COTTON PRODUCTION LIKELY TO GROW OVER 350 LAKH BALES, AS PER INDIAN COTTON FEDERATION

The Indian Cotton Federation (ICF) predicts that India’s cotton production would exceed 350 lakh bales during the cotton season 2021-22 (October to September). According to J.Thulasidharan, President, ICF , the rise in the minimum support price (MSP) has encouraged farmers and helped preserve the area under cotton. It has also encouraged farmers to implement improved crop management methods. Simultaneously, demand for exports was strong as well. At the Federation’s annual meeting, the office-bearers elected new officers, including  J. Thulasidharan (President), P. Natraj and Adhitya Krishna Pathy (Vice-Presidents), and Nishant Asher (Secretary).

J. Thulasidharan also emphasised the need of addressing concerns such as fibre quality, correct grading, improved seed, and measures to achieve higher output. He went on to say that the next revolution will only come through increased yield. With the appropriate measures, Indian farmers may achieve a 1,000 kg output, which should be a priority for all stakeholders.

LEE JEANS LAUNCHES THEIR NEW VIRTUAL STORE

Lee Jeans has unveiled its first virtual store, allowing buyers to visit its Europe flagship in Antwerp and learn more about the brand’s ‘For A World That Works’ (FWTW) sustainability initiative. Consumers may browse an interactive three-dimensional retail area, exploring things in a store setting before effortlessly adding purchases to their purchasing basket, in the virtual store. The goal of digital shopping is to offer a real-world experience without the stress that often comes with in-person purchasing. The immersive experience also allows Lee to highlight its FWTW sustainability platform through a series of interactive buttons and movies that highlight innovations and activities geared to lessen the effect on people and the environment.

The virtual store’s navigation has been developed to allow consumers to come in from the street, enter the store, and browse products such as men’s and women’s clothing, as well as the exclusive Lee 101 collection. The virtual store is accessible via the Lee Jeans’ website and social media platforms.

PVH AND ECOVATIVE COLLABORATE ON A SUSTAINABLE FASHION COOPERATIVE

Ecovative has formed an international sustainable fashion cooperative with Bestseller and PVH Corp.  Both Bestseller and PVH Corp. will get first access to Ecovative’s mycelium technologies and will collaborate with the company on the development of mycelium materials for goods and consumer applications. Ecovative has been generating mycelium for a variety of partners across the world, and will offer ForagerT Hides, an alternative leather material, in 2021.

Ecovative’s mycelium produces a ready-to-finish product that is free of plastic scrims and petroleum-based coatings. It is totally comprised of bio-based materials. Designers from Bestseller and PVH Corp., as well as Ecovative’s engineers, will collaborate with Fashion for Good Cooperative members to create, build, and test a research and development plan. Together, the cooperative will develop mycelium materials for the consumer market. “Working directly with fashion brands and tanneries, we make beautiful, high-performing and sustainable materials without harming animals or the planet,” said Gavin McIntyre, Ecovative co-founder and chief business officer.

PATAGONIA TO DONATE PROCEEDS FROM BLACK FRIDAY SALES FOR THE PLANET

US-based clothing brand, Patagonia, received an amazing $10 million in Black Friday sales, five above its own expectations, and will donate every penny to help save the environment as pledged. The high-end outdoor apparel and gear retailer revealed the record-breaking haul, stating that its customers’ “enormous passion” for the environment will benefit hundreds of grassroots environmental organizations worldwide. According to corporate spokeswoman Corley Kenna, the idea for the “fundraiser for the world” originated during an internal brainstorming gathering following the U.S. presidential election. Patagonia was looking for a means to raise awareness about the importance of the environment and climate change.

According to a press release, the funds earned via Patagonia’s Black Friday campaign will benefit grassroots environmental groups, many of which are small, underfunded, and off the radar, who are “working on the front lines to safeguard our air, water, and land for future generations.”

FOREVER 21 ENTERS METAVERSE WITH ROBLOX TO CREATE VIRTUAL FASHION STORES

Forever 21 collaborated with Roblox to create a digital experience. Users will be able to develop, own, and operate their own own business within the game, dubbed the Forever 21 Shop City. Clothing and accessories from Forever 21 will be available for purchase. As players strive to become the top store in the experience, they may hire non-player characters as employees. The experience is a community-focused game that will be accompanied by a number of partnerships. Roblox users @Builder Boy, @Beeism, @OceanOrbsRBX, and @JazzyX3 have collaborated to design an unique apparel collection for Forever 21 Shop City.

The shop will also have stores developed specifically by influencers such as KrystinPlays, Shaylo, and the Sopo Squad. Builders can choose and swap their locations anywhere in the game, perform tasks like stocking inventory and assisting customers, customise the interior, obtain merchandise that Forever 21 has released in its physical stores, and use architectural themes like cottage core and cyber punk for their stores. Obstacle courses, entertainment, a food court, and a yellow carpet will be available in Forever 21 Shop City’s four themed districts.

MARKS & SPENCER APPOINTS DIGITAL PRODUCT CHIEF TO BOOST ITS OMNICHANNEL OPERATIONS

Krista Nordlund, Marks & Spencer’s first chief digital product officer, has been appointed to strengthen the company’s digital capabilities. Nordlund is presently the chief product officer of RentPath, a digital rental marketplace in the United States that she joined in 2016. Her CV also includes posts at consumer-facing companies such as USA Today, Expedia, and US Airways. She will join M&S in January and will be responsible for developing improvements to the company’s app and website in order to improve the consumer experience across all digital touchpoints.

M&S has been undergoing a digital transition in recent years, with the goal of putting digital first rather than just seeing it as an extension of its physical operations. According to the company, this concentration has resulted in tremendous digital growth, as indicated by a 50% rise in app users by 2021. It currently has 14 million members in its redesigned Sparks loyalty programme.

“It’s a great time to be joining M&S as increasing numbers turn to online shopping and the business builds its omnichannel offering. I see a huge opportunity to support the next phase of our transformation by taking the digital experiences we offer customers to the next level.” said Nordlund on her appointment.

BETTER COTTON RELEASES ITS FIRST-EVER IMPACT REPORT

Better Cotton has released its first-ever Impact Report, which shares the most recent field-level results (2019-20 cotton season) as well as assesses how licensed Better Cotton farmers in China, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey performed on environmental, social, and economic criteria when compared to those who did not participate in the Better Cotton programme. Better Cotton farmers in Tajikistan used 16% less water than Comparison Farmers, Better Cotton farmers in India had 9% higher yields, and Better Cotton farmers in Pakistan used 12% less synthetic insecticide. According to Better Cotton’s study, results are displayed by nation and by sustainability indicator.

While Better Cotton focuses largely on assisting farmers on the ground, the study also takes into account factors such as pesticide, fertilizer, and water consumption, as well as acceptable employment, yields, and earnings. With continual development as a guiding concept for Better Cotton, the paper examined how improving processes and services might have a stronger impact. This includes significant projects such as the traceability workstream and the modification of the Better Cotton principles and standards. “What we all want to see in terms of sustainability is impact. To ensure that we are making a real difference, we gather outcomes data whenever feasible,” said Alia Malik, senior director of Data and Traceability.

BURBERRY PARTNERS WITH MY WARDROBE HQ TO OFFER ITS FIRST-EVER RENTAL AND RESALE SERVICE

As part of the British luxury fashion house’s drive to circular fashion, Burberry has teamed with My Wardrobe HQ to launch a rental and resale platform. According to the new scheme, customers may rent coats, handbags, and accessories from My Wardrobe HQ for up to 14 days. Customers may purchase rented things for a portion of the retail price, with weekly rental costs varying from £41 to £170. Resale prices will vary from £111 for scarves to £750 for trench coats, which retail for £1,990.

Whilst a large percentage of the inventory comes from the legacy brand, the rental catalogue also includes verified gifts from VIP clients and the My Wardrobe HQ community. The agreement will help Smart Works, a UK charity that provides high-quality interview apparel and coaching to disadvantaged jobless women, by donating 40% of the revenues from each sale. The luxury brand has donated products to the charity since 2013. Burberry’s VP of corporate responsibility, Pam Batty, stated that their collaboration with My Wardrobe HQ is complimentary to their larger goal of becoming climate positive by 2040 and supporting the ideals of a circular economy for luxury. Building new collaborations and revaluation solutions, as well as extending reuse, repair, donation, and recycling options, are all part of this.

NIKE, PANTAGONIA AND C&A FACE XINJIANG CLAIMS FOR FORCED LABOUR

A majority of internationally recognized fashion labels, including Nike, C&A and Patagonia, are being filed a lawsuit by the European Center for Constitutional Rights (ECCHR) as being directly or indirectly implicated in the forced labour of the Uyghur community in the Xinjiang province in China. The criminal case, which was filed by Dutch prosecutors with the help of Prakken d’Oliveira Human Rights Lawyers, will look into the corporations’ alleged cooperation in human rights breaches that potentially amount to crimes against humanity.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, a UK and US-registered organization that works to enhance human rights in business and eliminate abuse broke the news of the filing. “Alarming stories regarding torture, re-education camps, and forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region have risen in frequency since 2017,” according to the filing. The companies have suppliers with production facilities in Xinjiang, according to research reports and publicly available supply chain information revealed by the researched brands.” The ECCHR accuses the corporations of “directly or indirectly abetting and benefiting” from Uyghur Muslims’ forced labour in the region, which produces more than a fifth of the world’s cotton. 

ITALY BASED PEUTEREY JOINS THE BLUESIGN SYSTEM AS A PARTNER

Peuterey has joined the Bluesign system, pledging to achieve the most stringent sustainability standards in terms of resource efficiency, environmental impact, workplace health and safety, and consumer protection. The Bluesign Input Stream Management system avoids the usage and release of dangerous chemicals throughout the manufacturing process. The Bluesign system is the most stringent standard for the textile industry, with its comprehensive approach, and adopting it means satisfying these standards without sacrificing product functionality, quality, or design. By producing functional, inclusive, and sustainable clothes that will persist throughout time, the company hopes to contribute to a more egalitarian, fair, and successful society.

“We are thrilled to announce that leading Italian brand Peuterey decided to become a Bluesign System partner, showing their strong commitment to the responsible use of resources, responsible production, and responsible chemistry. We look forward to supporting Peuterey on their quest towards excellence in sustainable fashion,” said Kutay Saritosun, head of marketing and communication, Bluesign. In the spirit of a #betterfuture, Peuterey also pledges to put an end to reckless natural resource use by minimising waste and adhering to the principles of the circular economy. According to a press release from Peuterey, the revolutionary Peuterey Recycle project is a limited edition that creatively rethinks the recovery of vintage materials, bringing scraps, accessories, padding, and textiles back to life ensuring 0 percent waste, 100 percent innovation.

LULULEMON ATHLETICA’S SALES RISE BY 30% IN Q3

Lululemon Athletica Inc. recorded a 30 percent growth in net sales to 1.5 billion dollars in the third quarter, whereas net revenue climbed 28 percent on a constant currency basis. In a statement, the firm stated that net revenue climbed by 28% in North America and 40% overseas. On a constant dollar basis, total comparable sales climbed by 27%. On a constant dollar basis, comparable store sales climbed 32 percent or 31 percent, while direct-to-consumer net revenue increased 23 percent or 21 percent to 586.5 million dollars. Gross profit grew 32% to $829.4 million in the third quarter, while gross margin improved 110 basis points to 57.2 percent.

In the third quarter of 2020, diluted profits per share were 1.44 dollars, up from 1.10 dollars in the previous quarter, and adjusted diluted earnings per share were 1.62 dollars, up from 1.16 dollars. During the third quarter, the brand launched 18 additional company-operated stores, bringing the total number of company-operated stores to 552. “Our third-quarter results demonstrate the ongoing strength of Lululemon and the tremendous growth potential of the business in both the near- and long-term. We are pleased with our early holiday season performance,” said Calvin McDonald, CEO.

INDITEX APPOINTS MARTA ORTEGA AS CHAIRWOMAN, OSCAR GARCIA AS CEO

The Board of Directors of Inditex has confirmed Marta Ortega Pérez’s nomination as chairperson of the Group and a proprietary director, with effect from April 1, 2022. Ricardo Garca Maceiras, who formerly served as general counsel and secretary of the Board, has been named CEO of Inditex, starting immediately. Marta Ortega Pérez has spent the previous 15 years working in various areas of the Group, most notably in the building of Zara’s brand image and fashion proposition, which she will continue to supervise. As general secretary and secretary of the Board, Oscar Garca Maceiras joined the Group in March 2021. In his 20 years of professional experience, he has managed transformation programmes both in the public sector, as a Spanish State Attorney, and in the private sector, at organisations such as Banco Pastor. A Management Committee, made up of executives from several corporate and business areas with a significant track record in the Group, is part of the new organisational structure.

FOR FY21, GAP GENERATES $3.9 BILLION REVENUE IN Q3 

Gap, Inc., reported net sales of $3.9 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. The company’s gross profit climbed to $1.66 billion from $1.62 billion in the third quarter of FY20. The current quarter’s gross margin of 42.1% is the greatest for a third-quarter in decades. Online sales increased by 48% year on year, as the company continues to focus on digital power by making an investment in its e-commerce platform, wisely closing unprofitable stores, and partnering to strengthen in international markets. Old Navy’s net sales went up by 8% year on year compared to the same quarter in 2019, while Gap’s global comparable sales increased by 7% year on year. Similarly, Athleta’s net sales went up by 48% as compared to the third quarter of 2019. During the current quarter of the fiscal year 2021, the company also paid a dividend of $0.12 per share. Reflecting on Q3 FY21 results, the business now forecasts full-year sales growth to be around 20% higher than in FY20.

OWING TO THE UYGHUR PROBE, ZARA REFUSED TO EXTEND ITS FRENCH STORE

Zara has been denied permission to extend a French store due to sustainability concerns and allegations of exploitation of China’s Muslim Uyghur minority. Inditex, the parent company of Zara, said that Zara France will appeal the decision. The decision to deny Zara’s proposal to expand its store came from a local administrative department, according to a representative for the town hall of Bordeaux in southwest France. The decision was based on a French inquiry into Inditex and many other stores’ use of forced Uyghur labour in Xinjiang, according to the spokeswoman. The administrative department is also concerned about the environmental impact of rapid fashion. Inditex has denied using coerced Uyghur labour in their manufacturing process. Zara intends to challenge the national commission’s decision on the retailer’s planning proposal.

PRIMARK TO INVEST €250 MILLION IN STORE EXPANSIONS

Primark plans to invest €250 million in store renovation and the opening of a new distribution centre. The relocation is estimated to generate up to 700 new employment.The investment comprises €60 million for the renovation of its Patrick Street shop in Cork city, as well as another €75 million for the establishment of a new distribution centre in Newbridge, County Kildare. In addition, a €20 million renovation of Primark’s Eyre Square shop in Galway is planned. Notably, Primark, known as Penneys in Ireland, plans to extend its selling area in the nation by roughly 20% over the next ten years. Furthermore, the apparel retailer intends to increase its entire staff in Ireland by 12% over the next three years, including over 600 retail roles. In addition, it plans to hire 100 more employees in the next six months at its headquarters, Arthur Ryan House. The new positions will be in a variety of sectors, including technology, buying, retail, design, finance, and others.

PACSUN IS SET TO RELEASE THE FIRST NFT

Pacsun has announced the official launch of its first NFT. Pacsun’s NFT will be an exclusive animation of its original logo, capitalising on the digital trend that appears to have infected the fashion industry as a whole. The auction has begun at 0.1087 ETH, or $515.35 USD. Pacsun will give 100% of the earnings from the purchase of the NFT to the Fashion Scholarship Fund in honour of the brand’s 40th anniversary. Every year, the foundation grants over a million dollars in scholarships to brilliant young students from varied backgrounds in order to help them flourish in the fashion business. Pacsun has entered the digital art realm with labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, and, most recently, JW Anderson, which plans to offer its iconic Harry Styles approved knit sweater in NFT form.

For denimsandjeans, the initial months were very tough, back to back postponement of shows were pushing us towards abyss but with the supports of our partners, we adapted very soon and started our brainstorming on how to connect the industry when everything and every one was struggling on mobility. In this article, we would like to share some of our reports, efforts and talks that helped the stakeholders of global denim community to understand whats happening, where the industry is looking forward to move in coming years due to this pandemic and how the things have been changing rapidly?

Reports On COVID and Its Impact On Clothing/Textile/Denim Industry

In this segment, we would like to list some of the reports which we did on COVID’s impact on the industry.

1. COVID 19 Emerges As The Biggest Threat To BANGLADESH
2. Will CAMBODIA Be Able To Make COMEBACK?
3. COVID 19 Hits Jeans Export From China To EU, Plunges By 40% In Jan’20 YOY
4. How’s Vietnam Doing?
5. COVID Hits Indian Denim Industry Hard, Export Falls By 31% In March 2020
6. Fashion Weeks Go Digital, What About Trade Shows and Sourcing?
7. Jobs Of Millions Of Bangladeshi Garment Workers At Stake

COVID TIMES – An Instagram Live Chat Show with Denim Experts

It would be not an exaggeration if we could call the year 2020 – a digital year, the people at different places used to zoom, Instagram, Whatsapp, and other social media and video conferencing apps to stay connected. Netflix and Amazon saw a massive spike in their subscription and then we thought to leverage this mode to talk about the denim industry, its issues, and the way ahead.

COVID TIMES was one of our initiatives through which we used the Instagram Live feature and Zoom Webinars to invite denim experts to discuss different subjects pertaining to denim, especially SUSTAINABILITY.

Here are the 7 talks one should not miss:

1. Adriano Goldschmied – The Godfather Of Denim
2. A Talk with the owners of Artistic Milliners
3. Aamir Akhtar – CEO of Arvind Limited
4. What Next For Denim
5. Can Denim Be Truly Green
6. Denim Washing In Near Future
7. Panel Discussion on Turkish Denim Industry

Apart from our COVID TIMES talks, we had many talks at our virtual shows and other platforms. The latest talk series we have launched was – A 5 Minuter Talk, you can watch all the episodes on our youtube channel.

Our all talks are available on our official youtube and Instagram channel. You can listen podcasts of our all talks at Spotify now.

Efforts Towards Digitalisation Of Denim Sourcing and Trade Shows

Launch of Virtual Shows

In the month of July 2020, we had announced the launch of our first denimsandjeans virtual show where for the first time denim supply chain partners were got an opportunity to have a one to one video calls with their buyers in real-time. Leading denim companies including Artistic Milliners, Artistic Fabric Mills, Jeanologia, Tonello, Arvind Denim, Raymond UCO, Archroma, Garmon/Kemin, Deridesen, Ribbontex, Siddiqsons, Indigo Textile and Wiser Wash participated in the show.

Exhibitors were given virtual booths where they can enter and interact with the buyers visiting their booths, exhibitors were even able to share their brochures and screen with the buyers to present their collection digitally. The show also had over 12 denim sessions where leading denim experts shared their thoughts on the latest developments and design innovation through different talks, seminars and panel discussions.

The show got an unprecedented response from the industry and witnessed the participation of over 35 companies around the globe from the supplying side including mills, factories, chemical manufactures, technology companies, and consultants. Over 1000+ buyers from leading retailers/brands have logged in to the platform in two days to see the latest offerings and have also appreciated the effort to organize this one of its own kind of show.

Extending the success of the 1st virtual show, Denimsandjeans hosted the 2nd show virtual show in the month of October and another follow-up show in the month of November under a theme – Sustainable Interplay, propagating the joint and equal responsibility of both buyers and suppliers towards sustainability. More details can be accessed at www.virtual.denimsandjeans.com

DE-Brands : A B2B Denim Sourcing App

De-Brands, a prodigy of Denimsandjeans and the 1st b2b denim sourcing app was launched in a new avatar this year with new modifications and designs.

The app offers a unique opportunity to the denim suppliers to set up its virtual showroom and connect with their buyers virtually 24*7 on 365 days of the year. The app is available on both Playstore(android) and AppStore(ios) as well the web version has also been launched in a completely different look this year. The web version can be accessed at www.de-brands.com

The app has over 55+ exhibitors and 350+ buyers.

Support to denim professionals affected due to pandemic

Denimsandjeans invited all the denim designers, washing experts, and sustainability warriors who have lost their work/jobs during the COVID pandemic. We all have witnessed a very disturbing time in the past few months, a lot of people left us, and a lot of professionals/workers were forced to leave their positions.

This invitation was for those denim professionals who wanted to provide services to the industry in terms of designing, washing, marketing, consulting, etc. These services are looked for by different global companies and through our network, we endeavored to reach their messages to such companies.

Global denim sales suffered a massive downfall but now we’ve been improving, slowly but gradually and the latest quarter results of several fashion giants including PVH and Inditex showed us a ray of hope and we are very hopeful that by the mid of next year, we will see this industry again back to its original shape, in a more sustainable shape.

We hope to do our small bit by bringing into focus such industry professionals who are trying to reinvent themselves. We will publish information about them on our Denimsandjeans website and such information will go across the world to our global subscribers and visitors and help them to be connected to the industry.

Who Is It For

This invitation is for those denim professionals who want to provide services to the industry in terms of designing, washing, marketing, consulting, etc. These services are looked for by different global companies and we hope that we shall be able to reach your message to such companies.

What You Have To Do

You have to first write a story about yourselves and what have you done in the past and your experience. Then you can give some information about how your current focus can be valuable for the denim companies . In case you feel comfortable, it would be the best to share outline of 1-2 concepts that you are working on – of course without sharing all details. We’ll tell your story to the global denim community and make sure it travels through our various channels globally .

When?

We can start immediately !

We shall be waiting.

Reach us at info@denimsandjeans.com/mktg1@denimsandjeans.com

It makes sense for the GAS to enter into JV with Raymonds since Raymonds is well established Denim Fabric and Jeans manufacturer and has a very good retail presence in the country. Only other Denim Group having good retail experience and presence is Arvind Mills – which is already tied up with a number of brands of VF Corp , Tommy Hilfiger etc.

For Raymonds also it makes sense to go into JV with niche European brands as it adds further weight to its own brand. It looks that Raymond is not going to stop with this one JV and we can look forward to having more news from them in this regard.