FW
In celebration of Earth Day, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has announced a new season of its acclaimed film series Fashion Redressed, produced in collaboration with BBC StoryWorks, the award-winning commercial content arm of BBC Studios.
Originally launched in 2023, Fashion Redressed captured the attention of global audiences, spotlighting inspiring changemakers and innovative solutions shaping a sustainable future for fashion. From pioneering silk researchers in Helsinki to Indigenous designers in Arizona, the first season garnered over five million views and record-breaking social media engagement. It was also featured at the Global Fashion Summits in Copenhagen and Boston, sparking industry-wide dialogue.
As the Global Fashion Summit 2025 nears, the upcoming season will spotlight the fashion industry’s shift from pledges to practical implementation. The new episodes will focus on the urgent need to address systemic barriers, promote social equity, and advance circularity through technology, innovation, and courageous leadership.
“At a time when the industry must turn barriers into bridges, we’re proud to continue telling stories that educate, inspire, and accelerate sustainable progress,” said Federica Marchionni, CEO of GFA.
BBC StoryWorks will collaborate with selected partners to create immersive, human-centered branded content. These narratives will explore how organisations and innovators are actively shaping a regenerative, inclusive fashion ecosystem.
The new series is set to premiere on a dedicated branded microsite on BBC.com in early 2026. With the platform’s reach of 175 million monthly browsers, and additional amplification through GFA’s channels, the campaign aims to drive global awareness and action around sustainable fashion transformation.
Bangladesh's clothing exports to the United States increased by 17.23 per cent during the 9MFY25 period spanning July’24-March’25, according to the latest data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
This increase comes even with concerns about potential reciprocal tariffs that the Trump administration imposed in early April, as the US is Bangladesh's largest single-country destination for ready-made garments.
During these nine months, the US accounted for 18.97 per cent of Bangladesh's total garment exports, with shipments valued at $5.74 billion, as per the EPB data
Overall, Bangladesh's RMG) exports increased by 10.84 per cent to $30.25 billion during the first three quarters of FY25 compared to the same period the previous year.
The European Union remained the top regional destination, absorbing 49.82 per cent of total RMG exports, worth $15.07 billion. This represents a Y-o-Y increase of 11.31 per cent. Germany was the leading market within the EU, with imports valued at $3.80 billion, followed by Spain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland.
The Netherlands recorded a significant 23.15 percent rise in imports, while France, Sweden, and Denmark also showed strong growth.
The United Kingdom imported $3.36 billion worth of products—11.10 per cent of total exports. However, growth in the UK market was more modest at 4.14 per cent.
Exports to non-traditional markets grew by 6.66 per cent, reaching $5.12 billion and making up 16.93 per cent of total RMG shipments. Japan was the leader in this category with imports valued at $960.45 million, followed by Australia and India.
Among other notable destinations, Turkey imported $357.22 million worth of garments, while exports to Mexico stood at $251.22 million.
Despite encouraging performance in several emerging markets, exports to Russia, South Korea, the UAE, and Malaysia declined. The decline in exports to Russia is largely attributed to geopolitical tensions, while weaker performance in the UAE, Malaysia, and Korea suggests a need for renewed commercial efforts.
Looking at product types, knitwear exports increased by 11.22 per cent, although shipments to non-traditional markets slowed. Woven garments exports increased by 10.40 per cent, supported by rising demand in less conventional markets even as growth in the UK remained subdued.
To help accelerate the trade show’s growth and international presence, the 64th edition of Filo will now be held on September 23-24, 2025 in the Pavilion 14 of Fiera Milano Rho in Italy.
This move aligns with trade show’s recent membership in the IT EX Association, which unites the most significant Italian international trade shows. The larger and more efficient spaces of Fiera Milano Rho are better suited to accommodate these evolving needs.
The chosen dates and new location of Filo underscore the exhibition’s broader growth strategy to better meet the expectations and demands of both exhibitors and visitors. This proves particularly relevant as the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in 2026 is expected to attract global attention.
Paolo Monfermoso, Manager, Filo, avers, the new dates of the exhibition allow Filo to fit into the international trade show calendar in the most advantageous way for companies, respecting the timelines of an upstream sector in the supply chain. Shifting the show to Fiera Milano Rho also allows organizers to better address the needs of exhibitors and visitors, integrating seamlessly into a week that features exhibitions connected to various stages of the textile supply chain in Milan, attracting numerous buyers from around the world.
Laying the foundation for extensive sustainability regulations across the apparel sector in the EU, the European Commission has approved a work plan spanning 2025-2030 under the Energy Labeling Regulation and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
Empowered by resources like the Digital Product Passport to enhance consumer transparency, this regulation grants the Commission the authority to enforce standards related to product durability, reusability, repairability, recycled content, and environmental impact in the sector.
Given their potential to boost the circular economy and climate objectives, apparel textiles are among the initial products slated for regulatory focus. It's anticipated that harmonized EU-wide standards will benefit these industries by cutting down on administrative expenses, preventing trade barriers, and boosting their competitive edge.
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, states, this initiative signifies a significant step toward making the circular economy a tangible reality and establishing sustainable products as the norm throughout the EU.
Asian-American actress Ashley Park has been named as the new ambassador by luxury brand Dior for its fashion and beauty segments.
Known for her role as Mindy Chen in the Netflix series ‘Emily in Paris’, as well as her portrayal of Gretchen Weiners in ‘Mean Girls; the musical, on Broadway, Park is the first Asian-American actress to be nominated in her category at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Her commitment to female empowerment and individuality perfectly aligns with Dior’s philosophy, says the brand.
Park also features in other theatre roles including Tuptim in ‘The King and I’ and MwE in Ars Nova’s's musical ‘KPop’. She also stars in Adele Lim's directorial debut, ‘Joy Ride,’ and plays pivotal roles in the series, ‘Beef’ and ‘Only Murders in the Building.’
The Tony and Grammy nominee joins other celebrity Dior ambassadors including Charlize Theron, Natalie Portman, Alexandra Daddario, Rachel Zegler, Anna Sawai, Dilraba Dilmurat, Anya Taylor-Joy, Blackpink's Jisoo, Robert Pattinson, Caleb McLaughlin, and Jenna Ortega.
A UK-based kids’ sleepwear specialist, Mori has acquired online lifestyle brand, Kidly. This acquisition helps Mori strengthen its foothold in the pre-school category and fast-track omnichannel growth across the UK and US.
Kidly offers sustainable clothing, homewares and toys alongside a curated edit of “unique” third-party kids’ brands. Currently unavailable in the US, the brand plans to make its debut in this market in 2025, alongside opening physical retail stores in the country in future.
Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, Mori is also rapidly growing in the US where the brand is stocked by big names including Nordstorm and Bloomindale’s. This year, the brand has been extending its offerings with a new collection of pyjamas for toddlers and children up to 8 years featuring ‘bolder, more playful prints’ made from the brand’s signature supersoft modal fabric.
Akin Onal, Founder and CEO, Mori, says, Kidly’s acquisition is a ‘defining moment’ for the brand as its product range perfectly complements Mori’s mission. This acquisition strengthens the brand’s long-term strategy and confirms its intent to scale globally, especially in the US, he adds.
The acquisition also “signals a broader strategic ambition to support high-potential children’s brands in both the UK and US that may be facing financial challenges,states Onal. By preserving brand equity, customer loyalty, and design integrity, Mori aims to provide a stable and values-aligned home for brands that still have so much to offer, he adds.
Bangladesh's position as the world's second-largest garment exporter is facing increasing challenges due to global trade shifts, regional competition, and internal structural issues.
The 37 per cent tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have intensified the pressure on Bangladesh, causing concern among industry leaders and analysts about the country's ability to maintain its global ranking. Bangladesh now faces a critical test of its export resilience and trade negotiation skills, especially for a sector built on low-cost production and heavily reliant on price-sensitive markets.
Many industry leaders are closely watching Vietnam's rise. Despite facing a higher 46 per cent tariff compared to Bangladesh's 37 per cent, there's growing concern that Bangladesh's limited trade diplomacy and slower move towards higher-value production could allow Vietnam to overtake it in global rankings. Rubana Huq, Former President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), emphasized on the urgency for Bangladesh to act quickly.
In 2023, Bangladesh accounted for 7.4 per cent of global apparel exports, valued at $38 billion, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). China ranked first with $165 billion, holding a 31.6 per cent market share. Vietnam followed with $31 billion in exports and a 6 per cent share. However, these 2023 figures might not reflect the current shifting dynamics, which could be clearer in the yet-to-be-released 2024 WTO data. Adding to concerns, the WTO revised Bangladesh's past export figures downward by $9 billion due to data discrepancies, raising questions about the reliability of their statistics.
Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has several strengths, including a large and affordable workforce, a strong domestic textile industry, a global lead in certified green factories, and improving international safety standards. However, these are increasingly countered by weaknesses such as poor infrastructure, long lead times, high borrowing costs, bureaucratic hurdles, and an over-reliance on basic, low-value garments.
A key difference between Bangladesh and competitors like Vietnam is their strategic direction. Vietnam has steadily moved towards producing higher-value goods, diversified its product range, and used free trade agreements to gain preferential market access. With both countries facing high tariffs in the US market, the ability to offer differentiated, value-added products and skillfully navigate trade diplomacy may be the deciding factor.
Without targeted reforms and strong trade engagement, Bangladesh risks being overtaken in global supply chains through a gradual decline in competitiveness and missed opportunities. While some exporters believe Bangladesh can maintain its edge, there's a general agreement on the urgent need for diversification into higher-value products, technology upgrades, workforce development, and stronger international trade relations to secure favorable terms and adapt to the evolving global market.
Fuelled by an increasing demand for knitted or crocheted textiles, the value of the bed-linen market in the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.8 per cent from 2024-35 to reach $2.2 billion by 2035, indicates a report by IndexBox.
The volume of this market is likely to grow at a +1.0 per cent CAGR to 302,000 metric tons by the end of this period.
In 2024, China (55,000 metric tons), India (32,000 metric tons), and Pakistan (103,000 metric tons) emerged as the largest consumers of bed linen across the world. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 70 per cent of global consumption. They were followed by Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam with a combined share of 19 per cent.
On the other hand, nations with the highest market values in 2024 included China ($350 million), India ($236 million), and Pakistan ($549 million). Together, these three represented 64 per cent of the total market value followed by Japan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand accounting for an additional 22 per cent.
In 2024, the production of knitted or crocheted bed linen in Asia-Pacific decreased by 2.4 per cent to 432,000 metric tons. The value of this production also declined to $2.6 billion in 2024, based on estimated export prices. Accounting for 85 per cent of the total production, China (138,000 metric tons), India (33,000 metric tons), and Pakistan (196,000 metric tons) were the top three producers in 2024.
After a two-year decline, overseas purchases of knitted or crocheted bed linen increased in 2024, reaching 22,000 metric tons for the first time since 2021. Imports of knitted or crocheted textiles, including bed linen, totaled $166 million USD in 2024.
Japan led global imports in 2024, with 12,000 metric tons, representing approximately 56 per cent of all imports. South Korea (2,100 metric tons), Malaysia (1,800 metric tons), Australia (1,600 metric tons), and Taiwan (1,400 metric tons) followed, with a combined share of 31 per cent. Singapore (498 metric tons) and Vietnam (585 metric tons) accounted for a smaller fraction of total imports.
Japan is the largest market in the Asia-Pacific region for imported bed linens and knitted or crocheted textiles, accounting for 65 per cent of all imports ($107 million ). Australia ranked second with 8.6 per cent of total imports ($14 million), followed by South Korea with 8.4 per cent.
China (83,000 metric tons) and Pakistan (94,000 metric tons) were the largest exporters, accounting for 98 per cent of total exports. In terms of value, China ($518 million) and Pakistan ($487 million) were also the leading suppliers of bed linens and knitted or crocheted textiles in the Asia-Pacific region.
Cotton Club (BD) Ltd, one of Bangladesh’s leading garment manufacturers, has reported major operational improvements and a rise in profitability after implementing Coats Digital’s GSDCost solution in August 2021. The company has reduced the production time of its core styles by 25.6 per cent, increasing overall productivity by 5 per cent and driving an annual profit gain of $0.45 million. These gains are largely attributed to a 90 per cent improvement in costing accuracy, which also helped reduce material waste by 10 per cent, cut unnecessary overtime by 8 per cent, and improve on-time delivery performance by 7 per cent.
Before adopting GSDCost, Cotton Club struggled with inefficient processes relying on outdated spreadsheets and disconnected data. This made it difficult for the company to maintain visibility across its cost and capacity forecasting systems, often resulting in poor decision-making, missed deadlines, and lost business opportunities. With no accurate Standard Minute Values (SMVs), the manufacturer faced serious challenges in calculating precise production costs and efficiently managing capacity.
Since integrating GSDCost, Cotton Club has been able to establish international standard time benchmarks across departments using predetermined times and standard motion codes. This transformation has allowed its sales, costing, planning, and production teams to collaborate effectively using a unified method to analyse manufacturing costs. The digital upgrade has also helped the company take on more complex and diverse orders with confidence, improving customer satisfaction and strengthening brand loyalty.
Founded in 2006, Cotton Club operates a vertically integrated manufacturing operation, covering knitting, dyeing, cutting, printing, embroidery, and sewing. The company comprises four entities including Cotton Clout (BD) Ltd, Tropical Knitex Ltd, and Cotton Clothing (BD) Ltd, and focuses on producing knitted garments and underwear for global brands. With a workforce of 15,000 and 6,800 sewing machines, Cotton Club reported an annual turnover of $268 million, with a target to reach $300 million this fiscal year.
In 2023, the company expanded with a modern seamless garment production facility in Gazipur. Spanning 260,800 square feet, the facility is equipped with advanced technology to uphold strict quality and environmental standards. Cotton Club holds multiple certifications, including BSCI, WRAP, SEDEX, GOTS, GRS, ISO 14001:2015, and LEED Gold.
Md. Zubayer Mondol, Director and Owner of Cotton Club (BD) Ltd., credited GSDCost with helping the company take a scientific approach to cost control and performance tracking. Coats Digital’s Customer Success Manager, Golam Mahbub Sikder, praised the company for embracing digital transformation to stay competitive and future-ready in a fast-evolving industry.
Bailu Group, the parent of Xinxiang Chemical Fiber Co, has launched a pilot production line for Next Generation viscose fibre at its newly built BylurRecel facility in Henan Province, China. This new line aims to produce regenerated cellulosic fibre using mainly post-consumer textiles, such as discarded hotel linens, along with some pre-consumer industrial waste.
BylurRecel employs a simplified, direct-dissolution process that eliminates the traditional dissolving pulp stage, offering significant potential to reduce energy, water, and chemical usage. The facility currently has an annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes of viscose staple fibre. A second line for viscose filament fibre, also with a 1,000-tonne capacity, is under development.
In 2025, Bailu expects to produce around 600 tonnes of its Next Gen fibre. However, large-scale targets will be finalised after the pilot phase is evaluated for performance and supply chain alignment. The project supports China’s goal of reducing textile waste by 30 per cent by 2030 and promotes a circular, closed-loop system of textile reuse.
Nicole Rycroft, Executive Director of Canopy, praised the move, calling it “a noteworthy step in the transition of China’s MMCF sector to more circular and Next Gen production.” She added that Bailu’s elimination of the pulp stage could reduce pressure on forest ecosystems.
This pilot complements Bailu’s Bailu-Eco viscose filament yarn, made with Sodra’s OnceMore recycled pulp. With a total capacity of 100,000 tonnes annually, Bailu Group has worked with Canopy since 2018 and received a Dark Green Shirt rating in Canopy’s 2024 Hot Button Report.
