FW
The 60th edition of India International Garment Fair (IIGF) is scheduled to be held from 17 – 20, January, 2018, at Hall Nos. 11, 12 & 12A, India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The 60th IIGF will be primarily covering the Autumn/Winter season of European Union, USA and other Western markets.
Shri Ajay Tamta, Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles will inaugurate the fair and will also unveil the fair guide of 60th IIGF along with Shri Anant Kumar Singh, IAS, Secretary, Ministry Of Textiles and other dignitaries.
A total of 294 exporters from 11 states will be participating at the 60th IIGF. The participating states are Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. These 294 participants will be showcasing women’s wear, accessories, kid’s wear and menswear. International buyers from 95 countries like Brazil, Spain, Japan, Uruguay, UK, Hong Kong, US etc. have also registered to participate in the fair.
Talking about the 60th IIGF, Mr. HKL Magu, Chairman AEPC, said, “IIGF is India’s largest garment exhibition which has been successfully providing a marketing platform to small and medium exporters to showcase their latest garment and fashion accessories trends to the international buyers and helping them to leverage brand India across the globe. The fair is happening at a time when Industry is facing lot of challenges both domestically and globally but I am sure that with a large buyer base IIGF will be able to turn things around for Indian apparel exporters. In the last fair held at Ahmedabad, the response was quite encouraging and this year we are looking forward towards capitalizing on the momentum built during the Ahmedabad fair".
Sharing his views about IIGF, Mr. Lalit Thukral, Chairman, Exhibition Advisory Committee, IIGF said, “IIGF is one of the largest and most popular platforms in Asia where overseas garment buyers can source and forge the business relationship with India’s finest in Apparel and Fashion Accessories domain under one roof. The 60th IIGF assumes greater importance as more than 2000 international buyers and buying houses are expected to participate in the fair, this year. IIGF is known for generating high value business and I am quite sure that the 60th IIGF will help the Industry in influencing the buyer sentiments and demonstrating our product strengths".
IIGF is also organizing fashion shows, twice a day on all three days for exhibiting the collections for business development. Besides this, the best displayed stalls would be awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze Trophies in an award function on 18th January 2018. India International Garment Fair is a B-2-B fair started in 1988 .The fair is being organized in association with International Garment Fair Association and four major Garment Exporters' Associations Viz. Apparel Exporters & Manufacturers Association (AEMA), Garment Exporters Association (GEA), The Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) and Garment Exporters of Rajasthan (GEAR).This is only B-2-B fair and is meant for conducting meaningful and quality business.
About Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC)
Incorporated in 1978, AEPC is the official body of apparel exporters in India that provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/ international buyers who choose India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments. In recent years AEPC has worked tirelessly in integrating the entire industry - starting at the grass root level of training the workforce and supplying a steady stream of man power to the industry; identifying the best countries to source machinery and other infrastructure and brokering several path breaking deals for its members and finally helping exporters to showcase their best at home fairs as well as be highly visible at international fairs the world over. With AEPC's expertise and all the advantages that India has, it makes for a truly win-win situation - Indian exporters grow stronger each year in their achievements, skills and proficiency, while international buyers get superior solutions for their garment imports.
The 49th Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter is underway at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The four-day show (15 to 18 January), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), features global exhibitors which showcase the latest fashion designs and accessories.
FASHIONALLY Presentation was launched yesterday for the first time by the Hong Kong fashion website FASHIONALLY.com. Unlike conventional runway shows, the unique presentation showcase the design concepts and 2018 FW works of local fashion designers Derek Chan, Aries Sin and Mim Mak, in the form of storytelling set in a theatre-like stage. The stage design, props and story sequence of the FASHIONALLY Presentations are all orchestrated by the designers themselves.
FASHIONALLY COLLECTION #11, also staged yesterday, presented the 2018 FW Women’s Wear collections of YEUNG CHIN, phenotypsetter (designer: Jane Ng), 112 mountainyam (designer: Mountain Yam), FromClothingOf (designer: Shirley Wong) and KEVIN HO.
"The ongoing 49th HK Fashion Week which opened yesterday has introduced a new ‘Corporate Fashion and Uniforms’ zone. Lawrence Laung, Chairman, Garment Advisory Committee, HKTDC, points out while the world is struggling with pricing, there are new areas which can be focused on. Hong Kong, an important trade center in global textile and clothing and accessories space, clocked in business worth $13.2 billion from January to November, 2017, a drop of 7.7 per cent over previous year during the same period and imported worth $11.3 billion during the same period, reflecting a drop of 5.7 per cent."
The ongoing 49th HK Fashion Week which opened yesterday has introduced a new ‘Corporate Fashion and Uniforms’ zone. Lawrence Laung, Chairman, Garment Advisory Committee, HKTDC, points out while the world is struggling with pricing, there are new areas which can be focused on. Hong Kong, an important trade center in global textile and clothing and accessories space, clocked in business worth $13.2 billion from January to November, 2017, a drop of 7.7 per cent over previous year during the same period and imported worth $11.3 billion during the same period, reflecting a drop of 5.7 per cent.
However, presently, Hong Kong faces numerous challenges with escalating costs of production, manufacturing has moved to nearby regions of Mainland China and other low cost countries. Now, Hong Kong is repositioning itself as a one stop sourcing hub and solution provider with all kinds of design services.
Lawrence explains, while the global economy is not very strong as of now, competing countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh etc, are offering low cost manufacturing facilities.
Moreover, Chinese ports are doing a good job in terms of efficiency and all these together have led to a drop in HK’s exports. He feels, the dip in exports may continue but emphasizes Hong Kong doesn’t need to struggle over prices as corporate fashion and uniforms is an emerging and less focused area. Hong Kong’s services industry contributes as much as 90 per cent towards its GDP. So there is a lot of potential in this sector.
Banny Hu, Chairman HK Apparel Society goes on to add, in Macao there are casinos employing as many as 10,000 people, and all of them need uniforms. Likewise there are many service industry sectors. No country as focuses on the uniform sector, there are no platforms or exhibitions catering to this sector. We are looking to boosting our image in corporate fashion.
Along with Corporate Fashion and Uniforms zone, there is another new zone World of Fashion Accessories in this edition. Lawrence says, the new features such as FashionAlly Presentation set up in story telling narrative with theatre lighting is drawing a good response.
The 49th Hong Kong Fashion Week is being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The show is being organized by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and is on from January 15 to 18, 2018.
Power loom weavers in the country's largest man-made fabric (MMF) industry are planning to file a complaint against yarn spinners before the standing committee on anti-profiteering and state-level screening committee under Anti-Profiteering Rules, 2017, of GST Act for not passing on the benefits of tax rate reduction and increasing yarn prices by almost Rs 8 per kilogram in the last 10 days.
Power loom sector leaders say front and second line spinners have gone on a spree to increase prices of yarn, which is the main raw material for power loom weavers. The price hike has come even as there is a subdued demand for polyester fabrics across the country and exports are dwindling.
Pandesara Weavers Cooperative Society president Ashish Gujarati says iInstead of passing on the benefit of rate reduction to weavers, the spinners have increased yarn prices in the last 10 days. The price hike phenomenon is going on since GST was implemented on July 1. Member of Federation of Gujarat Weavers' Association (FOGWA) Mayur Golwala says that the government must come out with stringent rules against companies indulging in profit-making and not passing on benefit of rate reduction under GST.
Textile processors in South Gujarat, including Surat, have unanimously decided to increase job work charges between 10 and 15 per cent following increase in costs of chemicals, dyes, coal, fuel and labour. The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting convened by South Gujarat Textile Processors' Association (SGTPA) on Friday, where around 100 members from different industrial areas participated. The hike in job charges will come into effect from February 2018.
The textile ministry is expecting the finance ministry to clear Rs 170-crore special package for the knitwear sector at the earliest with an aim to boost job creation and lift sagging exports. Textile ministry officials say the idea is to make domestic manufacturers more competitive. This is an employment-intensive sector so any effort to boost investment will result in job creation.
The official also stated consultation between the textile and finance ministry is currently stuck on the issue of monetary resources needed for the package, amounting to around Rs 170 crore. The package will be announced as soon as the finance ministry gives its go-ahead, as no Cabinet approval was needed for the proposal entailing less than Rs 200 crore.
The move comes in the backdrop of reforms announced by the government for generation of one crore jobs in the textile and apparel industry over next three years. The textiles ministry had earlier rolled out similar plans for the apparel as well as the made-ups, which includes towels and decorative cotton products etc.
The knitwear industry, which mainly comprises small and medium enterprises, was left out in the earlier scheme of things. Exporters believe that the package can ease the pain especially after the goods and services tax rollout.
Tintex has announced its complete switch from conventional cotton with the launch of a new fabric range that is the highest expression of the new generation of cotton: Naturally Advanced Cotton by Tintex, at Première Vision in New York to be held from on January 16 and 17th, 2018.
This new range offers an advanced smart choice of 4 different premium and responsible advanced cotton solutions such as BCI Cotton, ECOTEC® by Marchi & Fildi, GOTS certified organic cotton and Supima. These new fabrics maintain and upgrade the transparent, hi-tech and sustainable organics that are at the heart of the Tintex DNA. They represent better, smarter eco-materials with new levels of performance and hi-tech smarts, due to expertise in specialist dyeing and finishing techniques, coatings and applications that use the latest research, equipment and processes to deliver it.
CEO Mario Jorge Silva says this new launch is confirming once more the commitment of Tintex to its ‘Naturally Advanced’ position meaning “advancing beautiful, organic and natural materials to the next level combined with unique, hybrid ‘nature-tech’ smarts, with added value and creativity, thanks to dedicated investments that serve and secure our customer’s demands both now and in the seasons to come. The Better Cotton Initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of cotton production; Improve livelihoods and economic development in cotton producing areas; Improve commitment to and flow of Better Cotton throughout supply chain.
Fulgar launched the opening of new production centres in Sri Lanka in 2003 and Serbia in 2007. Fulgar is present in all textile sectors, from hosiery to circular knits, corsetry, swimming and sport, with high-quality products that stand out for their excellence and uniqueness, without ever forgetting the Made in Italy textile tradition. Fulgar Lanka representative will be available at DTG 2018, Hall- 02, Booth-203 which will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) on February 08-11, 2018
Fulgar Lanka specialises in textured and twisted nylon 6/6 yarns. It has 10 years of experience in developing unique, functional melange effects and boasts one the widest offers on the market with a production capacity of over 900 tonnes a month. It is currently present in most important Asian markets, especially Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, South-East Asia and China.
Developed on the model of Fulgar Italy, Fulgar Lanka draws inspiration from a series of key concepts – research, innovation, quality and sustainability. An in-house laboratory deals with client needs, and Fulgar Lanka has been awarded Oekotex Std 100 class I certification. Its operations also meet ISO 9001 regulatory requirements.
The nylon and covered yarns produced by Fulgar Lanka are used in a number of sectors, from seamless to circular knits, flat knits and weaving. These ingredients are invisible yet fundamental, placing Fulgar at the origins of so many fashion textile success stories in Asia also.
Fulgar Lanka’s core products are EVO, Q-Nova and Nanofibra, as well as blends with other yarns to create melange effects in the best traditions of the company. Their unique performance enables the company’s products to stand out and add value to the yarns.
The Bangladeshi government has started initiatives to revise the minimum pay for workers in the garment industry, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the country’s exports. The existing minimum monthly wage of Tk 5,300 or almost $65 came into effect from January 1, 2014. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has formed a panel by including a representative each from the trade body and labour organisation to its existing four permanent wage board members. State Minister Mujibul Haque says the committee will file a report with its recommendations in six months, after which the government will finalise the new wage structure.
RMG workers’ organisations are demanding Tk 16,000 as minimum wage, citing rise in cost of living post inflation. Around 4 million workers, mostly women, are involved in the around $28 billion industry in Bangladesh.
Despite being the second largest exporter of garment products, the country often faces allegations that all its factories do not follow the pay structure. The state minister hoped they’ll be able to give a new pay structure for the RMG sector within five years from the last one.
The permanent wage board panel headed by a retired district judge has a member who is not involved with any industry. When the government wants to decide the pay structure of any industry, it adds one representative from the workers and owners from each of the corresponding industry. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Siddiqur Rahman and Jatiya Sramik League’s Women Affairs Secretary Shamsunnahar are the two new members of the panel that will review the pay structure of the clothing industry.
The US believes Bangladesh needs the generalised system of preferences (GSP) facility to enhance its export in US markets and remain competitive with other countries, as GSP is the only duty-free facility of the US for developing countries.
However, a US Embassy officials in Dhaka say there was no petition by the Bangladeshi government to reinstate the facility post 2015. GSP facility was suspended post the Rana Plaza blaze in 2013. "Bangladesh never requested for GSP facility after 2015, but every year it is reviewed," he said.
However, if a petition is now made (to get the facility), it will have to go through 16 points, which include labour law reform as per the international standards as well as freedom of association and trade unionism in the country's EPZs. The country has made significant progress in improving labour situation, but it is still far behind from the standards set by International Labour Organisation (ILO). The number of labour union registration, which increased in 2014 and 2015, has decreased significantly, and it is also against the GSP action plan, he pointed out.
The US-Bangladesh investment relations is based on garment export, enjoying the largest market in America. But the US Embassy records $80 million less export last year when compared to the previous year. US-Bangladesh relations is expected to grow significantly in 2018 as the US Embassy foresees huge opportunity for US investors in Bangladesh. Many US companies have shown interest in investment in Bangladesh, considering the immense potentials in local oil, gas and energy.
Sustainable economic growth and growing middle class have also made the country attractive to the US consumer producers. But lack of infrastructure and regulations are among the difficulties that the companies face when considering investing in Bangladesh. The US expects that the country's export list will be diversified focusing more on value added products.
The king of denim, Adriano Goldschmied is sharing his denim expertise with a new project. The denim guru is partnering ‘An Original Penguin’ by Munsingwear for Fall ’18 that will combine Goldschmied’s denim know-how with the brand’s youthful aesthetic. Goldschmied has a wide range of projects. The designer led the re-launch of Edwin Jeans‘ North American reboot in 2017. The king of denim also partnered with Lenzing last year to design a 15-piece collection that showcases Refibra.
Goldschmied has announced, “We are very pleased to partner with Perry Ellis International and believe our inspirations will complement Original Penguin, with its iconic American sportswear and contemporary fashion appeal, adding to the premium menswear apparel market.”
Owned by Perry Ellis International Inc, Original Penguin is best known for reworking its archive of mid-century classics with seasonal updates to reflect a modern lifestyle. The collaboration permits the brand to tap into the on-going demand for denim in menswear. Oscar Feldenkreis, Perry Ellis International CEO and President exults, “With the resurgence of denim as a trend, our timely partnership with Adriano Goldschmied is truly exciting.
This collaboration will invigorate the brand with the combination of our enduring style with Adriano’s innovation, unique washes and imaginative designs. We anticipate a collection that is perfect for the brand’s style-savvy consumer that appreciates its heritage.” The collection will be targeted to premium department stores and will be sold on the brand’s company stores and website.
