Pakistan aims to launch the Better Work Program (BWP to enable it to achieve decent work standards, especially in the export-oriented textiles and apparel sector, as per a report by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
Titled, “GSP+ Insights Pakistan”, the report further revealed that the country is co-funding ILO BWP through Export Development Fund, with support from European Commission.
According to the statistics mentioned in a report, Pakistan’s exports to the EU have increased from €3.56 billion in 2013 to €6.64 billion in 2021, registering an increase of 86 per cent.
While Pakistan’s imports from the EU member states have also increased from €3.31 billion in 2013 to €5.59 billion in 2021, which represents an increase of 69 per cent.
Since 2013, EU’s exports to Pakistanhave increased substantially in many sectors including machinery (49 per per cent) Iron & Steel (114 per cent) Pharmaceuticals (143 per cent) Plastics (79 per cent ) and medical measuring instruments (45 per cent).
Exports to 12 EU member states that have increased by more than 100 per cent include Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus, Spain, Netherlands, etc.
In an emerging industry trend, home décor is helping fashion brands offset pandemic woes and attract new customers. Many fashion brands are launching home décor products to widen their portfolio and tap the growing ‘work from home’ customer base. Though the target audience for home décor and fashion is completely different, fashion brands have been easily making a transition to home décor products, says a Glossy report.
For instance, brandless fashion retailer Quince launched a home category at the end of 2020, reveals Sid Gupta, Co-Founder. The e-commerce company began by selling bedding, priced similarly or a bit below DTC brands like Brookline before it expanded to table linen, pillows, bath mats and rugs. From being a miniscule percentage of Quince’s business in 2020, home décor has grown to account for over 35 per cent of sales till 2021. The e-tailer also sells accessories, leather goods and bags. Its home business has resonated well with customers who have been able to make the transition easily, explains Gupta.
Higher profit margins triggers transition to home decor
Leading global technology research and advisory company Technavio estimates, home décor sales may grow over $340 billion from 2022 and 2025. Throughout the pandemic, home categories of brands like Target and Macy’s made up larger part of their business. Target’s home décor sales grew 30 per cent year-over-year in 2021.
The home décor category also offers higher profit margins than the fashion segment. Profit margins for the category exceed 40 per cent while fashion category is less than 20 per cent. This makes the move from fashion to home décor a more natural one, says Kristin Dorsey, Vice President, Linc,
Nowadays, people are spending more time at home. This is enabling them to spend more disposable income on dressing up their surroundings. The home décor sales of Matchesfashion doubled last year with fashion brands like Simon Miller, Bernadette and Aquazzura launching home goods on their platform. Common values between home and fashion The marketing strategies of fashion brands foraying into home décor are similar to strategies they adopt for the fashion industry. For instance Aquazzura launched its home collection at Milan Design Week just like it launches fashion collections at the event. Brands like Simon Miller have launched similar campaigns for their home and fashion categories.
Though home décor and fashion products are completely different in terms of their presentation, they are similar in terms of values they adhere to. Both segments focus on brand ethics, sustainability, environmental impact, diversity and equity, adds Ali Hanvaloglu, Senior Director-Product Marketing, Akeneo, a product information management company.
The next edition of Techtextil North America will take place in Atlanta from May 17 to 19. in Atlanta. ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, and Italian Trade Agency organize an Italian Pavilion, where 17 Italian machinery manufacturers involved in the production of machines for technical textiles will show their innovative solutions.
ACIMIT members exhibiting in the Italian Pavilion are: 4M Plants, Aeris, Arioli, Computer House, Fadis, Flainox, Guarneri Technology, Ima, Kairos Engineering, Mcs, Ramina, Siltex, Stalam, Testa, Willy.
The US textile industry is one of the top in US manufacturing sector, with a sales volume of exceeding US$ 64 billion in 2020, with approximately 300,000 workers and about 15,000 companies. The industry's strength lies in cotton, man-made fibers, and a wide variety of yarns and fabrics, including those for apparel and industrial uses. In 2021, the US represented the third market for Italian textile machinery exports, behind China and Turkey. In 2021 January-September period the value of Italian sales to US market was €93 million, an increase of 74per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.
An all-new body positivity and size inclusivity fashion portfolio that includes clothes that suit a diverse range of body types is the latest buzzword among brand and retailers these days. There is currently a strong focus on launching a more versatile plus-size portfolio in response to increased demand for this segment.
Although the pandemic affected the sales of plus-size clothing due to inherent manufacturing concerns such as fabric and labour shortages, order cancellations, lower exports as well as tight purse strings on non-essential items, the demand for this segment is now back with a vengeance. Customers are also now more willing to spend on trendy garments that are easily available in larger sizes and it’s not just about comfort anymore. Industry leaders are of the opinion that the plus-size clothing market currently valued at US$ 601.7 billion in 2022 is projected to reach US$ 1,044.3 billion by 2032.
Premium brands foray into plus-size clothing
However, it’s no cakewalk to success as perfecting fits in the plus-size portfolio is far more of a challenge in design and in cost that the straight-size garments. Brands are often unwilling to invest beyond easy-fitting comfort styles, which often makes the larger-sized portfolio lacking in trend and style.
Also, plus-size clothing raises production costs as more material is used with more detailing and layering, so smaller manufacturers avoid producing such garments. Reduced profit margins, as a result of not being able to gauge customer preferences unlike straight garments of the normal size range is another factor. Premium and mid-range brands do well in this segment as they launch a dedicated collection instead of just adding bigger sizes to their existing portfolio.
Strong focus needed for versatility in style trends
In the straight-size collections, tops and dresses are the main categories available although curve products are more inclined towards T-shirts, wrap, and smock-style dresses. Other categories that need a more lasered focus on fits, such as bottoms and top product sets, make up a smaller proportion of the plus assortment. In the bottom wear segment, leggings equal a more significant percentage of plus ranges versus straight sizes. In the denim jeans segment, skinny silhouettes make up 44% of plus-size versus 26% of straight-size ranges, which are geared towards the straight-leg style that is currently in fashion now.
In skirts and dresses, mid-length has always taken precedence over mini-skirts which rank at just 7% in plus-size as compared to 19% in straight sizes. Even color is an important factor with less emphasis on bright and bold shades with black being far more of the dedicated mix than for straight sizes. Adding a color range to an existing best-seller style in stores and online is often a risk-free approach than launching new trend-led products of straight sizes in size-inclusive ranges.
Instead of body shaming, a positive public opinion of plus-size people, aided by celebrity endorsements and strong fashion marketing and promotional activities, is currently making more fashion sense for most brands in a trend that is likely to continue for quite some time yet.
Texo AB, a member of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association, is currently seeing a surge in demand for its Compfelt weaving looms for press felt base fabrics.
Anders Svensson, President, Texo says, off-the-shelf industrial weaving machines generally range in their working widths from 1.9 to 3.2 metre, with those purpose-built for technical applications such as geotextiles extending to wider widths of six metres and beyond. Meanwhile, one of the machines we have recently successfully delivered and commissioned has a working width of 23 metres and is not even the widest of the many such machines the company has engineered and delivered worldwide since its formation.”
A second recently-delivered line has a more modest working width – in relative terms – of 13 meters. The demand for such machines comes from the suppliers of paper machine clothing (PMC) to paper mills, who in turn operate colossal machines for paper manufacturing.
The largest paper making machine is currently believed to be located on Hainan Island off the southern coast of China and is 428 meters long – roughly the length of four football pitches.
Naturally, such machines require equally large-scale components, which is where TEXO comes in.
All paper machines require a regular supply of PMC fabrics which are employed in three separate areas of the paper machine – the forming section, the press section and the drying section.
Texo Compfelt weaving machines are specifically employed for the production of endless (tubular) woven base fabrics for the press section of paper machines, where water is mechanically removed from the newly formed sheet of fibres. In the simplest press, the sheet is carried by the PMC fabric between two rolls, where water is squeezed out by the application of load and pressure. This can also be assisted by the use of vacuum and heat. The PMC fabrics here need to be replaced regularly, with a maximum lifespan of six months.
For its 2021 Green Collection, the Italian luxury hosiery brand Sarah Borghi presents a broadened product offer in terms of colors and categories, meeting the needs of a stylish, yet sustainable consumer. By mixing fashion, quality, innovation and research, the tights and stockings powerhouse continues its development in the journey towards a conscious future.
Over the years Sarah Borghi has established itself as a leader in its market, thanks to a heritage of over 40 years in the selection of the finest yarns and in the application of cutting-edge process skills. The evolution of the Green Collection the sustainable hosiery collection first launched in 2020, confirms the efforts of the brand in promoting a new generation of attractive fashion and design which actively encourages and supports a responsible change in culture and smart products offer.
The collection presents a range of versatile, colorful products combined with extra-luxury comfort and designed for every type of woman: from seductive tights to everyday socks, together with knee- highs, up to athleisure with leggings.
US apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has launched an all-new activewear sub-brand.
Dubbed 'YPB', which is an acronym for 'Your Personal Best', the brand aims to empower customers for activities ranging from sprinting to stretching, and lifting to lounging.
It launches with a collection of fashion-forward, yet functional activewear and accessories for men and women. It features squat-proof and breathable bottoms, performance tops with four-way stretch, sweat-wicking and anti-odor elements, studio outer layers with fashion detailing like cutouts and straps. YPB’s styles are available in XXS-XXL with additional options for long and short lengths.
To create the collection, designers spent hundreds of hours conducting fit research on models across genders, sizes, shapes and heights to ensure fit. Additionally, YPB’s team held focus groups with customers and key fitness and lifestyle influencers to gain their perspective on what they and their followers were missing from the activewear world, to refine design and details like pocket angles and drawstrings.
Amid China’s push for sustainable development, China Cotton Association (CCA) has unveiled industry standard for sustainable production. Focusing on the management and use of agricultural chemicals in cotton planting, ecological and environmental protection, cotton quality and other issues, the standard uses agricultural chemicals in cotton planting, ecological and environmental protection, cotton quality, and other core issues related to the sustainable development of agriculture.
The standard aims to help cotton producers adopt sustainable production and operation methods, meet the demands for high-quality cotton products, and increase cotton farmers' income. It will take effect from April 1, 2022 and play a vital part in the China Cotton Sustainable Development Program. The CCA is a non-profit organization with more than 3,200 members, holding around 75 percent of the country's market share, said the group's website.
Denim brand Levi’s plans to launch its iconic 501 jeans in organic cotton and post-consumer recycled denim, and is recyclable itself. This is inspired by the release of a collaboration between Swedish company Renewcell and the brand's Wellthread line for two cuts using Renewcell's Circulose, a sustainably-sourced viscose made from recycled denim and organic cotton. Paul Dilinger, Vice President-Design Innovation says, the collaboration enabled brands to find man-made cellulosic fibre made with recycled denim. Dillinger adds, circular 501 jeans will be designed to stand the test of time. He urges all companies to do more to reduce their environmental impact, regardless of consumer demand or regulatory requirements.
Making jeans with recycled denim blended with certified organic cotton means the garment uses far fewer natural resources and fewer chemicals to produce. Dillinger says one of the exciting features of the new 501 designed for circularity is that it meets the same integrity standards as a conventional 501, without sacrificing quality, comfort or style.
The 2021 net profit of Zara owner Inditex more than doubled to €3.2 billion as the retailer’s sales recovered with many countries easing the restrictions imposed to fight Covid. Most of Inditex's 6,657 stores worldwide reopened from mid-2021. The world’s biggest fashion retailer recorded 36 per cent more sales in 2021 compared to 2020. It sales totaled €27.7 billion. The annual results were in tune with those predicted by analysts Refinitiv as most other fast fashion retailers recorded pre-pandemic level sales.
Restrictions imposed in Germany and Japan to curb the spread of the Omicron variant in the fourth quarter led to a loss of €400 million for the Spanish retail giant. Owner of brands such as Massimo Dutti and Pull&Bear, Inditex was able to weather the health crisis by producing more than half of its apparel near Spain and deliver them to consumers faster and raise the share of online sales to about a quarter of its overall revenues in 2021.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
LuxExperience: How the Mytheresa-YNAP merger will reshape online luxury retail
The digital scenario of luxury retail has irrevocably altered with the successful completion of Mytheresa's acquisition of Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP)... Read more
US Apparel Imports: Scenario changes subtly as China's dominance reduces
For years, China reigned supreme as the undisputed king of US apparel imports. While still the largest supplier in aggregate... Read more
US Apparel Imports: Scenario changes subtly as China's dominance reduces
For years, China reigned supreme as the undisputed king of US apparel imports. While still the largest supplier in aggregate... Read more
Built to Break: Is our ‘waste problem’ just a design flaw?
The air in numerous pockets of the country hangs thick with the stench of discarded refuse, a stark testament to... Read more
From Importer to Global Leader: Brazil’s cotton revolution
Brazil’s ascent from a net cotton importer to the world’s largest cotton exporter is one of the most compelling success... Read more
The Unraveling: How Bangladesh's economic crisis threatens its global apparel do…
Bangladesh, a global apparel exports powerhouse, finds itself grappling with a complex economic crisis that is increasingly impacting its ready-made... Read more
US Cotton: Shifting dynamics amidst reciprocal tariffs and quality advantages
The US has long held a dominant position in the global cotton market, thanks to its reputation for producing high-quality... Read more
India’s textile and apparel industry sees mixed fortunes in FY25: Wazir Indices
India’s textile and apparel sector showed mixed results in FY25, with growth momentum visible in sales but profit metrics showing... Read more
UK charts course for circular fashion leadership with new CFIN roadmap
A new landmark report released by the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) outlines major strides and a comprehensive roadmap for... Read more
The Unseen Cost of Fashion Returns: Undermining sustainability efforts
Fashion brands are increasingly vocal about their commitment to sustainability, proudly unveiling initiatives centered on recycled polyester, reduced water consumption... Read more
