Paweł Lewandowski
Rebekah Wing
Billy Hazel
Crystii Lin
Martine Falk Andersen
Canada’s Apparel Human Resources Council (AHRC) has released the findings and recommendations of a major study done on the Canadian apparel industry. The study titled ‘Pressing ahead: Canada’s transforming apparel industry’ was conducted by Alan Milstein and Co., a leading industry consultant. The AHRC had previously conducted labour market information study in 2004.
Since then, both Canadian and the global apparel industry have changed. The study gives a new definition, that the industry is not dependent on domestic production, but on domestic product development. Based on the new definition, the main sub-sectors are manufacturers, wholesalers/offshore producers, and retailers.
One of the major findings of the study is that the combined revenues of apparel manufacturers and wholesalers have remained unchanged from the pre-trade liberalization years of 2004 to 2008. It indicates that the industry did not face closures, but survived by adapting to newer realities by shifting business models.
The study has mentioned a list of challenges that will drive change in the apparel industry in the coming years. The list includes Government and social compliance, regulations, Internet, rising production costs, the globalization of retail, etc.
The study has also identified some issues that could be of concern to the industry. Most notable among them is the effect of the aging workforce, both at management level and in production units.
"The workforce has shifted from predominantly production-based to being slightly more service-based," the survey noted and went on to add that the trend is expected to continue. It is because the services sector may grow at a faster pace than the change in number of production personnel.
The survey found that the employers are generally optimistic about the future. They project that there will be significant employment growth in both production personnel and services during the next two years.
However, the survey also mentions, that the employers have expressed concern over some of the issues.
71% of companies surveyed continue to operate without strategic plans. This raises a concern whether the companies’ growth expectations are reasonable and achievable, especially when they are projecting a growth rate that is much higher than the general economic growth rate.
35% of companies face a problem in business continuity, i.e. they are either considering implementation of a succession plan, selling the company, or ceasing operations within the next two years.
Other than the senior managers, the study found, the industry is also facing the challenge of aging production workers. In fact, the study concludes that nearly 7,000 production workers could be nearing retirement. The problem is compounded further by the fact that there are no trained personnel available to train new production workers, due to the large scale downsizing in the last decade.
The 15th International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex 2011) has received overwhelming responses since the beginning of exhibitors' recruitment. The exhibition is less than 1 week ahead and will be staged at Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Pudong, Shanghai during June 14 - 17, 2011.
ShanghaiTex 2011 will gather more than 1,000 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions, in which 40% are overseas exhibitors, and the total exhibition area will hit 92,000 sqm, occupying 8 exhibition halls fully. It is expected that total no. of visitors will reach 50,000, and 6,000 of them will be from overseas.
Benefited from the strong global market demand and its established reputation for almost 30 years, ShanghaiTex 2011 has brought together a group of textile experts to discuss and demonstrate the latest technology by delivering various sparkling concurrent events that excite visitors.
"The 2nd China Textile Industry Summit" will be held on Jun 13, 2011. The summit's keynote speakers will discuss the topic on strategic transformation - build up a strong nation for textile industry. The summit will focus on the analysis and interpretation of the 12th Five-Year Plan at different perspectives.
Severe drought in West Texas will lower supplies of new cotton crop in 2011.
Severe drought in the High Plains of Texas, world’s largest contiguous cotton patch will lower US cotton production this year. Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture lowered 2011 crop estimate by 1 million bales (480 lbs each) from its earlier May estimate. Such a downward correction so early is deemed highly unusual by industry leaders and speculations are such that the production estimate could be further lowered in months to come.
In a meeting on June 10th, Mr. Steve Verett, a well-respected cotton farmer and the Executive Vice President of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. of Lubbock, Texas warned that a significant rainfall is needed to salvage dryland cotton. “I am glass full kind of a person, but we have to face reality,” said Verett, indicating a turnaround in crop production is highly unlikely this year.
Dryland cotton crop in West Texas is likely going to be abandoned, said Dr. Kater Hake, Vice President of Agricultural Research of Cray, NC based Cotton Incorporated. We can’t keep irrigating and in some point farmers have to abandon irrigation, said Verett talking about irrigated crop in West Texas. Hake agreed that farmers have to make decision on how they irrigate and in any case due to the limited availability of water this summer, total bales will come down.
Mr. Shawn Wade, Director of Policy Analysis and Research at Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. commenting on the impact of severe drought this year on the US cotton crop said, "at this time there appears to be real potential for the High Plains region to produce as much as 2 million fewer bales in 2011 than that in 2010." The High Plains area in West Texas produced about 30% of US cotton crop last year. Given the adverse weather condition in West Texas, the output from the United States this year will be heavily curtailed.
Mr. Henry Gantz, Group Editor of the Cotton Media Group, Cordova, USA in a separate communication to this scribe said he is praying for rain, which reflects the severity of weather on US cotton crop, this year.
The development on the New York Cotton Futures Market had only limited influence on the domestic market during the reported week. In comparison to last week the amount of enquiries for cotton for near dates has increased, yet the number of contracts has not significantly grown.
Once again, the spinning industry's behaviour has not indicated stronger demand as well as not given further impulses for rising prices. Cotton producers from the origin were obviously not willing to reduce prices for the limitedly available cotton. These conditions aggravated conclusions so that only few contracts were closed. Sales focused mainly on nearby deliveries.
IIn the medium staple range West African cotton was sold for near dates.
In the LS/ELS-range contracts were closed for Eyptian Giza 86 for near dates. Israel Acalpi was ordered for delivery from near dates up to the 4th quarter 2011.
Acclaimed Romanian fashion designer Romanitza will return to Couture Fashion Week New York with the showing of her latest impeccably crafted collection.
The runway show will be held at 8:00 p.m. on Friday September 16, 2011 in the iconic Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
A regular presenter at the prestigious New York event, Romanitza is celebrating her 20th anniversary this year as a fashion designer.
Her fashion show at Couture Fashion Week in September promises to be a memorable event. In October 2011 the designer will stage a festive celebration and fashion show in Bucharest to mark the 20th anniversary milestone.
A former fashion model, Romanitza - whose full name is Romanita Claudia Iovan - launched her fashion house in 1991. The label soon became one of the most successful in Romania, driven by the designer's inimitable style and work ethic helped. The exquisite quality and regal flair of her designs shine in her distinctive runway shows.
In 1993 Romanitza was invited by the Romanian Youth Travel Office to be part of government-sponsored tourism promotion in the United Arab Emirates, with a collection of Arab-inspired pret-a-porter. In 1994 Romanitza won first prize at the National Fashion Festival of Romania, and shortly after she became the first Romanian designer invited to open an exclusive showroom at the World Trade Plaza in Bucharest. Her 1996 Spring/Summer collection entitled "Rainbow Flowers" was presented on the runway at the World Trade Plaza's performance hall - a gala performance that also celebrated the designer's fifth successful year in the fashion industry. The event was covered by all major Romanian fashion publications.
Romanitza opened her second boutique in 1999 on Bucharest's fashionable Calea Victoriei, and soon after became the exclusive retailer of Elegance Paris fabrics and the Elegance Boutique pret-a-porter line, as well as of Borsalino hats and Bruno Magli shoes and bags for Romania. A few years later, Romanitza opened the first Escada Couture shop in Bucharest.
Romanitza continues to build her brand in the fashion industry, presenting seasonal collections and taking part in many television programs and fashion events, including Bucharest Fashion Week. Her unique creations have been featured in major publications worldwide including Book Moda (Italy), Limited Edition (UAE), Epoch Times (USA) and many others.
Rieter will be participating in Shanghaitex, 14-17 June 2011. Through this technology exchange platform, Rieter will present to its customers interesting developments in spinning technologies.
In Hall E1 on booth D01, Rieter will introduce its latest development in spinning technology and release new products, such as the C 70 high performance card and the new generation of the R 60 rotor spinning machine. An other attraction is the display of the Rieter yarns and fabric samples showing Rieter's four spinning technologies.
Highlights from new series of products
The release of the new series of Rieter products will be a big attraction to visitors. The C 70 high performance card opens up new horizons for economical yarn production. Adapted to different customer requirements Rieter has 2 new draw frames to offer: the RSB-D 22 double head draw frame and the RSB-D 45 single head draw frame, both with perfect autoleveling function for best sliver quality. The G 32 ring spinning machine is a cost-effective machine designed to meet the needs of the Asian markets: low investment costs combined with well-known quality and mature technology. The new R 60 fully automatic rotor spinning machine sets new standards in quality, productivity and flexibility with reduced energy consumption.
Rieter yarns under various brands
Rieter is the only supplier worldwide to offer all 4 spinning technologies from a single source: ring spinning, compact spinning, rotor spinning and air-jet spinning. All 4 spinning technologies result in different structures and properties of the yarns and end products. Rieter yarns offer advantages compared to other yarns and are marketed under the following brands: Rieter Ring Yarn, Com4 Yarn, ComfoRo Yarn and ComforJet Yarn. At the exhibition site, yarn and fabric samples will be on show to let visitors feel the difference.
Original spare parts from Rieter Parts
Original Rieter technology components and retrofits are subject to the same quality standards as Rieter machines and systems. This guarantees the constant value and the high operational safety of Rieter machines and installations. The yarn qualities fulfill high economical and technological standards.
With every new machine generation, improvements in the energy efficiency are integrated into the new machine constructions. Customers with machines that have been in operation for several years can also profit from new developments in power-saving.
American rapper Kanye West is seriously considering a future in fashion and is said to be spending additional time in Paris.
West, who has become a big fan of Celine, a Paris-based design house, is working on a high-end line for men’s and women’s apparel. He had even worn colourful apparel of Celine during a Coachella performance in April this year.
Motivated by the George Condo art, West had recently created a scarves line for his album ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’.
Unlike other celebrities, who turn guest designers for well-known brands, the pop singer is more likely to launch his own label.
West has interned at the Italian luxury fashion house of Fendi under Karl Lagerfeld’s guidance and for the last few seasons has become a fixture at fashion shows.
Respect Your Universe Inc is pleased to announce it has appointed John Wood as President of the Company, effective June 1, 2011. Former President Kristian Andresen will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer.
John Wood – President: John, a Shodan Blackbelt in Judo, continues to train in Judo as well as Muay Thai and Jujitsu; placing him alongside the martial arts athletes and super-stars of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He has spent many years developing strong relationships with elite athletes, managers, and trainers in the mixed martial arts realm increasing his ability to lead our sports marketing and development efforts.
His work as a manager for the Armani Group provides him with experience and insight into the apparel industry paramount in building and running a successful apparel business. His past experiences include Executive Director for XS Nightclub at Encore and Tryst Nightclub at Wynn Resort both in Las Vegas.
Mr. Wood aims to build the profile of the RYU brand as premium MMA training apparel while also strengthening the Company's ties to the financial sector.
Mr. Wood said of his appointment, "I'm excited to step into this position and move Respect Your Universe, and the RYU brand into the forefront of MMA as the first technical brand rooted in the sport."
CEO, Kristian Andresen said of the appointment, "I am pleased John has come on as the new President of Respect Your Universe, Inc. With John's contacts and passion for the sport he is the perfect person to lead RYU as we build our relationships with leagues, fighters, and other MMA outlets."
Respect Your Universe Inc is a mixed martial arts apparel company focused on innovative design, development and production of premium training gear for mixed martial artists, athletic enthusiasts, and MMA fans. The Company has strong ties to the MMA industry and a management team with experience, vision, and a network necessary to build a brand into a top recognized clothing line within the MMA industry. The RYU brand is based on respect, honor and sustainability.
TAGSYS, the leading provider of item-level RFID infrastructure, announced the introduction of a new UHF RFID tag for the laundry and textile services industry. The LinTRAK tags are specially designed to withstand harsh industrial laundry processes, while providing industry leading performance for item-level tracking of flat linens, uniforms and other textile products.
Developed for use at commercial laundries, in transit, and at customer sites such as hospitals, hotels and restaurants, LinTRAK tags are provided as woven labels and, like most standard labels, are seamlessly integrated into textile products. The tags are based on a unique and patented concept that couples a very small UHF device with a sewed, secondary antenna made from an innovative and flexible thread-like material.
LinTRAK tags utilize EPC Gen 2 industry standard UHF RFID (860-960 MHz) technology that provides for extended read ranges of up to 3 meters and high data transfer rates, enabling new applications that before were not possible—customers can take full inventories using a hand-held reader, or reliably read full racks of hundreds of items as they enter/exit a facility. This allows laundries to provide innovative new client services, such as loss prevention and real-time storage management.
With this improved visibility, laundries, textile rental companies and their customers can better manage linen inventories; improve linen utilization (thus reducing the need for new purchases); track the number of wash cycles each item has been put through; accurately count and sort items; ensure the correct number of items has been shipped and received; and improve loss prevention.
The tags can be produced in a variety of colors, as well as with customized artwork or text. They have been designed specifically to meet the tracking requirements of the laundry industry, can survive temperatures up to 200ºC (392ºF), and are guaranteed for 200 wash cycles or three years.
"TAGSYS is a leader in developing RFID solutions for the textile and apparel market, and we have brought this experience to bear, along with input from our customers and partners, in developing the new LinTRAK tag," said Alain Fanet, TAGSYS CEO. "Our UHF technology provides greater performance than existing solutions in a flexible, ruggedized format that can be easily and affordably deployed."
Taiwan based, Formosa Petrochemical may bring forward the planned maintenance of one of its naphtha cracker.
Formosa operates three naphtha crackers and cracker number -3, the biggest of all, had been scheduled for a planned force majeure in early September.
However, if the downstream units, which have been shutdown due to a fire in a pipeline on May 12, needs to be extended, Formosa may prepone the maintenance to second-half of August.
