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A delegation of Italian businessmen including President of Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACMIT) is expected to visit Pakistan from December 4 to 7. The delegation is expected to visit Lahore and Islamabad. And as per Ijaz A Khokhar, Central Chairman, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) they will be signing a MoU with ACMIT for mutual cooperation to enhance trade and investment. The proposed MoU will be help in getting a partner in Italy, help in tech exchange and facilitate in business development and strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and Italy.
The PRGMEA chairman said Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and Turkey will open new business opportunities especially for textile and leather sectors. The Turkish garment sector was producing highly advance products and FTA will provide an opportunity to Pakistani garment sector to gain the experience of Turkish firms in further improving their products.
The PRGMEA has made efforts to develop close contacts with Turkish associations, Khokar said that the Association was taking revolutionary steps for tracking the industry modern production lines enabling it to compete with international market easily. It will be also taking drastic steps for the promotion of entrepreneurship and female and male students of fashion designing institutes would be trained under this programme. Khokar also informed necessary arrangements are being finalized for setting up state of the art Pakistan Readymade Technical Training Institute costing over Rs 125 million and development work on institute will soon be carried out.
The North Face and biotech start-up Spiber have unveiled the world’s first outdoor apparel prototype to feature synthetic spider silk. The prototype has been created with Spiber’s synthetic spider silk material Qmonos using existing industrial manufacturing equipment.
It is a parka and serves as a physical incarnate of Spiber’s bioengineered proteins mimicking spider silk and the first step toward commercial production of the sustainable fiber. The full offering includes men’s and women’s jackets and vests, tops and bottoms, equipment, footwear and accessories for a range of products suited for traveling and times of inclement weather in urban environments.
Spiber has already applied its synthetic spider silk on a seat for a concept car with Lexus that absorbs energy on impact. The long-term goal is widespread adoption of synthetic protein materials for industrial use. Spider silk is a renewable resource that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels and requires fewer chemical dyes when made into a garment. It is the toughest material that is known. The fibers Spiber has created can withstand existing industrial machinery.
A protein material was made through a completely biological process like any other protein material; a synthetic process was used to form that material. Reducing society’s reliance on petroleum-based materials is part of Spiber and The North Face’s vision for a sustainable future.
Australia’s leading expo for apparel, accessories and textile sourcing, International Sourcing Expo Australia (ISEA), was held from November 15 to 17, the three day event saw over 3,800 trade visitors including start-up labels, large retail brands and chain stores at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. With a 25 per cent increase in overall attendance since 2015, visitors from 23 countries had the opportunity to connect with more than 600 exhibitors from 17 countries including key sourcing regions such as India, China, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Senior decision makers from business owners and directors to buyers and product developers made up 75 per cent of attendees, with a notable increase in major retailers sending more representatives to the event. The comprehensive expert seminar program was well attended with some of the world’s most respected industry professionals examining key changes and trends in international sourcing, providing opportunity for visitors to collect invaluable market insights and learn about global trend and sourcing best practice.
India’s presence was significant and concentrated on showcasing high quality product and diverse capabilities, revealing its continued focus on the Australian market to position and drive a quality offering into the future. Inaugural participation by both Enterprise Mauritius and the Sri Lanka Export Development Board attracted significant interest from visitors, with related exhibitors reporting solid results.
Exhibitors from India, Turkey, Italy, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam reported good results from the first co-located Footwear & Leather Show with indications of returning to the event in 2017. On the other hand, the Council for Leather Exports, India has flagged its commitment in a larger way for next year.
"Denim being the preferred apparel for all age groups and genders, companies are going all out to innovate to lure customers. They are coming up with innovative product line ups to expand denim’s capabilities and appeal. As Jean Hegedus, Global Director-denim, Invista, points out one of the hottest things right now in stretch is bi-stretch. Invista has been working with a number of mill partners to develop new ways of executing bi-stretch that makes a better product for the consumer and a lot easier for the mill to handle."
Denim being the preferred apparel for all age groups and genders, companies are going all out to innovate to lure customers. They are coming up with innovative product line ups to expand denim’s capabilities and appeal. As Jean Hegedus, Global Director-denim, Invista, points out one of the hottest things right now in stretch is bi-stretch. Invista has been working with a number of mill partners to develop new ways of executing bi-stretch that makes a better product for the consumer and a lot easier for the mill to handle.
Traditionally mills have used bi-stretch as a replacement for Lycra by putting it in the warp and the weft. Now with Dual FX technology, several mills are replacing Lycra with Dual FX in warp and weft. The advantage is it gives better stability, it’s easier to work with and had less warp shrinkage, she added.
Unique line ups
Turkish mill Calik has introduced a denim line called Circular 100 that uses Dual FX in both directions, giving a softer hand and lighter weight. High waist denim is very much in vogue right now, but one of the difficulties is when people sit down, it isn’t always comfortable. Having the extra stretch in the warp direction helps make it a more comfortable proposition, Hegedus remarked. Pakistan-based mill US Denim has also developed a collection using bi-stretch Dual FX selvedge denim, which leads to a “modern take on vintage.
Invista has also launched a new fabric weaving technology to make bi-stretch ‘double beam’ fabric. It uses two parallel warps—one of cotton indigo yarn and other Lycra-covered yarn that gets buried on the inside of the product. The result is low growth, easy to control warp shrinkage and can be used with a variety of fibers to create specialised fabrics. It requires a double-beam weaving setup and Invista is working with China’s Advance Denim on the first offerings. Additionally, Invista’s Coolmax is gaining popularity as a summer jean, while Tough Max continues to grow, especially in children’s wear.
Imagination without limitation
Invista has been working towards developing ‘Cordura Authentic Alchemie 2.0’. In order to develop this, the company has been partnering Cordura’s global mill partners, Arvind, Artistic Milliner, Cone Denim, Advance Denim and Kipas, which helped Cordura put together a three-part trend pack called, ‘Imagination Without Limitation.’
The first group, ‘Make it for Me’, is built around the notion self-expression, authenticity and customised looks. Styles include garment wash denim or fabric with a special finish, lightweight but with strength. ‘Show Me You Care’ reflects ecological consumers’ concerns and awareness of natural resources. It involves a partnership with Lenzing’s Tencel lyocell fibre and some testing being done with Lenzing’s recycled Refibra fiber. ‘Faster and Farther’ is all about innovation and people being able to do more with their denim. Tricia Carey, Director Business Development for denim at Lenzing Fibers, said she is taking a multifaceted approach to expanding the fibre company’s reach in the sector. It primarily involves going deeper into the Tencel brand’s reach into denim, while also making inroads with Lenzing’s modal fiber.
Tencel is teaming up with Santoni Knits for a collection of seamless knits. Carey highlighted that denim is a versatile partner to pair with anything and is a must-have in every season. In an age where new innovations and interpretations drive the denim category, there is always something that emerges as a new way forward and Denim 2.0 is presenting itself as that new evolution.
Each knitted garment in the collection incorporates fiber combinations and knitted structures to create a cross-over concept. Traditional sportswear, made with the cut-and-sew concept from one material and one fabric structure, has a limited ability to provide sufficient local wear comfort. But the seamless functional features can incorporate superior moisture wicking by incorporating Tencel in a two-layer construction, while inclusion of high performance yarns provide superior temperature regulation, Carey noted.
Trends in wool
Another trend shaping up in this stream is Creora in a dry, textured feel through the use of yarn structures that includes blends of wool and linen. A sustainability aspect is brought out with Creora Eco-soft blended with recycled nylon or recycled polyester or recycled cotton denim yarns. Denim is among the markets that nylon manufacture and marketer Nilit is targeting with its new Sensil premium nylon 6.6 brand for apparel.
Sensil performance products give fabric designers many options to infuse denim with valuable attributes that consumers require in contemporary jeans wear. The company’s performance yarns are enhanced to provide additional attributes that consumers desire in today’s advanced denim products. Sensil Breeze imbues denim with a cooling effect for enhanced comfort. Sensil Body Fresh protects against the odors microbes can cause, which means busy consumers don’t have to take time to wash their jeans as often. Sensil Heat warms on cool days, while Sensil Aquarius stays dry on warm days, and Sensil Innergy helps energize cells and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Pierluigi Berardi, Nilit’s global marketing director, remarked consumers are raising their expectations for denim just as they are for everything else that they buy. Cutting edge jeans wear requires cutting edge fiber technology like Sensil premium Nylon 6.6 performance yarns. Together with its supply chain partners, Sensil creates fabrics that are the smart choice for denim brands that want to effectively respond to these shifting consumer attitudes about clothing and shopping.
According to UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) report, the price growth of export goods in Bangladesh will decline in 2017 compared to 2016 but volume will increase significantly in this period. The report ‘Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2016’, was released with recent trends and updates of the region.
The UNESCAP said price growth of merchandise export in 2017 would come down to 3.80 per cent from 4.2 per cent recorded till yet in the current year. However, the volume of export will increase to 1.64 per cent in 2017 from 0.77 per cent in 2016.
Because of the growth in volume, value of export would increase to 5.5 per cent in 2017 compared to 5 per cent of the current year, the report says. Bangladesh export earnings in fiscal year 2015-16 stood at $34.24 billion with readymade garments exports recording $28.09 billion. The price growth of export goods of other neighbouring countries will be positive as per the report. For example, the price growth of Vietnam will rise to 10.20 per cent with growth in volume from -3.20 per cent in 2016.
Price growth of India is currently negative at -3.70 per cent which will be 5.60 per cent in the coming year. Sri Lanka’s price growth of export goods is currently -5.30 per cent which will increase to 2.60 per cent in 2017. Similar trends have been witnessed in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand where price growth of export goods will increase in the coming year with rise in volume. The UNESCAP report shows that the price growth of import goods of Bangladesh will also decline to 0.80 per cent in 2017 from 3.20 in the current year.
The 7th edition of Denimsandjeans Bangladesh will take place on March 1 and 2, 2017 with a new theme ‘Denim Mashup’. The semi-annual denim show provides a platform where the global denim community comes together with an objective to share, interact and to establish future transactions with Bangladesh, a very important supplier nation.
Denim Mashup is a youth-centric theme especially for young women. The trend brings the fun and feel of the ’90s complete with all over embellishment, shredding and chain details, embroideries, exaggerated proportions, quilted surfaces, fabric mixes etc. The show will recreate this theme using products from some key global denim suppliers.
Denim Mashup has been a subtle trend over many years now. Multiple brands worldwide from luxury brands like Gucci to fast fashion retailers like Zara and H&M are taking up this as the next cool denim trend in 2017. Informative seminars, live presentations, panel discussions and workshops on global denim innovations will add further zing to the show.
The last edition’s theme was ‘Vintage Recall’ which brought out a warehouse ambience at the show. A key highlight was a workshop by a traditional artisan who brought out the 3000-year old indigo dyeing and printing tradition from India.
Bluesign Technologies has launched an online list of safe chemicals. The chemicals that are in the list originate from the most sustainably acting chemical companies around the world. To get a chemical certified, a chemical company has to undergo a Bluesign audit followed by a corrective action plan to fulfil the Bluesign criteria for production sites. Only after implementing the necessary steps to fulfil the Bluesign criteria for chemical companies is a certification of a chemical product possible.
Bluesign Technologies is a developer of Bluesign system adopted by worldwide leading textile and accessory manufacturers for sustainable textiles. With the comprehensive range in the Bluesign bluefinder, all possible colors and common finishes are possible, including more than 60 alternatives to perfluorinated compounds. Additionally a recommendation for every single chemical product for the various possible end uses is given.
The key for a chemical assessment is a perfectly installed product stewardship program to get all necessary data in an accurate and correct form. The patented platform has already amassed more than 7,500 Bluesign approved chemicals. In 2017, Bluesign will launch for its chemical system partners a new release of the Bluesign bluetool that will consider the latest technology for risk assessments.
Aurora Specialty Textiles has been included in Digital Output’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Each year Digital Output magazine readers select the top 50 winners and ten honorable mentions. Aurora Specialty Textiles is a US-based provider of innovative textile solutions.
It provides high quality printable canvas products to US and global markets. Over the past two years, Aurora has invested millions in a new, state-of-the art North American textile manufacturing operation and has launched several new products, including its Expressions printable canvas line. The company’s operations feature the new EHWHA ultra wide-width coating and finishing line, which works easily with a broad range of woven and non-woven materials up to 134” wide.
The group is a global leader in coating, dyeing and finishing of both woven and non-woven fabrics and has a 133-year tradition of innovation. Products include digitally printable textiles through Aurora’s Northern Lights Printable Textiles line, specialty home products, industrial products and tape products for a wide variety of industries.
Using the magazine’s website metric system, Digital Output tallies readers’ interest in companies throughout the year. This is done via requests made on print and web editorial and advertisements as seen in the magazine, on the website, or in Digital Output’s weekly newsletter, Digital Queue.
Fashion goods from Africa currently benefit from tariff free access to the UK market as a part of the EU trade policy, which makes them significantly cheaper than products imported from Asia. African goods have a 12 per cent advantage over Chinese items. As China transitions towards higher value-adds in manufacturing and services, the African textile industry has a chance to take a share.
However, the zero tariffs and zero quotas regimes are now at risk with Brexit. African countries want the UK to maintain the tariff free market access for their fashion products. As UK and European retailers and brands seek to innovate and strengthen their market position by diversifying existing supply chains, Africa provides a new source for ready-to-wear garments, shoes and fashion accessories.
The rapid growth in many African economies offers them opportunities for greater sustainability in their value chains. For retailers this can render value chains shorter, more manageable and more transparent, and will create new business opportunities.
Africa has a creative industries sector that adds value to natural resources rather than exporting them raw. This creates job, skills and livelihoods in African countries so that the benefits of production are shared among all those involved.
"On the back of government initiatives like 'Make in India', the size of domestic textile machinery industry is poised to touch around Rs 32,000 to Rs 35,000 crores in the next five years from the present Rs 22,000 crores. India International Textile Machinery Exhibitions Society (IITMES) Chairman Sanjiv Lathia says the textile machinery manufacturing section is one of the important segments of the industry in India."
On the back of government initiatives like 'Make in India', the size of domestic textile machinery industry is poised to touch around Rs 32,000 to Rs 35,000 crores in the next five years from the present Rs 22,000 crores. India International Textile Machinery Exhibitions Society (IITMES) Chairman Sanjiv Lathia says the textile machinery manufacturing section is one of the important segments of the industry in India. With government's initiatives like 'Make in India' and incentives for manufacturing sector, the IITMES expects the size of India's textile machinery industry to touch Rs 32,000-35,000 crore in the next five years from the present Rs 22,000 crore.
Accounting for approximately 11 per cent of the total outbound shipments, the textile sector is one of the largest contributors to India's exports. India's overall textile exports during FY16 stood at $40 billion and is expected to reach $223 billion by 2021, Lathia added.
After agriculture, the textile industry is the second largest employer in India. Hence it is utmost necessary that the machine manufacturing industry strengthens its base for quality output and efficiency through innovations, he observed. Meanwhile, the Society is organising the 10th edition of its exhibition 'India ITME 2016' in Mumbai from December 3 to 8. The event is expected to attract over 1,050 exhibitors from 38 nations, 13 delegations and nearly 1.50 lakh visitors. Through the event, India ITME Society will provide a global platform for exhibitors to showcase their products and disseminate information on innovative technologies.
