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Practical guide prepares companies for IRBC legislation

11 March 2022, Mumbai:

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile has drawn up an extensive document that helps companies in the sector step by step to engage in international responsible business conduct (RBC).

The document also contains links to resources, practical examples of companies and explanations of terms. This makes it also very useful for companies from other sectors to get started with international RBC.

The document helps companies prepare for upcoming RBC legislation.

ALSO READ: As Sustainability Concerns Increase: Organic Apparels Acceptance Grows

The so-called 'Practical guide for companies on IRBC and OECD due diligence' formed the basis for the annual assessment of participating companies in the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile that recently expired.

This framework -assessed positively by the OECD- implements the OECD Guidelines for due diligence in a practical way through an extensive questionnaire.

This means that companies identify, prevent, and mitigate potential risks in their supply chain, and account for how they deal with them.

The framework makes clear what a company should tackle first, why it is relevant, which tools are helpful and which organizations can help.

Prepared for legislation

The European Union presented a proposal on due diligence legislation two weeks ago and a proposal on the Corporate Social Responsibility Directive (CSRD) last year.

The assessment framework helps companies to prepare for this.

 

RELATED ARTICLE Coats: Sustainability Report 2021

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Practical guide prepares companies for IRBC legislation

Cinte Techtextil China 2022: Annual meetup

10 March 2022, Mumbai:

Riding on the momentum of a successful switch to an annual event last year, Cinte Techtextil China will take place from 6 – 8 September 2022 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre to provide a more frequent platform for industry players to gather.

As the daughter show of Techtextil in Germany, Cinte Techtextil China’s product categories comprehensively span the full range of potential uses of modern technical textiles and nonwovens, providing tailor-made solutions for the entire industry.

ALSO READ: Showcasing the limitless nonwovens possibilities at Cinte Techtextil China 2022

A business and networking hub Cinte Techtextil China wrapped up its 2021 edition with 366 exhibitors showcasing their innovations across a 26,000 sqm of exhibition space, whilst over 14,868 visits were recorded.

The fair offered the perfect platform for face-to-face information exchange and networking amongst industry leaders of technical textiles and nonwovens.

 

RELATED ARTICLE Flocus TM kapok nonwovens and fabrics, the ecoresponsible innovation for the leather goods and footwear industry

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Cinte Techtextil China 2022: Annual meetup

"EURATEX ASKS THE EU TO CONTROL THE RISE IN OIL AND GAS PRICES"

04 March 2022, Mumbai:

Notwithstanding the industry support to the sanctions in place against Russia, EURATEX highlights that companies are at risk of stopping their production if energy and gas prices continue to rise. The energy crisis that started at the end of last year has been worsening in the last week.

Prices of energy, gas and oil has been skyrocketing. According to Reuters, Benchmark European gas prices at the Dutch TTF hub rose by 330% last year, while benchmark German and French power contracts have more than doubled. The textile and clothing industry is facing an unprecedented situation. Many companies are considering shutting down production because of energy costs.

EURATEX supports the measures taken by the EU in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, but asks the European Union and Members States to compensate the situation by supporting their industries.

ALSO READ: EURATEX: BETTER COLLABORATION CAN SMOOTHEN EU-UK TRADE FLOW

Companies need access to energy at reasonable prices, may those be subsidies, removing environmental levies or VAT from bills and price caps. The transfer to renewable and cleaner sources of energy needs to speed up, so to guarantee less dependency. But it is a long process that cannot be achieved in the forthcoming months.

That’s why Europe should urgently look at the available options to control such market shocks.

About EURATEX

As the voice of the European textile and clothing industry, EURATEX works to achieve a favourable environment within the European Union for design, development, manufacture and marketing of textile and clothing products.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: European textile industry needs to grow its role on global markets

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"EURATEX ASKS THE EU TO CONTROL THE RISE IN OIL AND GAS PRICES"

BGMEA x UNI Global Union to tie-up

26 February 2022, Mumbai:

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan met Alke Boessiger, Deputy General Secretary of UNI Global Union in Geneva on February 25. betterment.

ALSO READ: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Faruque Hassan: Bangladesh’s garment export to India will continue to grow

Where both BGMEA and UNI Global Union expressed their intent to work together to carry forward the achievements made by the garment industry of Bangladesh in workplace safety and labors’ rights through an unprecedented collaboration of the global brands and retailers, manufacturers, government, ILO, development partners, and local and global unions.

They had discussions on different issues pertaining to the Bangladesh RMG industry – particularly workplace safety, workers’ rights and welfare.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: BGMEA president, Bangladesh Apparel Exports Expected to hit $50 billion

BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali and Directors Asif Ashraf, Tanvir Ahmed and Abdullah Hil Rakib were also present on the occasion.

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*Credits: Textile Today

BGMEA x UNI Global Union to tie-up

Lenzing: Comes up with global lyocell facility

04 March 2022, Mumbai:

The Lenzing Group, the world's largest provider of wood-based speciality fibers, has completed a major lyocell expansion project in Thailand.

The firm stated in a statement that the new plant, the world's largest of its kind with a nameplate capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year, began production on time and would help the company fulfill rising customer demand for TENCELTM-branded lyocell fibers even better.

Recruiting and onboarding new staff, in particular, have proven effective. This effort required around € 400 million in capital expenditures (CAPEX). "We are quite proud of this accomplishment. 

ALSO READ: HIGH FASHION GROUP RECEIVED AWARD FROM THE LENZING GROUP REAFFIRMED ITS POSITION AS A SUSTAINABILITY LEADER!

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the whole Lenzing team, particularly our Thai employees, as well as many external stakeholders who came together in the midst of a worldwide epidemic to make this critical initiative a reality. Given the obstacles of the worldwide pandemic, completing such a large project on time and on budget is an extraordinary success," stated Cord Prinzhorn, CEO of the Lenzing Group.

According to the firm, it will continue to grow its lyocell fiber production capacity as part of its sCore TEN strategy, which intends to produce 75 percent of its fiber income from environmentally responsible speciality fibers such as TENCELTM, LENZINGTM ECOVEROTM, and VEOCELTM by 2024.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: CDP, the gold standard of environmental reporting, names Lenzing as one of the most sustainable companies worldwide

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*CREDITS: lenzing.com & Apparel Resources.

 

 

 Lenzing: Comes up with global lyocell facility

LPP and CCC, two Polish fashion merchants, have halted operations in Ukraine

26 February 2022, Mumbai:

LPP and CCC, Poland's two largest fashion stores, have suspended their operations in Ukraine, according to corporate executives, after Russia's war on its neighbor.

LPP and CCC, two of the region's fastest-growing garment firms, handle a number of fashion brands, including Reserved, HalfPrice, eobuwie.pl, Modivo, and Sinsay.

At 1230 GMT, LPP shares were down 23%, making them the worst performance on Poland's blue-chip index. The stock of CCC was down 13%. LPP transferred its administrative offices from Kyiv to Lviv in response to Russia's aggression on Ukraine, according to Monika Wszeborowska, the company's public relations manager.

Both shops ceased all business in Ukraine and said that their storefronts would stay closed, as well as all shipping to Ukraine.

The press office of the LPP stated that employee safety was its top priority. 

ALSO READ: C&A x RecoverTM sign a 4-year partnership

"Because the situation is changing, we are actively monitoring all reports from the eastern border, including information from our Ukrainian office, and we are taking action," Wszeborowska said.

"One thing is certain: our intentions to expand our network in Ukraine this year have been canceled," Wszeborowska added.

According to LPP's financial statement, Ukraine and Russia were two of the major international sales performance drivers in the third quarter.

Ukraine and Russia account for around 3% of CCC's business and 1% of the entire group's activities, according to an emailed statement from a CCC spokeswoman.

 

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from Reuters & Fashion Network article.

LPP and CCC, two Polish fashion merchants, have halted operations in Ukraine

ADIDAS: ALASDHAIR WILLIS, CEO TO SHAPE FUTURE

03 March 2022, Mumbai:

adidas announces the appointment of Alasdhair Willis to Chief Creative Officer.

The Chief Creative Officer is the lead within the adidas design community and is responsible for shaping, defining, and shepherding the creative direction for the global brand and its three major labels – Performance, Originals, and Sportswear – to deliver a unified adidas brand experience.

Willis will begin his contract beginning of April, reporting to Executive Board Member of Global Brands, Brian Grevy. Willis is a creative visionary with a long-standing connection to adidas that dates back to 2005, most notably through his role in the concept and development of adidas by Stella McCartney in partnership with Stella McCartney.

He has remained integral to the growth and development of the partnership since its launch.

ALSO READ: Adidas launches new campaign for Indian women athletes

Beyond adidas by Stella McCartney, Willis has built a strong understanding of the company’s consumers, brand, labels, and categories through his work on a number of breakthrough projects, including a lead role in developing some of adidas’ most iconic material innovations.

Outside of his work with adidas he is revered for his tenure as Creative Director of British fashion heritage brand, Hunter, transforming what was a small single product business into a multi-category global fashion brand, and as co-founder of the trailblazing Wallpaper* Magazine.

It is through this diverse experience that Willis brings not just creative expertise, but the ability to deliver across commercial, strategic, and leadership functions. As Chief Creative Officer at adidas, Willis will provide global creative leadership, develop and nurture the brand’s creative culture, and empower teams across all design functions.

“Stepping into a permanent role at adidas and evolving our partnership is a great privilege and feels like an incredibly exciting and natural next step,” said Willis.

“The power and influence of the brand on sport, sports culture, and beyond is immeasurable. I welcome the opportunity to help establish a new era of design and brand leadership at adidas and, together with the team, take adidas to even higher levels.” “Alasdhair is a true icon of the industry and together we have produced some of adidas’ most innovative work, so to now have him lead our design community and set the future of our brand expression is a wonderful thing,” said Executive Board Member of Global Brands, Brian Grevy.

“We are looking forward to seeing the influence of his unique creative vision, experience and expertise from developing and establishing some of the world’s most recognised brands.” 

 

RELATED ARTICLE: Adidas ropes in Manika Batra for new marketing campaign

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*CREDITS: news.adidas.com.

ADIDAS: ALASDHAIR WILLIS, CEO TO SHAPE FUTURE

C&A x RecoverTM sign a 4-year partnership

24 February 2022, Mumbai:

C&A, a leading European retailer, and RecoverTM, a material sciences business, have formed a new strategic four-year relationship to bring high-quality recycled cotton to everyday wear.

The two firms' strong commitment to circularity will be seen this spring, with C&A's Clockhouse brand releasing the first collection – manufactured with RecoverTM fiber – in April. C&A is one of Europe's major fashion retailers, with over 1,400 outlets in 18 European countries and over 25,000 workers.

The alliance is pushing transformation to make recycled cotton a fundamental element in a more sustainable fashion sector, with RecoverTM serving as the primary cotton source thanks to its considerable experience and scaling capabilities. Recover(™) will incorporate its fiber into C&A's supply chain and provide technical support to help spinners and weavers improve their yarns and textiles.

C&A, as one of Europe's biggest retailers, carries with it the required demand to create a long-term effect on the sector.

ALSO READ: Despite the high cost of yarn, Indian garment makers choose recycled cotton yarn

The relationship with RecoverTM establishes C&A, which recently constructed a facility for textile innovation in Monchengladbach, as a forward-thinking company that values sustainability and accelerates its progress toward its 2028 Global Sustainability Strategy. "More sustainable clothes must not be a niche product," Aleix Busquets Gonzalez, Director Global Sustainability at C&A, stated. Our partnership with RecoverTM is a watershed moment in our journey to a more sustainable future marked by high-quality, low-cost clothes."

"In keeping with our act-as-one concept, we are thrilled to contribute Recover's knowledge and tech support to our cooperation with C&A through the integration of our fiber into their supply chain," stated Alejandro Raa, Chief Business Development Officer, RecoverTM.

We are assuring a significant and enduring influence on the industry by combining a long-term commitment with large production quantities."

 

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*Figures mentioned in the above article have been sourced from c-and-a.com & Apparel Resources article.

C&A x RecoverTM sign a 4-year partnership

Target's Q4 incremental traffic, marked a quarter of growth

05 March 2022, Mumbai:

Target, the well-known American retailer, just posted its 19th consecutive quarter of growth, thanks to an impressive 8.1 percent increase in traffic in the fourth quarter. The retailer's fourth-quarter comps increased by an amazing 8.9%, following a year-over-year increase of nearly 20%.

On a comparable traffic increase of 12.3 percent, comps increased by 12.7 percent for the year, adding to the previous year's gain of 19.3 percent.

Despite supply chain and freight expenses apparently cutting into the retailer's margin, the US retail behemoth saw its operating income climb by 36.8% to the US $ 8.9 billion for the full year. 

ALSO READ: Hermès reports results

Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, has credited the company's success to customers as well as investments made in the company's shops and digital capabilities - a move that was met with skepticism when it originally began five years ago.

According to reports, Target's actual shops also serve as fulfillment centers, with 95 percent of its fourth-quarter sales being completed in some fashion by the company's locations.

Target is the United States' ninth-largest retailer, with sales of $ 99.6 billion in 2021.

 

RELATED ARTICLE Gap Inc. Reports Q4 FY21 Results

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CREDITS:cnbc.com & Apparel Resources.

Target's Q4 incremental traffic, marked a quarter of growth

SriLanka: Jan'22 Apparel Exports set a 5 yr record

02 March 2022, Mumbai:

Sri Lanka’s apparel exports in January 2022 achieved the highest level for that month in the last five years. This performance demonstrates the industry’s underlying strength as it bounced back from the sustained shocks from the impact of the pandemic over the last two years.

Sri Lanka’s apparel export earnings rose to US$ 487.6 million in January 2022, overtaking the US$ 452 million recorded in January 2019, prior to the pandemic, by 8%. Growth over January 2021 export earnings was 23%.

Amidst significant turbulence, this strong performance is testimony to the resilience of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and augurs well for the industry’s progress towards realising its goals for 2025,” said Yohan Lawrence, Secretary-General, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), the apex body of the Sri Lankan apparel industry.

The industry’s 2030 vision is to transform Sri Lanka to a global apparel hubby that year; an intermediate goal is to increase annual export earnings from apparel to US$8 billion by 2025.

ALSO READ: JAAF appoints industry veteran Yohan Lawrence as its new Secretary General

“Through close cooperation between all key stakeholders, the apparel industry can further increase its already-strong contribution to the national economy, as a major generator of vital foreign exchange and high-quality employment,” Lawrence added.

The industry’s January 2022 performance also reflects the success of rigorously applied safety measures adopted by the sector, in close cooperation with health authorities, to minimise the spread of the pandemic among employees to zero.

“January’s impressive performance was also made possible by strong demand from buyers and the healthy pipeline of orders for upcoming months, which are grounds for optimism,” Jafferjee added.

“The international outlook remains challenging, however, considering growing tensions in Europe.”. About JAAF The Joint Apparel Association Forum is the apex body which guides Sri Lankan apparel towards its ultimate goal of being the world’s number one apparel sourcing destination.

 

RELATED ARTICLE: The Joint Apparel Association Forum,(JAAF), Srilanka :Apparel Industry to continue dialogue with Government on forex crisis

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SriLanka: Jan'22 Apparel Exports set a 5 yr record

ITMF-- 12th Corona-Survey

22 February 2022, Mumbai:

Business situation and expectations remain very favourable along the global textile value chain.

In the 2 nd half of January 2022, the ITMF conducted the 12 th ITMF Corona-Survey among more than 270 companies around the world in all segments along the textile value chain.

For the fifth time since May 2021, companies were asked the same set of questions about their 1) business situation, 2) business expectation, 3) order intake, 4) order backlog, and 5) capacity utilization rate. On average across all regions and all segments, the business situation is still very favorable with +23 percentage points (pp), albeit lower than compared to November 2021 (+28pp).

The impact of COVID-19 on the Textile industry

ALSO READ: ITMF Awards 2022 Extension of Deadline until April 30th, 2022

This high level is remarkable given the fast-rising infection number of the Corona-variant “Omicron” since the 11 th ITMF Corona-Survey. The fact that a rising number of companies find themselves in a satisfactory business situation (48%) is an indication for a strong and broad recovery.

When it comes to the business expectations in six months, the global textile value chain remains very optimistic.

While the balance between more favorable and less favorable has fallen from +33pp to +25pp, it needs to be considered that these expectations are built on a very favorable business situation.

Or to put it differently, only 14% of companies are anticipating a less favorable business by July 2022.

 

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ITMF-- 12th Corona-Survey

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