More than 70 per cent of the cotton being sourced for Marks & Spencer (M&S) products is now grown using more sustainable methods, says its annual progress report. This makes M&S one of the biggest users of more sustainably sourced cotton and has put it on track to meet its commitment to hit 100 per cent next year to improve people, planet and health. 83 per cent of M&S products now have an eco or ethical quality above the market norm and 30 million items of clothing reused o

Representatives from the textile industry in Surat recently met Indian finance minister Piyush Goyal and finance secretary Hasmukh Adhia in Surat to discuss issues related to the goods and services tax (GST), including its simplification and refund of the input tax credit (ITC). The industry delegation was led by Navsari member of parliament CR Paatil. More than a lakh power loom machines have been sold in scrap since November last year and weavers have been forced to reduce the production

Fashion Positive PLUS is increasing its global collaboration on circular materials innovation as the programme enters its second year. Part of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s Fashion Positive initiative, PLUS is a membership collaborative of pioneering brands, innovators and suppliers working for positive change in the fashion industry. The collaborative is working on development of safe, healthy, circular materials that can remain in perpetual cycles of use and reuse.

The rocketing price gains of recent weeks at Australian wool auctions took a breather during the week ending June 8, with price adjustments across the board both up and down. The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) subsequently closed the week 16ac lower at 2011ac/clean kg, the Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) said. “Very mixed buying patterns were seen, with export buyers committed to continuing their accumulation of all merino types 19.5 micron and broad

Formal wear brand Arrow plans to open 55 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) and 250 shop-in-shops this fiscal to expand its operations in tier II and tier III cities across India and is targeting over 20 per cent year-on-year sales growth in the next four to five years. At present, there are over 250 Arrow EBOs and 1,000 shop-in-shops in multi-brands outlets in India. As the way people dress up for work is changing, three sub-brands within Arrow will meet that need, Sumit Dhingra, CEO of herit

The net revenue of Lululemon Athletica, an athletic apparel company, in the first quarter of 2018 has been recorded at $649.7 million, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same period previous year. On a constant dollar basis, net revenue increased 23 per cent. Total comparable sales increased 20 per cent, 19 per cent on a constant dollar basis. For the reported period, gross profit was $344.7 million, an increase of 34 per cent compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Gross prof

Several Vietnamese garment companies this year have maintained high growth in traditional markets, such as the United States, South Korea, the European Union (EU) nations and member states of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS). VITAS vice president and general secretary Truong Van Cam said a series of recently-signed free trade agreements (FTAs) is expected to boost the sector.

The Flipkart deal will ramp up Walmart’s global sourcing of apparel and accessories from India, according to Judith McKenna, the latter’s international CEO, who sees a lot of headroom for growth in the under-penetrated Indian e-commerce market. Flipkart’s operating structure will remain the same and Walmart will increase funding when necessary, she said. Walmart is fully cooperating with Indian regulatory agencies and is confident of receiving the nod for the Flipkart deal, McKenna told CN

Bruce Atherley, executive director of Cotton Council International (CCI), will take to the stage at the upcoming trade event #ICAHK18, which will be held on October 17 and 18, 2018, at the Grand Hyatt in Hong Kong. The event is expected to attract over 700 participants from more than 30 countries. Leading industry speakers will talk on latest cotton news. Atherley will deliver insights on ‘What’s New in Cotton?’ showcasing new ideas and innovations that are designed to inspire brands and r

Sri Lanka is reportedly hopeful of convincing India to remove the quota system for its apparel industry and instead wants a $500-million trade deal. The two sides are at present discussing, under the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), the existing system that is limited to sale of eight million garment pieces annually worth $30 million. Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) chairman Felix Fernando told a top newspaper in Colombo that exhaustion of this year’