Tirupur, India's top knitwear hub, is facing challenges from Bangladesh and man-made fibres. The Free Trade Agreement between India and Bangladesh has allowed Bangladesh to import fabrics into India without customs duty, making them cheaper and more competitive.
Role of FTAs
Bangladesh is also exporting high-tech finished apparels to the EU and US markets at a lower cost due to its duty-free status and access to cost-effective raw materials from China.
MMF trend is on the rise
The increasing popularity of man-made fibres, which are cheaper and more durable than cotton, is also affecting Tirupur's knitwear business.
Challenges galore
Tirupur manufacturers are also facing a global demand slowdown and reduced export orders.
Tirupur manufacturers will now have to wait until the end of this year for 2024 spring-summer orders, which means that profits will not come in for a long time.

26 October 2023, Mumbai

The new TEA team, led by KM Subramanian, is committed to boosting Tirupur's apparel exports to Rs. 30,000 crore. This ambitious goal follows in the footsteps of Padamshree Dr. Sakthivel, who pioneered India's apparel export journey.
Visionary
Dr. Sakthivel has enabled Tirupur to align its manufacturing and purchasing capabilities, leading to a significant export order of $50 million in a year.
TEA's Brand Tirupur initiative makes it the only city that manufactures and exports apparel, striving for carbon footprint certification by 2030.
Evolving story
For the first time, domestic apparel brands have been acknowledged in the context of manufacturing and sourcing from Tirupur.
Notably, Tirupur has embraced sustainability, ESG standards, and compliance naturally over the last four decades.

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21 October 2023, Mumbai

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) met on October 15 to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the RMG sector in the context of Bangladesh's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

Outlines
The meeting focused on the current state of the RMG industry, the global trade landscape, and their implications for Bangladesh's export performance.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan also shared the Sustainability Strategic Vision 2030 with the IMF team, which outlines their goals and plans for the future of the RMG sector in Bangladesh.
The IMF team praised BGMEA's initiatives and efforts and expressed their willingness to keep in touch with them.

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19 October 2023, Mumbai

While cheap and cheerful fast fashion clothes are currently rocking the ready-to-wear garment industry, those who want to create their own sense of style are still going to their tailor for customized fits and a personal touch.

Bespoke or customized clothes stitched to an individual buyer's specifications by a tailor have always been popular in India until the international and domestic fashion brands with their ready-to-wear item took over the bespoke category.

Bespoke styling has had a long history in India because tailoring was cheap compared to Western countries and these garments become timeless legacies with a USP of individuality and craftsmanship.

Personalized styles fuel growth
A recent report by Business Research Insight estimates, the global customized bespoke market at $59.890 billion in 2021 and is expected to rise to 131,601 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 10.9 percent during the forecast period.

Growth will be fueled by customer fashion preferences becoming personalized and rising disposable income among the urban youth that allows deeper pockets for specially-made clothes like custom-printed T-shirts.

Growing trend; These T-shirts with prominent logos and slogans for spreading social awareness, backing a cause, or just being themselves with their own USP are becoming the hot-selling items in the casual category.

Sports teams and clubs who design their own emblems and then aggressively market them are one of the biggest segments of the personalized custom-made garment segment raking in the profits.

Suits and wedding attire do well in the tailored segment
This tailored segment can be segmented into type and application, depending on who wears it where and why.

In the type segment, coats, skirts, dresses, trousers shirts sell well, although the women’s and men’s coat segment had the biggest market share till 2028. In terms of application, the market is divided into online and offline, and in post-pandemic days, it is the online segment that is ruling the roost.
Men's wardrobes of suits, pants, shirts, and Indian outfits have always been popular, and bespoke suits are always the hot-seller in this segment.

Buzz

Traditionally crafted by a master tailor based on specific patterns and exact specifications of the wearer, these customized suits can never compare with the ready-to-wear collections.

Likewise in the women’s segment, traditional wedding, and festive clothing as well as Indo-western clothing with a rekindled appreciation for indigenous crafts and textiles are currently trending along with global western-like dresses, blouses, and skirts.

Celebrity endorsements as well as social influencers are also helping this category in the online segment in a way that was unheard of even a decade ago.

Luxury brands big on customization
Men’s formal clothes brands in India such as Raymond, Peter England, Arrow, Blackberry, and Park Avenue among others are now reputable names for both their ready-to-wear as well as bespoke suits and jackets with their immaculate history. Traditional bespoke clothing makers from London’s Saville Row such as Anderson & Sheppard, Dege and Skinner, Davies & Son, and Cad & The Dandy have created a unique road synonymous with a specific form of men’s wear clothing and attract a high-profile clientele of global politicians, celebrities, and royalty.

Most suit makers feel bespoke clothing can cater to any figure and having things made by hand in an artisanal way is an ultimate work of art that AI can never hope to replicate as it is all about personal interaction with the customer of measuring and fitting.

Connecting with the true process of craftsmanship is an expensive proposition in today’s world of fast fashion, but bespoke clothing is here to stay for all those who want to make a fashion statement with their own USP.

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27 October 2023, Mumbai

The High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Bangladesh, H.E. Haji Haris Bin Haji Othman, met with BGMEA President Faruque Hassan on October 10 to discuss trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
Potential for RMG Exports
Hassan highlighted the potential for exporting readymade garments (RMG) to Brunei Darussalam and stressed the industry's commitment to producing high-quality clothing and reaching out to new and existing markets.
He asked the High Commissioner for assistance in finding ways to increase garment exports to Brunei Darussalam.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Both sides agreed that there is significant scope for cooperation in trade and investment, which would benefit both countries.
They also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam.
CREDITS: BGMEA, website

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In a remarkable testament to the entrepreneurial dynamism sweeping through India, Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) brands are reshaping the business landscape. The recent 'Achievers Club' initiative, led by CMAI, a consortium of like-minded apparel brand owners and manufacturers, showcased the transformative power of these upstarts. The discussion, moderated by Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor at CMAI, featured insights from Anurag Singh of Aachho, Siddharth Dungarwal of Snitch, and Mahesh Tekwani of SAADAA.
The dynamic entrepreneurs in this discussion unveiled a roadmap for success in the fast-evolving business ecosystem:
Starting over perfection: They emphasized that beginning, even with imperfect plans, is essential, as action trumps flawless blueprints.
Consistency and trust: Consistent efforts build brand trust and customer comfort, ensuring long-term success.
Simplicity and focus: Prioritizing simplicity and focus while avoiding distractions and overthinking facilitates adaptable growth and market relevance.
Innovation and adaptation: Embracing innovation and adapting to market shifts enhance competitiveness and sustainability.
Inventory management: Effective inventory management, vital in the apparel industry, can be optimized by promoting slow-moving inventory and leveraging technology for data-driven decisions.
Data-driven decisions: Trusting data over instincts is pivotal, enabling informed decisions in inventory and overall business management.
These principles form the core of the D2C success story. The 'Achievers Club' seeks to unite apparel brands, fostering knowledge exchange and growth within the industry.
Additional insights:
The discussion further revealed that small brands can thrive by focusing on customer-centric strategies, optimizing supply chains, and prioritizing the customer experience. Data analysis and proactive measures were touted as critical for managing product quality and returns effectively.
Social media emerged as an indispensable tool for brand engagement, with influencer marketing amplifying reach. While discounts can be part of a brand's strategy, creating value-oriented content and focusing on long-term brand value and loyalty were underscored as more sustainable approaches.
The debate over the D2C model's superiority hinged on individual visions and commitment. Hero products, marketplace strategies, and the significance of a brand name were also discussed. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to gradually establish their online presence and understand that branding goes beyond labels; it encompasses a narrative and customer experience.
In a rapidly changing business landscape, D2C brands in India are carving a path to success through innovation, customer-centricity, and adaptability.

26 October 2023, Mumbai

Overall Decline
The European Union's (EU) apparel imports from the world declined by 9.61% in January–August 2023, according to data released by EUROSTAT.
This represents a decrease from US$67.66 billion in January-August 2022 to US$ 61.15 billion in January-August 2023. The quantity of apparel imported by the EU also declined by 14.64% during the same period, from 3 billion kilograms to 2.56 billion kilograms.
Top Suppliers
Bangladesh, the EU's second-largest apparel supplier, saw its exports to the EU decline by 13.71% in value terms during January–August 2023. China, the EU's largest apparel supplier, saw its exports to the EU decline by 14.13% in value terms during the same period.
Turkey, the EU's third-largest apparel supplier, saw its exports to the EU decline by 10.89% in value terms during January–August 2023.
Unit Price
Despite the overall decline in apparel imports from around the world, the EU's unit price of apparel imports increased by 5.89% in January-August 2023.
This increase was driven by higher prices from China, Turkey, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Bangladesh was the only top supplier to experience a lower unit price during this period.

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17 October 2023, Mumbai

To Better Support Customers
In order to be even closer to the customer, Groz-Beckert opened a new sales office in Surat, Gujarat, India. The inauguration of the new sales office took place on Sunday, October 15, 2023, with an official opening ceremony.
Strategic Location
Surat is a significant textile production and trade hub in India, known as the “Textile and Silk City.” It is an important hub for large-scale production of synthetic textiles and skilled workforce. The textile Industry in Surat produces est. 25 Million meters of fabrics per day.
Expanding Reach
With the new office, Groz-Beckert aims to provide even better support for its customers from the knitting industry – especially from the circular knitting and warp knitting industry – as well as from the sewing industry in the growing market in Surat and the surrounding area.

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