Apparel exports from India to the European Union face a duty disadvantage vis-à-vis other competing countries, Union minister of textiles Smriti Irani said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. India's textile and apparel exports (including handicrafts) increased slightly from $39.3 billion in 2017-18 to $40.4 billion in 2018-19, the minister said.Countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam enjoy preferential or duty-free access while exporting to the EU, Irani said. "Apparel export

Destination XL (DXL) has announced that Ujjwal Dhoot has joined its team as the new chief digital officer. Dhoot’s skills, expertise in digital marketing and strategy, ecommerce P&L management, and thought leadership in omni-channel retail, will help DXL drive towards its goal of being the number one choice for big and tall men wherever they choose to shop.Pic: Destination XLPrior to joining DXL, Dhoot held senior marketing positions with FSAstore.com, Charming Charlie, and PetCareRx.com. At

India’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the mandatory packaging of food grains and sugar in jute material for jute year 2019-20. The government has retained the scope of mandatory packaging norms under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987, as per last year. All food grains and 20 per cent of sugar shall be mandatorily packed in jute bags.Pic: ShutterstockThe decision to pack sugar in diversified jute bags will give an impetus to the diversification of the, according to

View Premium Selection will open the Spring/Summer 2021 season with an international portfolio showcasing over 400 collections. From 3-4 December, leading fabric, trim and denim suppliers present their preview programmes and latest developments in Munich.Most of the collections shown at this early stage are already well developed with a focus on new fashion trends which will ultimately be presented at Munich Fabric Start and Bluezone from 4-6 February 2020.Once again, View confirms its strategic

Whitegold Spintex Integrated Textile Park, being set up at Ibrahimpatnam in Telangana’s Rangareddy district, opened its first factory last week. State principal secretary for industries Jayesh Ranjan inaugurated the unit of Surat-based Divya Textiles in the presence of managing director of Telangana State Industrial Investment Corporation EV Narasimha Reddy.Pic: ShutterstockRanjan assured full support to investors regarding approval of incentives and also urged prospective units to submit propos

Bangladesh’s complex network of national and regional highways and district roads totals more than 21300km. Improving the transportation infrastructure in Bangladesh is crucial if the country is to grow its garment and textile sector, according to research by the World Bank –.Figure 1:Congestion on roads in Bangladesh alone doubles standard trucking costs for apparel manufacturers. Courtesy: CollectedBangladeshis the world’s second-largest readymade garment exporter after China, with the sector

Judging by many conversations at the show, the move to feature only fabrics and accessories with proven sustainable credentials in the Performance Forum was very much welcomed by visitors. The forum presented a diverse selection of functional fabrics and components, including recycled, recyclable, biodegradable, natural and bio-based qualities, as well as fabrics, trims and insulation that utilise lower impact manufacturing and colouration technologies.In addition, a dedicated jury made up of or

US startup premium running apparel brandis not any average new brand hoping to make business. It has taken a mission impossible stance with providing runners a sustainable and world-class product by turning plastic into fabrics. And rescuing the world out of the environmental crisis it is facing.Figure:Rockay started with socks with recycled yarn from ocean plastic waste. Courtesy:RockayBack in May 2018, Rockay started with socks with recycled yarn from ocean plastic waste. They are softer, dura

World leading brand Lee has relaunched the first ever denim it made for women in the 40s and 50s. While vintage sizing has been updated to reflect modern sizes, the thread choices, hardware and manufacturing processes are the same as they were back then. These pieces represent a time when Lee took what was made for men and created jeans made specifically for the female body. They were aimed at women who were riding horses, working in factories during the war, who were making things happen and lo

Modern technology is changing the state of manufacturing, with most of it happening as a result of Industry 4.0’s rise. Another element is an evolution in consumer demand, as people want higher-quality products delivered at unprecedented rates.Figure 1: Woman tailor working at the sewing factory.Industry 4.0 has allowed manufacturers to keep up with market changes and consumer demand, thanks to the incredible capabilities of technology. Computers, software and nuanced data have all become an ins