As per Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA recent report, A decline in global textile demand is rippling through the cotton ecosystem, impacting production, prices, and mill operations. India, the second-largest cotton producer, is projected to see a lower output in the upcoming season, while spinning margins have dwindled despite reduced cotton prices.

Factors contributing to the demand slump include trade imbalances, high power costs in India, and reduced global demand. This has led to unit closures in South India and reduced yarn consumption.

Industry experts emphasize the need to closely monitor global economic trends, demand patterns, and supply dynamics before making expansion or inventory decisions. They hope that a revival of global demand, particularly during the Christmas season, will provide a much-needed boost to the textile industry.

Karl Mayer, the industry leader in textile machinery, introduces an innovative TEXTRONIC Lace machine that promises to redefine lace production. The MT 84/1/40 S, set to be officially unveiled in November 2023, showcases an exceptional blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. 

This cutting-edge lace machine creates delicate lace articles with a captivating, contrasting fabric appearance. The key highlight is its remarkable resemblance to 12-point Leavers lace quality, a feat acknowledged by Karl Mayer's lace expert, Jamie Heather.

The MT 84/1/40 S employs a pioneering configuration, incorporating a stitch-forming Jacquard bar and two ground guide bars. This unique setup enables the production of high-contrast lace with multi-layered patterns and even allows for the creation of lighter fabric grounds without the need for pillar stitches. The addition of a fall-plate and an increased number of pattern bars further enhances the intricacy of the lace produced.

Karl Mayer plans to showcase this groundbreaking lace machine at a product show in Changzhou City, China, parallel to ITMA ASIA, where industry enthusiasts can witness the MT 84/1/40 S in action, signaling a new era in lace manufacturing.

Bowker Asia Limited, a leading sportswear specialist, has reported significant improvements in its operational efficiency and performance following the adoption of Coats Digital's FastReactPlan. The key news angle here is the impressive impact this software has had on Bowker's operations, including a 10% increase in capacity plan accuracy, a 3% boost in production efficiencies, and a remarkable 10% improvement in on-time delivery performance (OTDP).

Before implementing FastReactPlan, Bowker relied on manual processes, which were time-consuming and often led to inaccuracies and inefficiencies in their production and scheduling. With this new software, the company has achieved a unified, real-time source of information, allowing them to assess and manage production capacity, collaborate across departments, and make informed decisions quickly. This has also reduced the duration of management meetings by 50%.

Furthermore, Bowker can now view capacity plans from multiple angles, enhancing their understanding of production capabilities and limitations. The software enables them to effectively balance capacity in various scenarios, ultimately leading to a 10% improvement in OTDP.

Bowker's success with FastReactPlan has not only boosted operational efficiency but also freed up valuable time for staff to focus on innovation and business growth. Coats Digital, the provider of FastReactPlan, recognizes the transformative impact of this software and is enthusiastic about its partnership with Bowker to continue driving efficiency and innovation in the sportswear manufacturing industry.

This story highlights how technology solutions like FastReactPlan can significantly improve efficiency and performance in the fashion apparel manufacturing industry, with Bowker Asia Limited serving as a successful example.

The fashion industry is being pushed fast and hard towards circularity and the EU is perhaps its most vocal implementer, having introduced key legislations that regulate the environmental and social impact of fashion. Hong Kong-based environmental NGO Redress that specializes in sustainability in Asia, released an industry report related to Asia’s manufacturing bases for the global fashion sector. The report clearly highlights Asian supply chains are nowhere near ready to deliver the need of the future and this worrisome as Asia is the global manufacturing hub for textiles and apparel. 

As Christina Dean, Founder, Redress, supported by the VF Foundation points out, the three main gaps are: design knowledge, financial challenges in an extremely price-sensitive sector and leadership skills to steer Asia towards fashion circularity in a meaningful way. The report was presented at a panel discussion at Fashion Summit Hong Kong, Asia's sustainable fashion event, as well as at Shanghai Fashion Week. 

Design knowledge gap hinders transition 

It’s the time for a now or never approach in Asia, where organizations that support fashion circularity and expert and experienced designers collaborate to conceptualize and implement circularity best practices to ensure Asian hubs are able to fulfill the circularity model that is the future of fashion. Redress’ study comprised 195 global fashion professionals, the methodology being mainly in the form of quantitative questionnaires supported by 40 qualitative interviews with professionals working with organizations that produce apparels for Europe, China and South East Asia. 

Almost 79 per cent respondents acknowledged the current design knowledge gap that is going to be a significant obstacle for circularity to be implemented. The two main factors to bridge the gap were identified as: education and capacity building. It is going to be vital for Asia’s manufacturing hubs to understand that the first step towards achieving circularity is based on product design that sources sustainably, builds in longevity and factors in recyclability. Capacity building includes turning manufacturing plants to widen their scope to suit the manufacturing of sustainable and recyclable items. 

Financial challenges 

Apart from the existing design knowledge gap, financial barriers are yet another challenge that the Asian fashion sector requires to iron out. Having positioned itself as the most affordable region for sourcing, most manufacturing hubs operate on compromised margins that leave little room for investing in transitioning to sustainable and circular fashion’s supply chain. In this context, the senior managements of manufacturing companies have not shown much enthusiasm to plough back funds towards building capacity as well as the restructuring of the linear model into a circular one. One may also add that Western buyers have a large role to play because they might espouse the need for fashion to be circular but are not willing to undergo a price recalibration that comes with an entire manufacturing sector realigning itself. For both parties, the vendor and the buyer, the mind-set is short-term gain focused rather than looking ahead to deliver on sustainable fashion in tangible ways. 

The transition could be a rocky 

Analyzing the report begets the question how can Asia, the region that produces nearly 60 per cent of apparel for worldwide consumption, not deliver to the growingly stringent regulations bring imposed on the global fashion sector? How will it affect the worldwide trade? These are important questions that Western markets are looking at. The cost-efficiency of Asian manufacturing hubs have been the biggest attraction but as expected, may not be sustainable as positive environmental and social impact will draw up a heftier price tag. The moot point is will investors be ready to take the plunge to transition or withhold knowing any shift in pricing could bring about seismic changes amongst Western buyers.