In October 2023, the Karl Mayer Group launched a new production company in Romania, aiming to bolster its resilience and competitive edge. Named Karl Mayer Romania SRL, the facility will commence operations in rented premises in Baia Mare from February 2024, with plans to eventually relocate to a dedicated factory nearby.
Patrick Mack, appointed as General Manager in May 2024, brings valuable experience to the role, having previously established a factory for another foreign company in Romania. He will collaborate with Manfred Reinhold, another key leader at the subsidiary. Mack's strategic vision focuses on integrating the new site seamlessly into Karl Mayer's global manufacturing network.
Patrick Mack emphasized the strategic importance of Karl Mayer Romania, expressing his goal to build a facility that upholds the company's high standards, enhances overall performance, and embodies its brand values. He plans to leverage German quality, Romanian ingenuity, and efficient processes to create a world-class production environment, fully backed by the Karl Mayer Group.
Growing concerns over unsold inventory, sparked by a decline in consumer spending, are leading to unprecedented discounts being offered by a few luxury labels in the Chinese market.
From this month, the price of a mall beige crocodile-pattered version of Balenciaga’s iconic hourglass handbag has been reduced by 35 per cent to $1,947on Alibaba Group Holdings’s the mainland’s dominant e-commerce platform, Tmall. This price is lower than those listed on the brand’s official websites globally and major luxury platforms like Farfetch.
A part of French luxury giant Kering SA, Balenciaga averaged a 40 percent discount on sale items during three of the first four months of 2024. The brand has also more than doubled its number of discounted products on Tmall, with these items accounting for more than 10 percent of its inventory on the platform from January to April. Last year, Balenciaga only offered discounts in January at an average of 30 percent and had no markdowns at all in the first four months of 2022.
Last year, online orders accounted for nearly half of China’s luxury revenues, according to consultancy Yaok Group. A majority of these orders were captured byTmall.
The decline in demand from the Chinese market has already impacted luxury earnings. Kering warned in April of a potential first-half profit drop of up to 45 percent, driven by weak Gucci sales in China. Burberry’s stock has more than halved in the past year due to weak demand in China and the US. Chanel also cautioned that conditions are becoming more challenging, even at the higher end of the market.
Additionally, Japan’s weak yen is contributing to the slowdown in sales in China, as consumers seek the lowest prices available by shopping in Japan.
Being held in Florence’s Fortezza Da Basso, the 106th edition of PittiUomois being attended by over 5,000 foreign buyers, says RaffaelloNapoleone, CEO, PittiImmagine. Foreign presence at the fair equals 45 per cent of the total 11,000 buyers attending the event.
On the other hand, Italian buyers to the trade show have reduced by 6 per cent.The highest visitors are being witnessed from Germany, The Netherlands, The UK, Spain, Japan, Turkey, etc.
Antonio De Matteis, President, PittiImmagine, advises,the show this season needs to be approached cautiously and with the same energy as always.The trade show encourages exhibitors to present the best of their products and confirm its market leadership, he adds further emphasising, it needs to address the weak dynamics of domestic consumption.
Matteisalso calls for increasing the involvement of business and labor representatives, Italian Government and European institutes, in the industry
Rizal TanzilRakhman, Former Secretary General, Indonesian Textile Association (API), has emphasised on the urgent need for the government to revise Trade Minister Regulation No 8. of 2024,concerning import policies. The government needs to listen to stakeholders, and implement necessary changes, stated Rizal, who also serves as an executive at the textile nonprofit RantaiTekstil Lestari (RTL).
If the government fails to take action, the textile industry may suffer further, leading to mass layouts, warned Rizal. By facilitating textile imports, the Regulation 8/2024 may damage the domestic textile industry leading to an influx of imported garments, reducing capacity utilisation in the local textile industry and either delaying or cancellation orders in small and medium industries.
Around 20 per cent of the small and medium size industries in Bandung, West Java have already shut down due to the relaxation in import regulations, rues Nandi Herdiaman, Chairman, Bandung Garment Entrepreneurs Association (IPKB). A failure to revise the regulation may lead to a rise in unemployment rates in Indonesia, causing great sufferings to the garment sector in the country, adds Herdiaman.
Non-profit organisation, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has certified several cotton clusters in Uzbekistan, as per reports by the Uztuqimachiliksanoat press service.
Discussing this issue of cotton certification in the country, Rachel Beckett, Startup Support Program Manager, BCI and the representatives from the cotton industry held a meeting that highlighted the interest of foreign clothing brands in Uzbek cotton following the end of the Cotton Campaign boycott, The meeting also emphasised on the need to expand organic cotton production in the country.
Having abundant cotton resources and a comprehensive production cycle, Uzbekistan ensures seamless tracking of textiles enterprises from field to market, says Beckett.
Three of the six raw cotton clusters in the country are soon set to be officially recognised as eco-cotton producers. Currently, raw cotton in six clusters adheres to BCI standards under the Sustainable Cotton program of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). Farmers and business leaders in these clusters have received training from GIZ and BCI.
Dedicated to enhancing sustainable cotton growing practices, BCI aims to not only ensure the well-being of cotton-growing communities but also safeguard and restore the environment.
Currently, BCI works with approximately 2.4 million farmers across 25 countries, including the US, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. Farmers in these countries produced 23 per cent of the world’s total cotton output amounting to 6.2 million tons in 2022.
The cotton certified by BCI is utilised by leading brands such as H&M, Levi’s, Adidas, and Nike for their textile production.
Driving a fast fashion waste crisis, Australians now purchase more clothing per person than any other country, as per a new research report by the Australia Institute. The study reveals, overtaking US, Australia has become the world’s largest consumer of textiles per capita, largely due to fast fashion, which often ends up in landfills.
Findings from the research report indicate, on an average Australians purchase 56 new clothing items per year, surpassing the US at 53 items, the UK at 33 items, and China at 30 items. The average value per item purchased by Australians is AUD $13, significantly lower than in the UK ($40), US ($24), Japan ($30), or Brazil ($16). Annually, more than 200,000 tons of clothes are discarded into landfills, equivalent to nearly four Sydney Harbor Bridges in weight, as per a report by Textile Waste in Australia.
The report recommends several policy measures to curb fast fashion waste, including implementing a French-style fast fashion tax, banning the export of textile waste within five years, and providing government-funded discounts for garment repairs. It also calls for federal investment in developing an Australian circular textiles industry and increased support for community op shops and recycling initiatives.
Polling by the Australia Institute indicates that nearly 63 percent of the Australians are concerned or very concerned about the environmental impact of textile waste. When asked who should be responsible for eliminating this waste, 71 percent pointed to businesses, followed by consumers at 57 percent and the government at 54 percent.
The research also highlights a gap in public knowledge regarding textile materials. Fewer than half (46 percent) of respondents could identify petroleum as the source of polyester, and only 27 percent were aware that more than half of the clothes sold in Australia are made from plastic.
Alex Zucchi, Immediate Past President, ACIMIT and Managing Director & Partner, Ferraro, has been appointed as the new president of the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers, Cematex.
Being involved in the ACIMIT delegation since 2015, Zucchi is a staunch advocate of sustainability. He has been involved in the promotion of the ACIMIT green label and recycling of textile machinery.
A staunch advocate of the sustainability cause, Zucchi is currently also the managing director and partner of Ferraro, a manufacturer specialising in finishing machinery.
Ernesto Maurer, Outgoing President, led Cematex with great enthusiasm and professional competence for four years. He will continue to be involved as the vice president of Cematex.
An organisation comprising nine national European textile machinery associations such as ACIMIT, AMEC-AMTEX, BTMA, GTM, SWISSMEM, SYMATEX, TMAS, UCMTF and VDMA, Zurich-headquartered Cematex also the owner of ITMA, the world’s largest international textile machinery exhibition.
In a decisive move aimed at revitalizing Europe’s textile industry, Mario Jorge Machado has been elected as the new President of Euratex during its General Assembly on June 14. Machado, renowned for his strategic leadership in Portugal's textile sector and his role as President of Textile and Clothing Association of Portugal (ATP)since 2019, brings a wealth of experience to his new position.
With a background in Production Polymer Engineering and a strong track record at "Adalberto Textile Solutions, SA," Machado is poised to steer Euratex towards a more competitive and sustainable future.
Addressing the pressing challenges ahead, Machado emphasized the need for Europe to reclaim its industrial growth trajectory, echoing concerns over global competition and the strategic support measures seen in the US and China. His vision for Euratex hinges on advocating a robust industrial strategy that aligns sustainability with competitiveness, emphasizing the importance of consumer-centric legislation and equitable market access for European products.
The Assembly also honored Alberto Paccanelli as Honorary President, acknowledging his longstanding dedication to Euratex and his advocacy for industry transformation and market fairness.
Additionally, the Assembly elected Michael Kamm, Barbara Cimmino, Gregory Marchant, and Ismail Kolunsag to join the Euratex Presidency Team, signaling a diverse and proactive leadership approach. New memberships and partnerships further underscore Euratex's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within the textile sector.
Euratex’s latest appointments and partnerships set a strategic course aimed at bolstering European textile competitiveness amid global challenges, setting the stage for impactful industry advocacy and growth.
Epson, a global leader in professional printing, collaborated with the ASEAN Fashion Designers Showcase (AFDS) to debut the ASEAN International Fashion Week (AIFW) at Singapore's ArtScience Museum. This inaugural event aimed to celebrate and highlight the unique styles and diversity across the ASEAN region while emphasizing sustainable practices in textile printing.
The event attracted over 850 attendees, including members of the public, designers, and industry partners. Epson partnered with 11 AFDS designers to present the Epson Runway Show, featuring pieces created using Epson’s SureColor series printers. These printers, such as the SureColor F6430 and SureColor F9430H, showcased how digital textile printing technology can facilitate sustainable fashion. The designs illustrated innovative approaches to eco-conscious fashion, utilizing dye-sublimation printers known for their high quality and minimal environmental impact.
During the event, Siew Jin Kiat, Regional Managing Director at Epson Southeast Asia, highlighted the collaboration with renowned Japanese designer Yuima Nakazato. Nakazato's avant-garde collection demonstrated advancements in sustainable printed fabrics enabled by Epson’s direct-to-fabric digital printing technology.
In addition to the runway shows, Epson and AFDS hosted a panel discussion focusing on sustainability in fashion and technology. The discussion, moderated by Neva Weber, International PR and Media Director of ASEAN International Fashion Week, featured industry leaders like Desmond Gay from Epson Southeast Asia and international figures from fashion weeks worldwide. Key topics included Epson’s innovations in reducing water consumption and achieving carbon-negative operations.
The event also featured a Pop Up Store where attendees could experience and purchase runway pieces. Epson showcased its textile printers, engaging the public with demonstrations of their capabilities in textile and gift production.
Derek Tan, Head of Sales and Marketing at Epson Singapore, expressed Epson's commitment to driving positive change in the fashion industry through innovation and technology. Hayden Ng, President Founder of AFDS, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their shared vision for sustainable fashion practices.
The ASEAN International Fashion Week not only celebrated regional creativity but also promoted a sustainable future for fashion through technology and collaboration.
Karl Mayer Group, a leader in textile machinery, has been honored with the German Award for Sustainability Projects 2024 in the "Production" category. The accolade, awarded by the German Institute for Service Quality, DUP Entrepreneur Magazine, and news channel ntv, was presented on June 11 at the Bertelsmann Representative Office in Berlin.
The jury, including former Minister of Justice and Economics Brigitte Zypris, selected Karl Mayer from 70 companies out of 342 nominations for its Bluedye technology.
Bluedye revolutionizes denim production by significantly reducing water and chemical use. Traditional indigo dyeing processes consume vast amounts of resources and emit pollutants. In contrast, Bluedye’s nitrogen-based technology cuts water and chemical usage by at least 50 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively, reducing operating costs by up to 20 per cent.
This innovation supports four of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, addressing clean water (Goal 6), sustainable production (Goal 12), improved working conditions (Goal 8), and fostering innovation (Goal 9).
Arno Gartner, CEO of Karl Mayer, highlighted how their technology reduces environmental impact and lowers costs, enabling sustainable jeans production for clients. Bluedye maintains high color quality in denim while significantly cutting resource consumption.
Bluedye has demonstrated its effectiveness through comparative measurements in field tests, proving its economic and environmental advantages. Companies can test this innovative technology at Karl Mayer's denim center of excellence. This award underscores Karl Mayer's commitment to leading the industry towards more sustainable and efficient production practices.
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