Shahi Exports, India's leading apparel manufacturer and exporter, unveiled its second Sustainability Report for FY 2022-23, spotlighting robust initiatives across key focus areas. The report underscores Shahi's commitment to environmental stewardship, emphasizing Energy and Emissions Management, Water Efficiency, Chemical and Materials Stewardship, Waste Towards Circularity, Empowered Workforce, Employee Health and Well-being, Fair and Respectful Workplace, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Anant Ahuja, Head of ESG at Shahi Exports, highlighted the transformative shifts in the sustainability narrative within the fashion industry. The Sustainability Report serves as a vital tool for tracking progress and identifying avenues for further improvement, aligning strategies with long-term growth objectives.
Key report highlights showcase Shahi's significant strides in environmental targets, notably achieving 92.5MW in renewable energy capacity and eliminating coal from garment factories. The company's commitment earned international and national recognition, including the International Green Apple Environment Award and the Excellence in Performance Award.
On the social front, Shahi's dedication to employee development is evident through investments in upskilling, soft skills training, and initiatives supporting migrant workers. Harish Ahuja, Managing Director and Chairperson, expressed confidence that sustainability efforts will underpin Shahi's success as it approaches its 50th year, advocating for industry-wide transformation through collaboration and shared best practices.

In an effort to reduce its reliance on Chinese suppliers, the US-based retail giant Walmart is expanding imports from India, aiming to cut costs. Walmart's imports from India have surged from 2 per cent in 2018 to 25 per cent between January and August of the current year.

Concurrently, imports from China have decreased from 80 per cent in 2018 to 60 per cent during the same period, reflecting the company's strategy to diversify its supply chain amidst increasing political tensions between the US and China and rising import costs from China.

Since 2018, Walmart has been steadily growing its operations in India, and in 2020, the company committed to importing goods worth $10 billion annually from India until 2027. Currently, Walmart imports approximately $3 billion worth of goods from India each year, covering a range of products including toys, electronics, bicycles, pharmaceuticals, packaged food, dry grains, and pasta.

This shift is seen as a positive development for the Indian manufacturing industry, benefitting from the confidence shown by global retailers and leveraging its well-equipped factory infrastructure, as highlighted by Rajesh Kharabanda, CEO of Freewill.

05 December 2023, Mumbai

RSWM Limited, a subsidiary of LNJ Bhilwara Group, has solidified its market standing by signing a binding term sheet to acquire Ginni Filaments Limited's spinning, knitting, and processing unit in Mathura. Valued at Rs 160 crore, the acquisition is anticipated to be finalized within 90 days, contingent on approvals and definitive document execution.
This strategic move is poised to elevate RSWM Limited's market presence, fostering growth in turnover, workforce, and plant capacity.

Nuanced view

Positioned as a front-runner in the spinning and knit fabric sector, the acquisition is set to fortify RSWM Limited's production capabilities, with plans for modernization and technological advancements. B. M. Sharma, Joint Managing Director, underscored the significance of expanding the reach and solidifying a pivotal role in the sector.
Perfect Fitment

The acquisition aligns with RSWM Limited's commitment to innovation, as it plans substantial investments in state-of-the-art machinery, including the latest compact ring frames and advanced carding and comber machines. This infusion of technology aims to elevate recoveries, productivity, and product diversity.
Management Riju Jhunjhunwala, Chairman, Managing Director, and CEO of RSWM Limited, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion beyond Rajasthan, anticipating a surge in turnover by targeting new global customers.

Group Ethos

The strategic investment in sustainable practices and operational efficiency underscores RSWM Limited's commitment to eco-friendly production.
In conclusion, acquiring Ginni Filaments Limited's operations positions RSWM Limited as a dominant force in the spinning and knit fabric sector, ready to thrive in domestic and international markets.

The company's foresighted approach to modernization and expansion solidifies its trajectory for success.

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07 November 2023, Mumbai

A report by Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor at Texas Tech University, USA, highlights the impact of declining global textile demand on the cotton ecosystem.
Reduced Production and Spinning Margins
India, the second-largest cotton producer, is projected to experience lower output in the upcoming season. Despite reduced cotton prices, spinning margins have dwindled.
Contributors to Demand Slump
Factors contributing to the demand slump include trade imbalances, high power costs in India, and reduced global demand.
Impact on Mill Operations
Unit closures in South India and reduced yarn consumption are consequences of the demand slump.
Industry Experts' Recommendations
Close monitoring of global economic trends, demand patterns, and supply dynamics is crucial before making expansion or inventory decisions.
Hope for Revival
A revival of global demand, particularly during the Christmas season, could provide a much-needed boost to the textile industry.

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20 November 2023, Mumbai

Amazon Global Trade, Amazon's new B2C platform, has successfully onboarded over 100,000 small sellers onto its e-commerce platform, aiming to boost merchandise exports from India to reach $20 billion.

Bhupen Wakankar, Director of Global Trade, says a significant number of new entrepreneurs joined the platform this year. The surge in demand for 'Made in India' products, particularly organic health supplements, homeware items such as bath towels and jute rugs, and robotic games for children, has been a driving force behind this expansion.

In the previous year, exporters saw a remarkable 70 percent growth in their business through this platform, benefiting from logistical support and access to a vast customer base of over 200 million Amazon Prime members globally.

Optimistic View

Notably, substantial growth was observed in various categories, including beauty, apparel, home goods, kitchen products, furniture, and toys. Sales were further propelled by key holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and New Year, primarily in markets like the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Germany.

In an effort to stimulate exports, Amazon implemented a reduction in subscription fees for its global selling program, lowering the cost from $120 to $1 for the first three months for exporters signing up before March 31.

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08 November 2023, Mumbai

The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) has released the twelfth edition of its North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook report, providing detailed demand data from 2017 to 2022 and forecasts to 2027.
This comprehensive report analyzes all nonwoven end-use markets, offering a holistic view of the North American nonwovens industry. Redesigned to support strategic business planning, the report utilizes current market trends and drivers to project market potential in dollar value, units, volume, and square meters.
"This report provides insights into nonwoven demand across short-life and long-life market segments," states INDA President Tony Fragnito. "The intelligence included is crucial for business leaders involved in asset management or operational planning."
Key features of the report include:
Economic and population drivers are contributing to market growth in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada over the next five years.
Disposable, filtration, wipes, medical, and other applications
Long-life durable sectors for transportation, building and construction, furnishings, geo- and agro-textiles, and apparel.

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As per a deal signed with Reliance India, fashion group SMCP will expand operations in India by opening new stores in the Mumbai’s Jio World Plaza Mall mall. Owner of French fashion labels Sandro and Maje, SMCP is encouraged by the country’s growing wealth and youth population to enter the Indian market.

Through this partnership, Reliance Brands will become the exclusive distributor of Sandro and Maje in India. The company will open around 10 stores to sell SMCP brands in the next three to five years, says Isabelle Guichot, CEO, SMCP.

SMCP the French accessible luxury player reported a 1 per cent fall in sales at constant exchange to €295 million in its third quarter. The company plans to implement a cost-cutting and full-price sales strategy to boost growth. SMCP also plans to open stores in France in cities like Paris, Lille and Marseille. In the US, it will open two new stores in mid-December and one store in the first quarter of next year. Meanwhile it is upgrading operations by shifting away from oil-based virgin polyester to recycled materials and natural fibers. It also includes QR codes on 70 per cent of its SKUs.

A subsidiary of the Reliance Retail Ventures, Reliance Brands has partnerships with several luxury fashion European and American labels, including Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Valentino and Tiffa.

These high-end European labels aim to expand their retail presence in India to tap its growing economic strength and rising population of affluent consumers.

08 November 2023, Mumbai

Jeanologia, a pioneer in eco-efficient textile technologies, introduces the latest version of its innovative jean-design software, eDesigner. This groundbreaking tool transforms the virtual creation of garments, reducing physical samples by 80% and ensuring flawless replication of production designs.
Enhanced Features for an Intuitive Design Experience
The revamped eDesigner boasts an intuitive interface, enhanced hyperrealism, and access to Jeanologia's design expertise. The software incorporates the "Trace" tool, which utilizes AI to generate hyper-realistic designs, and the Lightbrary, a comprehensive gallery of inspiring designs.
Digitization at its Finest: Minimizing Samples and Environmental Impact
eDesigner elevates digitization to new heights by enabling the digital creation of patterns and garments, significantly reducing the need for physical samples. This innovation not only conserves resources but also minimizes the carbon footprint associated with sample production.
Streamlined Design Validation and Accelerated Production
eDesigner serves as a fluid communication channel, connecting designers, wash developers, brands, and manufacturers. This streamlines the design validation process and accelerates production, ensuring efficiency, reduced time-to-market, and enhanced sustainability.

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