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Industry News | 7/17/24

TradeBeyond’s New AI Tool Rates Products’ Risk of Quality Issues
Sourcing Journal | July 17, 2024

TradeBeyond, which boasts customers like Target, Lululemon, and Gap, and helps its clients with ESG compliance, announced last week it had brought a new AI-powered capability to the market, which it calls PO Line Risk Rating. The company will now use predictive analytics to assign a risk score to each individual line item on a purchase order based on country of origin, type of product, materials used to create the product, and more. That score could help companies better understand the potential for quality issues or supply chain delays for certain products.


 
VF Sells Supreme for $1.5B
Fashion Dive | July 17, 2024

VF Corp. is selling the Supreme brand to EssilorLuxottica for $1.5 billion, according to a securities filing. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2024. Supreme generated $538 million in revenue during VF’s latest fiscal year, per the filing, and the sale of the brand is expected to cause reduction in the value of VF’s earnings per share in its 2025 fiscal year. The move is most likely a culmination of the company’s previously announced “strategic review of the brand assets within its portfolio.”


 
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | CGS BlueCherry Teams Up with Pinehurst Honduras To Strengthen Factory Performance and Productivity
Press Release | July 16, 2024

SPESA member CGS, a global provider of software and business applications, enterprise learning, and outsourcing services, announced a strategic partnership with Pinehurst MFG, a leading apparel solutions provider based in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Pinehurst MFG will leverage the advanced capabilities of BlueCherry Shop Floor Control to drive substantial improvements in efficiency and workflow management. This marks a significant milestone as BlueCherry Shop Floor Control is implemented within Pinehurst’s state-of-the-art facility.


 
AI Could Replace Third of Textile Material Inspection Jobs by 2034
Just Style | July 16, 2024

The Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has created an AI-based Textile Material Inspection Technology that should be ready for the fashion industry to use within the next four years.


 
Millions of PUMA Football Jerseys Made with Recycled Textile Waste
Press Release | July 16, 2024

Global sports company PUMA has scaled up its textile-to-textile recycling innovation RE:FIBRE, creating millions of replica football jerseys with a minimum of 75% recycled textile waste and other waste material. For the first time, from the start of the 24/25 season, PUMA football replica jerseys, including those for the Euro and Copa América tournaments, are made from RE:FIBRE. To make the upscaling possible, PUMA is exploring diversified ways to recycle polyester — such as thermo-mechanical and chemical recycling techniques enabling PUMA to significantly increase its capacity to recycle textile waste.


 
What Apparel and Textile Import Data Shows About Sourcing Strategies
Sourcing Journal | July 16, 2024

According to the latest apparel and textiles import data released by the International Trade Administration’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), the total number of units imported into the U.S. as of May 2024 was up 5.87% year over year, while dollar value of goods imported was down 3.51% in the same period. Sheng Lu, associate professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware, noted that the increase in production cost has “stabilized” as pressures such as raw material prices have lowered. Our favorite data scientist breaks it all down in Sourcing Journal.


 
Debrand Expands U.S. Operations with New Textile Recycling Facility in Columbus, Ohio
Techcouver | July 16, 2024

Canadian reverse logistics and textile recycling provider Debrand has opened its first U.S. facility in Columbus, Ohio, home to the third largest concentration of fashion designers in the country. Debrand’s 32,000 sq ft facility has been designed to support brands in integrating sustainability and circularity models that align with impending regulatory compliance using future-proof sortation technology and cutting-edge machinery.


 
Duluth Professor's Machine Could Make Clothing More Recyclable
Star Tribune | July 16, 2024

University of Minnesota Duluth associate professor Abigail Clarke-Sather and her team say they have developed a machine that makes textiles more recyclable. The Fiber Shredder, patent pending, has been six years in the making and breaks down waste fabrics into recyclable materials in just 90 seconds. In addition to fabrics like polyester, cotton, and spandex, the Fiber Shredder can even break down and recycle silicone used in products like rubber car mats.


 
4,000-Year-Old Fabric Found in Israel’s Cave of Skulls Is the Oldest Ever Made with Insect Dye
All That’s Interesting | July 16, 2024

Today’s submission of not-relevant-to-your-business-but-interesting news. Researchers have found evidence of the oldest piece of fabric colored with insect dye. Dating back 4,000 years, the discovery is rare not only because of the perishable nature of fabric, but also because making dye from insects was an expensive and labor-intensive process. This suggests the fabric might have once signified wealth and status in Middle Bronze Age societies.


 
New Collaboration Highlights the Advantages of Denim Production in the Americas
Rivet | July 15, 2024

A new denim collection called Oneness aims to showcase the benefits of nearshoring in the Americas and open brands and suppliers to the possibilities of expanding their supply chain map. The collection, which will be presented next week at Kingpins New York, is a collaborative effort between fiber producer The Lycra Company, Mexican mill Global Denim, and Spanish finishing technology firm Jeanologia. 


Coincidentally, Jeanologia is making moves to expand its U.S. presence with a new sustainable apparel hub in Miami. In a press release announcing the new space, the company noted it anticipates 10% of textile production will return to the U.S. within the next five years, while 30% will move closer to nearby markets like Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Peru. In this context, Jeanologia’s Miami hub “stands as a beacon of change.” The hub will offer cutting-edge technology and sustainable solutions for environmentally conscious brands and designers.


 
Nautilus Defense Announces E-Textile Breakthrough
Textile Technology Source | July 15, 2024

Rhode Island defense technology company Nautilus Defense announced a critical advancement in the field of electronic textiles by successfully demonstrating the world’s first direct die attach of chiplets to embroidered conductive yarns at a 180µm pitch, a space between yarns that is as thin as a single hair. This technological milestone is an important step toward the scalable manufacture of leading-edge sensor systems that look and feel like the fabrics people wear every day.


 
In Data: Global Online Fashion Sector Up 1.3% with Argentina Taking the Lead
Just Style | July 15, 2024

Web analytics and traffic company Similarweb's annual State of E-commerce Report reveals a 1.3% year-over-year increase in global fashion e-commerce due to emerging markets like Argentina enjoying 20% growth. Just Style breaks down what the data means.


 
Remote Work: How Manufacturers Are Experimenting in a Hands-On Industry
Manufacturing Dive | July 15, 2024

Faced with a mounting labor shortage, manufacturers are increasingly embracing remote work as part of improving flexibility for their workforce. The prevailing question is how best to optimize it for an industry built on in-person operations.


 
INDA, NWI Announce Collaboration Agreement To Foster Continuing Education of the Nonwovens Industry
Press Release | July 15, 2024

Under terms of the agreement, INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and The Nonwovens Institute (NWI) will develop and present a full roster of training courses, featuring a combination of classroom learning supported by hands-on activities in NWI’s world-class nonwoven production and testing labs on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. The two organizations will also work together to explore additional educational programming to serve the needs of the nonwovens industry as they evolve over time.


 
‘Sewing Machine’ for the Carotid Makes Complex Procedure Simpler
NoCamels | July 15, 2024

A new surgical method used in the treatment of blockages in crucial arteries in the neck aims to make the procedure simpler and safer. Startup company Pylon Medical has invented a device that allows physicians to automatically suture holes in the carotid artery which involve navigating a blood vessel that is a mere 2 millimeters in diameter. The device itself resembles a small block with a handle to turn on one side and a foot not dissimilar to that found on a sewing machine to make the stitch. In fact, the company compares the device to a sewing machine.


 
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Spesa Members Highlighted by Nippon Sewing Machine News
Nippon Sewing Machine News | July 14, 2024

We were thrilled to see several SPESA members included in the July issue of The Fashion Machine News from our friends in Japan.

  • Brother Supports On-Demand Production at Anime Expo 2024

  • New Technical Refinements Increase Quality and Performance, Electronic Post-Bed Sewing Machine PFAFF 1591

  • AMANN New Product: Sabatex Embroidery — The Perfect Thread for Chenille Embroidery

  • Shimmy Technologies Trains 10,000th Worker


Take a look at the digital magazine when you have a chance! P.s. SPESA will be attending JIAM 2024 in Osaka this year. We would love to connect with any Behind the Seams subscribers who are also attending.


 
Mexico’s Yucatan Suppliers Forecast 20% Export Jump in Hurricane Beryl Bounce Back
Sourcing Journal | July 12, 2024

Hurricane Beryl brought roughly $4 million in losses for Mexican apparel makers as the storm swept through the country’s Yucatan Peninsula over the Fourth of July weekend, forcing factories to shut or scale down operations for three days. However, manufacturers speaking to Sourcing Journal were confident that Yucatan makers — as well as those across Mexico — will recover quickly. Encouraged by a weaker peso currency, U.S. orders are surging and could buoy shipments from the Yucatan Peninsula by 20% this year.


 
PicoNext Unveils ‘First’ Gen-AI Assistant To Boost DPP Process Efficiencies
Just Style | July 12, 2024

PicoNext’s AI Assistant claims to be the first generative AI product to summarize raw product data into streamlined, user-friendly DPPs, allowing companies to dramatically reduce time and cost in publishing Digital Product Passports required by the European Union and other jurisdictions.


 
Casten Proposes Asking Apparel Makers To Voluntarily Reveal Environmental Impact of Production Process
Daily Herald | July 12, 2024

U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) announced a bipartisan bill asking clothing manufacturers to voluntarily include labels on their products that show consumers information on the greenhouse gas emissions released during the manufacturing and distribution process., The Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act (H.R. 8978) would establish a Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Program at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through which retail or apparel producers could apply for certification. If approved, the company would be allowed to add an apparel sustainability label on their products.


 
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Lectra Study Focuses on Sustainability Planning for Fashion Brands
Press Release | July 11, 2024

In the fashion retail sector, sustainability demands are continuing to grow with 87% of brands stating that CSR regulations will impact them in 2024. A new study from SPESA member Lectra focuses on sustainable growth, revealing how brands can navigate the complexities of operating sustainably through optimized collection planning and the use of AI powered benchmarking solutions, such as Retviews. The report outlines 5 golden rules that will lead brands to success.


 
At This Oakland Sneaker Repair Shop, Teens Learn Sewing and Sustainability
The Oaklandside | July 11, 2024

The SoleSpace Lab opened in June and offers sneaker restoration, customization, and classes. This summer, the lab held its inaugural internship with Oakland Unified School District, hosting interns from local high schools. The students learn about the production cycle, waste, and how to clean, customize, and resole shoes. Their final project is to build their own shoe.


 
Coloreel Group AB Files for Bankruptcy
Press Release | July 11, 2024

Coloreel Group AB, a pioneering Swedish technology company known for its instant thread dyeing technology, announced that it has filed for bankruptcy. The decision comes after the company's inability to develop its business volume quickly enough and, related to this, secure the necessary financing.


 
Hi-Tech Apparel Acquires Custom-Clothing Software Company Unmade
Fashion United | July 10, 2024

London-based fashion and sportswear software company Unmade, which enables brands such as New Balance, Decathlon, and Ralph Lauren to offer customized clothing on-demand, has been acquired by global garment maker Hi-Tech Apparel. The deal, valuing the company at ten times its revenue, offers Hi-Tech Apparel, the Thailand-based conglomerate and supplier to some of the world’s biggest sports brands, the chance to build a digital-first, globally distributed on-demand and custom clothing manufacturing model to meet customer demand.


 
26 Million Tons of Clothing End Up in China’s Landfills Each Year, Propelled by Fast Fashion
Associated Press | July 10, 2024

Textile waste is an urgent global problem, with only 12% recycled worldwide, according to fashion sustainability nonprofit Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Nowhere is the problem more pressing than in China, the world’s largest textile producer and consumer, where more than 26 million tons of clothes are thrown away each year, according to government statistics.


 
Glycolysis Method Breaks Down Mixed Textiles for Recycling
Chemistry World | July 10, 2024

In regard to the article above, numerous researchers and companies are making efforts to tackle the global textile waste problem (just look at all the initiatives in this issue of Behind the Seams!). As another example, a new chemical recycling strategy breaks down polyester and spandex into useful monomers, while keeping cotton and nylon intact and ready for reuse. The method could offer a way to increase the amount of textile waste that is recycled, while minimizing the need for sorting and separation processes.


 
Local Apparel Manufacturing Company Adapts to New Digital Age (Video)
Fox 2 Detroit | July 10, 2024

“With tools like AI and 3D printing, we're seeing things being done in a completely different way, from the way we interact with each other to the clothes that we have on our bodies.” A Detroit news outlet interviews our friend Milton Putman, Founder and CEO of Complete Image Manufacturing, highlighting the technology being utilized in apparel production.


 
Future of Haiti’s Apparel Sector Depends on HOPE/HELP Renewal
Just Style | July 9, 2024

New political appointments have created some renewed optimism in Haiti but, in the long-term, its apparel sector hinges on the extension of U.S. trade access programs. The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts allow duty-free access for certain apparel and textile products from Haiti to the U.S. Just Style explains the support and the hold-up behind extending the programs.


 
U.S. Aims To Bolster Textile and Apparel Trade Partnerships in Central and South America
Fashion Dive | July 8, 2024

Fashion Dive compiles a summary of the latest efforts out of Washington, D.C. focused specifically on textile and apparel partnerships in Central and South America. Recent initiatives look to address supply chain sustainability, forced labor concerns, and security issues, among other targets.


 
IFC and Star Garments Partner To Expand Textile and Apparel Manufacturing in Togo
Press Release | July 8, 2024

To boost textile and apparel manufacturing in Togo, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced a financing package for Star Garments Group Limited to help the company build Togo's first large-scale, export-focused apparel manufacturing center. IFC's $15 million loan will provide Star Garments, a leading Sri Lanka-based apparel manufacturing company and a fully owned subsidiary of the U.S.-based, global apparel industry leader Charles Komar & Sons, with funding to build a greenfield clothing factory in Togo that is expected to create 4,520 jobs, especially for women, and generate significant export-oriented value addition by 2030.


 
Canada Crowdsources Ideas To Tackle Textile-Derived Plastic Waste and Pollution
Sourcing Journal | July 8, 2024

Canada’s environmental department is prioritizing the issue of plastic waste from the apparel and textile industry — and it’s turning to the public for feedback as it charts the path forward. The Honorable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, initiated a consultation document on plastic waste and pollution stemming from the apparel and textile industries. The text asks individuals, the industry, government representatives, environmental groups, and other stakeholders to provide written comment and contribute to the plan to address the issue.


 
In Data: UAE Leads on Global Sustainable Fashion
Just Style | July 8, 2024

Global online fashion brand Public Desire's 2024 study reveals United Arab Emirates (UAE) is leading on sustainable fashion within the global apparel industry with a 47.39% market share, while Latvia lags behind at 4.9%.


 
Potato-to-Textile Manufacturer Wins Fashion District’s Innovation Challenge
Fashion United | July 5, 2024

Here’s a new one: potatoes. Fibe, a start-up developing textile fibre from potato harvest waste, has been selected as the winner of the UK Fashion District’s 2024 Manufacturing Futures Innovation Challenge. Fibe will receive £15,000 to support its innovation and grow its business as it looks to scale its affordable fibers to that of the same level as mainstream materials.


 
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | European Futureproofing for Eton Systems and Kinnarps: Eton Systems Moves to New Premises in Borås, Sweden
Textile World | July 1, 2024

To meet rising demand for its fully automated and digitized fabric and part handling solutions, SPESA member Eton Systems has moved into modernized new premises in Borås, Sweden. Meanwhile, Kinnarps, one of the largest providers of high quality workspace solutions in Europe, has implemented Eton Systems into its production and is thriving, plus it has been able to retain all of its production in Sweden.


 
Indonesian Textile Sector Under Threat, Imports Force 21 Factories To Close
Just Style | July 1, 2024

Indonesia’s textile industry is said to be “struggling” due to cheaper Chinese imports and continued disruption to global supply chains.


 
Explainer: How Guatemala Apparel Suppliers Are Owning Sustainability
Just Style | June 26, 2024

According to Just Style, Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) member Guatemala is a rising star for sustainable apparel sourcing with its suppliers keen to take ownership of their sustainability journeys.


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