Top Story

Indian Must Upskill Leadership, Managers, and Shopfloor to Stay Globally Competitive

India’s apparel sector faces entrenched skill gaps that limit competitiveness in global markets. The shortcomings extend from factory leadership to mid-level managers and shopfloor operators. Abhishek Yugal, Managing Partner at Groyyo Consulting, argues for a layered approach that aligns leadership vision, managerial capability, and operator agility while tailoring training models to the maturity of each production hub.

Latest: Updates
Other Top Stories
 
CIRCULARITY / RECYCLING / SECONDS / WASTE

Collection Inefficiencies, Inconsistent Standards Prevent Full Exploitation of Recycling Potential, Warns EU Study

A European Commission study has uncovered systemic flaws in how Italy, Czechia and Romania manage discarded textiles. Despite strong recyclability potential, weak sorting infrastructure, low-value markets and reliance on exports undermine circular progress. Researchers warn that Europe risks losing both resources and credibility, as recyclable garments continue to slip into waste streams or leave the continent instead of feeding domestic recycling industries.

 
FLASHPOINT: CLIMATE
GHG Emissions / FLAG Aspect

Cascale and Worldly have developed a standardised methodology for apparel and footwear companies using the Higg MSI to calculate FLAG emissions. The method separates FLAG from aggregated GHG data, integrates land use change figures, and applies base and conservative assumptions. It delivers consistent baselines, enabling compliance with Science-Based Targets initiative requirements and alignment with forthcoming GHG Protocol FLAG reporting guidance.

Climate Crisis / Fashion Emissions

The apparel sector’s carbon footprint grew sharply in 2023, underscoring the gap between climate commitments and actual performance. The rise in emissions was driven primarily by polyester usage, particularly virgin fibres. Despite growing investment in greener practices, the sector remains far off course for its 2030 goals, according to a new report from Apparel Impact Institute.

 
 
 
FOCUS: COTTON

India Cotton Output Forecast Lowered as Farmers Shift to Alternative Crops and Prices Rise Sharply

India’s cotton sector faces falling acreage and rising prices as farmers switch to more profitable crops like paddy and pulses while mills boost imports. Recent government policies, including a higher minimum support price and a postponed quality order, are changing how the industry operates. Consumption remains strong, while exports and imports reflect both domestic constraints and international market conditions, which will define the challenges of the 2025–26 season.

 
 
SPOTLIGHT EDITIONS: SELECT 4
State of Leather 2024
Cotton for Good 2024
 
 

"Quote Unquote"

 Rakesh Sangrai
Rakesh Sangrai
Director - Textile Committee
PHDCCI
Structural bottlenecks in the technical textiles value chain—especially in processing and testing is an important issue. During this conference we do not have any dedicated session, but, we expect that during the sessions the speakers and delegates may delve on the subject and interact on this as well.

"Quote Unquote"

Julia Ettinger
Julia Ettinger
Secretary-General
EuRIC
Right now, less than 1% of textile materials used to produce clothing are recycled into new clothing. Without a strong demand from fashion brands for recycled textile fibres, textile recyclers are at risk of going bankrupt. This could lead to even more textile waste being sent to landfills or incinerators, defeating the whole purpose of recycling in the first place.
 
 
FOCUS: LEATHER

FTA With UK Promises Big Gains for Indian MSMEs in Garments, Leather and Footwear Exports

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on Thursday, removes steep tariffs on Indian exports of textiles, apparel, leather and footwear. With duty-free access to 99% of Indian goods, the deal unlocks significant growth for manufacturers across sectors. Exporters expect major gains in UK market share, driven by price competitiveness and improved supply chain efficiency.