The export forecast for cotton in the US for 2022-23 is 1,00,000 bales lower. Ending stocks are 1,00,000 bales higher.

Production is virtually unchanged at 13.8 million bales, less than one per cent lower than in September 2022. The 2022-23 US cotton supply and demand estimates show slightly lower exports and higher ending stocks compared with September 2022. The 2022-23 season-average price for upland cotton is forecast at 90 cents per pound, six cents lower than last month and slightly below the final 2021-22 record-high price of 91 cents. In the 2022-23 world balance sheet this month, consumption is three million bales lower and ending stocks are three million bales higher.

China’s historical consumption estimates are revised back to 2019-20, with the largest change in 2021-22, which is revised down two million bales.China’s projected 2022-23 consumption is a million bales lower this month, as is India’s.Pakistan’s is 5,00,000 bales lower and consumption is also lower for Turkey, Mexico, and Vietnam.

World trade is projected nearly a million bales lower than it was in September, with declines in imports by China, Pakistan, Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam. Exports are lower for Australia, Brazil, India, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Greece, and Mexico, as well as the United States.

Australia’s garment imports from Vietnam grew 35 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020.

Imports of T-shirts and innerwear grew 70 per cent year-on-year last year.Trousers and shorts, shirts and jerseys were also among the top five products but witnessed a lower growth. Imports of T-shirts were ten per cent of total apparel imports. Imports of innerwear were eight per cent of total apparel imports. Imports of innerwear grew by 87 per cent in 2021 over the preceding year. Imports of T-shirts also noted an impressive growth of 74 per cent over imports in 2020. Imports of trousers and shorts were 22 per cent of total garment imports and up 27 per cent from 2020. Shirt imports were 13 per cent during 2021, which increased by 43 per cent over the preceding year. Jerseys were the fifth highest imported item with a share of seven per cent. Jersey imports grew 43 per cent on year-on-year basis.

Besides these top five items, Australia’s imports of apparel products included jackets and blazers (three per cent of total garment imports), coats (three per cent), dresses (two per cent), accessories (two per cent) and socks (one per cent).

Australia had imported apparel worth $303.813 million in 2019, $265.828 million in 2018 and $212.758 million in 2017 from Vietnam.

Texpo will be held in Pakistan, May 26 to 28, 2023. The event is aimed at promoting textile exports and portraying a soft image of Pakistan to the rest of the world apart from promoting and highlighting the concept of sustainability in the textile sector of Pakistan and increasing its share in global trading.

It will provide unprecedented opportunities to participants to witness the showcase of high quality products from Pakistan. The upcoming event would be a one stop sourcing platform for new business alliances and investments. This is the largest trade show of the country, organized with the objective of displaying the entire range of quality products under one roof for the assessment of international buyers.

Texpo took off in 2019 and enabled a large number of international buyers from different countries to establish business contacts. The event has not only contributed immensely to reposition the country’s image but has been instrumental in generating economic activity in the country in general and within the export community in particular. Pakistan’s exporters are exploring new avenues of trade and focusing on non-traditional markets. Single country exhibitions are being planned to grab the untapped trade potential within the African and Central Asian region.

Woolmark and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli have renewed their partnership as technical partners of the 37th America’s Cup team.

The extension will continue to support the team and crew, who are wearing Merino wool technical garments across all training and sailing activities. The uniforms are manufactured with a natural and breathable fiber like Merino wool, which is elastic, isothermal and very comfortable, both at sea and on shore. Merino wool is a breathable, waterproof and isothermal garment and is sustainable and biodegradable. A 100 percent natural, renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable fiber, Merino wool offers a performance-based natural solution with reduced environmental impact and helps the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team achieve its sustainability goals. The Woolmark logo adorns the sail of the Luna Rossa prototype boat.

Inspired by the values of the highest level of sailing, the men's fragrance from Prada is based on a commitment to excellence. A wave of aromatic freshness shakes up the fragrance providing strength and energy while staying true to its noble and sensual signature.

Woolmark is a professional body that promotes and protects the interests of Australian merino wool including a certification scheme to ensure suppliers meet certain standards. Woolmark promotes wool as a natural, renewable alternative.

Job losses are feared in India’s textile sector. There has been a sharp decline in exports of textile products from India. Exports of cotton yarn and handloom products registered a 40 per cent slump in September 2022.

Due to rising input costs and weak demand -- both in the domestic and foreign market -- textile hubs in Surat and Andhra Pradesh have cut short the number of working days. The textile hub in Tirupur which is home to nearly six lakh semi-skilled textile workers is the hardest hit as it is dependent on demand from the US and European markets. Instead of running for six or seven days a week, units are operating for four to five days a week so that at everyone is employed and survival is ensured.

If the war continues and demand slows down further, the number of operating days will fall further. Demand from both the western markets is down by almost 50 per cent and large companies are placing lower orders despite the peak season. The industry would wait for the festive season to get a boost but ever since Covid the demand has never really revived. However from December onward textile exports could jump could be expected hopefully.

Italian luxury brand Loro Piana has released a women’s capsule collection constructed from Cash Denim. This is a 60 percent cotton and 40 percent cashmere fabric with an extremely soft hand that’s woven on traditional shuttle looms in Japan.

Experts weave the warp of the dyed denim with the weft of undyed cashmere fiber and create just 164 feet of the selvedge fabric in a single day. The two jeans and one jacket in the capsule are intentionally minimal and reflect the tradition and look of Japanese workwear. All of them are in a dark wash and are made in Italy. Madley pants are a high-waisted five-pocket with a loose fit while Lewel 22 pants are a high-waisted five-pocket with a slight flare. The Cyrius jacket is a chore coat with a relaxed fit, button front, three large front pockets, lightweight padding and a cashmere-jersey lining. Although it is not made from Cash Denim, there is also a matching navy-blue extra-large tote bag constructed from felted cashmere that is merchandised with the collection.The brand also offers other denim pieces made from 100 percent cotton Japanese denim made with sustainable processes.

LoroPiana has standalone stores in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The 98-year-old brand has been owned by LVMH since 2013.

Augmented urbanization, fashion upgrades and enlarged disposable income are driving the growth of the global bridal wear market.

Also technological advances, entry of local players, and augmented luxury weddings are some of the factors that have accelerated the bridal wear market growth.The idea of sumptuous weddings has also contributed to the rising popularity of weddings at destinations. So a wedding dress is likely to show the theme and culture of the place where the wedding is held. These factors are also driving the demand for bridal wear in the market.

North America leads the global bridal wear market due to the presence of multi-vendors, early adoption of fashion, high disposal revenues, and the emergence of technology to design the latest fabrics. The Asia Pacific region is also anticipated to grow at a substantial CAGR owing to augmented disposable incomes, high wedding spendings, a huge fashion-conscious young population, cheap bridal wear, and therefore the entry of native players. The increasing millennial population in countries like China and India is contributing to the industry's overall growth.

One factor that hampers the bridal wear market is high costs linked with this apparel. This has restricted the purchasing capacity of the middle and lower-middle classes.

The global textile colorant market is growing at five per cent a year. The growth in the market is attributed to the rising demand for clothes along with an increase in disposable income across the world. Growth in demand for fashion textiles and home decor is a driving factor for textile colorants. East Asia is expected to remain the dominant region for the production and consumption of textile colorants and the region is expected to account for about 48 per cent of global textile production.

Technical textiles are special textile qualities made up of particular chemicals and physical properties that are designed for specific end uses. These types of textiles are utilized in healthcare, sports, engineering, and consumer goods industries for specific purposes such as raincoats and body warmers. Demand for these textiles is surging owing to changing consumer preferences, customization options, and perceived effectiveness of these products.Geotextiles are gaining rapid traction over the assessment period owing to growing environmental concerns. This factor is expected to bolster the demand for geotechnical textiles. Neon dyes utilized in athletic apparel offer highly reflective properties, supporting safety measures for athletes competing in cross-country and marathon events. Owing to such numerous properties, the demand for dyes for the production of technical textiles is constantly increasing.

Bangladesh’s garment exports in September 2022 were down seven per cent year-on-year and 15 per cent month-on-month.

Knitted garment exports fell by nine per cent, woven garments exports decreased by five per cent and home textiles exports saw a 18 per cent drop. This has been the first year-on-year decline in Bangladesh’s garment exports since August 2021. Bangladesh’s declining garment exports would affect its imports of textiles and semi-finished textile products, which could further lead to the reduction of imports from China.

From January 2022 to August 2022 China’s textile and garment exports to Bangladesh increased by 30 per cent year-on-year. Among them, textiles accounted for 98 per cent, showing that textile dominated China’s textile and apparel exports to Bangladesh.

Buyers pay lower prices to apparel suppliers in Bangladesh than they do to some of the country’s competitors. In fact they often pay prices that are below factory costs whereas Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey and Mexico are given higher than the average rates. One reason prices of garment items made in Bangladesh are priced lower than the average world price is that manufacturers in Bangladesh are still strong in basic garment items. For instance, 80 per cent of Bangladesh's garment items are still confined to five cotton-made items and it has the problem of over-capacity.

Lenzing has unveiled a capsule collection.

Called Simple Pleasures, the capsule showcases tencel lyocell fiber and its variants and centers on classic pieces. The collection includes a safari jacket, a reversible waistcoat, a men’s coat, a top and midi skirt, and a printed blouse.

The concept for the collection was inspired by a book called Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. The book explores how seemingly mundane spaces and everyday objects have surprising and powerful effects on mood. Examples are being near the water, sitting under a tree, feeling the sunshine or a light breeze and smelling freshly laundered bed sheets.This reflects exactly the message and emotions that Lenzing wanted to communicate through this collection. It is about being shut inside for months together, underestimating the precious inputs derived from ordinary activities as well as the freedom to act on new ideasor doing things spontaneously. The print is based on surrealism with psychedelic overtones, has elements that run throughout the collection, including fully printed garments and printed pocket linings.

Lenzing, a provider of wood-based specialty fibers, stands for ecologically responsible production of specialty fibers made from the renewable raw material wood. As an innovation leader, Lenzing is a partner of global textile and nonwoven manufacturers and drives many new technological developments.