Apparel

Textile development is increasingly shaped by digital systems that promise faster iteration, reduced waste, and new material possibilities. Within this shift, Bethany Meuleners, Apparel and Textile Design and Venture Lead at Variloom, discusses how programmable weaving alters development workflows, the limits imposed by existing apparel structures, and the broader implications for how materials are conceived, produced, and integrated into product design.

Nepal’s garment sector shows strong export potential but is being held back by labour shortages, high turnover, low productivity, weak buyer linkages and costly logistics across production and delivery stages. If these constraints are addressed, firms expect exports to rise sharply, even as the industry faces mounting pressure from least developed country graduation and a changing global trade environment.

From a 90-day credit norm to 250 and counting, India’s textile market has turned into a waiting game. One jolt followed another — demonetisation, GST, lockdowns, wild cotton swings. Through it all, Gujarat’s textile heartland endures, with traders and manufacturers like Gaurang Bhagat and his LB Tex battling to keep India’s fabric trade from tearing apart.

A riven industry, dumping from China, GST mismatch, need for a uniform countrywide textile policy, the scourge that is fake billing — in spite of it all and more, the enormous potential that this ancient warpwork holds is shackled by systemic inefficiencies, implores Gaurang Bhagat, Treasurer at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Founder of the ₹1000-crore LB Tex.

Tunisia’s textiles and apparel industry stands at a turning point, balancing cost pressures with rising global expectations. At this year’s ITF Intertex Tunisia, conversations will extend beyond traditional strengths, focusing on sustainability, innovation, and regional integration. Managing Director Serhan Pul explains how Tunisia aims to reposition itself as a competitive, responsible, and future-oriented partner in global trade.

China’s textiles and apparel sector stands at a crossroads of sustainability, competitiveness, and workforce responsibility. With decarbonisation targets, rising labour costs, and export diversification, the industry faces profound transformation. Policies under the 14th Five-Year Plan and “dual carbon” strategy will determine how the sector adapts to shifting global sourcing and compliance landscapes.

India’s apparel industry faces rising pressure to balance scale, speed, and sustainability with a future-ready workforce. Abhishek Yugal, Managing Partner at Groyyo Consulting, emphasises rigorous workforce planning, stronger commercial literacy, and structured retention strategies. He also highlights the need for public-private collaboration in skilling, while identifying digital fluency, agility, and ESG competence as essential skills for the next decade.

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.

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.