Apparels

The number of LEED-certified green factories in Bangladesh is 229 now, after three more apparel and textile factories were recently certified by the US Green Building Council: Sepal Garments Ltd in Gazipur, Unitex Spinning Ltd (Unit-2) in Chattogram and Ananta Huaxiang Limited in Narayanganj.
The country is now home to 61 of the top 100 highest-rated LEED certified factories in the world.

The United Kingdom imported $484.353 million worth of apparel from Italy in the first half (H1) of the current year, accounting for 5.42 per cent of its total apparel imports.
Italy remained the UK’s fifth-largest apparel supplier, behind China, Bangladesh, Turkiye, and India.
Top imported items included jerseys, dresses, trousers, and shirts.

Cambodia has set the 2025 monthly minimum wage for the garment, footwear and travel goods sector at $208—a rise of $4 from this year.
The rise includes a $2 adjustment decided during the final round of talks, with an additional $2 added at the instruction of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The government will continue to intervene to manage housing rents and utility bills to improve workers’ conditions.

Nike has announced that Elliott Hill will become president and CEO, effective October 14, 2024, succeeding John Donahoe, who will retire but stay as an advisor until January 2025.
Hill, who retired in 2020 after 32 years with Nike, brings extensive global experience and leadership to guide the company’s next phase of growth, with a focus on innovation and consumer engagement.

Organic Basics teams up with actress Antonia Gentry for her debut fashion collaboration, merging her effortless style with the brand’s commitment to sustainability.
The collection includes soft bras, boyshorts, dresses, and cardigans in natural tones, crafted from organic and recycled materials.
1 per cent of sales will support the Rainforest Trust.

Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery celebrate their shared dedication to craftsmanship with the limited-edition Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle Batch IV Boot, released for Bourbon Heritage Month.
Inspired by the bourbon’s caramel and wood notes, the boot features lux leather, a wedge sole, and hand-numbered labels.
A portion of proceeds supports SkillsUSA.

Nike’s latest collection, designed by the Serena Williams Design Crew, highlights the potential of emerging designers from Los Angeles.
Featuring the Victory Tech sneaker and five apparel pieces, the collection fuses Serena’s modern style with LA’s dynamic edge.
Each piece combines fashion and sport, celebrating Serena’s love for tennis and fashion.

Sri Lanka’s manufacturing PMI was 55.5 in August, indicating an expansion in manufacturing activities, but at a slower rate compared to the previous month.
All the sub-indices, except for employment, remained above the neutral threshold in the month.
The employment sub-index fell month on month in August and suppliers’ delivery time continued to lengthen.

Next Plc reported strong financial results for H1 2024, with group sales up 8 per cent to £2.95 billion (~$3.92 billion) and profit before tax rising 7.1 per cent to £452 million (~$601.16 million).
The online division grew 7 per cent, while retail fell 2.1 per cent.
Following a strong start in H2, the company raised its full-year outlook, projecting £995 million (~$1.32 billion) in profit.

Eco-friendly trends, digitalisation and rising direct-to-consumer models are some of the factors driving the global apparel industry growth.
Asia-Pacific leads, while Southeast Asia and Africa are emerging as key manufacturing hubs for apparel.
However, challenges in the global apparel industry, such as sustainability demands and technological adaptation, remain pressing in 2024.