Apparel Intelligence Volume 26

Opinion

Abercrombie and Fitch, Sussan Group, Myer, and Forever 21?top the list of 25 of Australia’s leading fashion brands, who will take up to 75 years for all companies to pay a living wage at one factory each.

Zara teamed with textile recycling firm Circ?to release a line of women’s apparel made with recycled polyester and cotton fibres. The collection features lyocell garments made with 50% recycled poly-cotton waste, and polyester garments made with 43% recycled poly-cotton waste.

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By The Way

4 firefighters are dead?after a massive fire broke out in an apparel manufacturing unit, leaving 12 people injured in southern Pakistan. The blaze, ripped through the factory Wednesday night and eventually caused it to collapse.

Bangladeshi garment factories are at risk, as after the fires at the 3 markets in Dhaka, temperatures are rising to record levels. Which means the slightest mistake can ignite another fire.

Vietnam remains a desirable location for FDI, with 3% more listing, it is among the top 3 global investment hotspots. 36% of the respondents identified Vietnam as one of the top 5 investment locations in the world.

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What to Watch

Many US clothing brands?have still not joined the Global unions and clothing brands agreement to inspect and mitigate safety risks for factory workers, even after the Rana Plaza building collapsed, killing over 1,100 workers 10 years ago.

Apparel brands are lowering prices, shortening lead times, increasing order changes, lengthening payment terms, and increasing shares of “hidden” costs, such as the production of initial samples. They are passing these on to manufacturers in Europe.?

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What Else Is Happening

A PTA between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh?has the potential to boost bilateral trade of fabric and yarn, as both countries are major garment exporters and competitors in the global market.

PDS Ltd plans to invest?around Rs. 170-225 crore to expand its manufacturing operations in India and Egypt. PDS Ltd, a fashion supply chain company, will help the company to grow its US business as it requires sourcing units closer to the West.

Shein will invest $148.9 million in Brazil?in the coming years to establish a network with thousands of textile manufacturers in the country. Shein intends to partner with 2,000 manufacturers in the country, which should create 100,000 jobs over the next three years.