Latest textile & apparel sourcing news

Cambodia garment industry welcomes policy to cut reliance on EU, US trade 17 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has welcomed the introduction of a new policy to safeguard the country's traders should the EU and US follow through with threats to pull the country's access to preferential trade terms. 

---

Consumers lack trust in apparel sustainability claims 17 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

A new survey has revealed the lack of trust consumers have in the information disclosed by apparel brands about the social and environmental impacts of their supply chains. 

---

Sears avoids liquidation but remains a "broken business" 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Edward Lampert, chairman of Sears Holdings, has prevailed in a bankruptcy auction for the troubled department store retailer, having sweetened his takeover bid to US$5.2bn. But while the move means about 400 stores will remain open, one analyst warns Sears is still a "broken business that is surrounded by gloom".

---

Retailers could face legal action over faux fur claims 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

The UK advertising watchdog has announced a crackdown on retailers and brands that misleadingly claim to sell fake fur products.

---

New platform automates the process of mass customisation 17 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

US technology firm Siege Tek has launched a 3D design platform that automates the process of mass customisation from consumer to manufacturer, while promising to drive down costs, wastage and time-to-market.

---

Warmer winter hits Q1 profits at Fast Retailing 17 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

Tumbling sales at Uniqlo Japan have impacted first-quarter profits at parent company Fast Retailing.

---

Primark Q1 sales jump as Christmas surpasses expectations 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Increased retail selling space and better than expected sales over the Christmas trading period helped drive a 4% sales rise at Primark in the first quarter, with the value fashion retailer significantly increasing its share of the total UK clothing market in the period.

---

N Brown in Q3 sales slip, re-evaluating JD Williams business 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

'Robust' online growth from its three so-called 'Power Brands' and a stable margin performance failed to prevent a slip in overall sales at N Brown Group in the third quarter as the retailer says it is currently re-evaluating its proposition for the JD Williams business.

---

Sustainability top of mind for Gen Z consumers 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Sustainability is driving demand and customer loyalty, according to a new survey, with more than two-thirds of respondents saying they consider sustainability when making a purchase and are willing to pay extra for more eco-friendly products.

---

New HeiQ textile technology for warmth without weight 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Swiss speciality textile effects company HeiQ has launched a new radiant barrier technology on high performance fabrics that allows outerwear to offer high levels of warmth while reducing bulk by as much as 50%.

---

Varner shortens supplier lead times with PLM 17 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Scandinavian fashion retailer Varner is streamlining product development and adapting more quickly to trends thanks to its investment in a new product lifecycle management (PLM) tool.

---

Apparel industry concern as Brexit deal shot down by MPs 16 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

Apparel industry trade bodies are warning a No Deal Brexit must be avoided at all costs after a proposed UK-EU Brexit deal was overwhelmingly rejected by British lawmakers last night.

---

Pakistan's TCS to pioneer Smart Indigo production 16 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

Pakistan-based textile colour management company Technical Color Solution (TCS) has partnered with French textile machinery supplier Sedo Engineering to produce pre-reduced liquid indigo dyes using an electrochemical process.

---

US eyes duty-free apparel access in EU trade deal 16 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) has released its negotiating objectives in 24 areas for a potential trade deal with the European Union, including plans to secure duty-free access for US textile and apparel products and improve competitive opportunities for the sector's exports.

---

New US$1bn global alliance aims to end plastic waste 16 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

An alliance of global companies from the plastics and consumer goods value chain today (16 January) launched a new organisation to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean.

---

Label specialist ITL sets up operations in Ethiopia 16 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Apparel label business ITL Intelligent Label Solutions has become the latest firm to set up premises in Ethiopia's Hawassa Industrial Park in a move it claims makes it the first global apparel label manufacturer to establish a factory in the country.

---

Global economy to slow in 2019 as trade weakens 16 Jan 2019

Beth Wright

Global economic growth is expected to soften from a downwardly revised 3% last year to 2.9% in 2019 amid rising risks, including the weakening of international trade and manufacturing activity.

---

New Lenzing centre in Indonesia to speed fibre innovation 16 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

Fibre manufacturer Lenzing has opened a new research and development facility in Indonesia, bringing its state-of-the-art fibre testing and full fibre-to-fashion innovation capabilities to Asia.

---

More than 1000 jobs to go in latest M&S store closures 16 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

Clothing, homewares and food retailer M&S plans to close another 17 stores with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs, as part of a review of its portfolio aimed at returning the group to profitability.

---

EU probes Nike tax treatment in the Netherlands 16 Jan 2019

Hannah Abdulla

The European Commission is launching a probe into whether US activewear firm Nike has received preferential tax treatment in the Netherlands giving it an unfair advantage over its competitors.