Ghana is receiving support from the UK to transform high-potential sectors, including garments and textiles. The UK-Ghana partnership for Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) helps create the needed policy environment to drive investment into these sectors so that they can operate at their fullest potential, generate wealth and generate employment. Factories are being financed to enable them to return to their days of full operation and production. One such factory which is being helped on its feet now employs 750 workers instead of about 2,000 earlier.

In general Ghana is making efforts to recover after the Covid pandemic. This includes hiring an additional 38,000 nurses, waiving employee taxes and providing free water and electricity to millions of households. Several policies have been launched in the field of taxation. First, exemption of VAT on certain textile products is expected to increase the profits of business actors and expand their production. Second, reviewing reduction in import duty rates on all goods; the goal is that the policy of reducing import duty tariffs that are currently in effect can be more efficient and on target. Third, the reduction of the VAT rate on gold sales from unprocessed miners from three per cent  to 1.5 per cent. 

Gokaldas Exports encountered a challenging business environment in fiscal 2022. The Delta wave in the first quarter, Omicron wave in the early fourth quarter and logistics disruptions throughout the year were testing times. High raw material prices for both cotton and manmade fiber products, the war in Europe and inflation in key markets were additional headwinds. Going forward, the company anticipates that the free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK by year end and the FTA negotiations with Europe will present a good opportunity. With a diversified customer base, the company anticipates a higher growth of its non-top five accounts. With consumer getting back to work and socializing, Gokaldas sees woven products  gaining traction.

Global garment retailers are asking Indian exporters to reduce apparel prices as cotton prices have dropped 16 per cent and the rupee has devalued against the dollar. If recessionary trend in key markets of US and Europe continues, there could be a reduction in apparel exports for spring 2023, which can negatively impact the order book of Indian apparel exporters. Meanwhile Indian exporters are trying to mitigate the impact as they look to tap new markets in Latin America, Australia, Japan and UAE. 

U.S, Polo Assn. is the mew apparel partner for the British Beach Polo Championships. That means U.S. Polo Assn. outfits the polo players in custom jerseys, provides staff attire as well as branded caps for attendees, social media competitions, and global promotion of the event across various digital platforms. 

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association. British Beach Polo Championships, also known as Sandpolo, is the largest beach polo event in the world. A twist on traditional polo, Sandpolo is played with an oversized orange ball designed to be easily seen in the sand but still move at a high speed. British Beach Polo Championships is now in its 15th year. Sandpolo takes place on the shores of Sandbanks Beach, a prestigious destination known for its luxury properties and pristine sand. 

The UK is one of U.S. Polo Assn.'s fastest growing markets and the brand partners with the British Beach Polo Championships to showcase a version of polo in a great destination. By aligning its growth strategy with Sandpolo, U.S. Polo Assn. takes the opportunity to expose new fans and global consumers through an amazing experience to the sport of polo and the authenticity of the U.S. Polo Assn. brand.

After last year’s record number of partnerships, the fashion industry is witnessing a few big partnerships this year as well. Some major partnerships are from design houses like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Balenciaga, etc.

The first of these partnerships includes the collaboration of Kanye West and Gap’s Yeezy Gap with Demna Gvasalia, Creative Director, Balenciaga for the Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga collection. And as Woman’s Wear Daily report reveals, the first collection from the collaboration comprising eight styles was released in February 2022. The prices ranged from $120 to $440. Second collection from the collaboration was released this May. 

Adidas and Prada unite for a Re-Nylon collection

Before Gap released its collection, Prada and Adidas united once again in January to launch Adidas for Prada Re-Nylon collection. It offered refurbished Adidas Originals Forum sneakers in high and low versions besides track jackets, tracksuits, sweaters, hoodies and bucket hats.

Balmain collaborates with Barbie

In January, Olivier Rousteng, Creative Director, Balmain also launched his design house’s collection in collaboration with Barbie. The 70-piece collection ranges from logo T-shirts to couture evening gowns. Made in shades of pink, the collection incorporates some of Balmain signature designs like sailor sweaters, tweeds, denim jackets and cocktail dresses. It also includes handbags designed like windowed cardboard boxes housing Barbie dolls.

Manolo Blahnik, Birkenstock merge designs

In March 2022, two iconic footwear brands, Manolo Blahnik and Birkenstock, teamed up to launch a capsule collection that merged both the brand’s design principles. Offering six garment pieces, the collection includes three styles of the Birkenstock Arizona sandal in velvet fuchsia and blue, as well as black leather, and three styles of the Birkenstock Boston clogs offered in the same color shades. Both styles are embellished with crystals on the buckle.

Burberry launches spring 2022 collection

In the same month Burberry launched its spring 2022 collection in collaboration with Supreme. Featuring trenchcoats, puffer jackets, denim trucker jackets, rugby shirts, hoodies, jeans, denim shorts, T-shirt, hats and skateboards, the collection blends Burberry’s signature plaid print with Supreme’s streetwear designs..

Disney, Givenchy team up 

Mathew Williams, Creative Director, Givenchy teamed up with Disney for a collection titled ‘The Wonder Gallery,’ in May.  The collection launched with a range of T-shirts and hooded long sleeve T-shirts featuring Disney’s iconic characters. A second collection will be launched this summer.

Fendace hits stores with two collection

Known as Fendace, the Versace and Fendi collaboration hit stores in May this year. The collaboration has launched two collections: Donatella Versace’s Fendi by Versace collection and Kim Jones’ Versace by Fendi collection.

The Fendace collaboration offers apparel, shoes and accessories that merge Versace’s iconic Baroque print and safety pins with Fendi’s signature “F” logo. 

Adidas’ merges designs with Gucci’s color palette

This June, Gucci launched its Adidas x Gucci collection offering women’s and menswear pieces across apparel, shoes, accessories, jewellry and lifestyle pieces. The collection fuses Adidas’ three-stripe designs with Gucci’s classic red and green color palette. The collection is priced in the range from $235 to $4,200.

Louis Vuitton and Nike launch ‘Air Force 1’

Louis Vuitton teamed up with Nike in May to launch nine editions of its Air Force 1 sneakers collection. The brand also organized an exhibition for Abloh at Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse in New York City during May.

New collection under Farfetch Beat concept

Opening Ceremony and fashion designer Peter Do collaborated in June to launch their collection under its new concept Farfetch Beat. The collaboration offers three versions of Opening Ceremony’s signature varsity jacket, merging their classic designs with Do’s spacer material. The collection also includes an upcycled varsity jacket.