Reports

Denim’s been a hardy survivor, so have been its stakeholders. And as they congregate at the 'responsible denim fashion event', considered the Mecca for the sector—the Denim Première Vision (Denim PV), at Berlin beginning tomorrow—more than 80 exhibitors, after going through an intensive selection process, will showcase their wares as also their approach in terms of sustainability.

You can count them on your fingertips — the number of brands globally that have made some progress in meeting approved emissions reductions targets or commitments with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). A texfash.com exclusive.

Extra charges over carry bags has been an ongoing battle between retailers and consumers. The practice goes back to the time when plastic carry bags slowly started disappearing from stores after the notification of the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. The Rule, only for plastic bags, soon became the norm for all carry bags. What’s right or wrong? texfash.com explores.

Privacy issues in this space have not yet flared up into any controversy as such, but there has not been much research on the subject either. There is also no credible data on what end-consumers think or feel about sharing immensely personal data. Is there trouble brewing somewhere? texfash.com probes.

Imagine shopping Canada Goose jackets while hiking around Mt Everest! Massive opportunities out there for brands to create much more interactive experiences for their shoppers around fit, sizing, and the entire experience of shopping for clothes. How? texfash.com probes.

When clothing became an industry and sizing a standard, garments that were once built on last century’s pattern forms standardised for mass production are now giving way to those that recognise that each body is a unique body shape and cannot be formed to one magic number. Will standard sizing be replaced by on-demand manufacturing? texfash.com probes.

The fit technology arena has been in an acquisitive state over the last year or so. As the apparel & retail industry moves through an impressive and accelerated digital transformation brought on by the digital-first dominant consumer, this space is expected to burgeon as more brands look to digital channels for revenue growth.

Sizing is all! Incorrect size and sloppy fit mean the product comes back. Then starts the rigmarole of unsold inventory and deep discounts making it a retailer's worst nightmare. But, technology has a way out. Since the pandemic, broad acceptance of sizing solutions is generating greater revenue streams and triggering new business models.

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.

Oil crisis, rising cotton prices, stagnating growth — too many factors at play now, some interconnected, others having a cascading effect this way or that — all these put buying agents in an unenviable position as they need to deal with two sides of the manufacturer-brand equation, in the backdrop of US sanctions on Russia.