China was the only country of the top five suppliers of footwear imports to the US – making up 89% of all shipments – to post a decline in value January. Its position as the top in the U.S. market kept falling in April. As a result, the next five top countries gained ground.Figure 1: When Donald Trump raised tariffs in May, he told companies that they could reduce costs by shifting production back to the US.In the background, President Donald Trump’s trade war is playing a vital role. Footwear i

Carhartt, America’s leading workwear brand since 1889, has received a patent for itsFull Swingtechnology that incorporates a concealed stretch back layer that improves mobility by providing a greater range of motion, while maintaining the integrity and function of the garment. The patented technology can be found in several of the brands outerwear pieces.Outerwear garments traditionally have outer shells designed with one-piece construction. This can bind, restrict or reduce the range of arm, to

At ITMA 2019, Barcelona the global denim leaders, brands, retailers and alike will gather at the Planet Textiles Summit on sustainability on June 22 to discuss and find the key solutions.Figure: According to Planet Textiles panelists, if the industry really is to clean up its act before 2025 and certainly within the next decade.The key point of discussions will be how should the denim manufacturing industry make jeans by 2025? And what breakthroughs in technology and thinking are needed to make

Cerapur coatings offer a wide range of colour and design options. © Textildruckerei MayerTextildruckerei Mayer showcased its latest smart coating solutions at this year’s Techtextil trade show that concluded in Frankfurt last month. The company presented itsHTL eConnect, a printed infrared heating surface,Cerapurceramic coating andDuofirmdeformable rigid textiles.Michael Steidle, Managing Director of Heinrich Mayer, was impressed with the high quality of visitors. “Very few wanted just to ‘have

DyStar Group is a solution provider, offering customers a complete range of colorants, auxiliaries and services. © DyStarAs a strong advocate of sustainable production, DyStar is joining the ZDHC Foundation, which manages the Roadmap to Zero Programme with the aim of phasing out hazardous chemicals in the textiles, apparel, footwear and leather value chain by promoting safer chemistry and driving innovation.This initiative is a collective effort from the Global Chemical Industry Round Table (GCI

Samples from a warp beam which had been dyed with Greendye. © Karl MayerKarl Mayer, a leading textile machinery manufacturer, remains on a growth path with its Denim Excellence Center at Karl Mayer Rotal and a wide-ranging product portfolio. With itsProdye-Sunit, the company is already a leader in the fashion market, and itsProdye-Ris increasingly accepted by the genuine denim segment.At ITMA 2019, which opens this week, Karl Mayer launchesGreendye, an innovative technology for producing jeans f

Katrin Ley, Managing Director of Fashion for Good. © PresstigieuxFashion for Good is expanding to South Asia with the launch of a dedicated regional innovation programme. Leading up to the expansion, scheduled for later this year, the organisation is now calling for innovative start-ups from across South Asia with disruptive sustainability solutions applicable to the fashion supply chain. Selected innovators will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions as part of Fashion for Good’s Inno

International industry giants and Chinese market leaders, such as Arys, Ballop, Buff, Deuter, Polygiene, StreetStrider, Uyn, Wakingbee and Yvette will all be showcasing their latest products at ISPO Shanghai from 5-7 July, from running trends and innovative outdoor equipment to the latest water sports products.Up-and-coming brands, such as Tafeng, Taluer and Trickcoo will be on site in the Startup Village. The Chinese start-up Carey Design, which is one of the 2019 ISPO Brandnew finalists, will

Puma North America Inc plans to spend at least $40 million to open a distribution centre in Whitestown and hire 90 people. The sports footwear and apparel firm is reportedly negotiating a lease to open in a 635,000-sq-ft building. The amount will be spent to equip the facility for distribution operations, according to paperwork filed with Boone County, Indiana.Puma North America, an unit of Puma Group based in Germany, expects to begin equipment installation in August and start hiring in the com

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and three othergroups—the Fair Labour Association, the Initiative for Compliance and Sustainability and the Social Accountability International—recently sent a letter to the Myanmarexpressing concerns over serious workers rights issues. It was addressed to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.The letter expressed the associations’ increasing concern over serious and repeated violations of fundamental rights to freely associate, to organise a