The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world’s local media.

  • The Pakistan Leather Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PLGMEA) says the country’s leather garment exports are on a continuous decline, and are at risk of collapse without a relief package from the government. Pakistan’s leather garment exports dropped 12.4% year-on-year during fiscal 2015-16, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. EXPRESS TRIBUNE

  • Spain’s Pepe Jeans has acquired the French fashion brand Façonnable from Lebanese group M1, which is in turn the owner of Pepe Jeans. Pepe Jeans reportedly says it will entirely restructure the French brand, particularly the retail side of the business. Façonnable will remain Paris-based, but the design office will relocate to Spain. MODAES

  • Myanmar’s Ministry of Labor has filed lawsuits against 60 garment factories in Yangon this year accused of repeatedly violating the country’s labour laws. Most of the factories are said to be garment producers owned by foreign investors, with violations including overtime issues and failing to abide by rulings from the arbitration council. So far, 40 of the factories have been fined for the violations. THE MYANMAR TIMES

  • Kenya is planning to revive its cotton industry, a major foreign-exchange earner until the 1980s, amid strong demand for lint from domestic mills and the potential to supply manufacturers exporting clothing and textiles to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade deal. The government is planning training and credit facilities for farmers as part of a bid to restore production. Kenya currently produces 15,700 tons of seed cotton. The initiative comes as manufacturers in East Africa’s biggest economy are counting on apparel exports to the US growing 5% this year thanks to the extension of AGOA. THE STAR

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