Demands for textile machinery rising with competitiveness: Rieter
Joachim Maier, Head of Marketing at Rieter Machines & Systems says the textile machinery market is not as stagnant as it might appear. This is because demand continues to be steady due to the need for increasing competitiveness through equipment upgrading, especially in growing Asian textile producing countries. Compared to a few years ago, the number of new machines delivered to the market is going down, he said.
Maier was speaking on the sidelines of the ITMA Asia + CITME 2016 where he shared his understanding of the current Chinese market. Coming to know that China is the largest air-jet spinning market worldwide, Rieter presented its J 26 automated air-jet spinning machine for the first time in China.
Designed for processing viscose, combed cotton and blends, this machine is said to have been further enhanced and enables a wide range of yarn to be produced economically. Maier added that it is believed that the Chinese market will still grow though not as fast as it did in recent years. Due to high labour costs and labour shortage, many Chinese customers have started moving to Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, and to the province of Xinjiang in Western China on the other.
In order to gain sufficient experience with the various types of polyester, Rieter works closely with customers. The company not only focuses on a practical and market-oriented machine development, but also on a close and sustained partnership with its customers, Maier added.
Bangladesh exports withstands Brexit fallout
Although the referendum to exit the European Union had sent major shocks for shipments from Bangladesh, Britain's almost certain exit from the European Union did not impact on Bangladesh's export receipts, according to last four months' trade data. There was concern after the referendum in the UK that produced overwhelming ayes on the question of breaking away from the EU. But recent data shows so far there has been no impact however, the government will observe further whether it will impact trade in the near future. According to the Ministry of Finance, the referendum result did not to have a major effect on exports from Bangladesh.
Demand for Bangladesh's products in the EU market and in other parts of the world is more or less immune to any kind of changes. Exports had grown by 10.8 per cent in the EU zone, one of the key export destinations for Bangladesh and just 10 per cent on the US market.
Woven garment shipments rose by 2.38 per cent dung the first quarter on average, knitwear at 4.64 per cent and leather as well as leather goods at 16.69 per cent, the official documents revealed. The government also kept unchanged the revised export-shipment growth at 10 per cent for the current fiscal year. Exports fetched the country $10.79 billion in the first four months of the current fiscal until October, with the growth rate calculated at 6.53 per cent. The growth accounts for over 29 per cent of $7 billion target for the period.
Arvind bags top prize at National Energy Conservation Awards
Leading fashion and lifestyle conglomerate, Arvind has bagged the ‘Top Rank Award’ in Energy Conservation and Efficiency at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2016. The event was organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power. The Top Rank Award recognizes an industrial unit that wins the first prize for three consecutive years. Arvind is the only textile conglomerate to reach the milestone. Competing against 43 players, Arvind clinched the top position yet again by displaying consistent efforts towards energy conservation at its Santej plant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Compared to FY2015-16, Arvind was able to further reduce specific consumption in thermal energy by 12 per cent besides achieving 12 per cent reduction in specific electrical energy consumption. Arvind has also installed 1.30 MW roof-top solar power generation at the Santej plant, the largest of its kind in the Indian textiles industry.
The award was presented by Union Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy in the Government of India Piyush Goyal to the CEO Lifestyle Fabrics (shirting, khaki and knitwear) at Arvind, Susheel Kaul. Kaul said at Arvind, improving the plant’s energy efficiency has always been a focus and the company continues to invest in new technologies for sustained energy conservation. This award means a lot to the team at Arvind.
Commenting on the award, Harvinder Rathee, Head Engineering - Lifestyle Fabrics (shirting, khaki and knitwear) said the company was able to achieve power and thermal savings through various innovations, new technologies, continuous monitoring and all the efforts have paid off. Going ahead, the company has introduced various initiatives in its plant to conserve energy such as mechanical vapor recompression for evaporation, polymeric multi-effect evaporation, efficient pumps, artic master on chillers, LEDs, use of renewable energy, such as day-light sheets and natural exhaust and gravity ventilations in production halls.
Hometech textiles market to grow at CAGR between 2016 and 2026
"The hometech textiles market has been projected to grow at a healthy CAGR between 2016 and 2026. The said market comprises of a strong part of the technical textile market including upholstered furniture industry. A textile product manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes is called a technical textile. A technical textile used in home furnishing and clothing is called hometech textile. Hometech textiles range from filter products used in vacuum cleaners to fiber fills in mattresses and pillows."
The hometech textiles market has been projected to grow at a healthy CAGR between 2016 and 2026. The said market comprises of a strong part of the technical textile market including upholstered furniture industry.
A textile product manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes is called a technical textile. A technical textile used in home furnishing and clothing is called hometech textile. Hometech textiles range from filter products used in vacuum cleaners to fiber fills in mattresses and pillows.
Hometech products are made of both synthetic and natural fibers. Hometech textiles are widely utilized in furniture and interior decoration, sun protection, cushion materials, carpeting, fireproofing, wall coverings, flooring and textile reinforced fittings etc.
Hometech textiles ranks 4th largest in sales of all the other technical textiles. Western Economies account for the biggest market share of hometech textiles followed by Asia Pacific. Hometech Textile products are in continuous use by household as well as commercial sectors.
The global hometech textiles market can be segmented on the basis of geography, applications and end-use types. On the basis of geography, the global hometech textiles market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Japan. On account of applications the global hometech textiles market can be segmented into commercial and household.
Hometech textiles are widely used in commercial sector like offices and business organizations as well as domestic and household purposes. Considering end use types, the global hometech textiles market can be segmented into fiberfill, mattress and pillow components, carpet backing cloth, stuffed toys, blinds, HVAC filters, vacuum cleaner filter cloth, non-woven wipes, mosquito nets and furniture fabrics.
Wrangler has saved three bn liters of water since 2007
Wrangler Jeans has announced that it has achieved a milestone of saving three billion liters of water since 2007. The global leader in jeans and casual apparel also announced methods to reduce water usage at its facilities by 20 per cent by 2020.
The three billion liters that the company saved equals the annual household water needs of more than 21,000 Americans. Water plays a significant role in manufacturing of denim. The finishing steps in producing a pair of jeans typically require multiple water baths. By merging steps, Wrangler reduced water use without compromising quality. This improved wash down process, combined with increased water recycling yielded this significant resource conservation.
Wrangler brand's water recycling program invested in advanced wastewater treatment systems is to improve effluent water quality. This allows treated water to cycle back through the system.
For example, the company's owned Torreon facility in Mexico has achieved a 45 per cent water-recycling rate through a combination of disc filtration and biological treatment processes. The company plans to invest in additional technology at the site to achieve a 75 per cent recycling rate by 2018.
Initially, Wrangler pioneered a major water conservation effort with its water miser program a decade ago. This finishing process applied detergent more strategically, reducing the water used in the company's wash formulas by up to 28 per cent. This was a technique that was then applied globally across internal manufacturing. It's one of many initiatives that Wrangler has taken up for years.
Welspun wooing Target once more
Welspun India, the home textiles company, has announced it is trying to revive ties with US retailer Target. The latter had severed ties with the former following Egyptian cotton controversy. Then, Welspun allegedly passing off cheap sheets as premium Egyptian cotton, eventually it got E&Y on board to clean its supply chain. Welspun Group chairman B K Goenka says his company did accept its mistake and voluntarily set up audit. Unfortunately, the textile supply chain is not as robust as that of automobiles. However, now the root cause of the problem has been identified and the company is trying its best to get back Target. Goenka was speaking on the sidelines of launching Rs 600 cr flooring solutions facility in Gujarat.
Welspun would manufacture carpets, area rugs and carpet tiles in the new facility at Anjar, Gujarat. The facility will have an annual capacity of approximately 7 million square meters. Most of this capex will be achieved over next 18 months and the upcoming facility will house one of the most modern plants in the country. Goenka said the project will provide direct employment to around 2,000 people and indirect employment to 3,000 others.
Teijin to launch denim-like fireproof aramid fabric
Japan’s Teijin, the chemical, pharmaceutical and information technology company has announced it would soon launch Xfire denim, a practical and fireproof denim-like aramid fibre fabric for firefighting uniforms. The new aramid fabric is expected to meet the growing demand for extra-manoeuvrable clothing for volunteer fire corps.
While sales of Xfire Denim will be underway this month, Japanese manufacturers will start selling uniforms for fire corps made with the material in 2017. Made with Teijinconex meta-aramid fibre, Xfire Denim is produced with a proprietary technology to realise a pliant texture similar to that of denim, a universally popular fabric.
The material is also designed to offer comfort and design flexibility. The fabric’s appearance is also practical because it enables professional and volunteer fire corps to be easily distinguished when working side-by-side, the company detailed. The launch of Xfire Denim is expected to strengthen Teijin’s position in the Japanese market for protective apparel. The company is renowned for incorporating high-performance materials in innovative hybrid safety solutions. Looking ahead, Teijin has forecast global sales in its safety and protection field to rise to 20 billion Japanese Yen by 2020.
Over the decades, Teijin’s durable, heat-resistant and flame-retardant aramid fibres have provided police, firefighters and chemical-plant workers with high-performance clothing for added protection and safety. It says that it is the top-selling brand of protective apparel for professional firefighters in Japan who highly value the heat-resistant and flame-retardant properties of Teijinconex.
Teijin is a leader in aramid fibres. It is renowned for its strength, sustainability, safety, heat resistance and low weight, Twaron, Technora, Teijinconex and Teijinconex neo that are used for applications including automobiles, ballistic protection, marine products, civil engineering, protective clothing, and oil drilling.
Nepal: Garment manufacturers urge govt for export incentives
Garment manufacturers in Nepal have urged the government to give export incentives to boost business of Nepali apparels. This could be done through a supplementary budget, they say. Nepali garments are up to 18 per cent more expensive in the international market compared to garments from other countries, local apparel manufacturers have demanded the government should provide 10 per cent export incentive on total export value, which according to them, is a must to bring down their cost of production.
Citing the example of garment industry in Bangladesh, manufacturers say Bangladesh has progressed in garments as the government has given 10 per cent export incentive to local apparel manufacturers. Nepal and Bangladesh both started garment exports in the 80s. While Bangladesh progressed and the exports market is worth Rs 28 billion annually, Nepal is lagging behind and its garment exports is worth only Rs 5 billion every year.
Manufacturers say Nepali garments have high demand in the European Union, United States and India. Officials of Garment Association of Nepal (GAN) also stated that implementation of ‘No Work, No Pay’ provision introduced by the Industrial Enterprise Act is crucial to bring down production cost in Nepali garment industry.
LVMH takes 5.4 per cent passive stake in G-III Apparel Group
After selling off DKNY to G-III Apparel Group earlier this year, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton claims it has 5.4 per cent passive stake in the group. A passive stake is a form of investing where the shareholder in this case (LVMH) takes no active part in running the company.
According to December 12 Securities and Exchange Commission filing, which reflects the December 1 acquisition, LVMH does have a shared voting power. G-III Apparel Group, which also owns licenses for Calvin Klein, Ivanka Trump among other brands sold $75 million in common stock to the luxury conglomerate chaired by Bernard Arnault in connection with the DKNY deal.
In July, LVMH agreed to sell Donna Karan International to G-III Apparel Group for of $650 million, a rare disposal for the French luxury-goods maker. But this move failed to turn around a label that once defined workplace attire for successful U.S. women. G-III funded the total purchase price for DKNY, subject to certain adjustments with a combination of cash, $75 million of newly issued shares of its common stock to LVMH and a $125 million junior lien seller note of which $75 million in principal amount has a six and a half year maturity and $50 million in principal amount has a seven year maturity. The cash portion of the purchase price was paid from the proceeds of a $350 million six-year senior secured term loan, and the balance from borrowings under a $650 million five-year senior secured asset based revolving credit facility and cash on hand.
Inditex's sales growth heads North despite warm autumn
Inditex, the world's biggest clothing retailer and owner of Zara, has reported a rise of 9 per cent in its nine-month profit. It also announced that its sales growth accelerated in recent weeks, despite warmer than usual autumn weather in many European countries.
As its fashion peers struggle to adapt to changing consumer tastes, with Abercrombie & Fitch and Gap posting dismal fourth-quarter sales last month, Inditex's fast-fashion business and online prowess have kept it ahead. The company is known for speedily reacting to changing trends and weather by keeping its manufacturing bases close to its distribution centre in the northern Spanish region of Galicia.
Items such velvet dresses, military blazers and mini skirts helped push sales up 14.5 per cent in local currencies in the nine months to Oct. 31.Net profit was up 9 per cent at 2.2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were up 8.4 per cent at 3.6 billion euros, both results in line with anaysts' forecasts, according to a poll.
With over 7,200 stores in 93 markets, Inditex has desisted from opening many new store as its primary driver of growth. Instead, it is setting up large flagship stores in key locations and tying in its online business.
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Egyptian cotton exports in Q2 of 2015-16 rises 77.7 per cent
The total amount of cotton exports from Egypt increased by 77.7 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year, in the fourth quarter of 2015-16 agricultural year, the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) has reported. Egypt exported 139,900 metric kantar of cotton during June/August 2016 compared to 78,800 metric kantar last year.
In a statement, CAPMAS said the increase was due to low price of Egyptian cotton in international market compared to other countries’ and the low volume of cotton exports in the same quarter of previous year. The statement also said India was the largest importer of Egyptian cotton buying 61.7 per cent of the total cotton exports totaling 86,300 metric kantar.
The total consumer volume of domestic cotton was 117,800 metric kantar during the Q4 of 2016, compared to 109,700 metric kantar in Q$ of previous year, a 7.4 per cent increase. The amount of cotton that had been compressed from June to August was 21,600 metric kantar, compared to 38,400 metric kantar for the same period in the previous season, a decline of 43.8 per cent.
Esprit opens ‘Yes Centre’ in Bangladesh to educate workers
Esprit has opened a school in Bangladesh called Yes Center with the aim of providing educational aid to supplier countries. Esprit plans a similar school in Pakistan and more will follow.
The brand is pursuing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to develop sustainability on an economic, social, and ecological level. Among European countries, many of Esprit’s clothes are produced in emerging countries. The company’s ambition is to give something back to these countries. By setting up educational opportunities, the schools, it’s hoped, might enable better working conditions and economic and social independence, especially for women.
Within the Yes Centers students are taught subjects like safety and quality management, English, computer training, accounting, and courses on gender equality and human rights. This curriculum is meant to increase the alumni’s chances of higher education and employment beyond the textile industry.
In 2013 following the Rana Plaza disaster Esprit joined the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. In 2015-16 more than 97.6 million garments, 6.5 million accessories and 3.3 million shoes were produced for Esprit. The finished goods were sourced from 25 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. The company’s main sourcing countries are Bangladesh, India, China and Pakistan.
Use of harmful products in apparels on the wane
The fashion industry is the second most environmentally damaging in the world. With more than 60 per cent apparels being manufactured in developing countries, it’s likely that the garments in everyday are made using extremely harmful production methods and have travelled half way across the planet in cargo ships powered by fossil fuels.
With consumers taking the implications of carbon emissions seriously, the fashion industry is realizing the importance of doing business the right way. Green and fair trade designers are utilising domestic talent and sustainable technologies are gaining traction. However, the majority of large scale fashion houses still source cheap labour from overseas and use unethical manufacturing processes.
Over 25 per cent of the world’s insecticides are used for cotton farming; one fifth of the world’s water pollution stems from fabric treatment and each year over 10.5 million tons of clothing goes straight to landfills in America. The need of the hour is to scrutinise the fashion industry just as much as one scrutinises burning of fossil fuels and cattle farming to tackle climate change effectively.
It is in this context that slow fashion is gaining ground. The term slow fashion was coined by Kate Fletcher of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, an organisation devised to question and challenge reactionary fashion cultures, which reflect and re-enforce patterns of excessive consumption and disconnection. Part of the slow fashion philosophy is to encourage consumers to purchase longer lasting items, rather than multiple cheaper items. In short, it’s about looking at the bigger picture.
Besides alleviating pressure on natural world, the slow fashion movement supports independent businesses, domestic artisans and serves as a catalyst for creativity, encouraging designers to embrace their instincts and go against the grain. Fundamentally, it’s a positive for everyone.
However, to change the industry, the general attitude of the consumers need to change first. Renowned fashion houses, such as Stella McCartney and H&M are trying to set an example by working towards creating a sustainable supply chain. And many others are following their example.
Bangladesh signs new skills development with ILO, EU
The Bangladesh government, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the European Union (EU) signed a joint declaration of launching a project called ‘Skills 21’. It is aimed at developing a skills training module of international standards in line with the demand from global labour market.
Under the €20 million project, the ILO and EU will work for institutional development of technical education under the technical and vocational education and training program and also to improve the skills development module in Bangladesh, says ILO director-general Guy Ryder.
EU ambassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon points out Bangladesh is in need of a skilled labour force to ensure the sustainability of its economic growth. The Skills 21 project would help Bangladesh to define a national skills development policy and the EU would continue its support for further developing and completing the establishment of a comprehensive and coherent TVET system and its institutional setup for a long-term effectiveness, the envoy said.
Bangladesh education minister Nurul Islam Nahid believes the EU project would support the commitments of the government to inclusive economic growth and full and productive employment for all. He says a skilled and productive workforce would make a major contribution to the Bangladesh’s goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021.
