Apparel

Tigray, the northernmost regional state in Ethiopia, is attempting to rebuild its textiles and garment industry following catastrophic wartime destruction. A new study documents the scale of industrial damage and economic loss, highlighting the urgent need for resuming production and restoring labour capacity. The research focuses on supply chain collapse, asset destruction, and employment disruption — all factors now shaping how firms attempt to regain stability in a fractured post-war environment.

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.

Viet Nam's fashion industry leaders are launching a comprehensive transformation strategy to strengthen the country's position as a global manufacturing leader. The ambitious initiative focuses on technological advancement and sustainable development practices to maintain competitive advantages and also addressing mounting international trade compliance requirements through enhanced domestic capabilities.

Egypt's textile industry is rapidly emerging as a global manufacturing hub, driven by competitive labour costs, strategic location, and massive Chinese investment. With exports surging 18% to $2.84 billion in 2024 and government modernisation plans targeting $12 billion by 2031, Egypt is positioning itself as a key alternative to traditional textile centres.

Fashion's global supply chains face unprecedented scrutiny as business conduct risks expose brands to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and financial losses. From forced labour controversies to environmental violations, the industry's complex sourcing networks are increasingly under fire from regulators, investors, and consumers demanding greater transparency and accountability.

A new investigation has uncovered the hidden realities of Pakistan’s garment industry, exposing wage theft, forced overtime, and widespread informality across eight factories supplying European brands. Based on 126 worker interviews, the report challenges the effectiveness of social audits and highlights systemic exploitation in one of South Asia’s largest textile and apparel export hubs.

The fashion industry now has a powerful tool to map its complex sustainability challenges. The Fashion Impact Toolkit, developed by Global Fashion Agenda and Deloitte, catalogues around 3,000 impacts across the textile value chain. Designed for strategic planning and accountability, it equips companies to track, assess, and address environmental and social harms from fibre to end-of-life.

The retail industry is confronting a £64.5 billion waste crisis caused by rampant overproduction, with billions of garments and products never reaching consumers. A new report highlights the scale of the problem and explores the business case for degrowth, circular models, and sustainable production strategies as viable paths to reduce waste and protect long-term profitability.

The European Commission has enforced the much-awaited Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for apparel and footwear thus giving this industry segment a standard methodology to calculate product environmental footprints, with specific category requirements.

Untouched World, a Kiwi lifestyle brand, has won the ‘Fashion Business of the Year’ award from Positive Luxury, home of the Butterfly Mark, and a certification recognising luxury brands demonstrating real change and positive impact on planet and society.