Industry news
1 September 2022
As the world’s fifth largest cotton producer, countries across the globe will likely feel the repercussions of the recent flooding devastation in Pakistan which will strangulate cotton supply and see prices soar.
Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware, says: “As cotton is an agricultural product, the catastrophic flooding means a substantial financial loss to Pakistan’s cotton production and exports. The flooding would also worsen the world cotton shortage problem this year, resulting in the cotton price maintaining a historically high level in the months ahead.
It is also likely to complicate matters for brands and retailers seeking alternatives to Xinjiang cotton, he warns.
Bob Antoshak, partner at Gherzi Textil Organisation, adds: “Pakistan is already a significant importer of cotton from the US. Assuming there’s supply available to export from the US this fall, undoubtedly Pakistani mills will look to import cotton. Problem is, because of drought, the US crop is likely to down by a third or more from its normal size”.
Main image credit: Asianet-Pakistan / Shutterstock
31 August 2022
PVH Americas and Calvin Klein CEO to step down
Trish Donnelly, CEO of PVH Americas and Calvin Klein Global, is to leave PVH to pursue other opportunities.
Donnelly will remain in an advisory role through 30 November to facilitate the transition, adding it intends to separate her responsibilities into two roles to strengthen the company’s ability to execute its PVH+ Plan: a regional leadership role for PVH Americas and a global brand leadership role for Calvin Klein.
The company has launched a global search for both positions. In the interim, Stefan Larsson, CEO of PVH Corp, will lead PVH Americas and Calvin Klein Global, working closely with the leadership of both organisations and their teams.
“In the current environment, it is critical to redouble our focus on execution to unlock the full potential of the Americas region and to continue to grow the Calvin Klein brand globally. We will significantly improve our ability to execute the PVH+ Plan by splitting these roles and bringing on leaders with different skill sets who can devote their full attention to these important roles,” says Larsson.
Main image credit: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock
8 September 2022
Nike Forward said to be most significant innovation since Dri-Fit
US sportswear giant Nike, Inc has unveiled what it says is its most significant apparel innovation since Dri-Fit, moving away from traditional knit and woven processes to develop Nike Forward, a material said to have lighter density than traditional knit fleece and comprised of 70% recycled content.
The process to create Nike Forward requires fewer steps than traditional Nike knits or wovens, which significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the first generation Forward material — an average of 75% reduction compared to traditional knit fleece used by Nike.
The sportswear giant describes Nike Forward as a “game-changing innovation platform revolutionising apparel creation” that resets the way we think about fleece.
Over five years of research went into the development of Nike Forward, the company explains, adding the innovation, shifting from knit or woven, simplifies the process of material fabrication by reducing steps. Rather than follow a multistage (spin yarn, knit, cut, sew and more) creation cycle, Nike Forward turns fibre directly to textile through needle-punch.
22 August 2022
Apparel manufacturer Sae-A Group expands Costa Rica presence
South Korea's apparel manufacturer Sae-A Group has completed its second spinning mill in Costa Rica and started construction on its third with plans to build more factories in future.
Sae-A Group has created 400 jobs in Costa Rica as part of its US$150m investment plan and expects the completion of its second mill to create 200 more in the coming months across multiple areas for people with different educational levels, from primary to higher education.
The company’s third mill, which has just started construction is expected to be completed in 2023 and operational in 2024 and once these three factories are completed, the company plans to expand its presence in the region by building more in future.
In brief
Eni completes acquisition of stake in Dogger Bank A and B wind farms
Eni has completed the acquisition of a 20% stake in the first two phases of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea for £206.4m ($287.3m).
Neoen reaches financial close for 300MW Australian battery facility
Neoen has reached the financial close of the Victorian Big Battery project, a 300MW/450MWh energy storage facility in Australia.
Southern Power Generation’s Track 4A plant begins operations in Malaysia
Southern Power Generation’s 1.44GW Track 4A Power Plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia has started commercial operations.
Total farms down solar and wind portfolio in stake sale in France
The renewable generation subsidiary of oil giant Total has agreed to sell half of its equity stake in several solar and wind farms to two French financiers.
Scatec and Nizam Energy close financing for solar plant in Pakistan
Renewable developer Scatec and local partner Nizam Energy have secured a $100m financial closure for a solar project in Pakistan.
In brief
Eni completes acquisition of stake in Dogger Bank A and B wind farms
Eni has completed the acquisition of a 20% stake in the first two phases of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea for £206.4m ($287.3m).
Neoen reaches financial close for 300MW Australian battery facility
Neoen has reached the financial close of the Victorian Big Battery project, a 300MW/450MWh energy storage facility in Australia.
Southern Power Generation’s Track 4A plant begins operations in Malaysia
Southern Power Generation’s 1.44GW Track 4A Power Plant in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia has started commercial operations.
Total farms down solar and wind portfolio in stake sale in France
The renewable generation subsidiary of oil giant Total has agreed to sell half of its equity stake in several solar and wind farms to two French financiers.
Scatec and Nizam Energy close financing for solar plant in Pakistan
Renewable developer Scatec and local partner Nizam Energy have secured a $100m financial closure for a solar project in Pakistan.
1 September 2022
RGE develops urban closed-loop textile-to-textile recycling solutions
Singapore-based viscose major Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) is developing what it claims are first-of-a-kind closed-loop textile-to-textile recycling solutions to accelerate innovation in textile recycling that can be deployed in cities and urban settings.
RGE is developing the solutions through the newly-formed RGE-NTU Sustainable Textile Research Centre (RGE-NTU SusTex). This is a five-year research collaboration between RGE and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU). The research centre will develop new technologies to recycle textile waste into fibre and create new, next-generation eco-friendly and sustainable textiles.
The aim is to tackle what RGE calls the “immense” textile waste generated in urban environments, on the back of import bans of waste materials and address the shortcomings of current textile recycling technologies, which are unsuitable for urban settings due to the use of heavy chemicals.
22 August 2022
Primark rolls out cheapest tees under sustainable banner
Primark is rolling out its lowest priced T-shirts under its Primark Cares label in response to consumers facing a “crisis of conscience” as cost pressures mount.
The launch of the T-shirts that are made with recycled or more sustainably sourced materials come as Primark moves forward with its pledge to make sustainable clothing affordable for all.
New research commissioned by Primark reveals over a third of all UK shoppers worry the cost of living crisis will prevent them from making more sustainable choices, rising to almost half (45%) amongst 18–34-year-olds.
Primark Cares director Lynne Walker said: “We know not everyone can afford or wants to, pay more for more sustainable clothes – nor should they have to. Now more than ever, customers shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and sustainability. That’s why nearly 40% of our clothing is already made from recycled or more sustainably sourced materials and why we’re bringing all our basic T-shirts under our Primark Cares label – and growing our Primark Cares essentials.”
31 August 2021
Gap Inc exceeds goal to help apparel communities access water in India
US specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc says it has achieved its goal to empower two million people to improve their access to water and sanitation in India through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Gap Inc Women + Water Alliance.
Gap Inc says the water initiative aims to improve and sustain the health and well-being of communities touched by the apparel industry in two states in India, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
To date, Gap Inc’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) partners WaterAid and Water.org have reached more than two million people in India with improved access to water and sanitation. The programme will continue to expand its impact through January 2023.
Image credit: Postmodern Studio| Shutterstock
30 August 2022
PrettyLittleThing launches resale marketplace
The Boohoo Group's PrettyLittleThing (PLT) brand has launched a resale marketplace, offering consumers the ability to sell unwanted PLT and third-party brand garments alike.
PrettyLittleThing says it has listened to its customers who are mindful of the life of a garment and want to be able to resell items that they no longer wear. In response, the brand has rolled out a resale marketplace app as a community platform where consumers can buy and sell items from PLT and from other brands.
PrettyLittleThing customers can access MarketPlace from their existing PLT orders meaning easy functionality to upload their old PLT wardrobe straight onto the selling platform.
PrettyLittleThing also plans to launch the app in the United States.
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