Sourcing

The Responsible Sourcing Network has released new standards for fabric mills and updated the existing ones for spinning mills in a bid to assist fabric and spinning mills in due diligence efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate forced labour involved in cotton production.

The Autumn edition of Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo, one of the biggest trade events in this part of the globe, has now been merged with the spring edition next year because of the pandemic situation in China. Wilmet Shea, Deputy General Manager of fair organiser Messe Frankfurt HK, talks threadbare about how trade event organisers are operating in these trying times and, of course, Intertextile Shanghai.

It was a lot about price factor and innovations as the curtains came down on the three-day Munich Fabric Start. A post-event update.

The three-day Munich Fabric Start event kicked off on Tuesday confirming its standing as one of the most important European fabric fairs and trend authority: full exhibition halls, exciting highlights and innovations, new areas and a large number of visitors comprising international buyers, designers and product managers.

Munich Fabric Start has unveiled a one-stop solution for holistic fashion sourcing at this year's event later this month. The new feature for international manufacturing, which will be running concurrently with Munich Fabric Start and Bluezone, is called ‘The Source’.

The two-day Denim Première Vision (DPV) at the avant-garde yet historical city of Berlin concluded on a high note with trade professionals from more than 40 countries ensuring a 30% increase in visitors as compared to the last edition. 

Munich Fabric Start, from 30 August to 1 September in Munich, positions this edition as a place for reliable and flexible sourcing solutions for adjusted quantities and rethought post-pandemic logistics chains.

The big picture is that China, once a dominant player, is under pressure and buyers are desperately looking to diversify risks. India has suddenly become important as it is the only other place with a large vertically integrated textile chain, but does not have the huge capacities. Sarbajit Ghose, Managing Director of Laguna Clothing, does some hard talk as he takes a 360-degree view of how sourcing works.

The existing Foreign Trade Policy of India is outdated by two years, but given the global trade situation—first hit and then exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—is showing no signs of improving, it might be a while before a new FTP sees the light of day. Meanwhile, can India do something to brand itself as an attractive sourcing destination? Buying agents weigh in.

The apparel sourcing experience in India is entirely a function of the kind of product one is procuring, and knowing where to get it from. A mismatch can lead to a total washout of the order, while knowledge and experience could totally alter that exercise.