The textile sector’s healthy growth will help India boost exports to $100 billion by 2030, says Piyush Goyal, Union Textile Minister. Zero duty access to the UAE and Australia markets will also help India emerge as a top textile exporter to these two countries. India is also trying to get zero duty access to the EU markets, Canada, the UK and GCC member countries. Last fiscal, it exported textiles worth $43 billion against $ 33 billion exported in the previous year.

The current geopolitical situation provides huge opportunities for the industry to boost exports, adds Goyal. He further emphasized on the need to promote cotton production in the country as current figure of about 500 kg per hectare is half the world's average. Goyal emphasized on the need to control current high cotton prices in order to benefit both farmers and the industry.

Lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret has released its first environmental, social and corporate governance, or ESG, report outlining statistics on company gender and ethnic makeup, etc. Besides highlighting current operations, the ESG report outlines the brand’s future goals, says Martin Waters, CEO. In 2021, Victoria’s Secret embarked on its journey as stand-alone company. Women make up the majority of associates at all levels, including 87 per cent company-wide and 86 per cent of the board. Women also make up 59 per cent director and above roles, 95 per cent of in-store associates and 57 per cent of distribution center associates. The report also outlined the number of people of color in the company which make up for 65 per cent of its in-store and 71 per cent of distribution center associates.

The report says as per a ‘2021 internal review,’ in partnership with the nonprofit Fair Pay Workplace, Victoria’s Secret found 99 per cent of its workforce was paid equitably. For the remaining 1 percent, it has made adjustments to processes and compensation to address inconsistencies.”

On the sustainability front, Victoria’s Secret reported sourcing 24 per cent of its polyester and 11 per cent of polyamide from recycled materials. The company set a target to only use chemicals that are 100 per cent certified on the Manufacturing Restricted Substance List for its core lingerie and apparel suppliers by 2030. In the beauty division, Victoria’s Secret said it continues to oppose animal testing and that no branded products, formulations or ingredients are tested on animals.

Surpassing overall apparel imports, US’ jeans imports surged 32 per cent to $607.3 million in February this year, reveals Commerce Department’s Office of Textile & Apparel (OTEXA) data. Imports from all top five denim apparel suppliers surpassed 20 per cent year-over-year in February. Imports from Bangladesh increased 29.07 per cent to $122.82 million, while shipments from Mexico rose 22.45 per cent to $107.11 million.

Imports from Vietnam surged 33.68 per cent compared to February 2021 while those by Pakistan jumped 66.28 per cent year over year to $71.44 million, while shipments from China surged 21.34 per cent to $59.89 million. Imports from Egypt more than doubled to $34.46 million as Bill Curtin, Owner, BPD Wash House, struck a deal with Egyptian denim mill Sharabati Denim to lead its US East Coast and Canada sales.

Other notable second tier suppliers–Cambodia, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Turkey and India–also posted substantial increases in their denim exports to the US.

One of the fastest-growing premium denim exporters in Bangladesh, Pacific Jeans Group aims to raise its export turnover to $1 billion in the next five years. This year, the group is likely to rake in $500 million in export earnings as apparel shipments continue to grow steadily. As per The Daily Star report, the company registered $450 million export revenues in fiscal year of 2020-21. It has been posting a consistent growth for the last few years, and now plans to diversify products to materialize its long-term vision of becoming a global lifewear solution company.

Currently, the group runs six units -- Pacific Jeans, Jeans 2000, Universal Jeans, NHT Fashion, Pacific Accessories, and Pacific Casuals -- at the CEPZ and Pacific Knitex at Sitakunda. In the last few years, it has focused on product development, production efficiency improvement, human resources development, development of skills of mid-level managers, and optimum utilization of resources. The company's major markets are Japan, Europe, and the US. It aims to penetrate bigger markets like China, India and other emerging Asian markets.

Pacific Jeans Group has also stepped up efforts on environmental sustainability and improving the working environment in the last four to five years besides enhancing its financial and corporate governance. It has also invested in the knitwear segment as it eyes to work with various knitwear items.