FW
The UK will continue to provide zero-duty benefit on import of goods from Bangladesh and 47 other least developed countries even after Brexit. Bangladesh’s exports, especially garment items, to the UK began to slide after the Brexit vote. Garments, which account for more than 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s total exports to the UK, fell by nearly six per cent with export earnings falling in the last 11 months of the outgoing fiscal year.
Year-on-year growth of Bangladesh’s garment exports to the UK has hovered around 15 per cent over the last few years. However, it is likely to see negative growth in fiscal 2016-17. The UK is a major export destination, as Bangladesh has been enjoying duty privilege under the EU's Everything But Arms scheme and also because a large number of non-resident Bangladeshis live in the UK.
In the last 11 months of the outgoing fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth 3.26 billion dollars to the UK compared to 3.44 billion dollars in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Bangladesh is watching if Britain and the EU sign any bilateral free trade agreements with countries competing with Bangladesh. If the UK and the EU give the same benefit to those countries, Bangladesh would face tough competition.
Morocco Style will be held from March 28 to 31, 2018. This is a textile and accessories fair. The event will connect textile professionals. The previous edition of Morocco Style saw a successful turnout of over 12,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors.
Exhibits will include textiles, leather clothing, nightwear, shoes, bags, cosmetics, yarn, wool, knitted fabric, women’s and men’s clothing, denim, lingerie, sportswear, children’s clothing, accessories and more. Visitors will include designers, stylists, wholesalers, department stores, shop owners, agents and distributors and associations.
The fair points to the new season’s textile trends and is a key hub of North Africa’s textile market. Morocco has become an important supplier of ready-to-wear via free trade agreements with the EU and the US. A huge proportion of the sector is small and medium sized enterprises, which makes Morocco a very flexible environment for placing orders according to fashion and trade preferences.
Professional buyers will have a chance to attend B2B meetings with exhibitors and sectoral associations. Morocco Style has buyer delegation programs by focusing on eight target countries--Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy. Moroccan fabric imports are exempt from tax. This accelerates the export of ready-to-wear. Casablanca, the biggest city and the port of Morocco, holds 80 per cent of Morocco’s trade volume.
Indian textile exports are expected to grow by 18 per cent in financial year ’18. The US has already exited the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is expected to realign the textile trade and move the global market towards the Indian subcontinent. Earlier the trade was diverted to Thailand and Vietnam.
Synthetic textile is expected to grow more following a fiber-neutral tariff policy. High polyester products which have a 15 per cent share in global trade are likely to grow in the context of India. Small players such as Bangladesh and Vietnam who enjoy the benefits imposed on India by US and European markets are likely to lag in exports. China’s focus on a shift to the technology sector was another reason that led to a decline in its share in global trade and an increase in the trade volumes of smaller countries.
The Indian export industry already enjoys significant advantages because of the government’s support to exports and declining interest rates. However, cascading taxes and a fragmented industry structure are the bugbears the industry currently faces before the implementation of GST. India’s textile sector contributes about 11 per cent to the country’s total exports.
South India-based Jayalakshmi Enterprises has developed mechanically processed cotton varieties suitable for use in absorbent technical textile products. Globally, the nonwovens sector is looking for new fibers that are sustainable. To fulfill this need and to develop absorbent and other specialized technical textiles products Jayalakshmi has released two different types of processed cotton that can be used in nonwoven manufacturing processes, such as needlepunching and hydroentangling.
Recently, Jayalakshmi diversified to develop cotton-based high-tech products, such as oil sorbents. The company has been in the cotton textiles business for more than five decades.
Velmurugan, Jayalakshmi’s general manager says they are in a phase of diversification. Developing cotton products that can fulfill the needs of the growing nonwovens and technical textiles sector is a natural growth process for everyone. Of the two types of cotton developed by the company, one variety has a soft, silky touch and represents the high-end new product. Till now the company has developed specialized cotton yarns and allied cotton products. Chennai-based Wellgro Tech trading will be marketing the cottons for nonwovens and technical textile industry customers.
According to Nambi Srinivasan, marketing in-charge at Wellgro, they will be looking towards domestic nonwovens wipe manufacturers and international players as its potential customers. Indian companies will have to develop their nonwovens sector right from fibers to fully finished products that can be available at retail outlets. Such endeavors by conventional textile groups such as Jayalakshmi are much needed to advance the technical textiles sector in India.
India has started a probe into Chinese dumping of polyester yarn following complaints from SRF and Reliance. These yarns are used for manufacturing tyre cord fabrics, seat belt webbing, slings, ropes, coated fabrics and conveyor belt fabrics. If it is established that dumping has caused material injury to domestic players, an anti- dumping duty may be imposed. Dumping affects gross margins.
Anti-dumping duties are levied to provide a level playing field to local industry by guarding against cheap, below-cost imports. The investigation will cover the period from April 2016 to March this year. Growing imports and dumping of goods from China have always been an area of concern for Indian companies. Exports to China were only nine billion dollars in 2015-16, but imports totaled 61.7 billion dollars.
Dumping of several other products such as chemicals from China is also being probed. India is one of the most attractive markets for global producers due to its large middle class population. Imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the World Trade Organisation and both India and China are members of the Geneva-based body.
Dumping is an unfair trade practice, because the lower export prices are not a result of efficiency on the part of the exporting producers, but of distorted market conditions illustrated by the segregation of the domestic market. Dumping limits effective competition and creates uncertainty, which hinders a predictable investment climate.
There would not be any need to extend the tenure of the EU retailers’ group Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh beyond 2018 as the ongoing remediation work under its supervision would be completed by 2017 feels the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). However, BGMEA maintained the retailers’ body could stay in the country post 2018 as a monitoring agency, if allowed by the government.
BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman, said they have heard the Accord wants to stay for five more years but it has not made any official appeal in this connection. They also hope that the remediation work, the platform is supervising, will be completed by 2017 and no extension will be required.
The President of the apex garment manufacturers’ body in the country further underlined that Accord and the North American buyers’ platform – Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, were yet to officially seek an extension of their respective terms in Bangladesh.
It may be mentioned here that following the Rana Plaza building collapse in April, 2013, EU retailers formed the Accord while North American retailers formed the Alliance to undertake a five-year plan, which set timeframes and accountability for inspections and training and workers empowerment programs. Launched in February 2014 officially, the initiatives undertook structural, electrical and fire safety inspections in garment factories and suggested remedial measures accordingly.
Woolmark is showcasing in the ongoing edition of The Wool Lab at Pitti Filati from June 28 to 30. The Wool Lab autumn/winter 2018-19 presents seven fashion-oriented themes, presenting a collection of the latest commercially available wool fabrics and yarns. In addition, The Wool Lab Sport and The Wool Lab Denim will return this season, with each of the popular books updated to include the latest innovations and technical fabrics.
Each edition of The Wool Lab is created in collaboration with the world’s most innovative and quality-oriented spinners and weavers to present an inspirational sourcing guide available for designers and brands to view.
This edition marks six years since The Wool Lab first launched, with each edition well received by trade and generating more than 60,000 swatch requests. Each season, more and more fashion designers and brands look forward to seeing the latest offering as it provides the opportunity for them to explore an actual sourcing guide for commercially available products.
Woolmark is the global authority on wool. Through its extensive network of relationships spanning the international textile and fashion industries, it highlight Australian wool’s position as the ultimate natural fiber and premier ingredient in luxury apparel. The Woolmark logo is one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands.
Campaign for Wool is a global campaign that was started in 2010 to raise awareness among consumers about the unique, natural and sustainable benefits offered by wool. The campaign currently runs in 14 countries including Canada, Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Shetland Islands, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the USA.
The philosophy is using material like wool creates better products that last longer and are ultimately better for the environment. It educates people about the wonders of wool and the importance of choosing clothes made with natural fibers.
Campaign for Wool receives support from across trade, retail and artisan sectors. It is associated with like-minded companies and designers that understand and promote the importance of using natural and sustainable products. There are few other natural fibers in this world that can claim the same number of properties paired with the durability and low-carbon footprint offered by wool.
The business of fashion has never been more competitive but ultimately the brands and clothes that will last are those who embrace sustainability. The wonderful properties of wool as a material for both interior design and apparel have been almost completely forgotten. This campaign hopes to bring that into the forefront.
Patrik Frisk is taking over as the new president and COO of American sports apparel and footwear brand Under Armour. Frisk has nearly 30 years’ experience in the apparel, footwear and retail industry, directing brands such as The North Face and Timberland. He is former CEO of the global footwear company Aldo. Prior to Aldo, he spent 10 years with VF Corp. He was president of Timberland and before that responsible for The North Face, Vans, JanSport and Reef brands. He previously ran his own retail business in Scandinavia and held senior positions with Peak Performance and W.L. Gore & Associates.
Paul Fipps, chief information officer and executive vice president of global operations, has been named chief technology officer. He will oversee all aspects of engineering to support the brand’s web and mobile applications and its information technology and real estate functions.
Colin Browne will become chief supply chain officer and be responsible for all global operations related to product sourcing and logistics. He joined Under Armour in 2016 as president of global sourcing.
Kevin Eskridge is chief product officer. He oversees category management and product, merchandising, design and innovation. He has been with the company since 2009. Eskridge, former senior vice president of global merchandising, helped establish the company’s business in China.
The global hosiery market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.3 per cent over 2017 to 2025. The main reason for surging global market in hosiery is rising concern among consumers about personal appearance and grooming. Further, the shift in retail formats to hypermarkets and supermarkets is allowing consumers to select and compare products according to their preferences which in turn is fueling sales of hosiery products.
Robust growth of e-commerce is also providing easy access to consumers to compare hosiery products online. Hosiery products are also projected to witness a rise in sales volume through e-commerce platforms. Europe represents the largest market worldwide followed by the United States. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market. China is the largest producer of hosiery in the world with a strong presence in synthetic hosiery products.
Future trends include appropriate compression to increase blood circulation, anti-cellulite hosiery that help impart a sculpted body shape, hosiery with weather-adaptive and supportive features such as silver-based microbial finishes for greater hygiene and comfort. Some of the emerging styles include colored tights, striped tights, python print tights as well as patterned styles of over the knee socks.
