Apparel industry briefing

Apparel software and systems specialist Lectra is to acquire US rival Gerber Technology in a EUR300m (US$360.8m) deal that will enable the two companies to hone their software, equipment, data and services to provide "the ultimate Industry 4.0" offering for the fashion sector. Lectra will acquire the entire capital and voting rights of Gerber Technology.

A circular fashion industry could be worth US$2.3bn more than its current US$3bn if it centres on the reuse and recycling of all materials, elimination of waste and pollution, and environmental regeneration. The calculation comes in a report compiled by a group of industry organisations and academics including PwC.

Sustainable fashion and footwear pioneer Allbirds has invested $2m in Natural Fiber Welding, a US-based start-up whose Mirum plant-based leather is made from vegetable oil, natural rubber and other bio-ingredients. Allbirds plans to incorporate Plant Leather into a major commercial footwear launch in December 2021.

Companies face up to $120bn in costs from environmental risks in their supply chains by 2026, according to research from environmental non-profit CDP (formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of environmental non-profit Canopy, has won $3m from the Climate Breakthrough Award. She plans to use the money to catalyse investment in creating low-carbon, commercially viable fibre alternatives to those based on high carbon forests.

The US Department of Labor has awarded US$8m to two projects to detect child labour and forced labour in cotton and textile supply chains. $4m has gone to Verité Inc to pilot upstream tracing of raw cotton, thread/yarn and textiles in India; and another $4m will help Elevate Limited trace cotton supply chains in Pakistan.

1,257 Indian workers at H&M garment supplier Gokaldas Exports are to be rehired after an eight-month campaign by unions.

The number of facilities certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) in 2020 rose 34% on the year before to 10,388. Together they employ more than 3m people in over 72 countries.

VF Corporation, owner of brands including The North Face, Timberland and Vans, has pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic packaging, including polybags, by 2025. All other packaging will be reduced, originate from sustainable sources, and be designed for reuse or recyclability.

Zara owner Inditex is partnering with DBS Bank to scale India's organic cotton industry by providing easier and faster access to funding for more than 2,000 farmers in the fashion giant's supply chain.