Top stories on just-style in February include an interview with Sanjeev Mahtani, chairman and owner of Must Garment Corporation, on his fears for the future of apparel suppliers, and a look at the potential impact the military coup in Myanmar will have on the country’s garment sector. We also talk with Eric Dorchies, CEO at Mauritius-based Ciel Textile Ltd, and Jenny Holloway, director of skills training provider and manufacturer Fashion-Enter, and explore how shipping bottlenecks between Asia and the rest of the world continue to cause problems for industry supply chains.
1. Broken retail model pushes apparel suppliers to breaking point
It has taken Sanjeev Mahtani 30 years to build Must Garment Corporation, but just a matter of months for his lifetime’s work to come crashing down. As he tries to pick up the pieces of his manufacturing business, he tells just-style why he fears for the future of apparel suppliers – and the millions of workers they employ.
2. Fashion education needs a re-think on the data skills front
A new study is calling for a rethink of fashion education to ensure students are equipped with the data science and data analysis skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing industry.
3. Myanmar and the pending revolt of the “road warriors”
Apparel “road warriors” look at the coup in Myanmar and suspect a situation that may be slow to resolve. They also anticipate that prospects are starting to fade.
4. What will it take to cut Xinjiang cotton from apparel supply chains?
With around 20% of the world’s cotton coming out of the Xinjiang region of China, a new report argues laws aimed at eliminating inputs from the region can only be effective if new sourcing hubs are developed and the capacity to trace products back to their source is significantly strengthened.
5. Uncertainty continues to shroud Myanmar’s clothing industry
Clothing industry executives and experts within Myanmar have warned that the country’s apparel sector is already suffering because of the 1 February coup, when the military seized power and detained Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected leaders.
6. Clothing sector likely major loser from Myanmar coup
This week’s military coup in Myanmar puts foreign investment at risk, poses the threat of trade sanctions, and may prompt some clothing companies to sever their sourcing ties with the country.
7. From Field to Shelf – The good and the bad of globalisation
If there’s anything globalisation has taught us, it’s that countries tend to import each other’s problems, says industry consultant Robert Antoshak. For instance, forced labour in China ends up in the cotton unwittingly bought by so many consumers in the west. Then there’s the myth of sustainability…
8. Under Armour pays for its reliance on the US
Despite many markets experiencing a second wave of the pandemic towards the end of 2020, Under Armour only suffered a 2.6% decline in sales in Q4, leading to a respectable full year sales decrease of $0.8bn to $4.5bn.
9. UK apparel spend will not recover until 2023 as Covid continues to dampen demand
UK clothing and footwear retailers will continue to struggle in 2021 as a result of the ongoing national lockdown and consumers’ significantly reduced demand for fashion – with the market only expected to rebound by 19.9% to GBP47.2bn (US$64.7bn), which is still over GBP7bn short of 2019 levels.
10. African free trade bloc needs time to reach potential
The newly implemented African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to have minimal positive impact in the short term for the continent’s garment and textile manufacturers.
11. Lectra to acquire Gerber Technology for EUR300m
Technology 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.
12. Improving fashion’s sustainability is a team effort
Consumer expectations of socially responsible fashion are at a high but there’s a long way to go for fashion to become truly sustainable. Meaningful progress will be achieved by consolidated action from the full industry ecosystem – including several radical changes to fashion supply chains, says Julian Burnett, VP, Global Markets, IBM.
13. The ‘Industry We Want’ must put suppliers centre stage
A virtual roundtable featuring 270 experts from across the garment sector has explored the way the industry needs to reshape for future success – with a common finding that suppliers need to be at the centre of collaborative initiatives.
14. Logistics bottlenecks pose major problems for clothing supply chains
Severe and unprecedented bottlenecks in the availability of shipping containers between Asia and the rest of the world are continuing to frustrate apparel retailers in Europe and the US with logistics delays and soaring costs.
15. Fashion-Enter on a mission to boost made in Britain
Skills training provider and manufacturer Fashion-Enter is gearing up for a busy year, with plans to lead a new fashion academy in Leicester, open a similar site in Wales, and explore the potential of a Foundation to help young people with mental health issues – all while continuing to navigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit. Speaking exclusively to just-style, director Jenny Holloway outlines her plans for 2021 and explains why it’s so crucial to bridge the fashion skills gap in the UK.
16. Germany agrees new law on supply chain due diligence
The German government has agreed to new legislation that will force companies to comply with social and environmental rules along their global supply chains.
17. US apparel import prices from China drop to decade low
China continues to reign supreme as the cheapest supplier of apparel to the US, with its per-unit cost for clothing falling 20% in 2020 to a ten-year low.
18. Environmental supply chain risks to cost companies $120bn
Companies face up to US$120bn in costs from environmental risks in their supply chains by 2026, according to new research. Those failing to take responsibility for supply chain impacts will fall behind, while businesses who manage and reduce risk through collaboration will become more competitive and resilient.
19. Government warned UK fashion industry at risk of “decimation”
The UK fashion industry has written an open letter Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning the sector is at risk of “decimation” due to the restrictions brought in by the post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union (EU).
20. Ciel Textile CEO puts Mauritius maker on post-Covid path
Eric Dorchies was appointed CEO at Mauritius based Ciel Textile Ltd last July, at a moment when his country’s important clothing and textile sector was struggling hard against the impact of Covid-19. It has not been an easy start to his job but, as he tells just-style, the company is already working on plans to recover from the pandemic.
