Denimandjeans | Global Trends, News and Reports | Worldwide

Category: Denim News- International

  • CDI Italy gets into Joint Venture with GFM Textiles of Mexico

    Calitri Denim Industries of Italy, the manufacturer of premium Ring Spun denims , has entered into Joint Venture with GFM Textiles of Mexico . The Denim division of GFM is also commonly known as Parras.

    GFM is a diversified group with interests in Minerals, Energy,Electronics and Textiles. Its denim division Parras has four plants and an annual production capacity of about 100 million metres.
    On the other hand , CDI is a much smaller plant with a capacity of about 15 million metres p.a.

    Probably due to their relative sizes, the Joint Venture GFMT Italy, will be 80% owned by GFM and 20% by CDI. GFM also has an additional option to acquire all of CDI’s assets within next 12 months.
    The Joint Venture gives advantages to both the sides since GFM gains from the CDI’s design , development and quality and its premium image of an Italian manufacturer in the market and CDI gains from the size of GFM.

    It needs to be noted here that the exports of denim and jeans from Mexico has been continously falling over a period of time . However, the exports of Denim from Italy to USA had been growing due to the increased imports by premium and high-end Denim brands like 7 for all Mankind, Chip and Pepper and numerous others. The Mexican manufacturer not only benefits from the image of an Italian supplier (that is why the name has been changed to GFMT Italy), but also gains access to some high-end customers of CDI.

  • Old Navy – Fall 2007 Denim Collection – Latest trends in Denim

    Old Navy debuts its Fall 2007 line in stores featuring various striking trends.

    Color Denim:
    As I previously mentioned , Color Denim trend is likely to be picked up by various brands. Old Navy is offering its skinny denims in crimson red, yellow, gunmetal grey, cobalt blue, and pastel purple(USD 29.50) .
    A complete antithesis of skinny jeans is the Wide Legged denim – which is also being taken up
    in a small way. The jeans are priced at USD 34.50 .. Wide legged jeans trend is not expected to grow as big as skinny jeans , simply because wide legged jeans can be carried by very few females(normally) gracefully.

    New Fits
    Old Navy aims to introduce three new fits :

    Diva – sexy low rise waist and body hugging .
    Flirt – Classic fit with a medium rise
    Sweetheart – Casual fit and high rise

    It remains to be seen whether the customers find these fits novel or they are just novel names…

    Old Navy is a division of Gap Inc and brings customers on-trend apparel and accessories at amazing prices, all in a fun and energizing shopping environment.
    Gap Inc. is a leading international specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Piperlime brand names. Fiscal 2006 sales were $15.9 billion. Gap Inc. operates more than 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Ireland and Japan

  • Xfit Lycra and Black lycra for denims

    Two new innovations from LYCRA are expected to give a great fillip to the usage of lycra in Denims and add value to the denim garments.

    Xfit Lycra: Xfit lycra is a latest patented technology which allows 360 degree movement in the fabric besides fabric stability and shape retention.All this allows a user to move in any way. How would this help the denim garment manufacturers??
    The manufacturers will be able to produce garments for a wider range of buyers. Currently stretch garments are mainly limited to the Ladieswear and Childrenwear. Xfit may help in increasing the usage of stretch garments by Men also.. Let’s wait and watch how the brands are able to encash this development.

    Black lycra fibre: A very interesting development for the Denim and the Lingerie Industry.. What traditionally happens is that when stretch fibres are used in the garments and they are washed repeatedly, the strech fibre shows up due to discoloration.
    With the Black lycra fibre, the black and dark garments will remain dark even after washes(provided the other fibres in the fabric do not lose color)..
    This fibre would be very useful for the Dark and Natural denim garments and help them to remain darker for a longer period. Some of the ladies Stretch Jeans may even end up looking a little darker(if designed so)..

    On the whole it is a good news for the denim industry …

  • Victoria Beckham launches her own dvb line of denims

    dvb-denim-launch-photo-of-victoria.jpg
    Victoria Beckham launched her debut denim collection this week in New York to a multitude of photographers, television cameras and journalists.

    Beckham has boosted her profile by unveiling her dVb collection of denim jeans, skirts and shorts at Saks department store on Fifth Avenue.

    Wearing her own white jeans, silver heels, and a sparkly, silver vest, Victoria posed for photographers before heading upstairs to sign autographs for fans waiting in line.

    The dvb jeans will have large star stitched on the back pockets and will cost around USD 250/- (dark denims). The dVb range also includes retro style sunglasses.

    I think its a lot easy for these celebs to launch their own labels which ride comfortably on the strength of their popularity. However, the real test comes within a year of the launch when the publicity dies down a little and the Jeans has to perform.. Lets wait and watch how dvb performs.

  • The Japanese Denim Industry

    The Japanese denim industry is revered the world over for its innovativeness and its capability to set trends in the Denim Industry.
    It would be nice to have a look at some facts and figures relating to the Japanese Denim Industry.
    Denim Exports : 2006 about 56 million sq mtrs.
    2007(till march) about 15 million sq mtrs.
    Jeans :80 million pairs (approx) produced in Japan p.a
    :20 million pairs(approx) imported p.a
    Export markets : China,Hongkong, US, Vietnam and Italy.

    Main Denim producing areas in Japan : The Hiroshima perfecture, The Okayama perfecture and the Mihara Area.

    DENIM MILLS

    KAIHARA DENIM
    Produces about 36 million sq mtrs of denim p.a
    Exports about 60% of production.
    Offer about 600-900 items to buyers every year.(good)
    Investment since 1970 – about USD 500 million.
    More than 300 looms at six mills.
    Strengths : Great cotton mix and Dyeing process..
    Kaihara has no plans to go overseas for production as they are quite comfortable in Japan…This shows their belief in their own capability to be highly innovative ..

    KURABO INDUSTRIES
    Currently focusing very much on Stretch fibres and are looking at
    advanced versions of stretch denim by using XLA stretch yarn,Xfit
    lycra and T400. This is to take advantage of the Skinny Jeans
    fashion that is currently still strong.
    Developments 2006-08 : Emphasizing on the Ocean BLue colors under the Ultra Marine
    Blue Brand name.
    :’Wave’ – A line developed from a specially designed slub yarn .
    :’Air Spinner’ – third line that features very soft denim.

    NISSHINBO INDUSTRIES
    Capacity : About 12 million sq mtrs p.a

    Developments : As per the marketing manager of Nisshinbo – ‘Masanharu Tanaka’
    the NEW TREND would be a return towards NATURAL LOOKS. This
    would mean that innovative looks using Indigo and other yarn
    dyeing material.
    :Liquid Ammonia Treatment: Nisshinbo is also know for the
    development of the liquid ammonia treatment of Denim Fabric. The
    denim fabric is dipped in liquid ammonia (about -40 degrees C)
    which enables it to regain its original shape , thus giving back
    natural softness to the fibre. One of its five ammonia treatment
    plant is used for treating Denims.

    Other developments in the Japanese denim Industry :
    The DUCK TEXTILE CO. has introduced a JERSEY DENIM – a denim made of knit fabric. This fabric looks like woven fabric but has the qualities of the knit fabric.
    Another development doing the rounds in the Japanese Denim Industry is the effort to keep the core of the cotton yarn undyed .. Though this normally happens in the Rope Dyeing method, but the effort is to have much more undyed portion through HAND DYEING which will give very good after washing effects…

  • 1945 Levi’s from Japan?

    It may seem improbable that the most authentic vintage versions of the most famous American Apparel brand – Levi’s – have to be bought in a some ‘Hinoya Plus Mart’ in Japan…
    But it is true as New Times Reports . The vintage Levi’s with the most authentic accessories including Scovill Zippers , can be found in this obscure mart in Tokyo.
    So much so that Levi’s has been forced to sue them . And of course that has not been without a sense of guilt since Levi’s itself has not been able to produce such authentic versions of their own Brand!

    Well, we can all trust Japanese to go to any levels to achieve perfection and beat everyone . The same applies to denims also. It must also be marveled that the Japanese are still able to produce and sell their Denim Fabrics at their prices inspite of the fact that this fabric has been commodotised to a large extent ..Hats off to them..

  • Tavex acquires denim manufacturin facilities in Mexico

    The Tavex Group of Spain(Madrid) – the famous denim company of Europe – which already owns manufacturing facilities in the city of Puebla in México, is working to expand its capacity through the acquisition of the denim manufacturing facilities of the company ACOTEX in Puebla and Tlaxcala . This will take the capacity of Tavex in Mexico to about 30 million metres pa.
    "Our objective with this investment is to increase Denim production in the differentiated products segment (Authentic and Premium lines) in North America," comments Herbert Schmid – the CEO of Tavex.
    Well, its a good move by Tavex since they must have bought these facilities at relatively easier prices due to the not so good condition of Denim.

    It also shows that the Europeans are proving to be better at managing the Denim – especially since Denim has turned into a fashion product with lot of differentiation required. American companies had a better hold on denim when it was a basic product and few qualities could be produced in huge quantities.

    However, we will see in the long run that this product will get shifted to Asia almost completely as the costs of productions go up in all European and American nations.

  • US Denim sales of high priced Jeans slows down

    Costing above USD 100/- the high-end Jeans in US, from names like 7 for all Mankind, True Religion, Rock&Republic etc , had been experiencing a high growth rate of sales in US – about 48%.
    However, this year, their growth rate has been reduced to about 24%     – which is quite a drop ..
    The high-priced jeans still have about 5% of the Denim Market, but this share may not increase as dramatically as it was before.

    The Reason ? It seems that denim’s place in teens’ hearts and closets is being taken by dresses, accessories and cute tops.

    Overall sales of Jeans in US dropped 1.2% in March …..

  • UK Jeans sales expected to be @ 3 jeans/second!

    Three pairs of Jeans will be sold in UK this year every second ! . Why?
    Because the demand is increasing in the UK and the total pair of Jeans sold in UK will be around 86 million pairs in 2007 and the total amount spend by Britons on Jeans will be about GBP1.5billion..

    What does it mean? It means that:

    the per capita sales of Jeans in UK will be around 1.4 .
    the average price of Jeans sold in UK will be around GBP 17/-
    there will be an increase of about 40% in volume since 2002..

    Who is benefitting from this increased demand?

    Mainly the Own-label jeans made by the likes of George at Asda, Marks and Spencer and Topshop have seen by far and away the largest increase in sales compared with branded jeans.
    Between 2004 and 2006 , the Own-label Jeans sales grew by 41% and accounted for about 24% of the market.

    Where is the market expected to reach?

    The Jeans market is expected to touch GBP2.1 billion by 2012 as per Miss Ihekweazu of Mintel . She also says “With some jeans costing around the same as a cup of coffee, many more people can afford to have several pairs of jeans.” and hence the increase is further expected.

    But will the prices of Jeans keep on going down?
    The jeans sales are getting polarised between Discounted Jeans and the High Street Jeans with a very significant difference in prices among them. This polarisation is expected to continue . However, how much lower the prices can go further ? I don’t think it can be too much. ALready the Discounted Jeans are selling at prices which leave hardly anthing for the Manufacturer or Retailer. Asda is selling Jeans at GBP2.99.. It will be really difficult to better these prices..

    Anyway, lets stay tuned and watch..

  • Asda(UK) slashes prices of Jeans to GBP2.50

    The existing price of jeans in George department of ASDA – at GBP 3/ – were already quite low and now they have reduced them further to GBP 5 for two pairs ie GBP 2.5/pair.. Its incredible how ASDA can sell jeans at these prices..It has previously faced criticism from the anti-poverty group over the working conditions of workers in Bangladesh. However, it has been able to fend them off..
    If we look at the selling price of these jeans, it is very difficult to see how the costings can work out at these levels.Lets see a hypothetical breakdown
    Freight cost : about 10 pence per jeans.
    Profit (which I think is the minimum Asda must be keeping) – 20% on sales – 50 pence.
    Storage and other costs : about 10 pence. Total 70 pence.These are the barebone expenses I am considering and the actuals will be higher.
    So it would mean that the exporter from Bangladesh would be exporting at about GBP 1.80 which is about USD 2.50.. Normally a jeans uses a minimum of 1.2 meters of fabric and if we take the lowest current prices prevailing in the market in Bangladesh – about USD 1.40/m (for 13.75oz) then the cost of the fabric comes to about USD1.68.. So we have about USD 0.82 left for the Bangladesh garment factory to cover all its costs…

    Anyway, its a good strategy by ASDA to get volume customers. Even if ASDA is not earning much on this product, it may be making up by more profits that come from sales of other products to the same customers.COOL….

  • Evisu (Japan) to open the first store in US

    Evisu – the premium Japanese denim brand , is to open its first store in North America later this summer.
    Evisu is quite popular and has sort of cult status in US and it was logical that they encash this status.
    The store will be given a Japanese touch with films from Japan being filmed and the option to buyers to personalise their jeans by hand painting.
    evisu-ny-store-1.jpg
    ‘Before anyone did anything, Evisu did everything’ – Nice catchline…

    evisu-ny-store-2.jpg

  • Angelina wearing J Brand Jeans

    I really wonder what is so special in the J Brand Jeans…Can know only when I lay my hands on a pair someday…..
    So many celebrities have been wearing these jeans that it has acquired a cult status Angelina Jolie is the latest one among the many who like these jeans…

    angelina-jolie-j-brand-jeans.jpg

    Source:Denimology