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Messe Frankfurt postpones Intertextile Shanghai and Yarn Expo fairs

Originally scheduled to take place in March, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, Yarn Expo Spring and Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition have been postponed over concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo will now me... Read more

Big retailers should focus on ‘value’ to help tide over crisis

With customers dwindling and stocks rising, the retail sector was already facing a crisis. Covid-19 has only added to their woes. The pandemic has forced people out of public sphere as only stores selling essential goods remain open, department stores are worst hit. Major retailers like Nordstrom, Macy's, J.C. Penney ... Read more

CEO Conclave - Global Investment and Partnership Summit

COVID-19: Companies to walk the tight rope balancing profits, human rights

Times are tough as textile and apparel companies across the world are being forced to swim against the tide. As a recent blog co-published by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and the Harvard Kennedy School- Corporate Responsibility Initiative, notes the onset of COVID-19 is forcing companies to walk on a... Read more

TAI completes 81 years, marks it as Incorporation Day

The Textile Association (India) today completes 81 years of its inception. To celebrate this landmark event, the association is celebrating April 8, 2020 as its ‘Incorporation Day. Established on April 9, 1939, by ten visionary technocrats, TAI was formalized along with 126 likeminded technocrats and managers. Th... Read more

Sourcing Lessons: A positive business environment to help tide over crisis

China‘s initial experience with COVID-19 highlights some important lessons in supply-chain management. Some of key lessons included sources of supply related to materials, having contingency plans for interruption supply, and understanding the capabilities and vulnerabilities of critical elements within the value... Read more

Cambodia’s EBA Withdrawal: An opportunity to streamline, diversify operatio…

Last month, the European Commission partially withdrew tariff preferences granted to Cambodia under the EU’s ‘Everything But Arms” (EBA) scheme. EBA grants least developed countries such as Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Myanmar, duty- and quota-free access to the European single market. According to Draper... Read more

Italian fashion sector braces up to face post Convid-19 effects

With the current Coronavirus pandemic, Italy has locked down all nonessential manufacturing businesses. And as per Confindustria Moda, this will have a tremendous impact on the country’s fashion supply chain as it will drag down companies that supply to many local and international brands. Initiatives to continu... Read more

Clothing rental and resale market face tough times as consumers stay home

As both retailers and consumers are grappling with the effects of COVID-19, rental platforms like Rent the Runway and RealReal are also facing a shortage of orders. Demand for rented work wear and occasion wear is drying up as conferences, weddings and other events are being canceled across the board. This can be... Read more

Testing times for global apparel trade and sourcing as exports stagnate

As the dark clouds of Covid 19 continue to hang over global economy, the situation in global apparel sourcing and trade is worsening. From lack of raw materials, the industry is rapidly shifting to orders being cancelled. With stores across the EU, US, Asia being shut, retailers are being forced to either postpone or c... Read more

Moda to co-host SS21 edition alongside Autumn Fair in September

Amid challenging times, Moda, the heart of UK fashion, has decided to push back the date for the show to September. The SS21 edition for the show, which was originally planned for August, will now take place from September 06-08, 2020 at The NEC Birmingham. This move reflects organiser Hyve Group’s commitment to... Read more

Pioneer B2B media & publication platform connecting with Fashion Brands & Retail

COVID-19 makes fashion industry more flexible and swift

Covid-19 is having a tremendous impact on the global textile and apparel industry. As Andreas Kelsch, Sales Director of Turkey-based Be Ma, reveals, be it at trade fairs, which are witnessing fewer visitors or production and delivery delays, the pandemic is impacting all aspects of business. Impact on the entire value... Read more

COVID-19 Fall Out: Major recession awaits global fashion and luxury brands

With the COVID-19 pandemic gaining momentum, the impact on fashion and luxury industry is likely to be more severe than was estimated earlier. As a recent analysis by Javier Seara, Partner and Managing Director, Global Sector Leader Fashion & Luxury, at Boston Consulting Group, reveals, compared to last year, globa... Read more

Global apparel supply chain bears the brunt of COVID-19 as exports fall

Already, for the last few years, supply chain was shifting away from China to countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, and Mexico. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 has accelerated this process despite China being on a road to recovery. Though China has the best infrastructure in the world to support large manufactu... Read more

Coronavirus: Textile, apparel makers shift to medical equipment

With the global pandemic, US textile and apparel industry is stepping up in a big way to answer the call for much-needed medical equipment. Parkdale Inc, a large yarn spinner in Gastonia, N.C., has collaborated with Hanesbrands, Fruit of the Loom, American Giant, Los Angeles Apparel, AST Sportswear, Sanmar, America Kni... Read more

Toppling Bangladesh, Vietnam to lead global RMG exports

Though, Bangladesh has become the second-largest garment exporter worldwide by grabbing 6.4 per cent market share, the country is soon likely to be overtaken by Vietnam, whose exports have been rising rapidly and the country expects its apparel shipments to cross $40 billion by the end of the year. However, to achieve ... Read more

Post Convid 19, denim industry to revaluate operations, focus on quality

The global spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is continuously impacting the fashion industry. Besides other consequences the pandemic is having on the market, one major impact is on the development of new fabrics, styles and sales models. For instance, China-based jeans wear maker, Advance Denim recently introduced bio-a... Read more

Global cotton trade on decline amidst COVID-19

Uncertainty over the control of COVID-19 has led to a decline in trading in various industries as buyers are refraining from making new purchases. Especially cotton is nearing its lows of early December 2019, after a rally in January. Though in the last few weeks, sale and shipments of cotton have seen strong business ... Read more

COVID-19 slows down brick and mortar retail, online shopping gets a boost

To help prevent the further outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, all global retailers like Glossier, Nike, Urban Outfitters, and Patagonia have indefinitely shut their stores. They have also updated their working policies to ease the strain on their staff. For instance, Starbucks has introduced a ‘catastrophe pay&r... Read more

Pakistan eyes $28 billion textile exports by 2025

"The recently approved Textile Policy 2020-25 of Pakistan sets an ambitious target of increasing the country’s textile exports to $28 billion by 2025. To achieve this target, the country aims to boost cotton production from nine million bales to 20 million bales within five years. It also aims to improve the qual... Read more

Despite FDI relaxations, single brand retailers choose local partners for I…

"The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recently clarified that single brand retailers, owned by foreign companies, can fulfill their local sourcing requirements by procuring goods produced in units based in special economic zones (SEZs). It further clarified these goods to be sourced by th... Read more

Coronavirus to paralyse global apparel supply chain

"Even before COVID-19 stuck China, many fashion businesses were shifting their production to countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangladesh. However, these countries rely heavily on China for raw materials and other unfinished goods and services. Once their stock imported from China is depleted, they may face the brun... Read more

A seismic transformation awaits the fashion industry in 2020

"With many markets witnessing slower growth and low consumer confidence, the fashion industry is going through a seismic transformation. As the recently released ‘The State of Fashion 2020’ report by The Business of Fashion reveals, under pressure brands are embracing digital operations, boosting earnings w... Read more

The after effects of COVID-19 to be felt by global fashion industry till mi…

"Though Coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to some designers cancelling Milan Fashion Week shows, the fashion industry is yet to feel the full brunt of the repercussions of the global pandemic. So far, the outbreak has led to cancellation of some presentations in Paris. It has also resulted in an increase in the sale of fa... Read more

12 Swissmem companies participate in ITME Africa

Swiss textile machinery companies made a major impact at the inaugural ITME Africa trade show, with 12 member companies from Swissmem (the Swiss Textile Machinery Association) presenting their latest technologies. The event, staged in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from February 14 to 16, featured more than 170 exhi... Read more

Coronavirus halts retail growth across the globe

As COVID-19 spreads globally, health and safety of workers and customers has become top priority for fashion retailers. Brands like Levi's and many others are not only closing their stores in China but also restricting employees from travelling into and out of the country. Supply chains are being disrupted as factories... Read more

India: Government formulating new textile policy

Since the last few years, the Indian textile industry has been facing problems like technological obsolesce, high input cost (power & capital), poor access to credit, fragmented units, absence of fiber neutrality etc. To address these issues, the government has been implementing various schemes over the years. It ... Read more

Coronavirus Impact
LEADERS SPEAK

‘Future apparel sale will depend on the sentiment that prevails after COVID-19’

R K Rewari, Managing Director, Morarjee Textiles

“It is wait and watch strategy as we have been informed by customers due to the pandemic all orders are on hold. We can prepare ourselves for future challenges of low demand. Low demand means markings are also low and competitiveness is higher in the market this puts pressure on us to go back to basics to see our cost structure, ways of doing business etc. Many things might change. One is low demand, and the other is new rules of conducting business, most of which will be through video conferencing etc. It looks like there could be a systematic change in overall structure. We are preparing ourselves by keeping our morale high, think positive and identifying the gaps that need to be filled to enable us to meet the challenge of demand whether it is low or high."
Read Full Interview Here

“When will life go back to normal? Hopefully never”

Marina Gorbis, ED, Institute for the Future

"The normal wasn't normal," said Marina Gorbis, executive director of Palo Alto's Institute for the Future. "The normal wasn't good." The Institute focuses not only on forecasting the future but also developing innovative solutions. "What kind of future do we want to live in?" she asks. "What kind of future do we want to create? And what can we do to promote that desirable future?" COVID-19 has disrupted what we thought was normal. Gorbis said we're at the first of three stages. The first is reaction to the crisis. Reset is second when we re-assess and evaluate what happened and why. The third is reinvention. For example, the pandemic has revealed weaknesses in hospital capacity and gaps in who has health coverage. The pandemic has exposed the need for government help with many households vulnerable when a paycheck ends. "The fact that millions of people don't have $400 in savings in case of emergency is unacceptable. That's not normal," "I don't want to go back to normal," she concluded. "We need to create a new normal."

“I do not think any country is equipped to replace China including India”

Thomas Verghese, Former-Chairman, CII Marketing, Retail and Textile Councils

“Lack of credibility and trust will lead to many large brands looking for alternative sourcing to China but I do not think any country is equipped to replace China including India. India does not have that kind of capacity to feed global demand and are not in a position for bulk manufacturing of normal commodity items. We do more of customized exports. We don’t do manufacturing of bulk items. We don’t have that capacity and infrastructure at the moment. It will take two to four years minimum even if everyone is aligned and the government gives supporting fiscal and tariff benefits. Given the reality of Indian industry and government’s policy support measures, it seems an unrealistic expectation.”
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‘Once the country opens up, we will face sever worker issues’

R D Udeshi, President, Polyester Chain, Reliance Industries

“Once the country opens up after the lockdown, at the onset, we will face severe worker issues. Textile industry is a labour-intensive industry and with large number of workers having returned to their native bases before and during the lockdown, availability of labour would be scarce. This is generally noticed after festivals and we are likely to face a greater challenge in bringing them back to work. However, we expect things to normalize by May, assuming that the lockdown is partially and reasonably eased by April. Some units will restart aiding workers to return back to their manufacturing hub and situation would gradually stabilise”
Read Full Interview Here

A slowdown in demand will be seen for fairly a long time

Arvind Mathur, CEO, Raymond UCO Denims

“The garment industry is facing a challenging situation. While buyers have stopped orders as they are facing their own problems and production have been cut down but what is bothering is that payments are being held back in most cases. As for our own operations, due to the national lockdown we are adhering to government directives and have stopped work. Once the lockdown opens in India and globally, we will decide the market as most of our products are export based and we do not foresee any immediate change in the situation. There will be a substantial cut down of orders and orders that are on hold or pending may or may not come back soon. I feel, India’s lockdown may continue for a longer time even though I hope it does not extend beyond April 14. Even the domestic market may not be normal once the lockdown is over. A lot of thing has shifted dramatically during this period the impact is going to be for long term. A slowdown in demand both from domestic and export market will be seen for fairly a long time after the lockdown.”

In short to midterm, it would impact as there’s disruption in global supply chain

Dilip Gyanchandani, Country Manager, India, Wool Mark Company

From the textile and garment industry prospective there would be short- to mid- term business impact on volumes as due to the lockdown working factories have come down to minimum production levels. From September onwards, normalcy should be restored but it will take about three to four months for the industry to bounce back. Things are looking good now but it is an uncertain period and is difficult to say something at this stage because it looks like we are containing the pandemic.
Read Full Interview Here

‘Once everything normalizes there will be a big momentum’

Debabrata Gosh, Oerlikon, General Manager India

Debabrata Gosh General Manager India Oerlikon

“Once everything normalizes there will be a big momentum. The advantage is that we have a huge potential and such big domestic market hence we are not dependent on exports alone. I don’t see any threat for the textile industry. As for opportunities, we are expecting more export orders in future because the same has happened in the yarn segment and it will happen in the fabric segment also and the world will take India more seriously as a manufacturer. So far everybody was dependent on China. Since they offered cheaper rates, people switched to China but now the world will think in a different way to keep the supply chain active from India.”
Read Full Interview Here

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INSIGHTS

Time for brands to protect the industry by standing by their commitments

CANCEL the shipments, is not the right word at the moment, perhaps to HOLD could be more reasonable. Brands should stand by their commitments as their orders are already in process. This is the only ... Read more

Better infrastructure, strong FDI positions Vietnam ahead of Bangladesh

Increasing diversion of trade from Bangladesh to its close competitor Vietnam is causing the nation to lose sleep. As recent Export Promotion Bureau stats reveal, RMG exports from Bangladesh declined ... Read more

Global apparel industry facing structural decline

Global clothing industry is going through a long-term structural decline with growing awareness among consumers and limiting purchases, even as prices fall. This is destabilising the future of many gl... Read more

Coronavirus: Countries including India stand to benefit

The virus outbreak could augur well for the Indian subcontinent, especially India with orders being diverted and demand for Indian cotton, leather increasing in the international market. The Coronavi... Read more

Coronavirus: Not just China, global textiles and apparels sector feels the heat

"The impact of Coronavirus can be felt across the globe. The apparel and textile industry across the world is facing numerous challenges from sourcing to retail. And this uncertainty is affecting busi... Read more