FW
Japan’s Shima Seiki Mfg, Ltd and Italy’s Lonati S p A have joined forces to accelerate digitalization and sustainability in the sock manufacturing sector. The strategic collaboration focuses on combining Shima Seiki’s APEXFiz design software and Lonati’s Orion programming software to modernize how sock designs are developed and brought to market.
Traditionally, sock production has relied heavily on physical samples for design approval and prototyping a process that consumes time, materials, and labor. The partnership aims to disrupt this model by enabling “3D Virtual Sampling,” allowing companies to visualize, verify, and adjust sock designs digitally before production begins. This eliminates the need for physical prototypes, thereby reducing costs, cutting lead times, and lowering environmental impact.
Shima Seiki’s APEXFiz, already widely used in the industry, allows designers to create and review sock designs in real time. The upcoming APEXFiz Design-Sox will offer even more specialized capabilities tailored for sock design. Meanwhile, Lonati’s Orion software, part of its Unlimitex suite, enables users to evaluate technical design data in 3D, helping identify and correct issues before production.
Both APEXFiz Design-Sox and Orion are slated for launch in June 2025. The integration of these tools will streamline the entire workflow from digital design to manufacturing enhancing efficiency, product quality, and speed to market.
By merging design creativity with technical precision, Shima Seiki and Lonati’s alliance sets a new standard for innovation in the sock industry, offering a competitive edge through sustainable and intelligent production practices.
Inditex, the parent company of fast-fashion giant Zara, remains "optimistic" about its growth prospects in the United States, even amidst rising tariffs and concerns about consumer demand, according to CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras. This confidence comes as the company navigates a complex economic landscape and adjusts its pricing strategy in the US market.
At an annual press conference following the release of first-quarter sales figures, Garcia Maceiras emphasized Inditex's commitment to the US, stating, "By properly executing our business model, we will continue to have a very positive evolution in the US market." The US is Inditex's second-largest market after Spain, though the Americas region as a whole accounted for 18.6 per cent of global sales in 2024, a relatively smaller share compared to Spain's 15.1 per cent and the rest of Europe’s 50.6 per cent.
Inditex’s resilience despite tariff threats
Despite US President Donald Trump's tariff threats on imported goods, which sparked retaliatory measures from other countries due to concerns about global trade, Inditex maintains its resilience. Garcia Maceiras highlighted the company's diversified sourcing strategy, with products originating from 50 countries, enabling it to adapt to evolving tariff structures.
Table: Inditex sales by region (2024)
|
Region |
Share of global sales |
|
Spain |
15.10% |
|
Rest of Europe |
50.60% |
|
Americas |
18.60% |
"We are well positioned to adapt to new tariffs," Garcia Maceiras stated. While expressing optimism, Inditex also acknowledged the need to address the potential impact of tariffs on inflation. In response, Garcia Maceiras indicated that the company plans to maintain "stable prices." However, data from market research firm EDITED reveals that Zara has, in fact, increased prices in the US over the past year.
Table: Average price increases for select Zara items in the US market
|
Item Category |
March 1, Current Year Average Price (USD) |
12-Month Price Increase (%) |
|
Dress |
$86.44 |
22% |
|
Top |
$63.60 |
8% |
This data suggests that while Inditex aims for price stability, adjustments are being made to reflect market conditions. The company's strategy appears to balance the need to remain competitive with the pressures of increased tariffs and fluctuating economic conditions.
Inditex's confidence in the US market is further underscored by its ongoing expansion efforts, including the opening of a new Massimo Dutti store in Miami in November. Currently, Zara operates 97 stores in the US. Garcia Maceiras also acknowledged the challenges posed by the constantly changing geopolitical landscape, stating that the uncertainty makes long-term predictions difficult. This sentiment echoes concerns shared by other business leaders grappling with the impact of evolving US trade and foreign policies.
Stake of other fashion brands in US market
Shein, which currently dominates the US fast fashion market with an estimated 50 per cent market share, faces a unique set of challenges. Its business model relies heavily on rapid production and efficient supply chains, often sourcing from regions that could be heavily impacted by tariffs. Shein, known for its extremely low prices, will likely face significant pressure to maintain its competitive edge. The company's strategy may involve further optimizing its supply chain, diversifying its sourcing, or potentially absorbing some of the increased costs. It is likely that Shein will attempt to keep prices as low as possible, as their customer base is extremely price sensitive, and any significant price increases could cause a loss of market share.
Table: US fast fashion market share
|
Fast fashion brand |
US market share |
|
Shein |
50% |
|
H&M |
16% |
|
Zara |
13% |
|
Fashion Nova |
11% |
H&M, with an estimated 16 per cent share of the US fast fashion market, also relies on a complex global supply chain. The company has been increasingly focused on sustainability and ethical sourcing, which could provide a degree of resilience in the face of tariff-related disruptions. H&M's strategy may involve further investments in supply chain efficiency, as well as exploring alternative sourcing options. H&M has generally taken a stance of attempting to absorb cost increases where possible, to not pass them to the end consumer, however, that may change depending on the magnitude of the tariffs.
Fashion Nova, holding approximately 11 per cent of the US market, is known for its trend-driven, affordable clothing. The company's agility and ability to quickly adapt to changing consumer preferences could be an advantage in navigating tariff-related challenges. Fashion Nova, like Shein, caters to a price-conscious demographic, so significant price increases are unlikely to be well received. Therefore, they will likely seek to find alternative sourcing to mitigate costs.
All four of these major retailers will be monitoring the tariff situation closely, and it is likely that they will all be adapting their supply chains to deal with the changes. The companies are all likely to attempt to find ways to absorb costs, to avoid raising prices for the end consumer. However, if the tariffs are significant, then price increases may be unavoidable
India is set to double its market share in the UK’s ready-made garment (RMG) imports from 6 per cent in calendar year 2024 (CY24) to 12 per cent, according to CareEdge Ratings. This shift, backed by the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), could unlock an annual export opportunity of around $1.1-1.2 billion for Indian RMG exporters in the near to medium term.
The UK, one of the top five global RMG markets, imported garments worth around $20 billion in CY24. India currently holds a modest 6 per cent share, while key competitors like Bangladesh, Turkey, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Italy enjoy duty-free access, giving them a 12 per cent tariff edge. The India-UK FTA levels this playing field and gives Indian exporters a new competitive advantage particularly over China, which exported $5 billion of RMG to the UK in CY24 but is now seeing a decline in market share.
Akshay Morbiya, Assistant Director at CareEdge Ratings, highlighted that duty removal, recovery in UK demand, and favourable policies will drive India’s export gains. However, India’s dependence on cotton textiles, in contrast to the global tilt toward man-made fibres, may slightly limit its overall growth.
Bangladesh, with around $4 billion in RMG exports to the UK, faces socio-political uncertainties, prompting global brands to diversify sourcing, including from India. This, combined with rising costs in China and the ‘China Plus One’ strategy, positions India as a strong alternative.
Krunal Modi, Director at CareEdge Ratings, said the FTA could also boost investments across the textile chain and enhance employment, particularly for women. India’s RMG exports grew 10 per cent to $16 billion in FY25, and there is potential for another 10-15 per cent growth, backed by sufficient sector capacity.
The global RMG industry stood at $525 billion in CY24, with major importers including the EU, USA, UK, Japan, Canada, and South Korea.
The Good Fashion Fund (GFF), managed by Fount and supported technically by Wazir Advisors, has invested $1.75 million in Sharadha Terry Products Private Limited (STPPL), a leading Indian home textile manufacturer known for its MicroCotton brand. The funding will support STPPL’s new sustainable bath and area rugs manufacturing unit, Sri Gugan Mills, in Metupalayam, Tamil Nadu.
The upcoming facility will feature advanced tufting technology and aims to produce 4 million square meters of rugs annually using dope dyed polyester and cotton, with other recycled fibres under development. The unit is designed with a strong sustainability focus, minimizing water usage and eliminating hazardous dyeing chemicals. It includes an in-house effluent treatment plant expected to recover up to 98 per cent of wastewater.
Powered primarily by renewable energy 5.1 MW from windmills and 10.1 MW from solar the unit is expected to generate over 200 jobs locally. Vikram Krishna, Managing Director of STPPL, stated the partnership with GFF reinforces the company's commitment to innovation, clean energy, and community development.
This investment concludes the current deployment phase of GFF, with plans underway for a follow-up fund, Good Fashion Fund 2.0. Bob Assenberg, Fund Director of GFF, noted the strategic significance of entering the home textile segment and commended Sharadha Terry’s sustainability leadership.
Wazir Advisors, the technical consultant on the project, highlighted STPPL’s forward-looking approach. Varun Vaid, Business Director at Wazir, emphasized the firm’s continued role in enabling sustainable transformation across India’s textile sector.
As a prominent home textile exporter, STPPL is well-positioned to scale its sustainability-led growth with this strategic expansion.
Owned by Dubai-based Vision Investments since 2019, Italian luxury fashion house Roberto Cavalli has teamed up with the Italian Company Arav Group to develop and distribute its children's clothing lines. The brand will produce and distribute the Roberto Cavalli Junior and Just Cavalli Junior collections.
Roberto Cavalli confirms, to kick off with the Spring/Summer 2026 collections, this new collaboration is set for a six-season term. Arav Group's portfolio includes the John Richmond brand, the women's wear label Silvian Heach, the younger line Marcobologna, and they are also the licensee for Trussardi's children's wear. Under this agreement, Arav Group will focus on enhancing the brand identity and market position of the two kids' lines, while Roberto Cavalli's in-house team will handle the creative design.
Including clothing ranges for new borns, babies, and juniors, Roberto Cavalli Junior is positioned at the high end of the market, emphasizing fine details and fabric quality. This line features items like silk muslin dresses and sequined jeans for girls, and elegant dinner jackets and oversized bomber jackets for boys. The more accessible collection targeting kids aged 4 to 14 years, Just Cavalli Junior is characterized by a ‘young, rebellious vibe’ with animal prints, geometric patterns, bright colors, and prominent logos.
The first collections resulting from the partnership with the Arav Group will be available starting spring 2026. Distribution will include ‘a selection of premium retailers, Cavalli's flagship stores, and select online multibrand retailers,’ according to Roberto Cavalli.
This new agreement follows a previous arrangement where Roberto Cavalli worked with Gimel, a children's wear manufacturer based in Southern Italy, for the production of only the Roberto Cavalli Junior line. In that prior setup, Roberto Cavalli managed the collection design and retail distribution internally.
Anil Rajbanshi, President, Reliance Industries has been named as the new Vice Chairman of the Man-Made and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (Matexil).
Before his tenure at Reliance, a position held since 2004, Rajbanshi was associated with the Birla Group. According to Matexil, his extensive involvement in India's man-made fiber textile industry, along with his contributions to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) National Committees on Textiles and the Textiles Committee, highlights his dedication to advancing the sector.
Shaleen Toshniwal, Chairman, Matexil, opines, Rajbanshi's deep experience and comprehensive understanding of the man-Made fiber textiles industry will significantly enhance the council's operations and objectives.
Rajbanshi says, he looks forward to contributing to the growth of the man-made fiber textiles segment which represents the industry’s future.
Formerly known as the Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), Matexil was established in 1954, making it one of India's oldest export promotion bodies. The council's scope covers man-made fibers, yarn, fabrics, made-ups including home textiles, and technical textiles. The organization currently represents approximately 3,500 exporters and aims to support industry development and facilitate exports within the man-made and technical textiles segment.
Speaking at the India@2047 Summit hosted by ABP Network, Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond Group emphasized on the importance of boosting ‘khadi’ and leveraging India's textile heritage to fuel future expansion.
Speaking on the topic, ‘The Fabric of India: Strength and Sustainability,’ Singhania reflected on the country's historical role in the worldwide textile trade. Khadi needs more of a push, he stated. Highlighting the current opportunities for India in the global textile market, Singhania stated, this is the most opportune time for the Indian textile industry and we just need to stay one step ahead.
He pointed out to worldwide shifts and increasing sourcing challenges faced by countries like China as additional growth prospects.
Marking Raymond's 100th anniversary, Singhania shared, Raymond completes 100 years this year. The brand exports its fabrics to 55 countries, representing the modern era of India's manufacturing strength, he added.
Revealing the fact, India ranks fifth globally in the textile sector, and the industry is the second-largest employer in the country, Singhania asserted, the nation has all the right elements to become a global textile powerhouse.
Hugo Boss is launching an innovative recycled polyester yarn, ‘NovaPoly,’ co-developed with its suppliers Jairen Chemical Recycling and NBC LCC.
Hugo Boss holds the trademark and exclusive usage rights for this yarn for the first year. As a part of its ‘Boss The Change’ initiative, the company will launch the first Boss Green products featuring NovaPoly globally in October 2025. The yarn will be licensed across the broader fashion sector in the future.
While initially available exclusively for the Boss and Hugo brands, the company is actively developing a licensing model to make this innovative fiber accessible to a wider range of industry partners going forward. NovaPoly is manufactured using textile waste collected from both clothing production and post-consumer sources. It includes a natural additive designed to mimic the natural behavior of fibers in the environment, making it degradable. This innovation is a key component of Hugo Boss’ strategic goal to combat microplastics, a central pillar of the company’s sustainability strategy. NovaPoly complements the brand’s existing efforts to develop alternatives to traditional polyester and polyamide fibers, building on previous collaborations like the partnership with HeiQ AeoniQ.
Products incorporating NovaPoly will be available online, in Boss stores, and at select wholesale retail partners worldwide beginning in October 2025. As part of the Spring/Summer 2026 collection for Boss Green, the yarn will be integrated into specific performance wear pieces.
An investment platform established by British International Investment (BII), Growth Investment Partners (GIP) has made significant investments in the Ghana-based garment manufacturing company, Maagrace Garments Industries (MGIL) to construct a new state-of-the-art production facility at MGIL existing premises in Koforidua.
This expansion project will help boost Ghana's position in the global apparel industry by substantially increasing production capacity, expanding export volumes, and generating employment opportunities on a large scale, particularly for women and young people.
Jacob Kholi, Chief Executive and Investment Officer, GIP Ghana, avers, this project will serve as a testament to Ghana's industrial potential and its capability to compete globally in ethical garment manufacturing. MGIL's proven success in creating jobs, especially for women, while simultaneously driving export growth, perfectly aligns with our mission to support scalable and inclusive businesses, he adds.
Keren Pybus, Co-Founder and CEO, Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), notes, this investment significantly supports the company’s vision of building a world-class garment industry in Ghana – one that raises the standard for ethical manufacturing, champions women's empowerment, and demonstrates strong environmental responsibility.
A subsidiary of Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), an apparel sourcing and manufacturing firm headquartered in the United Kingdom, MGIL employs over 700 direct workers, with women making up 72 per cent of its workforce. The company is a major exporter, shipping over 90 per cent of its products to prominent international brands primarily based in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
Since acquiring MGIL, EAA has made substantial investments in technologies designed to enhance productivity. These include the implementation of solar power systems, digital pattern software, smart metal detection equipment, and a custom enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform. These technological upgrades have notably doubled productivity at the facility and facilitated the successful transfer of advanced technical skills to local middle managers.
Driven by a strong social mission, EAA aims to create over 10,000 quality manufacturing jobs across West Africa by 2030. The company is also dedicated to shaping the emerging apparel ecosystem in the region to prioritize the well-being of people and the protection of the planet.
The expansion project is expected to more than double the existing production capacity through the installation of new manufacturing equipment and the addition of crucial warehousing space.
In a major push for India's textile sector, the Union Government has concluded a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom, eliminating tariff barriers on key textile products. The move is expected to significantly boost exports, particularly garments and made-ups, which earlier faced duties of 10 per cent to 12 per cent, while yarns and fabrics saw levies of 4 per cent to 8 per cent.
S K Sundararaman, Chairman of The Southern India Mills Association (SIMA), hailed the FTA as a ‘historic’ step, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Giriraj Singh for their efforts. He highlighted that India’s textile and clothing exports to the UK had declined from $2,370 million in 2017-18 to $2,119 million in 2024-25 due to tariff disadvantages. With the FTA, exports are poised for a turnaround, especially in segments like ready-made garments, which constitute around 70 per cent of India’s textile exports to the UK.
The UK, being the second-largest market for Indian garments, offers vast growth potential. Industry stakeholders believe this zero-duty access will help revive struggling sectors such as home textiles from clusters like Karur, which have faced stiff competition from countries like Pakistan.
The government has set an ambitious target to grow the Indian textile industry from $165 billion to $350 billion by 2030, with exports rising to $100 billion. The FTA is expected to attract $100 billion in new investments and create 10 million jobs over the next five years. The zero-duty regime is also expected to enhance the success of PM MITRA Parks, PLI, and NTTM schemes, helping India tap into its surplus capacity and elevate its global competitiveness.
