Showing a notable increase, Pakistan’s textile exports grew by 10.44 per cent to $6.146 billion in the first four months of FY’24-25, spanning July-Oct as against $5.565 billion in the same period last year, as per figures by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This increase highlights the resilience of the country's textile industry despite facing difficulties in certain raw material exports.

In Oct’24. Pakistan’s textile exports increased by 13.11 per cent to $1.625 billion as against $1.437 billion in Oct’ 23. On a M-o-M basis, textile exports rose by 1.30 per cent from $1.604 billion in Sep’ 24.

However, Pakistan’s cotton yarn exports contracted by 45.59 per cent during the first four months of FY25 to $221.76 million from $240.76 million in the same period last year. Although cotton yarn exports increased by 13.83 per cent M-o-M in Oct’24 to $59.18 million compared to $51.99 million in Sep’ 24, the Y-o-Y decline widened to 35.79 per cent compared to $92.16 million in Oct’ 23.

Key textile commodities exported by Pakistan in Oct’ 24 included knitwear with exports worth Rs 136.36 billion, RMG with exports of Rs. 100.55 billion and bedwear with Rs. 76.28 billion exports. The strong performance in these value-added products compensated for the challenges in raw material exports like cotton yarn, reinforcing Pakistan's competitive edge in the textiles sector.

The consistent growth trend in Pakistan's textile exports, particularly in garments and value-added products, reflects the sector’s adaptability and strategic shift towards high-value commodities, despite ongoing challenges in the raw material segment.

Following recent political changes in the country, India’s RMG exporters are urging the Central Government to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States,

A Sakthivel, Head-Apparel Export Promotion Council (Southern Region) and Chairperson, Apparel Made-ups and Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council (AMHSCC), says, by leveraging the current favorable positive relationship between the US President-elect Donald Trump and the Indian government, exporters aim to secure a favorable trade deal.

Emphaisisng on the significance of the US market for India’s RMG exports, Sakthivel notes, despite their exports reaching $2,568 million between Apr-Sep’2024, Indian exporters do not have an FTA with the United States. A free-trade agreement would help facilitate these exports, he adds.

From Apri-Oct’24, India’s total RMG exports to the US increased by 7.28 per cent to $468.27 billion from the $436.48 billion during the same period last year. Particularly in Oct’24, India’s total RMG exports to the US rose by 35.06 per cent, from $0.91 billion in October 2023 to $1.23 billion. Cumulative RMG exports from Apr-Oct’24 expanded by 11.6 per cent to $8,732.6 million.

This consistent month-on-month growth highlights the strength of India’s RMG exports, opines Sakthivel. The sector can achieve a further 15 per cent-20 per cent growth by this fiscal-end with exports from Tiruppur' reaching Rs 40,000 crore this year, he adds.

Echoing this sentiment, KM Subramanian, President, Tiruppur Exporters’ Association, adds, with 30 per cent Tiruppur’s knitwear exporters destined for the US, an FTA will allow Indian RMG exporters to better compete with other countries and secure more orders.

A new wave of research is exposing a stark reality: our wardrobes are overflowing with unworn clothes, a testament to the rise of fast fashion and a ‘buy now, wear once’ mentality. This global phenomenon is not only draining our wallets but also contributing significantly to environmental damage.

Cluttered wardrobes and unworn clothes

As per the first national survey of clothing use and disposal habits in Australia conducted by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), Australians acquire an average of 27 kg of new clothes annually, discarding around 23 kg. The average Australian owns 118 garments but has 26 per cent of their wardrobe going unworn for at least a year. This pattern of fast fashion consumption is mirrored worldwide, with alarming statistics emerging from various studies. A study by WRAP in the UK found similar results, with the average person keeping 118 items in their wardrobe and a quarter remaining untouched for a year.

Here are some interesting facts. The average garment is worn merely seven times before being discarded reveals Ellen MacArthur Foundation findings. In the UK, wardrobes hold an estimated 1.6 billion items of unworn clothing, reveals a WRAP study. And 30 per cent of donated clothes end up in landfills or incinerated, highlights a study by Hot or Cool Institute. While data varies across countries, the underlying narrative remains consistent: overconsumption and underutilization.

Table: The state of unworn clothes globally

The environmental cost of closet clutter

The implications of this ‘wearability crisis’ extend far beyond overflowing closets. The fashion industry is a major polluter, accounting for around 10 per cent of global carbon emissions. Producing clothes that are barely worn intensifies the strain on resources and contributes to textile waste.

The RMIT study highlights the need for greater awareness and behavioral change. As Alemayehu, lead researcher emphasizes, "We need to shift our mindset from disposability to longevity. This involves buying less, choosing quality, and caring for our clothes."

Various initiatives are being taken up across the world as a step towards greater sustainability. For example, the growing movement ‘One Year, No New Clothes’ challenge has participants commit to not buying any new clothing for a year, forcing them to re-evaluate their consumption habits and rediscover the potential of their existing wardrobes.

And initiatives like clothing swaps and rental services promote collaborative consumption and extend the lifespan of garments, offering alternatives to constant purchasing. Meanwhile brands too are focusing on ethical production and durable designs, encouraging consumers to invest in quality over quantity.

Indeed, the wearability crisis is a wake-up call and it's time to rethink our relationship with fashion, embrace sustainable practices, and ensure our wardrobes reflect our values, not just fleeting trends.

India's textile and apparel (T&A) exports registered a remarkable growth of 19.93% in October 2024, reaching US$ 3.06 billion compared to the same period last year. This positive trend is reflected in the cumulative figures for the April-October period, where exports grew by 7.08% to US$ 20.72 billion.

Key Highlights

• Overall Exports: India's total merchandise exports for October 2024 amounted to US$ 39.2 billion, an increase of 17.23% year-on-year.

Sector-wise Performance:

• Cotton Yarn/Fabs./Made-ups, Handloom Products etc.: Exports grew by 6.96% in October 2024 and 1.66% for the April-October period.

• Man-made Yarn/Fabs./Made-ups etc.: Exports witnessed a robust growth of 12.89% in October and 4.36% for the April-October period.

• Jute Mfg. including Floor Covering: Exports surged by 36.98% in October and 1.49% for the April-October period.

• Carpet: Exports increased by 16.79% in October and 12.26% for the April-October period.

• Handicrafts excl. handmade carpet: Exports grew by 32.67% in October and 13.99% for the April-October period.

• Apparel: Exports witnessed a significant surge of 35.06% in October and 11.60% for the April-October period.

Industry Optimism

Rakesh Mehra, Chairman of CITI, expressed optimism about the sector's sustained growth. He attributed this positive trajectory to several factors, including increased market share in the USA, supportive government policies like RoDTEP and IES, and the industry's focus on quality, innovation, and sustainability.

Looking Ahead

The textile and apparel sectors are poised for further growth, driven by increasing global demand, favorable government initiatives, and the industry's commitment to quality and innovation. India's strategic focus on sustainable practices and its emergence as a preferred sourcing destination are expected to further strengthen its position in the global market.