The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world’s local media. just-style has not checked these stories so cannot guarantee their accuracy.

  • China’s government is to eliminate ‘outdated industrial capacity’ in sectors including tanning, printing, dyeing, and textiles, by using incentives and restrictions. It reportedly wants to cut back on manufacturers that cause excess pollution or hold back industrial upgrading in the country. PEOPLE’S DAILY ONLINE
  • The Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo) has expressed optimism about the country’s footwear exports, which are expected to rise 11% this year. It stands to benefit from relocation of factories from China and Vietnam, which are reportedly reaching production capacity. THE JAKARTA POST
  • Kenya’s government is gearing up to revamp its cotton industry with a much-needed stimulus package to cope with the after-effects of the financial crisis. Around 41 textile companies are said to have closed and more than 400,000 sector jobs have been lost since 2006. CAPITAL BUSINESS
  • Chinese underwear manufacturer Embry Holdings is looking to open 100 chain stores in China’s second- and third-tier cities. This would bring its total number of domestic stores to 1,803. CHINA KNOWLEDGE PRESS
  • Sri Lanka’s export processing zones saw employment levels rise 3.7% last year. The country’s Board of Investment (BoI) is still looking to fill vacancies at apparel plants which have reported being short of workers. ASIA PULSE