FW
Led by Marco Charles Mtunga, Director General, a delegation from the Tanzania Cotton Board recently visited the Karachi Cotton Association to promote their shared interests and explore more opportunities for exporting cotton from Tanzania.
During the meeting, KCA officials expressed concerns about the quality of cotton being imported from Tanzania and the packaging of the cotton bales. Furthermore, they pointed out to challenges related to tracking the origin and ensuring sustainable practices, which local importers faced when buying raw cotton from Tanzania.
Mtunga assured the KCA members of addressing these issues with the Tanzanian Government to resolve them in the best interest of Pakistani cotton importers.
He explained, Cotton production in Tanzania was mainly driven by small-scale farmers, with the Shinyanga and Mwanza regions being the largest cotton-growing areas. On average, the country cultivates cotton on about a 400,000 acre farm every year. However, the amount of cotton produced per acre is lower compared to the global average, Mtunga added.
Dependent mostly on rainfall, this cotton cultivation is affected by weather conditions, the prices farmers receive, and the availability of farming supplies, agricultural advice, and new technologies. Jahangir Moghul, Vice Chairman, KCA notes, after reaching a high of 14.26 million bales in 2004-05, Pakistan's cotton production gradually decreased each year. As a result, the local textile industry is forced to import raw cotton to meet its increasing needs.
The South Gujarat Unit of the Textile Association (India) is set to organize an insightful seminar on April 22, 2025, focusing on the export potential of Man Made Fibre (MMF) products. With global demand for MMF textiles rising, the event aims to highlight strategies for growth through sustainability, innovation and government support.
The seminar will feature three key sessions. These include a session titled, ‘Export Opportunities in MMF Products by Dr Gurudas Aras, Independent Director and Strategic Advisor; the second session titled, ‘Government Policies to Support MMF Fabric Exports by Ashish Gujarati, President, Pandesara Weavers Co-operative Society and Past President, SGCCI; and third session by Kailash Hakim, President, Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association. This session will be titled, ‘Viewpoint of Textile Traders on MMF Fabric Exports.
The seminar will be held at the Baghban Kratos Club in Pal, Surat.
From Rs 31, 154.19 crore in 2013-14, sales of ‘khadi’ (handspun and handwoven cloth) and village industry products rose by 447 per cent to Rs 170,551.37 crore (approximately $20.47 billion, based on current exchange rates) in FY2024-25, as per a report by the Ministry of Micro, Small andMedium Industries.
At the same time, MSME goods production increased by 347 per cent to Rs 116,599.75 crore (approximately $14.02 billion ) in the last fiscal year, up from Rs 26,109.07 crore (approximately $3.14 billion) in 2013-14. Similarly employment generation in the sector increased by 49.23 pr cent, as per the report.
Production of ‘khadi’ clothing specifically grew from Rs 811.08 crore (approximately $97.5 million ) in 2013-14 to Rs 3,783.36 crore (approximately $454.7 million) in 2024-25. Sales of these clothes increased from Rs 1,081.04 crore (approximately $130 million) in 2013-14 to Rs 7,145.61 crore (approximately $858.4 million) in the last financial year.
While in FY2013-14, the sector employed 13 million people, this rose to 19.4 million in 2024-25, marking an increase of 49.23 per cent, the report adds.
Held by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the conference titled, ‘The Future of Textiles: Challenges and Opportunities in Man-Made Fibers,’ at PHD House in New Delhi, addressed the evolving landscape and significant potential within the man-made fiber industry. The event brought together leading figures, policymakers, and key stakeholders from the industry
The conference commenced with a welcome address by Madhu Sudhan Bhageria, Chairperson, PHDCCI Textile Committee and CMD, Filatex India. He emphasized on the urgent need for a robust and sustainable fiber ecosystem, pointing out China's global dominance in polyester production and urging India to develop a unified and forward-thinking strategy to strengthen its MMF capabilities.
Ashok Malhotra, Mission Director, National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), graced the event as the Guest of Honor and delivered the keynote address. He emphasized on the critical need for India to accelerate its growth in MMF, aiming for a substantial increase in market penetration to achieve global competitiveness. Malhotra also highlighted India's potential in technical textiles and the NTTM’s initiatives to promote domestic manufacturing and explore advanced applications, while acknowledging India’s growing strengths in niche export markets.
Sanjay Sharma, President & COO, BMD, shared key industry insights discussing the complexities of the current volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) global market.
Rajeev Gupta, Joint Managing Director, RSWM, delivered a compelling address on the increasing global dominance of MMFs and emphasized India’s potential to significantly expand its MMF fiber base to meet ambitious export targets, underscoring the importance of aligning private sector innovation with government support programs.
Jitender Kumar Gupta, Head – TXD & Scientist – E, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Government of India, highlighted the crucial role of standardization and Quality Control Orders (QCOs) in ensuring the quality and compliance of MMFs and yarns, emphasizing the significance of the BIS Standard Mark.
The conference also featured insightful presentations from other leading experts, covering various aspects of the MMF value chain, innovation, and sustainability. These included Prashant Agarwal, Wazir Advisors; Raman Dutta, Brands & Sourcing Leaders Association; Yatee Gupta, Fabiosys Innovations; Arpan B. Kharva, Textile Engineering Scholar, Sudhir K Verma, Knit Experts India; Ruma Kinger, Waste2Wear, and Abrar Ahmad, Syaahi Uniforms.
Naveen Seth, DSG, PHDCCI, delivered the theme address, and Rakesh Sangrai, Director, PHDCCI, skillfully moderated the opening and technical sessions. The conference by over 80 delegates who engaged in lively discussions and knowledge sharing with the distinguished speakers.
Apparel Group has launched the first MLB store in the UAE, marking the South Korean streetwear brand’s official entry into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market. The flagship store opened at Dubai Hills Mall with a grand celebration attended by fashion influencers, media, and trend-conscious shoppers, showcasing MLB’s unique fusion of street style and American sports heritage.
Globally recognized for its bold, fashion-forward collections and iconic headwear, MLB draws inspiration from Major League Baseball while catering to urban fashion sensibilities. The launch introduced the Spring/Summer 2025 collection, featuring statement apparel, caps, and sneakers designed for modern lifestyles.
This Dubai outlet is MLB’s first in the GCC, and part of a broader strategic plan by Apparel Group to expand the brand across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain over the next five years.
Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group, commented, “Bringing MLB to the UAE reflects our vision to diversify our fashion portfolio with globally relevant brands. MLB’s blend of streetwear and sport appeals to the region’s youthful, style-savvy audience. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey.”
The launch event offered guests immersive experiences, including live performances, personalized styling sessions, and exclusive giveaways, reflecting the brand’s energetic, fashion-meets-sport DNA.
With this milestone, Apparel Group continues to strengthen its influence in the regional fashion landscape by introducing internationally acclaimed labels and setting new benchmarks in lifestyle retail. MLB’s entry signals a new era of premium streetwear in the Middle East.
Aiming to explore business opportunities in untapped domestic and international markets, ready-made garment manufacturers in Indore are collaborating with Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) to showcase their products on joint platforms.
With its estimated market size exceeding $120 million, Indore's RMG sector looks to market its brands nationwide and expand the reach of Indore's apparel both domestically and overseas.
Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor, Clothing Manufacturers Association Of India (CMAI), states, a key manufacturing hub for kids' wear, Indore has recognized that effective branding will help local manufacturers scale their products in new markets, both within India and internationally. The association aims to assist local manufacturers in growing their businesses and developing platforms to enable them to showcase their products, he adds. CMAI also plans to host a garment fair in June in Mumbai, where garment manufacturers from Indore will display their offerings.
Considering the competition in the market, it has become essential to explore alternative markets and expand reach on international platforms. Many ready-made garment manufacturers in Indore have already begun exporting, and many others are eager to tap into new markets, for which crucial know-how is necessary.
So far, approximately 30 garment manufacturers from Indore have agreed to exhibit their products and participate in B2B meetings at the CMAI fair in June. Additionally, in July, the Indore garment manufacturers plan to organize their own fair, where around 300 local manufacturers are expected to display their products.
Recognized by the United Nations as one of the world’s least developed countries, Lesotho is currently grappling with significant challenges in its textile exports following the United States' widespread ‘reciprocal tariffs.
With its economy heavily reliant on textile exports, especially to the United States, Lesotho’s clothing exporters face a 50 per cent duty under the new tariff system.
According to the founder of a major garment factory in the capital city, Maseru, these high tariffs are likely to severely damage the country's already vulnerable economy.
They will prevent buyers from placing their orders in garment manufacturers in Lesotho, says Teboho Kobeli, founder and managing director of Afri Expo Textiles.
There are currently 200 unemployed people in the Lesotho garment industry. This proves a disaster for the entire family with both production and income declining, explains Malerai Mosotho, Production Manager.
Having increased by 25 per cent Y-o-Y to $5.7 billion in 2024-25, India’s leather, non-leather footwear and products' exports are expected to rise to over $6.5 billion in FY26, as per the exporters' body, Council for Leather Exports (CLE). According to CLE, the sector is witnessing a healthy demand in both developed and developing countries.
In 2024-25, India’s leather and non-leather footwear and products exports exceeded their $1 billion target set up by the Department of Commerce. These exports are expected to further rise to over $6.5 billion in 2025-26, notes R Selvam, Executive Director, CLE.
The 10 per cent hike in tariffs has led to exporters offering discounts to buyers, avers Jalan. They have also recommended a ‘'zero-for-zero' duty to the government in the proposed bilateral trade agreement with the US, he adds.
The Council has a full order book for the coming months with a huge demand coming from the US and the UK, Jalan states.
Having a total turnover of $19 billion, the industry employs around 42 lakh people. It has the potential to reach a total turnover of about $39 billion by 2030, including domestic production of $25 billion and export turnover of $13.7 billion, as per industry experts.
These experts further reveal, several Chinese investors plan to set up production units in India in collaboration with Indian footwear players.
Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, a US-based leader in spider silk technology, has announced significant progress in its largest-ever production batch of recombinant spider silk. The company confirmed it has completed the first half of this milestone cycle, with the harvested spider silk cocoons now being prepped for reeling into finished silk. The second half of the production is expected to conclude within the next two weeks.
This production run marks a major step forward, as it is the first time Kraig Labs has run simultaneous batches of its BAM-1 hybrid silkworms in its newly expanded facilities. Early results have shown strong performance from the BAM-1 hybrids and demonstrated the efficiency and scalability of the upgraded infrastructure.
The company has also successfully completed the production of all BAM-1 hybrid eggs planned for release in the coming month. This ensures a continuous and high-quality supply of silkworms to support its future production goals for 2025.
Kim Thompson, Founder and CEO, highlighted the achievement as proof of Kraig Labs ability to shift from batch-based processing to a scalable, continuous flow model. This, he noted, positions the company to accelerate the commercialization of its eco-friendly, high-strength spider silk fibers.
Kraig Labs remains focused on expanding its production capabilities and bringing sustainable spider silk to the performance textiles market. Further updates on production and commercialization will follow as the company continues to scale.
Sales of Kering's flagship brand, Gucci declined by 25 per cent Y-o-Y during Q1, FY25 even as Kering’s sales declined by 14 per cent Y-o-Y adding to the growing concerns of another challenging year for the luxury sector. US President Donald Trump's recent tariff announcements have further fueled recession fears, dampening consumers' appetite for high-end fashion.
Cited by HSBC, a Visible Alpha consensus of analysts had predicted a 9.7 per cent decline in overall group sales and a 19 per cent decline for Gucci, which accounts for roughly half of Kering's total revenue and two-thirds of its profit.
The group is increasing its vigilance to navigate the macroeconomic headwinds faced by the industry, states Francois-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO.
Store traffic across the group, which also owns fashion houses Yves Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga, remained weak in most regions, according to Armelle Poulou, Chief-Finance.
The group’s sales in Asia plummeted by 25 per cent Y-o-Y in Asia, while sales in Western Europe and North America contracted by 13 per cent. Kering has closed 25 stores so far this year. In February 2025, the company’s executives indicated their plans to close approximately 50 of their 1,800 stores, a third of which are outlet locations, to reduce costs.
Kering's sales report disappoints low expectations, notes Bernstein analysts, adding that the much-anticipated rebound at Gucci is ‘yet to appear.’ Kering recently appointed in-house talent Demna as Gucci's new design chief, triggering another stock selloff from investors who had hoped for a prominent external hire.
Demna has already begun working with Gucci teams, Poulou stated, while declining to specify when the designer's first collection will be showcased on the runway.
The change in designer, officially taking effect in July, is likely to further delay the label's long-awaited recovery, analysts cautioned. Predecessor Sabato De Sarno, who was dismissed after less than two years in the role, had been recruited in 2023 to reset Gucci, including streamlining sales channels and targeting wealthier clients.
