CHINA’S manufacturing industry is losing out to the United States in cost advantage, a report has suggested. Prices of energy, logistics and some raw materials in China have surpassed those in the US, according to the 2015 China Purchasing Development Report, released yesterday by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. The report said the US has slashed its energy costs with exploitation of shale gas, raising the competitiveness of American manufacturers. “Many raw materials

Introduction of the latest technology, upgradation of products and blending of fashion designs can lead Bangladesh to become a leading denim exporting country in the globe, said experts, manufacturers and buyers. They also said that there was a possibility for Bangladesh to become number one denim exporter within 10 years but the country would have to introduce more transparent production system and sustainable wages for the workers. ‘There is a lot of opportunities for Bangladesh in the

Regent Textile Mills Ltd, a unit of Chittagong-based Habib Group, is set to build two new units, including a textile mill and a garment factory, at an estimated cost of Tk 179 crore. Of the amount, Tk 125 crore will be raised through an initial public offering, while the rest will come from other sources. “Expansion of the textile unit will more than double its production capacity,” said Salman Habib, the company's managing director, at the IPO lottery ceremony in Chittagong yesterday.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Jute and Textiles has banned the export of raw jute for a month effective from Nov 3, 2015 while all unshipped export contracts are affected by this sudden decision. Since Pakistani jute mills are solely dependent on imported raw material from Bangladesh it will be catastrophic for the mills as well as federal and provincial governments which require jute products for safe storage of agricultural products. “The jute sector in Pakistan is already under tremendous

Landes, a denim label and accessory maker from Germany, is all set to establish a factory in Bangladesh in a year, as the company sees business potential here with the number of its customers growing. The company has completed almost all processes to establish the factory at Uttara in Dhaka at an initial investment of $300,000 (Tk 2.34 crore). “Our investment is small as our products are small,” said Davide Menini, sales director at Landes, at his pavilion at the third Bangladesh Denim Exp

Anticipation was at an all-time high for this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and the Angels certainly did not disappoint. Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Lily Aldridge, Behati Prinsloo, and the entire perfectly-coifed crew were in top form—and they also showed VS newbies like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid the tricks of the trade! We were backstage at the show as the models primped for their big moment. The scene backstage? Lots of lipgloss, pink silk robes, and yes, lots and lots of

The third Bangladesh Denim Expo begins at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka today in an aim to display the latest and future denim trends before the global buyers. As many as 39 companies are participating in the expo. Among them, 10 are international companies from China, Germany, India, Japan, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and the United States. The theme of the current show is ‘Sustainable Denim’. The expo will highlight eco-sustainable denim develo

The value-added textile manufactures-cum-exporters continue to moan on pending sales tax refund claims, saying that the government never honoured its own pledges to clear the huge outstanding dues. Chairman (south-zone), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters (PHMA), Abdul Rasheed Fodderwala Tuesday criticised the government for not fulfilling its promises made to exporters on sales tax refunds. As November 2015 has started, but Finance Minister Ishaq Dar's pledge, he had made in a bud

The Pakistani textile sector is heading into a winter of discontent. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said utilisation of cotton is likely to reduce to 8.5 million bales this year from 14 million bales, as the export-dependent working capacities of spindles and looms have either been restricted to one-shift operations or closed down because of the high cost of doing business, Pakistani newspapers have reported. “The production of only 25 per cent spindles, converted to garme

The world's leading luxury group has pledged to go 'green' by introducing a new carbon fund, paid for by each of its luxury fashion houses. LVMH announced it would implement a 5 million euro fund, financed by contributions from each Maison, including Louis Vuitton, Celine, Fendi, Dior and Givenchy. The fund has been set up in part to calculate and offset the greenhouse gas emissions generated by their activities, specifically in terms of energy consumption in their production sites and store