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Authentic Brands Group has partnered with Sports Casuals International (SCI) to introduce a Reebok-branded performance golf apparel line for men and women. The collaboration will involve design, manufacture, and distribution of the collection by SCI, while Reebok Design Group (RDG) will handle the development of golf footwear. This move aims to establish Reebok as a key player in the evolving golf market.
Combining performance-driven technologies with modern aesthetics, the collection will offer comfort, functionality, and versatility both on and off the course. It will be available through department stores, specialty retailers, and online platforms.
Steve Robaire, EVP, Reebok, says, the introduction of this collection marks a significant milestone for Reebok as it re-enters the performance golf space, says Steve Robaire, EVP, Reebok.
Golf is transforming culturally, and Reebok is ready to lead with accessible, stylish, and high-performing products, adds Todd Krinksky, CEO, Reebok
The launch follows Reebok’s partnership with pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau and his LIV Golf team, Crushers GC.
After nearly 18 months, LVMH has regained its position as Europe’s largest publicly traded company, surpassing Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk A/S.
LVMH’s share price, which had declined by 0.8 per cent has rebounded alongside the luxury sector. Despite a challenging 2024, marked by a 13 per cent slump due to reduced spending in China, investor confidence has grown. Earnings updates from industry peers Richemont SA and Brunello Cucinelli SpA have further fueled optimism.
Since mid-November, a Goldman Sachs index tracking the luxury sector has risen over 20 per cent, boosted by China’s stimulus efforts and expectations for economic recovery. US demand may also grow under a more business-friendly administration.
The market now turns its attention to the upcoming earnings season, with particular focus on LVMH’s full-year results, set for release on January 28. Analysts will be watching for insights into demand across key regions and the impact of China’s economic measures.
A few Washington lawmakers are advocating for the passing of the House Bill 1107 for increased transparency in the fashion industry’s environmental and labor practices.
Introduced by Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma) at the start of the 2025 legislative session, the bill targets fashion companies with gross income exceeding $100 million, requiring them to disclose their impact on the environment and labor standards.
The bill responds to growing concerns over fast fashion's environmental toll, including excessive waste, pollution, and resource consumption. For instance, producing a single pair of jeans requires up to 10,000 liters of water, equivalent to 10 years of drinking water for one person, according to the United Nations.
Past iterations of the bill failed to advance in 2022, 2023, and 2024. However, this year’s version includes updated requirements for fashion manufacturers to report on chemicals in clothing, environmental marketing claims, disposal practices for unsold items, and pollution-reduction initiatives. The reports would help Washington’s Department of Ecology develop policies to minimize the industry’s environmental impact.
Companies that fail to comply could face penalties, with funds directed to underserved communities impacted by environmental harm.
Supporters, like Kathryn Horvath, WashPIRG argue the bill provides much-needed transparency, enabling the state to mitigate waste and pollution. They note that many large companies, such as Nike, already produce similar reports.
However, critics raise concerns about the bill’s feasibility. The Washington Retail Association warns it could lead to higher costs for consumers and fewer clothing options in the state. The Department of Ecology, which remains neutral, has expressed reservations about its ability to oversee global supply chains and suggested involving other state agencies.
As Washington’s 105-day legislative session unfolds, lawmakers will determine whether the state is ready to lead the charge on fashion industry accountability or if this proposal will remain on the shelf.
An operator of PET plastic and polyester fiber recycling technology, Loop Industries has ended its joint venture with South Korean company Geo Centric (SKGC). Established in early 2023, the partnership aimed to build and operate an Infinite Loop manufacturing facility in Ulsan, South Korea.
The decision to terminate the agreement aligns with Loop’s strategy to focus on deploying capital in low-cost regions and prioritizing a licensing and engineering services model in higher-cost countries. A regulatory filing also cited strategic restructuring and reorientation within the SK Group as factors in the decision.
As part of this reorganization, Jonghyuk Lee, SKGC stepped down from his position as the Board Member with Loop on January 13, 2025. Despite the termination, SKGC plans to maintain its financial investment in Loop.
While the dissolution of the South Korean agreement poses a challenge for Loop, the company is advancing its plans for a facility in India. Following a land study, Gujarat was identified as the optimal location for the project. In partnership with local firm Ester, Loop is conducting due diligence on land acquisition and has engaged third-party contractors to manage construction and accounting.
The Indian facility is expected to be launched in Q2, FY25 with construction set to be completed by late 2026. Commercial operations are projected to begin in 2027.
The Indian facility will cater to the growing demand from circular fashion brands for textile-to-textile (T2T) polyester. By utilizing waste polyester feedstocks from India, the facility will produce polyester resin made entirely from textile waste, supporting sustainable practices in the fashion industry.
World’s largest spandex manufacturer by market share, known for its Creora and regen brands, Hyosung will showcase customized solutions for the denim industry at Kingpins New York. The event will be held at Basketball City from January 22–23. 2025.
The company will present its new denim innovations including an expanded regen BIO range featuring regen BIO+ and regen BIO Max, both containing higher amounts of renewable content.
It will also showcase the RCS-certified 100 per cent recycled regen, made from industrial waste, along with Creora 3D Max. This product provides excellent stretch and recovery with minimal spandex content, making garments easier to recycle. Additionally, Hyosung will unveil Creora Slip Free, which enhances seam slippage resistance.
Simon Hong, Global Marketing Director, Hyosung opines, it is important to provide tailored solutions to meet brands’ unique needs as they diverse approaches to sustainability, using recycled and bio-based materials or focusing on recyclable product.
Hyosung continues to support the Kingpins Future Fits Forum and will host a seminar on denim fashion trends during the forum. The company will exhibit in Stand 10 in the green area in the exhibition.
India and the United Kingdom are set to resume negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in early February 2025, as confirmed by a commerce department official. The talks, which initially began in January 2022, aim to deepen trade ties between the two nations and foster economic collaboration.
Simultaneously, efforts are underway to revise the India-ASEAN FTA, with the next round of discussions scheduled to start in Indonesia on February 10. The talks will concentrate on resolving lingering issues related to goods trade, according to Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Commerce Secretary.
Progress is also being made on the India-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) FTA. The commerce department announced that the terms of reference for the agreement are nearing finalization. The EAEU includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, presenting significant trade opportunities for India.
In an innovative move to enhance trade insights, the Indian government is developing an AI-powered data analytics platform. Highlighting its capability to assess export trends and resilience, providing critical insights for decision-making, Sunil Barthwal, Commerce Secretary Barthwal notes, whether there is consistency in our growth or not, these kinds of insights are now coming.
To address discrepancies in trade data, a joint committee of commerce and finance ministry officials has been formed. This follows prior errors in gold import calculations, prompting the creation of a mechanism for publishing accurate and consistent trade data.
Meanwhile, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is pursuing foreign direct investment (FDI) reforms. Consultations have been held with private equity firms, venture capitalists, and pension funds to reverse declining FDI inflows, which have averaged $70 billion annually over the past five years. The government is targeting $100 billion in annual FDI inflows over the next five years by streamlining policies and making India a more attractive investment destination.
Earlier, the DPIIT engaged with industry associations and legal experts to gather feedback on the FDI framework, underscoring its commitment to fostering a robust investment environment.
Fueled by advancements in technology, increased global cotton production and a growing demand for efficient harvesting methods, the cotton picker market is experiencing significant growth. As per a TMR study, valued at $707.4 million in 2023, the market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.2 per cent from 2024 to 2034, reaching $1.2 billion by the end of the forecast period.
The adoption of cotton pickers is revolutionizing agriculture by improving efficiency, reducing labor dependency, and increasing productivity. It has led steady rise in global cotton production with key producers—India, the United States, China, and Brazil—contributing around 73 per cent of total output. According to the USDA, cotton production increased by 6 per cent during the 2021/2022 season, driven by growing demand from the textile industry, where cotton accounts for nearly 50 per cent of all fabrics.
Automation in agriculture is transforming cotton harvesting. Cotton pickers enable faster, more efficient harvesting, especially in regions requiring multiple harvests per season. Mechanical harvesting is particularly popular in countries like the US, Australia, and parts of Europe, where it reduces labor costs and enhances productivity.
The Asia-Pacific region dominates the cotton picker market, accounting for over 60 per cent of global production in 2023. Key contributors include China, India, and Pakistan, where government incentives and a booming textile industry drive demand. Other regions, like North America, emphasize technological innovations, while Europe focuses on sustainable solutions, and Latin America works to improve agricultural productivity.
Modern cotton pickers feature advanced technologies, including GPS tracking, sensors, and real-time monitoring, ensuring precision and reducing waste. As the demand for eco-friendly solutions grows, manufacturers are adopting sustainable practices and forming partnerships to expand their global presence. These advancements make cotton pickers essential for the future of efficient, sustainable agr iculture.
A logistics firm under the DHL group, Blue Dart which currently handles about 8 per cent of e-commerce shipments in India, aims to increase its share to 25 per cent within the next five years Pablo Ciano, Global CEO, DHL E-commerce, says, the company is investing in infrastructure, technology, and capacity expansion to achieve this ambitious goal.
Independent logistics providers, including Blue Dart, currently manage around 6 million e-commerce shipments daily across India, while in-house operators like Amazon handle approximately 8 million shipments per day.
The company inaugurated a new integrated facility in Bijwasan, Delhi, capable of processing 200,000 e-commerce shipments daily. Ciano describes this as a ‘mid-level’ facility, noting that a larger ‘main hub’ for surface transport in northern India will open in July. This hub will handle ground shipments exclusively and will be 2.5 times the size of the Bijwasan facility, reflecting Blue Dart’s strategy to expand capacity nationwide.
In addition to infrastructure, Blue Dart is making significant investments in customer-facing technology.
Ciano also announced plans to modernize Blue Dart’s air fleet. The company operates eight aircraft, including six B757s and two B737s. Over the next three to five years, the capacity of the B757 planes will be increased by 50 per cent, bringing them on par with the B737s, which currently handle up to 45,000 tons annually.
To further boost its market presence, Blue Dart will launch an ‘export-deferred cross-border product’ service within the next 12 months. This service will allow e-commerce exporters to defer export duty payments for up to 60 days, providing a cost-effective solution for global trade.
Kim Glas, President and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), issued a statement praising US Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) proposed rule to limit the use of the de minimis exemption for imports, a loophole that has been detrimental to US manufacturing and consumers.
In her statement, Glas highlighted that the proposed rule seeks to exclude de minimis benefits for imports affected by US trade remedies, such as Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods. These imports, which typically enter the US duty-free under the de minimis provision, often evade penalties normally imposed on products that violate US trade laws. Glas argued that this loophole has led to a surge of illegal imports, harming US manufacturing jobs and industries, particularly the textile sector.
CBP noted that de minimis shipments entering the US have skyrocketed over the past decade, rising from 139 million shipments in fiscal year 2015 to over 1.36 billion in FY 2024. This exponential increase, CBP stated, has posed significant challenges to enforcing trade laws, as well as ensuring consumer protection, intellectual property rights, and health and safety standards.
Glas emphasized the need for swift reform, urging the administration to act quickly on this overdue rule. She also called on the incoming Trump administration to not only support the proposed rule but also implement more comprehensive measures to address the de minimis issue, including an executive order to end the exemption entirely. Furthermore, she urged Congress to collaborate with the new administration to provide a permanent solution to the problem, ensuring fair competition for US manufacturers.
NCTO expressed its commitment to working with CBP, the administration, and lawmakers to resolve this pressing issue.
British fashion retail sales to the EU have plummeted post-Brexit, with exports dropping over 60 per cent from £7.4 billion in 2019 to £2.7 billion in 2023, according to the latest Brexit to Breakthrough report by Retail Economics and Tradebyte. Overall, UK retail sales to the EU have fallen by £5.9 billion.
Clothing, once a top UK export, has been overtaken by health and beauty, electricals, DIY, and gardening, which now account for three-quarters of non-food retail exports. Despite inflation softening the impact, the total value of UK non-food retail exports to the EU has still declined nearly 18 per cent since 2019.
Brexit-related trade frictions including higher logistics costs, customs complexities, and regulatory hurdlescontinue to stifle international online retail. These barriers are limiting UK brands access to the EU’s £322.6 billion e-commerce market.
However, onlinee marketplaces have emerged as a key survival strategy, now accounting for £133 billion (40 per cent) of EU e-commerce. Richard Lim, CEO of Retail Economics, emphasized their importance in helping UK retailers navigate Brexit’s long-term effects.
While Brexit has reshaped UK retail, digital marketplaces are proving essential for brands looking to rebuild European trade and drive future growth.
