Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, with host over 4,400 high-quality exhibitors from 33 countries and regions. The fair will feature 11 country and regional pavilions and zones with VIP buyer delegations from India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, to promote more business exchanges on a global scale. The fair will be open from 25 – 27 September at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai).

The Fringe programme

To be held across halls 4.1 and 5.1, the three-day fringe programme will cover four major topics:

• Design & trends @ Textile Dialogue

• Tech & innovation @ Talking Point

• Sustainability @ Forum Space

• Licensing opportunities @ Industry Collaboration

A/W 2020/21 Trends Forum

The designer for A/W 2020/21 trends forum is Elementi Moda S.r.l. from Milan, Italy. Ornella Bignami will host tours at the trend forum explaining the latest in design trends through fabric displays and seasonal trend stories. Roberto Ramos, Senior Vice President of Creativity and Innovation of The Doneger Group, will moderate a panel discussion and conduct short talks at the fair.

Forum Space

The Forum Space will host a series of seminars on growing sustainability trends in the textile and fashion industry. These seminars will provide the latest information on sustainable product and technologies development, as well as regulation updates.

Fashionsustain

The Fashionsustain conference on September 26 will feature high-profile speakers from the textile and fashion industry who will share their learnings from investing in sustainable innovation.

The conference will focus on the current state of innovative technology, investing in innovation and new business models as well as on the important role of pre-competitive collaboration and sourcing practices for innovating the industry.

Panel discussion: 2020 Sustainability in the Garment Supply Chain

This forum will explore how can design centres, fabrics and accessories suppliers and fashion brands work together to create a sustainable supply chain.

Product presentation: Biodegradable Polyester for a Sustainable Future

A daily introduction of BioFuze, which is a unique polyester yarn developed by Paradise Textiles that has the ability to biodegrade naturally in landfill and marine conditions.

Technology and solution: A full day programme under the theme of Industry 4.0 & Smart Factory will comprise of a panel discussion and forum, on 26 Sep at Talking Point (4.1 – K112).

2019 Smart Factory Forum: Trend and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Textile Industry

The forum will cover topics such as:

• Internet connotation and technology trend in the textile Industry

• From connection to intelligence – Consultation and diagnosis practice of intelligent transformation in the warp knitting industry

• How to reduce cost and increase effect by using intelligence system

• Application of machine vision in the textile industry

• Application of intelligent production in Cheese dyeing

Seminar on licensing trends

For the first time, Intertextile Apparel will organise a licensing seminar will look at IP and retail trends. Speakers will share licensing trends and case studies, as well as how licensing and IP can benefit the apparel industry.

The Licensing x Fashion display area in hall 4.1 (booth H48) will showcase various licensed textile products and licensing information, helping textile companies to explore new business opportunities through IP licensing.

The global licensed sports merchandise market is growing at four per cent. The increasing number of fitness initiative programs and campaigns on social networking sites are creating awareness about the importance of fitness and health. This is encouraging consumers to remain fit and use social media fitness apps and socially integrated fitness trackers. Growing participation in various sports and fitness activities is leading to the expansion of the global licensed sports merchandise market.

The apparel and footwear segment has a significant market share, and this trend is expected to continue. Factors such as increased participation in sports and physical training activities will play a significant role in helping the apparel and footwear segment maintain its market position. The increasing popularity of athleisure is expected to have a positive impact on the overall market growth. Athleisure outfits are made from materials that provide odor reduction, offer moisture-wicking, and have stretchability properties. This is encouraging vendors to focus on innovations and improvements in design and quality of athletic outfits, which will make them more breathable, lightweight, and waterproof.

However, rising labor cost and fluctuating raw material prices, environmental impact of production of sports merchandise, and stringent regulations for procurement of leather may hamper the growth of the licensed sports merchandise industry.

Hong Kong’s export value is expected to decline by four per cent this year. Asean has surpassed the US as Hong Kong’s second largest export market. In the first seven months of 2019, Hong Kong’s exports to Asean markets climbed 4.6 per cent. The US has imposed tariffs on almost all goods imported from the mainland. Inevitably, this has had an impact on Hong Kong’s exports to the US. In the first seven months of 2019, Hong Kong’s exports to the US fell 10.9 per cent.

Hong Kong’s exporters have been negatively affected by the current trade friction, with shrinking order sizes, price bargaining and cancelled orders the most common consequences. They have had to share additional tariff costs with buyers. Reduction or cancellation of orders and price reductions is more serious than before. So Hong Kong companies have relocated their production or sourcing bases to Vietnam, Cambodia and India. This will impact Hong Kong companies that provide trade-related services.

Hong Kong traders have adopted different strategies to cope with these business challenges. In addition to developing in non-US markets like Latin America and the Middle East, manufacturers have lowered unit prices, moved production/sourcing bases, downsized the company and lowered the minimum order quantity.

At the recent Yarnex held in Tirupur, Aditya Birla Group’s new age fabric drew a lot of attention. Its application in loungewear, camisoles, leggings, men’s briefs and vests was highlighted. Unlike other fabrics that are boxy or synthetic, Liva is a soft, fluid fabric which falls and drapes well. The new age, naturally sourced fiber, which is made into fabric in pure or blended form, transforms not only the garment but also the person wearing it. It is comfortable, soft, natural and eco-friendly.

Liva, an Aditya Birla brand, has applications in loungewear, camisoles, leggings, men’s briefs and vests. Liva has been founded on the belief that sustainability and fashion can co-exist. The four-year-old brand has rocked the market through its innovative campaigns, strong value chain and quality. The Liva accredited partner forum has about 180 wet processors consisting mostly of woven and knitting, knit processing and woven processing. One-third is netting and two-thirds is woven. Liva promises the consumer a natural fluid and fashionable fabric which has passed through an accredited value chain for quality guarantee. Saris are being made with Liva. Liva has leveraged its attributes of drape, natural sheen and softness and wants consumers to re-imagine the sari in a new way. To better suit the needs of the value chain, Liva has also introduced new blends for both occasion wear and regular wear. Liva hopes to bring innovation into the sari as a category.

Fujitsu has created a new measuring device that promises to dramatically improve the efficiency of apparel sizing and measurements.

By pressing a special button in the device, the measurement data is transferred to the cursor position of the Windows application (such as Excel or Notepad) on the Bluetooth-paired PC through the dedicated companion app. This will enable the automatic input of values each time the measurement button is pressed, instead of manually transferring data to a recording sheet or slip, accelerating work efficiency and reducing errors in posting. By reading the special pattern printed on the back of the tape, measurements can be made in units of one millimeter. Since it isn't necessary to rewind the measure tape when continuously measuring multiple points, users can perform measurements quickly and easily. This makes it possible not only to improve the overall efficiency in the apparel industry, including for important tasks like measurement and inspecting goods, but may offer future potential uses in the transportation industry and the manufacturing industries.

Tired of ill-fitting mass-produced garments, a growing number of consumers today have turned back the clock to demand clothes made to cater to their unique body size and shapes. Custom-made apparels are making a comeback in a big way and retailers are struggling to keep up with the trend.

Egypt and Switzerland have signed a cooperation agreement to provide technical and financial support for the Egyptian textile and clothing sector by applying the GTEX international programme with a total fund of SwF 1.5 million (about $1.5 million). The agreement will help in developing ties between the two countries besides enhancing their economic, financial, and technical cooperation. In addition, it will help in implementing Egypt’s strategy to boost the competitiveness of industrial sectors.

The main objectives of the agreement, which will be in force until December 31, 2021, are: create more job opportunities, improve income levels for workers in the sector, and increase the added value of products and services, as well as increase exports in both new and traditional markets.

The GTEX programme is being implemented in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and is funded and supported by the Swedish government, while the Egyptian government is providing 10 percent of the total fund.

The US share in world cotton production has declined by 20 per cent from the early 2000s. However, it remains the world’s leading cotton exporter. Brazil’s cotton exports are projected to increase 10.5 per cent over the next 10 years, the largest projected growth rate among the world’s major exporters. Brazil became the world’s second-ranking cotton exporter in 2018-19. India’s cotton exports are expected to grow by 4.5 per cent over the next ten years. Improved yields have raised India’s production and exports, although bollworm resistance issues have hampered yields in recent years.

The projected growth in yield reflects continuing improvement in cultivation practices and stabilization of insect problems. India is expected to remain the world’s third-largest cotton exporter after the United States and Brazil. Exports from the 15 countries of the Economic Community of West African States are projected to experience sustained four per cent annual growth in the next decade. Improvements in technical and financial infrastructure will help boost production and exports. Exports from the other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are projected to increase 2.7 per cent annually. Major cotton-producing countries in Central Asia are promoting investment in textile industries and exports of textile products rather than exports of raw cotton.

Small and medium-sized garment factories in Bangladesh are shutting down. The main reasons are: the high cost of production, lower prices offered by foreign buyers, the recent wage hike and the recent free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union. Many work orders are shifting to Vietnam, one of the competitors of Bangladesh, because of this free trade agreement. Another important reason is that larger firms’ sub-contracting work to small units has been restricted after the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013. The restriction on sub-contracting is a major threat for the units as most of them are dependent on the bigger units overloaded with work orders. Now they can’t do the same job because of poor compliance. It is this that prevents retailers from placing work orders with them. Also, small garment units face capital shortages and have low negotiation skills.

There are more than 1000 small and medium units in the garment sector, each employing between 500 and 2,000 workers. About 50 small and medium-sized garment factories have shut operations since April. Closures will take the number of small and medium apparel factories that went out of business in the last one year to more than 200 units.

Primark is delivering strong sales growth in the United States. The UK-based brand has a disciplined store-by-store approach. It offers trendy clothes at rock-bottom prices. It is confident it can succeed in a country that has been a graveyard for some of Britain’s biggest retailers, including Marks & Spencer, Tesco and most recently Topshop. That confidence is underlined by a move to create a supply chain closer to the US market. Primark currently sources all its clothes for the United States from its traditional suppliers, China, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam and Turkey - a costly exercise as stock is freighted across the Pacific through the Panama Canal and up the US eastern seaboard. The plan now is to tap suppliers from countries in Central America, such as Guatemala, Costa Rica and Mexico. Primark’s combination of value, fashionability and breadth of range can mean it can build a US business over the next decade as big as its one in Europe.

Founded in 1969, Primark trades from 373 stores in 12 countries. Profit increased nearly fourfold in 10 years - achieved without venturing into online shopping. Primark contributes more than half of the total profit of its parent, Associated British Foods, which also owns major sugar and grocery arms.

The Philippines is eager for a free trade agreement with the US. The hope is that this will provide preferential treatment and better market access for the country’s export items.

In the meantime Philippines is maximizing its trade privilege with the US under the Generalized System of Preferences. The GSP allows the Philippines to export a total of 5,057 products, or nearly half of the 10,600 US tariff lines, to the US at zero or reduced tariffs. However, the Philippines could lose this preferential treatment once it has been classified as an upper middle-income economy by the World Bank. The government is targeting to develop the Philippines into an upper middle-income economy by 2022. Therefore, the country could lose its GSP status that year.

Trade in goods between the Philippines and the US last year improved 7.16 percent. This makes the US the country’s third-largest trading partner next to China and Japan. Further, exports to the US grew 10.04 per cent, making it the country’s top export destination. Electronic products account for bulk of shipments. Aside from this, top exports to the United States include manufactured items, apparel and clothing, ignition wiring sets, machinery and transport equipment and coconut oil.