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Zalando has become an official member of Fair Wear, reinforcing its commitment to improving working conditions within its private label supply chain. The move marks a major step in the online fashion platform’s sustainability journey, aligning with global calls for greater accountability and systemic change in the fashion industry.
Fair Wear is a renowned multi-stakeholder organisation working to enhance labour rights across international supply chains. Zalando’s membership focuses specifically on its private label products, aiming to implement high standards of human rights due diligence and create real impact for garment workers.
“Zalando’s membership shows they’re committed to due diligence in their supply chain at a high-quality level, with actual impact for the people making our clothes,” said Alexander Kohnstamm, Director of External Affairs at Fair Wear.
Zalando's Sustainability Director, Pascal Brun, welcomed the partnership, emphasising that Fair Wear’s accountability framework complements Zalando’s values. The collaboration also provides access to tools like Fair Wear’s Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Academy, which supports brands in developing effective practices to address labour rights challenges.
Beyond its private labels, Zalando is also encouraging partner brands on its retail platform to improve their own HRDD practices, fostering a ripple effect across the broader fashion ecosystem.
Fair Wear views Zalando’s membership as a catalyst for industry-wide collaboration and learning. As more fashion companies face pressure to act responsibly, Zalando’s decision signals a growing momentum toward ethical, transparent, and worker-centric supply chains.
Colombia’s leading fashion textile group, Manufacturas Eliot, has partnered with Coats Digital to implement VisionPLM a product lifecycle management solution designed specifically for the fashion industry. The move marks a strategic milestone in Eliot’s digital transformation journey, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, boosting collaboration, and accelerating speed to market across its portfolio of brands: Patprimo, Seven Seven, Ostu, and Atmos.
Founded in 1957, Manufacturas Eliot produces over 20 million garments annually through its vertically integrated operations. The group is widely recognised for its commitment to accessible, high-quality fashion and is continuously investing in technologies that support sustainable, future-ready operations.
VisionPLM will centralise design, sourcing, and supplier collaboration into a single platform, offering greater traceability, faster development cycles, and more informed decision-making. This integrated solution is expected to streamline product development, cut response times, and strengthen communication across cross-functional teams.
Juliana Pérez, Design Director at Seven Seven, said the new system will allow design teams to manage collections more efficiently and enhance inter-departmental collaboration. Planning Director Angela Quevedo added that VisionPLM will improve information flow, boost operational coordination, and enable quicker decisions across the supply chain.
Oscar González of Coats Digital - LATAM noted that the deployment of VisionPLM reflects Eliot’s commitment to building a connected, agile operation that aligns with the fast-evolving demands of the global fashion market. He emphasized that the platform empowers Eliot to make smarter, faster decisions, reinforcing its strategy for innovation and long-term growth.
The 17th edition of HGH India, the country’s premier bi-annual trade show for home textiles, furniture, decor, houseware, and gifts, will take place from July 1–4, 2025, at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. With a renewed focus on sustainability and innovation, the event aims to reflect the evolving needs of the Indian home and lifestyle sector.
Organised by Texzone, HGH India has consistently served as a future-oriented platform, offering not just sourcing opportunities but also fostering industry dialogue, trend discovery, and knowledge sharing. The 2025 edition embraces sustainability as a central theme, featuring eco-conscious products such as biodegradable tableware, organically dyed textiles, recycled mattresses, and upcycled décor.
This year’s show will host over 700 Indian and international brands from 32 countries, including 100 new exhibitors, showcasing 2,500+ products across four halls. With over 45,000 expected trade visitors from 650 Indian cities and 33 countries, the event reflects the growing purchasing power and design awareness of Indian consumers.
HGH India’s curated experiences will include the Trends 2025–26 Pavilion themed “Emotion in Motion,” highlighting emerging colours, styles, and materials. The Gen Next Retail Leaders Forum will present insights from young designers under 30, while the H-Circle Product Innovation Awards will recognise sustainable and functional product innovations. The Indian Heritage Pavilion will connect traditional crafts with modern retail.
More than just a trade fair, HGH India creates a collaborative ecosystem for retailers, designers, manufacturers, importers, and policy influencers. It bridges general trade with modern retail and supports long-term growth in the home sector. As Indian homes continue to upgrade and consumer preferences shift toward value-driven and sustainable choices, HGH India remains a vital force in shaping industry direction.
Welspun Enterprises has approved the reappointment of Balkrishan Goenka as the company’s new Chairman (Executive)
The company has reappointed Goenka as a Whole-time Director for an additional one-year term, effective June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026. He is not subject to retirement by rotation.
Similarly, it has reappointed Sandeep Garg as Managing Director for another one-year term, effective June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026. However, he is subject to retirement by rotation.
As per Welspun Enterprises, neither Goenka nor Garg are directly related to other directors on the board, nor are they barred from serving as directors by any SEBI order or other regulatory authority.
A part of Welspun World, Welspun Enterprises is an infrastructure development firm that specializes in water, wastewater, and transportation projects.
Signaling a significant recovery in demand from key international markets, Sri Lanka's apparel industry recorded a 15.14 per cent Y-o-Y growth in April 2025.
Data from the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) shows, the nation’s exports to the EU (excluding the UK) increased by 27.04 per cent, while shipments to the US and UK grew by 6.83 per cent and 7.45 per cent, respectively. Exports to other regions rose by 21.18 per cent, highlighting the industry's expanding global presence.
In the first four months of 2025, Sri Lanka’s cumulative apparel exports increased by 12.4 per cent to $1.66 billion, compared to the same period last year. This growth was mainly led by the EU with an 18.13 per cent rise, followed by the US with 10.06 per cent, other markets 13.56 per cent, and the UK 6.26 per cent.
This growth occurred despite ongoing volatility in the global trade environment and changing consumer preferences, JAAF points out. The industry's strong performance underscores the flexibility of Sri Lankan manufacturers in adapting to evolving market trends while upholding high standards in quality, compliance, and sustainability.
This momentum reflects the tireless efforts of the country’s manufacturers, workers, and exporters in remaining globally competitive, states JAAF. These figures not only demonstrate resilience but also indicate the increasing recognition of Sri Lanka as a dependable source for ethical, high-value apparel.
As the industry continues to navigate complex macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, JAAF reiterated its appeal for consistent policy support and stronger international trade connections to maintain growth and uncover new opportunities for value addition and innovation throughout the sector.
With textile mills increasingly favoring man-made fibers, India's cotton consumption for the current 2024-25 season is expected to decline by 2 per cent to 30.7 million bales (170 kg each), as per estimates by the Cotton Association of India (CAI).
From its earlier projection of 31.5 million, CAI recently reduced consumption estimates for the current year by 800,000 bales to 30.7 million.
Atul S Ganatra, President, CAI, attributes this to the rising use of man-made fibers such as viscose and polyester by spinning mills, particularly in South India. Also, a severe shortage of laborers is causing spinning mills to operate at slower capacities, further contributing to the decline in cotton use, he notes.
Textile mills are registering better profit margins with viscose, at around 98 per cent, compared to cotton, which yields about 73-75 per cent, explains Ganatra. This is another key reason mills are shifting away from cotton to other fibers, hurting overall consumption.
CAI estimates, cotton crop size during the 2024-25 season to be around 29.135 million bales (170 kg each). By April-end, the total cotton supply was estimated at 32.589 million bales. This includes 26.82 million bales from presses, 2.75 million bales of imports, and opening stocks of 3.019 million bales.
Consumption through April was estimated at 18.5 million bales, with exports at 1 million bales (170 kg). Cotton stocks at the end of April were estimated at 13.089 million bales, comprising 3.5 million bales held by textile mills and the remaining 9.589 million bales with the Cotton Corporation of India, Maharashtra Federation, and other entities (multinational corporations, traders, ginners, exporters), including cotton already sold but not yet delivered.
For the 2024-25 season, the CAI projects India’s cotton imports to increase by 1.78 million bales to 3.3 million bales. Exports for the season are estimated to decline by 2.836 million bales to 1.5 million bales.
Finally, the carryover stocks are estimated to increase from 3.019 million bales last year to 3.254 million bales in the 2025-26 season.
Denim Premiere Vision returned to Milan for its fourth consecutive edition, delivering two days of inspiring insights, innovative products, and valuable networking for the denim industry. Organized by GL events fashion division, the event attracted nearly 2,100 international professionals representing over 1,000 companies, alongside more than 80 exhibitors and 16 brands. Attendees eagerly explored the Fall-Winter 26-27 trends, discovering the latest advancements in denim manufacturing and sustainability.
Global industry leaders gather to showcase excellence
Fabio Adami Dalla Val, Show Manager of Denim Premiere Vision, highlighted the event’s growing prestige: “This edition brought together major players from the denim industry and offered an exceptionally high-quality selection, showcasing the best manufacturers from Italy, Japan, Turkey, and Morocco. The show’s success confirms our ambition to make it a premium and demanding event, centered around business development opportunities for the community.”
Exhibitors came from across the globe, including Italy, Turkey, Japan, Morocco, the United States, China, and France, displaying the newest denim innovations. Sixteen brands presented finished products within Milan’s Fashion District, offering a direct glimpse into upcoming seasonal trends. A dedicated Trend Forum focused on ‘Hybrid Denim,’ reflecting evolving consumer preferences and fabric technology.
The event also featured a rich program of eight expert-led conferences and a pitch stage with 12 presentations from exhibitors. Over 450 participants attended these sessions, gaining valuable knowledge on market dynamics, sustainability, and cutting-edge textile technologies.
Innovation and sustainability at the forefront
Denim Première Vision placed strong emphasis on innovation with a dedicated pitch stage spotlighting future-focused technologies. Among the highlights were DyeMate’s new responsible dyeing methods, which aim to reduce environmental impact, and RUDOLF’s breakthrough in dry denim washing using a fully biodegradable bio-abrasive made from food waste, setting new standards for eco-friendly processes in denim production.
For the first time, the Moroccan Association of Textile and Apparel Industries (AMITH) showcased Morocco’s textile modernization efforts. With a skilled and integrated workforce, proximity to Europe, and a strong commitment to sustainability, Morocco is positioning itself as a strategic and cost-effective sourcing destination for international brands.
Additionally, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology hosted a fashion show featuring Bangladeshi Pioneer Denim, returning for the third consecutive year and recognized as a key player in the global denim market. A networking cocktail event with industry veteran Adriano Goldschmied fostered meaningful business exchanges among participants.
Strengthening Italian industry connections and sustainability initiatives
Around 60 percent of visitors hailed from Italy, underscoring Denim Première Vision’s strong roots and partnerships within the country. Beyond the main venue at Superstudio Più, the event extended its influence by collaborating closely with Italian stakeholders to promote excellence across the denim supply chain.
In partnership with Officina39, a leader in sustainable textile innovation, Denim Premiere Vision offered an exclusive media experience featuring a guided tour of Officina39’s showroom and lab in Biella. This was followed by a lunch and a private visit to Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistoletto, fostering a deep appreciation for Italy’s sustainable fashion efforts.
In April, the Rudolf Hub 1922 hosted the F U T U R E dinner, a special event co-created with Premiere Vision. This gathering brought together top industry leaders, innovative brands, and academic experts for an evening of inspiring dialogue, blending industrial innovation with artistic vision and sustainable development challenges.
Denim Premiere Vision’s 2025 edition reinforced the importance of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in shaping the future of denim, confirming its status as a must-attend event for professionals committed to advancing the global denim industry.
A major window of opportunity has opened for India's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the sustainable fashion sector, thanks to the recently implemented India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This landmark agreement promises to reshape the export landscape, particularly for garment manufacturers, artisan clusters, and power loom & handloom units focused on environmentally conscious practices.
The FTA aims to reduce or eliminate tariffs on a vast majority of goods traded between the two nations, thereby leveling the playing field and making Indian sustainable fashion products more competitive in the lucrative UK market. For SMEs, this could translate into higher demand, better pricing for their unique creations, and a stronger foothold in an global market known for its growing appetite for ethical and sustainable fashion.
UK’s import dynamics
The UK is a substantial import market for textiles and apparel. In 2024, the UK's total clothing imports was almost £14.61 bn. Textile fabric import was around £5.34 bn, while fibre imports were around £378 million. Key sectors and sub-sectors within this include woven and knitted apparel, home textiles, specialty fabrics and yarns, and fashion accessories.
Importing countries and their strengths
The UK sources its textile and apparel from a numerous countries, each bringing unique strengths to the market.
China: It is the largest exporter of apparel and home textiles to the UK, with an estimated share of around 25 per cent of the import value in 2024. China possesses a large-scale manufacturing capacity, offering competitive pricing and a wide range of products. Their strength lies in mass production and established supply chains. However, concerns around labor practices and environmental sustainability are growing.
Bangladesh: Known for its large garment manufacturing industry, particularly in basic and fast fashion categories. Their competitiveness stems from lower labor costs. However, they are increasingly focusing on improving sustainability standards. Bangladesh is the second-largest exporter, with around 22 per cent of the UK's apparel and home textile import market in 2024.
Turkey: An important player with an estimated 8 per cent import share in 2024 Turkey offers a strong combination of quality, design capabilities, and geographical proximity to Europe, allowing for shorter lead times. They are competitive in mid-to-high-end apparel and home textiles.
Italy: Renowned for its high-end fashion, design expertise, and quality craftsmanship, particularly in luxury apparel, footwear, and leather goods. Their strength lies in branding, innovation, and premium materials.
India: Holds a significant position in the global textile and apparel market, with strengths in diverse raw materials (cotton, silk, wool), traditional crafts (handloom, embroidery), and a growing focus on sustainable and ethical production.
Pakistan: Held approximately 6.8 per cent of the market share in 2024.
Table: UK’s apparel & home textile imports
|
Country |
Estimated 2024 import value (apparel & home textiles in billions) |
Strengths |
Reasons for presence/exports |
|
China |
£3.65 |
Large-scale manufacturing, competitive pricing, wide product range |
Established supply chains, economies of scale |
|
Bangladesh |
£3.21 |
Large garment manufacturing capacity, competitive labor costs |
Focus on basic and fast fashion categories |
|
Turkey |
£1.17 |
Quality, design capabilities, geographical proximity to Europe |
Mid-to-high-end apparel, home textiles, shorter lead times |
|
Pakistan |
£1.00 |
Significant textile manufacturing base |
Price competitiveness in certain categories |
|
India |
£1.25 |
Diverse raw materials, traditional crafts, growing focus on sustainability |
Unique sustainable offerings, artisanal skills, increasing emphasis on ethical production |
India's growing strength
The India-UK FTA, coupled with India's inherent strengths, can lead to good growth in the country’s sustainable fashion exports to the UK. India’s exports will get a boost because of the tariff elimination post FTA. It ma y be noted that earlier the tariffs was almost 12 per cent on garments and 16 per cent on some other textile products Reduced or zero tariffs will make Indian products more price-competitive compared to those from countries without such agreements. This is a direct boost to the profits of Indian SMEs.
Also, the UK market is increasingly conscious of environmental and social issues in fashion. Sustainable practices, ethical sourcing, and fair trade are gaining traction among consumers, aligning perfectly with the offerings of many Indian SMEs. Add to it, India's traditional textile crafts like handloom and natural dyeing inherently embody sustainable principles. Promoting these unique offerings can resonate strongly with UK consumers seeking authentic and eco-friendly products. The vast network of skilled artisans and craftspeople can produce high-quality, unique, and sustainable fashion items that cater to niche markets in the UK. The FTA provides a platform to showcase and value these skills internationally.
The Indian government too is increasingly focused on promoting sustainable manufacturing and exports. Schemes supporting textile clusters, skill development, and sustainable practices will further empower SMEs to capitalize on the FTA. India's market share in the UK is also projected to increase from the current 6-7 per cent to potentially 11-12 per cent by 2027. Meanwhile, UK businesses are actively looking to diversify their supply chains, reducing reliance on single sources. India offers a viable and ethical alternative for sourcing sustainable fashion products.
In fact, for Indian fashion SMEs, particularly those in the garment manufacturing, artisan, and power loom/handloom sectors with a focus on sustainability, the India-UK FTA is more than just a trade agreement – it's a launchpad into a significant and receptive international market. By leveraging their unique strengths in sustainable practices and traditional crafts, these businesses are poised for substantial growth and can contribute significantly to India's export economy while championing ethical fashion on a global stage.
An Italian company specializing in sewing, embroidery, and knitting yarns, MIC has endorsed the Gelseta project to revitalize Vernona’s historic silk industry.
Being implemented in collaboration with the University of Verona, the project strives to reconnect agriculture with crafts, and industry. It involves restarting the mulberry cultivation to create a complete production cycle, including silkworm breeding and cocoon spinning into yarn. This will help MIC ensure a local, traceable, and sustainable supply chain.
The initial phase of the project, which includes planting mulberries and raising silkworms, is already underway. MIC is involved as both an industrial partner and an advocate for a circular, low-impact production model. In conjunction with the project's scientific partners, The company will manage the final stage: transforming the fibers into yarn.
Through this endeavor, MIC is committed to enhancing local expertise and contributing to the revival of a historically significant industry in the area, known for its high-quality products.
Facing significant challenges, Bangladesh's RMG exports are projected to decline to $2 billion in 2025, according to a forecast by Bloomberg Economics. The report highlights increased tariffs in the United States, a potential decrease in exports to India, and ongoing domestic energy shortages as key contributing factors.
Accounting for 80 per cent of its total export earnings, RMG exports are a critical component of Bangladesh's economy. In 2024, the country generated $38.48 billion from RMG exports, according to data compiled by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). Bloomberg Economics warns, any substantial decline in these earnings could severely impact Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves.
Forecasts suggests, the ‘damage could get even worse’ if competitors like India secure more favorable trade deals with the US, potentially allowing them to capture market share.
Furthermore, overseas retailers might cancel contracts with Bangladeshi suppliers if delivery delays occur. These delays could stem from longer travel routes due to India's recent withdrawal of transshipment facilities for Bangladeshi export cargo. On April 8, India revoked the ability for Bangladesh's exports to third countries to transit through its land borders to Indian airports and ports, a move exporters believe will increase shipment costs.
Additionally, domestic fuel shortages could force producers to halt manufacturing, further exacerbating delivery issues.
Amid pressure from local textile millers, India's National Board of Revenue (NBR) blocked yarn imports through several land ports on April 13. This was followed by broader restrictions on May 17, with India imposing limitations on imports of garments, agro-processed foods, furniture, and other goods from Bangladesh through land ports, raising concerns about significant export losses.
Bloomberg Economics estimates, India imports approximately $700 million worth of apparel from Bangladesh annually. The report suggests, if these import bans remain in place, Indian importers could replace all of these supplies with domestic products by 2027.
Complicating matters further, Bangladesh's status as a Least Developed Country (LDC) provided zero-duty access for its garments. However, with its graduation from LDC status set for November 2026, Bangladesh could face increased duties on its goods. Bloomberg Economics warns, a combination of higher duties, increased logistics costs, and longer transit times would erode the competitiveness of Bangladeshi exporters.
Finally, the report notes that higher tariffs globally this year could reduce global growth by 0.4 percentage points, which would also negatively impact Bangladesh's shipments.
