One of the oldest apparel export houses based in Noida, Designers Point India which also owns one of the first readymade casual trousers brands in the country, Shapes, is planning to set up a separate unit for shirts manufacturing in Noida itself, for its domestic as well as export businesses.
Currently manufacturing only 20 per cent of its goods for its domestic brand Shapes, Designers Point has its main focus on exports which constitutes 80 per cent of its business. With two units in place currently, the Indian apparel exporter is churning out womenswear as well as menswear for the exports business, and only menswear for its domestic brand, maintaining an average FOB of US $ 7-8.

The ‘A-grade’ apparel exporter is presently catering to buyers like El Corte Ingles, Armand Thiery, Splash, Mustafa, and Six Valves, which

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Unlike the usual practice of undertaking the route of expansion capacity, Delhi-NCR based high fashion apparel exporter, Avin International is focusing on increasing its FOBs by adding value to garments, for growth. With a current turnover of US $ 3.2 million, the company is looking forward to a growth of 5-7 per cent a year.

The apparel exporter currently does not have any plans to expand as it feels that the kind of garments that the company manufactures, has helped it create its own niche in the export market, and that handling of greater production runs of such kind of garments would not be possible. “We don’t want to expand much because our garment is so intricate that we cannot even accept big orders for it,” explains Avnish Puri, Director, Avin International.

The exporter uses a lot of expensive fabrics like silk,

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In a proactive and highly appreciated move, the new Chairman of AEPC, Ashok Rajani, has instituted a sub-committee to look into the options of export promotion, including the revival of the disputed showroom premises at Apparel House.

Heading the team, Amit Goyal of Sarju International, Mumbai flew down specifically to meet the members of the AHEA, who have in the past raised their voice against the attitude of the AEPC. Both sides of the table were happy with the positive vibes at the meeting, and Amit Goyal promised that he would discuss the options with the Chairman and come back with concrete solutions, which he was sure would be acceptable to all.

In an informal setting, the meeting was a good base to openly discuss reasons for the deadlock. While the members of the AHEA, lead by Rajiv Kapoor, Sushil Aggarwal and Ratnesh Malhotra, explained in detail the

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The collection of N C John & Sons, displayed at the India International Garment Fair, revealed a clear evolution from their earlier focus theme of 100 per cent organic garments to more non-organic offerings. In the evolution, the company has brought about a score of changes in their production process.

“Over time, organic has gone from being a niche segment to a mass segment, so the niche appeal is gone and the customers too have become more aware about organic products. Now the wow factor is no longer a catch to get a premium price. For a company of my size, we need to have that additional 15 per cent more, while initially customers were willing, but today they are not. So for me, it doesn’t make much commercial sense to work exclusively on organic,” reasoned N C John & Sons, CEO John Mathai, on why expansions

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Taking part for the first time at the ongoing 56th India International Garment Fair 2016, Mallika Textiles, a one-year-old Ludhiana-based company, turned out to be quite a crowd-puller because of its woollen stoles, knitted on Shima Seiki machines, using intarsia technique.

“This is a new concept for the export market, and in the last one year since we started, the response has been very good,” said Sambhav Oswal, Director, Mallika Textiles.

Operating six automatic Shima Seiki knitting machines, the company has already shipped all its products to buyers in Dubai and the US. “We are not looking at the Indian local market at all; the focus is completely international. The designs are complicated and cannot be duplicated on other machines. The vibrant colours used, make the stoles suitable for use by both men and women,” averred Oswal.

Knitted using 70 per cent wool and 30 per cent acrylic yarns,

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Most garment export houses in India suffer from a rigid mindset that does not allow them to evolve with the change in market trends. Very few among them realise or care to admit that their approach needs to change. But that is apparently not the case with Jaipur-based Patterns India, which, even after having completed almost 25 years in this business, claims to have changed its “attitude”, and got good results for it too.

With a production capacity of 50,000 pieces a month, the company, which exports ladies garments to Latin American countries, Europe and the US, has witnessed 30 per cent growth. It now plans to start a new product line of kids-wear and also expand its production capacity.

Also Read - No More ... Itna To Chalta Hai … Attitude

Vivek Khandelwal, MD, Patterns India told Apparel Resources, “With the changing global market scenario,

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Exporting kidswear to the Middle East and Singapore, in both departmental stores and wholesalers, Kolkata- based Kapoor Fashions is planning to launch its own label in international market.

“As we are into this trade for the past 22 years, we know the buyers very well, and now is the time for us to bring out our own label. In the long run, one can get better value through its own label. We will insist on selling apparels by our own label in the overseas market, as we have already built our marketing network. We know exactly what they want or sell there, so we hope to introduce this label in the current year. Initially, it will be not on a mass scale, but later it will definitely become so,” Satish Kapoor, MD, Kapoor Fashions said.

Also Read - Fresh thrust to industry in West

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One of Bangladesh’s well-known garment exporters, DBL Group, is expanding its knitting capacity. This is expected to increase apparel production as well.

Currently having a knitting capacity of 60 tonnes a day, the company plans to take it to 100 tonnes per day. With this, their apparel manufacturing capacity will almost double. This expansion is expected to complete within this year. The group is also focusing on green and energy-saving methods, like full automation with less power consumption.

Md Arif Hossain, DGM (Planning & Development) of the DBL Group told Apparel Resources, “Last year was not good enough, but this year, business is good and growing. So we are expanding our capacity. Simultaneously, our department is working on hot water recovery system for energy saving. Furthermore, we are also looking for software systems in production.”

Also Read - AR Exclusive: Bangladesh’s DBL Group launches Sustainability Report

Recently the

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Dhaka-based Fashion For Future Ltd, an exporter as well as a buying agent, running a knit factory with nine circular knitting and 450 machines, is planning to set up a woven factory for bottom wears.

Catering mainly to European clients like Lidl, and offering men, women and kids wear, the company also has a prestigious clientele list that includes companies like Reliance Group in India.

Also Read - Bangladesh’s DBL Group expanding capacity, focus on green

“In my opinion, as of now orders are a little slow. The already-established companies are getting an opportunity to expand, whereas small companies are getting cornered and sometimes quitting business too. One can say that these expansion plans are basically for the future, as orders must first come into Bangladesh,” Fashion For Future Ltd MD Mahmud Hasan Ripon shared with Apparel Resources. “Due to pricing concerns, buyers are left with no

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Dhaka-based SB Sweaters Ltd, which is associated with the Famous Composite Knitwears Ltd, is in the process of expanding its sweaters’ business, and is also planning to venture into jacket manufacturing as well.

The company, having a 10-line knit composite factory including dyeing and finishing, is looking for bank finance for its new project, which is sectioned and has already procured a 2.40-acre land in Gazipur. The factory is currently under construction, and production is expected to begin on a trial basis around June to July this year. This new factory will produce both knits as well as jackets.

Also Read - Meek Sweaters plans new unit with fully automated machines

“Currently, our dyeing capacity is 15 tonnes a day, which seems sufficient for now. So our focus is to add stitching capacity first. We’re looking

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Several bigwigs in India’s textile industry have suggested that the government must levy GST on ex-factory price and not the maximum retail price (MRP), as proposed. They maintained that if GST is levied on the MRP, then it will badly affect the entire industry.

In this regard, Shanti L Shah, Chairman and Managing Director of Hiralal Gulabchand Pvt Ltd, a city-based garments manufacturer, said “The MRP is just an indicative price, which cannot be determined for any tax collection. Levying GST on MRP of garments would have multiple ill effects on the entire textile sector. Not only will the front-line textile sector get affected, the entire value chains of the textiles industry would be badly hit.”

The textile industry offers heavy discounts on MRP of branded garments in their organised retail formats to attract business. If the tax is levied on the retail price, then there

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Several buying houses in Bangladesh, particularly those that already have their own manufacturing units, are expending in various ways.

One of the names in this category is CRL Fashion.

With its in-house capacity being 20,000 pieces in the knits category, CRL Fashion is planning to set up a bottom wear factory, with 600-700 machines having washing facility. It is expected to start operation within a year or so.

Expecting around 15-20 per cent growth this year, Biplab Lodh, Proprietor & CEO of CRL Fashion told Apparel Resources, “Business is good, so we are planning to expand. We have already taken land for the new factory. Although as of now, we are not manufacturing bottom wear but we will manage it easily.”

Also Read - Bangladeshi buying house Dazzle Textile to open its own manufacturing unit

Working with more than 11 factories, as a buying house, CRL Fashion

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Under the leadership of its MD, Engr Shafiqur Rahman, Dhaka-based apparel export house Hams Garments Ltd has initiated fresh business ventures by bringing in new innovative technology as well as starting its very own bottom wear factory.

“The new factory is supposed to start operation in August-September. The capacity of this factory should be 40,000 pieces per day. Our current dyeing capacity is 20 tonnes per day. But we aim to make it 50 tonnes a day” Engr. Shafiqur Rahman, who is also the Chairman of Textile Engineering Division (IFB) and associated with five other such various organizations, said, adding, “After this expansion, we expect at least 10 per cent growth in our business.”

“Last November, I visited ITMA, Milan, and was impressed with the new innovations and technologies in the textile industry. In our knit composites factory, we are still working with old technology for

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In view of boosting its growth, Bangladesh’s Cotton Group is expanding its knitting and garment manufacturing capacity. It is also working on energy and water-saving measures, in which it has already achieved substantial success.

Currently producing 5 tonnes of fabric a day, the company plans to take it to 12 tonnes by July. Similarly in dyeing, it currently has a capacity of 10-11 tonnes per day, which it is expecting to expand to 16 to 17 tonnes a day. In garmenting, its current capacity is 1-1.2 million pieces per month. That too, it is expanding to produce 2 million pieces in the next 6 months.

Also Read - NKD to hike sourcing from Bangladesh, to add new products

Md Shah Alam, Fellow, Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, and Director (Operation), Cotton Group, who is in-charge of the fabric department, told Apparel Resources, “We had received less

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Japan-based business conglomerate Toray International Inc (Toray Group) is increasing its apparel sourcing from Bangladesh, and now it is looking for joint ventures in the manufacturing sector, with the company placing more orders in Bangladesh.

This global textile company, which has a turnover of more than US$ 5 billion, has increased its sourcing by 55-60 per cent annually from Bangladesh. As of now, its annual sourcing from Bangladesh is to the tune of around US$ 100 million, while globally it buys US$ 1.5 billion. Major portions of its buying takes places from China and the rest are from Vietnam, Myanmar. Recently it started sourcing from Ethiopia as well.

Also Read - Toray reports an increase of 17.1 per cent in first half sales

While speaking to Apparel Resources, Mahmudur Rahman Mamun, Country Manager, Toray International, Bangladesh Liaison Office, said, “The market is good, and we

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The Tirupur Exporter’s Association has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change to address issues concerning the establishment of Zero Liquid Waste and inclusion of CETP under TUFS.

TEA had on several occasions, expressed the need for necessary steps to be taken to enhance knitwear exports from Tirupur, while staying competitive in the global market, and at the same time countering the stiff competition from countries like China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.

On Friday, the Association, in a letter addressed to Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State (IC) of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, sought the government’s intervention.

In the letter, the Association highlighted the importance of Zero Liquid Discharge initiative, while implementing it in a cost-effective manner, with necessary support from the government.

The association requested the government for the financially stressed Tirupur CETPS to be rescued from closure, as there

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Manufacturing a wide range of knit garments like T-shirts, polo shirts, trousers, tops, bottoms and kid’s wear, Bangladesh’s Comfit Composite Knit Ltd is now expanding, exploring other areas previously untouched by the company as well as increasing its knitting capacity.

Currently running 1,400 stitch and 50 circular knitting machines, the company has a capacity of 20 tonnes per day. Now, the company has added 20 circular knitting machines. Besides, Comfit Composite Knit is also planning to enter the lingerie manufacturing sector. Its main buyers are H&M and C&A and focus in on European market.

Also Read - SQ Group registering equilateral growth in sweaters, shirts and lingerie… Establishing 6 green factories

Speaking to Apparel Resources, Jahangir Parvez Masood, AGM (Operations), Comfit Composite Knit, said, “As per plans, we are going to instal about 800 stitching machines in our new factory, and almost half of them

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Pakistan was in for a surprise at the Heimtextil fair in Germany this year, after it saw a drop in the overall orders by 50 per cent.

Pakistan, which happens to be the fourth largest exhibitor at the fair, received almost half the number of orders at the fair this year compared to last year.

This year, around 220 Pakistani exhibitors took part under the Trade and Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) umbrella at the Pakistan pavilion.

“Pakistani exporters have seen a massive drop in international orders lately, due to the energy crisis and the slowdown of global economy. One of the main reasons of receiving fewer orders has been the exporters’ inability to dispatch consignments in time due to energy shortages,” Abdulla Kamal, CEO, Ayesha Textile Mills said.

He added further, “Despite the advantages of having cheap labour and producing better cotton, the

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Putting up an outstanding performance, Bangladesh’s Export Processing Zones-based (EPZs) manufacturing units have reportedly increased their export earnings by 9.62 per cent in the current financial year, raking in US $ 3.18 billion in foreign currency already even as Bangladesh’s overall export earnings in the H1 rose by 7.84 per cent to US $ 16.08 billion as compared US $ 14.91 billion in the previous year.

Also Read - India-Bangladesh RMG plant to invest US $ 6.66 million at Ishwardi EPZ

According to the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), peaceful working environment, higher productivity and one-stop service facilities are the main reasons behind the rise in the export earnings that goes to state that in the first half of the current financial year, manufacturing units at the EPZs exported several products to the global markets thereby

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Catering mainly to traditional markets like those in the US and Europe, four-year-old company Alfine Knit, Tirupur (Parent company Jak industries, Chennai, which is two decades old) is now exploring new avenues like Russia and probably even Australia. For this, company is taking part in sourcing fairs, especially in those that they have never participated.

Very strong in knits as well as in woven for menswear, Alfine Knit started doing business with South Africa last year. Supplying mainly to chain stores and private brands, it has a total of 800 stitching machines to work with, and out of them 600 are generally used for woven products.

Suren Parvatham, Managing Partner of Alfine Knit told Apparel Resources, “Our clients in the US and Europe follow the same climate, so we get bulk orders from both the markets. But for four months each year, we don’t get any order from

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