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For online retailers like Amazon, that means a limited share of the profits though it is seriously looking at whether technology can change the fact of the matter. Though online retail is its mainstay, it seems the giant firm is showing a significant interest for the fashion industry as well.
However, analysts in the retail and fashion industry have doubted the ability of the company to seduce the client base considering the company is not what one would call fashion-esque. According to Richie Siegel at business of fashion, the front end experience is not particularly optimized for the merchandising of emotional products while the association with the discounting turns off the luxury form of brands. A number also still question as to whether the site is ever going to have the capability of creating the dream needed to sell top of the line dresses and bags worth a thousand dollars each.
Echo look is a version of the company’s line of Echo branded smart speakers. With the device, the firm is looking to solve the pains of apparel shoppers through making the experience of buying clothes online more natural using personal recommendations and the ability to virtually assess their outfits. It has the ability to place Amazon squarely on the path towards domination of the American apparel industry.
According to the research studies Amazon currently holds 16.6 per cent of the market share for apparel spending by the shoppers who are between 18-34 years. Other firms like the Gap and Macy’s account for 3.6per cent and 3.4per cent of the Millennial’ online apparel spending.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is also not afraid to consider long-term strategy when taking on a new market. The market has been salivating over the fashion industry since 10 years ago when it acquired the multi-brand women’swear e-tailer Shopbop.
Amazon also sponsors two international fashion weeks that now have the brands name on their titles such as the Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo or the Amazon India Fashion Week. This year, the company has escalated its efforts by quietly launching private label apparel brands dealing in men’s accessories and women’s dresses and handbags, as well as a recently launched lingerie line at cut-rate prices.
Los Angeles based technology and software company Tukatech is increasing its offerings for the design community. At the recent Texprocess technology trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, Tukatech introduced a new suite of applications, including several patent-pending applications and processes the company says will eliminate sketching and any “misinterpretations” that occur as a result. The software uses existing 3-D garments, real-scale prints, Pantone colors and pattern repeats.
Tuka3D designer edition is a visualization application that allows designers to show their concepts virtually without the need for a pattern. The patent-pending program allows users to virtually build a garment from a library of virtual assets. Users can see print repeats and placements in true scale on the garment body and the final-concept visuals can be presented in a design meeting, used in a tech pack or sent to a vendor for visual reference.
TUKA studio is a suite of print-development applications that can be used with other graphic-design software programs. Users can create and preview repeat patterns, check and change colorways, and separate colors for print screens. There are fabric-texturing modules to create enhanced digital fabrics. Users can create yarn-dye weave patterns and knits, which can be viewed on a design flat or on a virtual garment.
An Adobe Illustrator plug-in allows users to add placement prints to graded patterns that can then be sent to Tukamark, Tukatech’s marker-making software, which configures efficient marker layouts.
Tukatech’s Tukacloud operates as a “Web-based digital sample room,” allowing designers and merchandisers to work directly with vendors and manufacturers. In the cloud, users can access all data exported from Tuka3D and other systems in a central platform. Digital files are stored in a protected platform that allows users to access information from anywhere in the world. The Tukabank is a library of PDF patterns or 3-D virtual style files available for download.
Fibre producer Lenzing is launching a new eco fibre called EcoVero which it says is helping it achieve the next milestone in its sustainability journey by offering eco-friendly viscose with the lowest environmental impact in the industry, setting a new industry wide benchmark.
In a press statement today it confirmed that the environmental awareness of consumers has been growing steadily over the last decade, more recently in the fashion and textile industry. Textile consumption is expected to double by 2025, and the industry is anxiously looking for more sustainable solutions with minimal eco-footprint. Achieving low environmental impact requires developing eco-friendly raw materials and a sustainable manufacturing process.
EcoVero fibres are made from wood, a natural and renewable raw material which, according to Lenzing comes from sustainable forestry plantations that are certified by industry-leading associations such as FSC. Lenzing has a comprehensive wood sourcing policy that it says “goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the most sustainable wood sources are used for viscose production. The company enforces strict environmental standards during viscose production and has invested millions over the years to achieve an eco-friendly production process.
The EU Eco Label is a sign of environmental excellence and is awarded to products and services meeting high environmental standards throughout their lifecycles: from raw material extraction to production, distribution and disposal. In addition, Lenzing says, its flagship viscose production site in Austria uses a significant amount of renewable bio-energy in the manufacturing process.
Lenzing is keen to emphasize EcoVero’s transparent supply chain. Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer, explains that with this special identification technology for EcoVero fibres, the company are supporting the trend in the fashion industry towards greater transparency.
EcoVero fibres offer an extensive marketing service package and are part of Lenzing's branding and licensing program. Fabrics containing EcoVero fibres can be certified at the company’s in-house certification centres in Europe and Asia.
Lenzing concludes that the new fibres will be launched at the global textile trade shows from this autumn onwards. At present, the sampling phase has started and special customers are developing products using EcoVero fibres.
Uncertainty around the US general elections likely cut Kenya’s apparel exports by 2.3 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015.Apparels exported declined from 84.6 million pieces in 2015 to 74 million pieces in 2016.
Some 58 per cent were supplied to the US market, out of which 94.2 per cent constituted exports of garment products. But the country diversified its apparel markets to include Europe and Canada. And the alternative market is evolving in significance.
The textile and garment industry in Kenya received a boost in 1990 when the government liberalized the economy and adopted an export led growth strategy.
The textile and garment sector in Kenya has been through turbulent times in the last ten years with the sector gaining ground in the last four years due to more emphasis on exports to the American market through the AGOA initiative of duty free and quota free access to the US market in addition to permitting the use of third country fabrics in the production of garments for the market.
About 90 per cent of the existing textile and garment producing firms based in Kenya are established with the primary objective of overcoming quota limitations in their existing facilities and thus the entire production is focused on quota categories that have high premiums and are in short supply.
Karl Mayer, a leading warp knitting machinery manufacturer, has reported a successful showcase at Techtextil, May 9 to 12, Germany.
The company held 200 high-level conversations. Most visitors came from Germany, followed by Turkey, Poland and India. Many visitors came from India and Turkey, but the majority of the visitors to Karl Mayer’s stand were Europeans.
Karl Mayer’s stand, with its modern design, accounted for the success of this machine manufacturer at the fair.
Many existing clients came to discuss projects, customer trials and machine purchases, and some sales contracts were signed. The company also made some important new contacts.
Many new clients came to visit the stand, including manufacturers from other technology sectors and the clothing industry, who are looking for new end-uses in the field of semi-technical textiles, for example.
Karl Mayer’s stand at Techtextil was featuring an impressive presentation of a future building material, textile-reinforced concrete. This composite enables lightweight, narrow concrete components to be produced using tough, carbon-fiber grids.
As an alternative to conventional steel reinforcements, which are liable to corrode, warp-knitted structures are increasingly attracting the attention of the construction industry – and consequently the textile industry.
Karl Mayer’s machines and equipment for the technical textile sector also include warp preparation systems, particularly the manual sectional warping machine for use in the production of woven technical textiles, geo grids and coating/backing substrates.
India and Russia plan to strengthen economic cooperation in the coming decades.
The areas under focus include Indian pharmaceutical plants in Russia, long-term leasing of agricultural land in Russia’s Far East, export of automobile components from India and entry of new Indian textile players in Russia.
The list also includes heavy engineering under the Make in India initiative, investments by leading Indian IT firms in Russian tech parks, entering the infrastructure market in Russia, collaboration in mining and metallurgy sector, and joint collaboration in the Arctic sector.
Indian pharmaceutical companies are looking at the possibility of setting up plants in Russia.
Agriculture and food processing sector is one of the emerging areas of cooperation. There is considerable demand for import of agricultural products, mainly fresh vegetables and fruits from India. One of the reasons for the inability of Indian exporters to cater to this demand is the logistics. One solution proposed could be direct long-term contracts between major supermarket chains in Russia and major exporters from India who can deliver on time, maintain quality of packaging and phytosanitary standards.
Heavy engineering is another promising area for mutually beneficial cooperation, not only in terms of trade, but also for joint ventures and technology transfer. Russia is looking for collaboration with Indian companies for developing IT parks for software development and is ready to provide facilities to Indian companies interested in creating their IT base in Russia.
India may offer big-ticket incentives such as zero goods and services tax or a corporate tax holiday to woo multinational companies to the proposed coastal employment zones in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Incentives may be offered to companies that commit to creating a certain number of jobs.
A large number of multinational companies are scouting for locations that can offer low-cost labor with world-class infrastructure outside China.
Two proposals being considered under tax incentives include either giving a corporate profit tax holiday for five years to firms creating 10,000 jobs or a zero GST for three years and six years for creating 10,000 and 20,000 jobs respectively. These will be an upfront benefit for firms in contrast to the corporate profit tax holiday accrued only after attaining profitability.
Either benefit will help attract large firms in labor intensive sectors such as apparel, footwear and electronics.
Companies that do not commit to creating at least 10,000 jobs may not be offered a tax benefit but may still benefit from the business friendly ecosystem of CEZs that may include liberal labor laws.
Other incentives being considered include flexible land conversion rules, liberal economic environment, proximity to deep draft ports, public investment and autonomy, trade facilitation and trade liberalisation.
GTE (Garment Technology Expo) is having its maiden show in Gujarat, August 18 to 20, 2017.
Gujarat is popularly termed as the textile state of India and Ahmedabad is the hub of the garment and made-up fabrication of the western region. Gujarat is a one-point sourcing hub for all kinds of textiles, with one of the largest concentrations of textiles in India.
The show will showcase the ever growing and dynamic and vibrant industry of Gujarat. GTE initiated in 2001 and has already conducted successfully 24 editions across the nation.
The fair will have exhibits like sewing machines, knitting machines, embroidery machines, digital textile printing and fabric and accessories.
The biggest industry show in the subcontinent, GTE is patronized by trade professionals who include manufacturers, exporters, institutions and other volume consumers.
Besides owners, CEOs, MDs and production heads who visit to see, compare and negotiate deals for new machinery, designers, technical supervisors, shop floor managers visit to update themselves on new technologies, materials, the latest product launches and new innovations at GTE.
GTE showcases the latest machines and processes. Nearly 85 per cent of the participants from the initial editions of GTE continue to be steadfast. New innovations, product launches, product upgrades, live demonstrations, new materials etc. are the cornerstone of each successive show.
Sustainable Textile School will be held in Germany, September 18 to 20, 2017. Experts from the research community and industry will share their knowledge about how various businesses across the textile value chain can be transformed towards a sustainable approach. To foster knowledge transfer and train future generations of textile experts, researchers and practitioners will have the opportunity for fruitful exchange, and students will have the chance to participate through special sponsorship.
The event will gather over 30 international specialists from across the textile industry.
Sustainability in the textile industry has increased in relevance for consumers in recent years and will become an important criteria and competitive advantage for manufacturers in the textiles industry.
The sustainability discussion in the textile chain has progressed far in the last decade. This important subject has moved even farther into the consumers’ focus. Most brand manufacturers have by now decided to take up the subject and use it not only to develop further sales and unique selling points but also to design their global supply chains cost-efficiently, productively and sustainably.
Sustainable Textile School is expected to enable professionals and students from all branches of the industry to have a close look at all value-added stages under the focus of sustainability and to derive the resulting tasks in a company.
Ascential, home to trend authority WGSN and Festival of Creativity Cannes Lions, and China Textile Information Center (CTIC) are set to revolutionise the global colour industry with the launch of new colour system, Coloro which is a 3D colour model. Coloro is a radical new colour system that unleashes creativity by decoding colour as the human eye sees it.
Following a 100-year-old colour methodology, refined with 20 years of scientific innovation led by CTIC, Coloro uses logical codes and intuitive design to ensure fashion and textile professionals get the precise colour they planned for easily and accurately first time around.
Coloro is based on a 3D colour model which defines colour based on a distinct 7-digit code representing the point where hue, lightness and chroma intersect. Of the potential 1.6 million colours available in that system, 3,500 have been selected for showcase in the Coloro products, based on global input from trend forecasters at WGSN, colour experts at CTIC and creative and fashion industry leaders.
The product - comprising physical and digital tools and a comprehensive consulting programme provides a new dimension of colour intelligence. Coloro workspace, launching in June, is set to open a new level of creative potential by changing the digital experience of working with colour forever.
Thorsten Traugott, leader of the Coloro launch at Ascential stated that Coloro simplifies how a person identify and create colours, enabling colour to be a truly strategic tool for the creative industry. Harnessing the colour expertise within CTIC.
Hu Song, vice president of CTIC, commented that CTIC has invested more than 20 years of deep colour analysis, leading to the development of this unrivalled colour coding system that will open a new level of confidence to brands making and implementing the right colour decisions. Through the partnership with Ascential, global market leaders across industries will have immediate access to this innovative colour solution.
Duncan Painter, CEO of Ascential commented that as a company, the key priority is to bring innovation and value to the industries. This exciting new product will help customers even better.
