Soorty’s new denim collection highlights the value of design and emphasizes Soorty’s commitment to making quality clothing.

Soorty, one of Pakistan’s largest vertically integrated denim companies, launched this collection in partnership with Lycra, Lenzing, Marmara Hemp and Jeanologia.

The capsule collection brings fiber innovation and bright laundry together and utilizes fabrics woven with the conscious fibers from Lycra, Lenzing, Marmara Hemp as well as recycled cotton that is produced in Soorty’s state-of-the-art recycling facility. The laundry and finishing was conducted by Jeanologia technologies such as G2 Dynamic and Laser. Focused on small-scale, and to-the-point production, the collection highlights that the route to circularity and sustainability is made possible when working collectively and producing responsibly.

Jeanologia provided the technologies, innovations and machineries that helped process both the fabric produced and the garments sewn together. Two sets of the collection were produced, with one finished by Soorty in Pakistan which owns a laundry set up that ensures lowered impact and responsible innovation while the other set was finished by Jeanologia. The impact of each piece was measured to ensure that each garment of the collection secures environmental and social safety. To tie in the main goal of transparently communicating sustainability, the supply chain partners attached labels to each garment where consumers can review not only what goes into making them but also how they were treated.

Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics will be held in China, November 6 to 8, 2023. This is a global textile show.

The aim is to help industry players tap into market recovery and regain international orders. The fair provides a platform for exhibitors to showcase their latest products to quality buyers from across the globe.The previous fair welcomed over 880 exhibitors from eight countries and regions, while there were over 42,000 visitors from 26 countries and regions.

Intertextile Shenzhen is the best place to meet influential buyers and trend-setters, including some of south China’s leading garment manufacturers. China’s fastest growing city has designs on becoming a global fashion capital. Shenzhen is now home to over 2,500 clothing brands.

In the first three quarters of 2022, the city’s garment exports increased by nine per cent year on year. Notably, there was a sharp rise in exports to Asean countries, the UK, and the US.As China has removed pandemic restrictions for inbound travelers, its textile industry is on track to benefit.

The Chinese textile market is predicted to grow at a CAGR of over five per cent from 2020 to 2026. Despite the challenges facing the global economy, China’s textile industry aims to return to its pre-Covid business results.

Knitwear accounts for more than 55 percent of Bangladesh’s total garment exports.

In the 1980s, woven garments such as shirts and pants were the main export products of Bangladesh. At that time, the share of woven garments in total exports was more than 90 percent. After that, the capacity of knitwear is also created in Bangladesh. Gradually, the participation of woven and knit garments in the total exports was equalized.

However, this picture has changed in the last decade.More than 80 percent of the products exported from Bangladesh in the world market are readymade garments. These are basically divided into two categories based on type—woven garments and knitwear. Generally, T-shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, trousers, joggers, shorts are called knitwear. On the other hand, formal shirts, pants, suits, denim jeans are known as woven clothes.

The use of casual wear has started to increase since the Covid period. Also, the demand for people’s everyday clothes is also increasing. Most of these clothes are knitwear. Besides, the demand for manmade fibers is increasing in the international market, most of which is knitwear. As a result, the overall demand for knitwear is increasing in the global market.

For the third quarter Grasim’s profit fell by 50 per cent. The company was hurt by a slowdown in demand for some products it sells, including a key material used in various kinds of clothes.

The profitability of the company’s viscose staple fiber business, which comprises over half its standalone revenue, was impacted due to lower exports, higher input costs and lower utilisation levels. Revenue for the segment fell by nearly five percent. However demand for caustic soda--a key product of Grasim’s chemicals segment--remained robust. The company’s chemicals business is its second largest division. Total revenue from operations rose by seven percent during the quarter. However Grasim struggled with increasing expenses, led by an almost 18 per cent increase in cost for power and fuel on the back of rising global coal prices.

Grasim, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, produces viscose staple fiber, viscose filament yarn, advanced material, linen yarn, and fabrics. The business is working on plans to add new chlorine value-added products in the portfolio to increase the chlorine integration levels.

The India-centric demand for viscose staple fiber remained largely intact but value chain partners for the global markets have started witnessing the impact of recessionary conditions.

Itema’s new rapier weaving machine, the R9500, is dedicated to denim. The machine is equipped with iSaver, a mechatronic device capable of completely eliminating the waste selvedge on the left-hand side of the fabric thus leading to significant cost savings and reducing waste, contributing to sustainable denim weaving.

iSaver is already successfully installed in many leading denim mills worldwide and represents a real interesting added value for weavers who deal with western brands which are more and more looking at a green and sustainable production chain for the fabrics they buy.

Itema is a leading provider of advanced weaving solutions, including weaving machines, OEM spare parts and integrated services. Itema has positioned itself as a reliable partner – and not only a simple supplier – for textile companies, providing advanced weaving machines along with a real-time after-sales service, highly professional training for weavers and integrated textile consultancy.

Itema is uniquely positioned in the market to offer textile manufacturers the top three weft insertion technologies – rapier, airjet and projectile -- OEM spare parts, upgrade kits, and a dedicated online shop for the historic brands now part of Itema – Somet, Sulzer, and Vamatex – in addition to highly professional training in six worldwide locations.

Denim fabric majors in India are facing a fall in revenues. Slowing demand in major export markets following the Russia-Ukraine war and relatively muted domestic demand coupled with volatility in cotton prices have eroded their profits.

The dent in export markets is hitting the industry hard. Units heavily dependent on exports tend to be affected as the denim demand has nosedived since the war began. Cotton price fluctuations are another key reason for the declining demand for denim fabric. Since Covid denim fabric prices have gone up by an estimated 30 per cent due to a hike in cotton prices. So whenever prices rise garment manufacturers stop procuring fabrics from denim mills as passing on costs isn’t possible.

Soon after the lockdown, when domestic demand took a hit due to consequent waves of Covid and subdued discretionary spending, exports provided a cushion to many denim majors whose revenues thrived. But higher cotton prices have affected denim manufacturers’ competitiveness. When demand is low, competitive prices help companies gain orders.

However, with Indian cotton remaining expensive, it is difficult for Indian denim companies to compete against Chinese counterparts as cost of production increases. However, in the fourth quarter, as cotton prices have begun stabilizing, denim majors are optimistic about a revival in domestic demand.

Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month displayed the potential of sustainable fibers from banana to pineapple.

Held each January, the event highlights awareness of local fabrics and collaboration between industry players and research institutions to promote innovation in clothing production.

This year’s highlight was a fashion show aimed at boosting commercial production of indigenous tropical fabrics woven from silk as well as natural fibers drawn from plants such as banana, pineapple and abaca.

Now a decade old, the exposition is geared towards farmers, handloom weavers of natural textiles, retailers and millers, and the producers of uniforms of various types. Fashion and innovation meshed together during the event when office uniforms, designed by local artisans and made from tropical textiles spun out of natural fibers, got an airing.

The Philippines pioneered textile production in southeast Asia. Large-scale textile manufacturing began as early as 1906. But changes in global trade, preferential policies, lack of technical knowledge and investments saw the garment and textile industry’s export value drop. But the country remains competitive in the mid- to high-end market mainly for its prized embroidery and intricate design capabilities including handwoven fabrics made with indigenous fibers.

The industry is experimenting in areas such as new natural dyes, which replace toxic chemicals in the processing of textiles.

For the third quarter Garware’s net sales decreased by 11 per cent. Profit before tax decreased by nine per cent. Net profit after tax decreased by four per cent. EPS for the third quarter fell by four per cent. The current quarter results were impacted due to delays in orders from customers in the industrial and sports businesses on account of recessionary pressures in Europe and the US.

Customers adjusted stocks in the third quarter significantly. But the company expects this to be short term in nature and will get corrected from the first quarter of fiscal year 2024. There was an offset to some extent by strong order flows from Chile and Scotland. The aquaculture business is focused on our new innovative products like X18 and CFR. These products are allowing customers to benefit from operational savings which would otherwise be difficult.

Garware has been able to maintain margins during the current quarter and expects that to continue. The company looks forward to a better fourth quarter with current visibility. Garware Technical Fibers,a manufacturer of technical textiles, caters to various segments like aquaculture, sports nets, agriculture, geotextiles etc. through a diverse range of netting products, ropes, coated fabrics and others.

DTG will be held in Bangladesh, February 15 to 18, 2023.

About 1,200 global machinery and technology solution provider brands from 35 countries will display advanced technologies, cutting-edge solutions, and the latest trends.

Local textile and garment manufacturers will get an opportunity to meet with their global suppliers of the latest technology and machinery under one umbrella. This edition of DTG is taking place after a break of three years due to the Covid pandemic.

This year, DTG will exhibit covering equipment, material, and accessories needed in different stages of the textile and garment industrial chain, including spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing, finishing, and garment manufacturing segments.The readymade garment industry in Bangladesh is a major contributor to the country’s economy, accounting for more than 80 per cent of its total exports.

The industry has grown rapidly over the past few decades, driven by a combination of low labor costs, government support, and an abundance of skilled workers.In the early days of Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry, the country primarily exported low-end products such as T-shirts and basic pants. However, over time, the industry has evolved to include higher-end products such as denim and technical textiles.The industry is heavily reliant on exports, with the United States and European Union being the largest markets for its products.

After peaking in the third quarter the turnover of Indian home textile exporters moderated in the quarters ended March 2022 and June 2022 amid a slowdown in demand. So says Icra.

Further, high and increasing raw material and logistic costs resulted in a consistent decline in operating margins since the second quarter of the last fiscal year. Rising inflationary concerns, the resultant slowdown in consumer discretionary spending, uncertainty on economic growth outlook and cautious buying by retailers to manage inventories are affecting sales in key export markets.

Icra expects the turnover of home textile exporters to contract further in the quarter ended September 2022 with muted sales in the December quarter as well. Overall, Icra expects a double-digit contraction in turnover as well as moderation in margins for home textile exporters in fiscal year 2023 following all-time high sales and profits in fiscal year 2022.

As the demand scenario has normalised and inflation is exerting pressure on consumer discretionary spending, Icra expects home textile companies to report a contraction in turnover in fiscal year 2023. Slower-than-expected sales have resulted in higher-than-average inventory levels in recent months.

As a result, Icra expects retailers to go slow/cautious on buying in the subsequent months to rationalise their inventory levels.