FW
The global market leader and trendsetter in the production of warp knitting and warp preparation machines, Karl Mayer, is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2017, and is marking this milestone by holding a series of special events with in-house shows held at its different subsidiaries. As part of this, the company will hold a show in China’s city Changzhou from November 23 to 25. On display will be Karl Mayer’s DS OPTO, a flexible direct warping machine for rigid filament yarns for production from short and sample warp beams to standard block color warp beams. The ISOSIZE is a conventional sizing machine based on a modular design, which can cater to every market demand. The beaming machine, the size box, and the drying unit are important components of the line. Karl Mayer demonstrates efficient, high-precision technology for the denim sector in the shape of its long chain beamer. This tried-and-tested machine is used in rope dyeing for converting ropes to yarn sheets of exceptionally high quality.
The new TMJ 4/1-T terry warp knitting machine in a gauge of E 24 is used for producing patterned towels will also be shocased. The RDJ 5/1 double-bar raschel machine with piezo jacquard technology, also in a gauge of E 24, produces a spacer textile with an innovative multicoloured design for use as a shoe fabric. A brightly coloured ground surface is combined with a discreetly coloured cover face with a mesh pattern to produce this striking look. The coloured spots showing through create a butterfly-like pattern. All the main pattern elements of the final shoe are incorporated in the mirror images of the two halves of the design.
Mercedes Benz, and Diesel and Motor Engineering Company Plc (DIMO), in partnership with the Academy of Design (AOD), will be holding the first-ever international fashion platform in Sri Lanka from October 27 to 30. The event will open up major opportunities for both the fashion and apparel industries through its fashion show, showcasing great creativity and sublime talent.
The Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, celebrating the evolution of the island’s remarkable fashion and apparel industry, will present remarkable insights into the local fashion world as well as providing the next generation with access to new knowledge. The event aims to highlight Sri Lanka’s massive apparel manufacturing industry and its impressive capabilities as it looks to transform itself into a full-spectrum service destination for fashion.
The first day of the fashion week promises to encompass a new Sri Lankan style which will highlight the cutting-edge innovation with low tech traditional craft while the second day will encapsulate an attractive new fashion proposition from the country itself. The final runway of the series will be an energetic insight into the future, providing a platform for all young design graduates who will carry on the creative industry.
The knowledge-sharing sessions at the fashion week include the South Asian Apparel Leadership Forum, which is perhaps the most influential meeting of minds for Sri Lankan fashion, while the new addition the Female Futures Forum will explore the topic of maximising the power of the female workforce.
Nilit presented its new premium brand Sensil at Intertextile Shanghai, October 11 to 13. On the opening day of the show, Nilit presented a seminar to share some of the consumer and retail market information that led to the creation of Sensil. It presented a Sensil fabric and garment collection. Nilit is a manufacturer of nylon textile fibers. Sensil is a premium Nylon 6.6 brand.
Sensil was created based on extensive analysis of evolving consumer attitudes and rapidly shifting retail shopping trends and, with its launch this summer, rapidly elevated the quality standard for Nylon 6.6. Nilit conveyed the benefits of its premium Nylon 6.6 products to apparel and fabric designers, brands, retailers, and consumers. It featured knit and woven garments inspired by Sensil premium Nylon 6.6 products.
Sensil is naturally softer, stronger, more durable, and more moisture-wicking and odor-resistant than other manmade fibers. It creates gorgeous fabrics with beautiful drape and hand. Sensil performance yarns are enhanced to provide additional attributes that consumers require in today’s advanced fabrics.
Sensil Breeze imbues apparel with a cooling effect. Sensil Body Fresh protects against the odors microbes can cause, which means clothes don’t have to be laundered as often. Sensil Heat provides warmth on chilly days while Sensil Aquarius wicks perspiration to stay comfortable on warm days. Sensil Innergy helps energise cells and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
The Woolmark company has entered the next phase of its ‘Grown in Australia Made in India’ campaign. The nationwide consumer-facing campaign will bring to the forefront the farm to fashion journey of Merino wool from Australia to India, and champion both woolgrowers of Australia, as well as handloom sector in India. It aims to connect those present across the wool supply chain including brands, manufacturers and the government, while also allowing consumers to be a part of this beautiful journey.
Capturing the stunning view and landscape of a sheep farm in Australia, the campaign film features Indian Wool Ambassador Shravan Reddy with international model Aleyna FitzGerald, exploring the farm while donning chic Merino wool attire. The progressive relationship between brands in India and Australian woolgrowers is a key highlight, as Indian labels such as Manish Malhotra, Dhruv Kapoor, Dhruv Vaish, Nachiket Barve, Ekaco by Rina singh, Rahul Mishra, Troy Costa and brands including Van Huesen, Raymond Ready to wear, Park Avenue, Color Plus, Ambassador shawls, Shinghora, Zeven, Monte Carlo and Louis Philip have all contributed carefully selected fashion pieces for the campaign video. The overarching theme of cross-country linkage comes to the frontline as the stunning background of Australia and its Merino sheep are juxtaposed with Indian brands and talented actor Shravan Reddy.
The media plan for the campaign will begin with in-film ads in cinemas in October and December. The campaign video will also be featured across national TV channels in November, followed by billboard promotions in Tier I, II and III cities across India. This engaging outreach will be supported by on-going lifestyle magazine adverts throughout the campaign duration.
Material ConneXion has added new high-performance Cordura fabrics to its global innovation library. Between Material ConneXion’s extensive showrooms all around the world and the easy accessibility of its online directory, designers will have quick and convenient insight into Cordura’s latest Live Durable fabric technologies.
Cordura Denims from the brand's X. Venture Collexion, a retro-futuristic line of garments created through a collaborative effort with designer Michele Rose and in concert with Artistic Milliners, the brand’s longest running authorized Cordura Denim mill, were selected and voted in after the materials caught the attention of Material ConneXion.
These innovative denims are now on display in Material ConneXion's multiple global showrooms, as well as included in the company's comprehensive online database. Cordura fabric is a primary ingredient in many of the world’s leading high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from luggage, upholstery and backpacks to footwear, military equipment, tactical wear, workwear and performance apparel. Cordura is a trademark of Invista, one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibers.
Material ConneXion is a materials and innovation consultancy. It provides a global, cross-industry perspective on materials, design, new product development, sustainability, and innovation. Material ConneXion maintains the world’s largest subscription-based materials library with thousands of innovative materials and processes.
Cambodia wants GSP for its garment and footwear exports to the US. GSP is a preferential trade treatment. The US is due to review its GSP program for least-developed countries by the end of the year. Currently, GSP coverage for Cambodia does not include garment and footwear articles -- major export products for Cambodia. Only 82.6 per cent of Cambodian products currently enjoy preferential trade treatment with the US.
If the US accedes to the request, it would help the Cambodian economy in terms of export growth, new investment and employment generation for thousands of Cambodians. Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland give preferential trade treatment to 100 per cent of Cambodian products. The European Union, under the Everything but Arms treaty, allows the import of 99 per cent of products duty and quota free.
Canada gives preferential treatment to 98.6 per cent of Cambodian products, Japan to 97.9 per cent and China to 97 per cent. In July last year, the US granted duty-free benefits for Cambodia for the export of travel goods such as luggage, backpacks, handbags and wallets under GSP. There are some 60 registered footwear manufacturing factories in Cambodia and exported $700 million worth of goods last year.
International Textile Machinery (ITM) exhibition will be held in Turkey from April 14 to 17, 2018. The textile machinery show will display equipments and products, textile related software and solutions and other products and services. It gathers together some of the most important manufacturers of textile machinery from Turkey and around the world.
A significant increase will take place in terms of both exhibition area and number of participants. Due to increased participation from leading global brands, the occupancy rate of the exhibition has grown 80 per cent this year. ITM is a showcase for weaving, printing, digital printing, flat and circular knitting, weft and warp knitting, spinning, winding, twisting, texturing, hosiery, quilting, dyeing and finishing machinery, textile chemicals, lab equipments, compressors and generators.
The event paves the way for innovation and creativity and delivers promising returns to exhibitors. The last exhibition, in 2016, welcomed 1,200 firms. Around 49,000 professionals attended, from 77 countries.
Most textile machinery manufacturers in Turkey range from small to medium sized companies. The line of textile machinery products manufactured by Turkish companies varies substantially from highly automated equipment to basic models. They have competence in most machinery categories such as atmospheric jet dyeing or blow dyeing.
"The global sportswear market is expected to more than double by 2020 to reach $184.6 billion, from $78 billion in 2016. In 2017, revenue in the ‘sports & outdoor’ segment was $53,024 million, and expected to grow at 11 per cent from 2017 to 2022, thereby increasing the volume of market to $89,428 million by 2022. User penetration was 8.2 per cent in 2017 and expected to touch 10.4 per cent by 2022. For brands, the sports industry is the second fastest growing. China, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe are the prime markets."
The global sportswear market is expected to more than double by 2020 to reach $184.6 billion, from $78 billion in 2016. In 2017, revenue in the ‘sports & outdoor’ segment was $53,024 million, and expected to grow at 11 per cent from 2017 to 2022, thereby increasing the volume of market to $89,428 million by 2022. User penetration was 8.2 per cent in 2017 and expected to touch 10.4 per cent by 2022. For brands, the sports industry is the second fastest growing. China, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe are the prime markets.
As per research by Global Industry Analysts Inc, the global market for sports and fitness clothing is projected to reach $231.7 billion by 2024. Growth is driven by a growing portion of population living healthier lifestyles and stronger participation in sports and fitness activities. According to the report, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region, with a CAGR of 6.9 per cent over the forecast period.
As per a Euromonitor International, the global apparel industry has been going strong riding on sale of sports apparels for the last three years. Sale of sportswear, which includes yoga pants and activewear, outpaced all other categories for the third year in a row, increasing under7 per cent in 2016 pushing up growth in other categories. While performance sportswear is still the biggest part of that market, ‘sports-inspired is the category driving growth,’ says Bernadette Kissane, Euromonitor's apparel, and footwear analyst.
Emerging markets
The next three Olympic Games will be held in Asia, while Russia and Qatar are in line to host the FIFA World Cup. South America is another region that brands should focus on; while Brazil's turn to host the Olympic Games has passed, it is still rife with opportunities. Mexico continues to be a substantial and growing market for an array of sports-related goods and events. Indeed, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Peru feature prominently among Adidas and Nike's trademark filings over the last few years, stressing the importance of Latin America as a target market.
However, Asia and China, in particular, continues to be the core focus. China is the second largest sportswear market after the US and holds the greatest potential for new and established sporting brands. China has a large and booming middle class with a growing appreciation for health and fitness, with strong demand for foreign sportswear brands. The country will also host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games and the government is aiming to establish an $ 813 billion sports industry by 2025 to promote fitness across the country. The goal is to boost domestic consumption in this new economy. In Europe, while many countries already have a mature sports market, the majority of countries still show demonstrable growth in trade of sporting goods both within and outside Europe.
The impressive growth of Central and Eastern European countries is notable: Hungary, Latvia, Croatia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Poland were the only countries to record annual exports growth rates of above 10 per cent. Poland and Slovakia are also the only countries to record annual growth rates above 10 per cent between 2005 and 2015 for both imports and exports. Malta takes the lead for imports though; its 51 per cent annual growth rate can be attributed to its significant trade of boats and water sports equipment.
Bangladesh imports more than 60 per cent of its required cotton from India, the single largest source of the raw material for the country. Bangladeshi spinners import cotton from India because of the shorter lead-time, which is necessary for the garment business in the present context of fierce global competition.
Demand for the natural fiber is on the rise in Bangladesh as it is the only country that is still dependent on raw cotton for making yarns and fabrics. Other countries have shifted to manmade fibers like filament, polyester and viscose, causing global consumption of cotton to decline in recent years.
Currently, the ratio of cotton and manmade fiber use is 28:72 worldwide, with a pronounced tilt towards artificial fibers, due to their lower price, improved functionality and ease of use. In Bangladesh, more than 90 per cent yarns and fabrics are made from cotton.
Bangladesh is the largest cotton importer and consumer worldwide. In 2016-17, some seven million bales are expected to be imported. Bangladesh's cotton import will creep up to 7.1 million bales in 2017-18. Local growers can supply less than three per cent of the annual demand. The country is also looking to source cotton from the US, Australia and Africa.
An apparel park is coming up in Iran. The aim is to limit imports, boost domestic production and make the price of Iranian clothing more competitive. The park will be open to business units to produce goods worth 20 per cent of their import value inside Iran and to export at least 50 per cent of this domestic production.
Currently, 9,818 industrial units are active in Iran’s textile and apparel industries. These units have created more than 2,90,000 direct jobs, accounting for 13 per cent of all industrial jobs in Iran. Iran’s apparel exports during the first half of the current year grew 24 per cent in value compared with the corresponding period of last year. In the last fiscal year exports were up 3.9 per cent in value year-on-year.
Imports of apparel fell 2.24 per cent in terms of value. Import tariffs on apparel are set at 55 per cent. On top of that, importers are made to pay a nine per cent value-added as well as an additional four per cent tax.
However, a vast amount of apparel is smuggled into Iran. In fact, clothing tops the list of goods smuggled into Iran. Iranian apparel production meets 40 per cent of domestic demand. Iran’s annual apparel demand stands at around 5,10,000 tons a year while the country’s production capacity is about 3,20,000 tons.
