AGP Executive Report

Bangladesh Apparel Watch: US buyers are shortening Sri Lanka’s apparel order commitments to about three months, squeezing manufacturers that rely on longer visibility to plan yarn, fabric and capacity. Market Mood: Dhaka stocks slid as large-cap losses dragged the DSEX to a 2.5-month low; textile shares led turnover. Decarbonization for Garments: Bangladesh’s apparel stakeholders met to push cleaner, reliable energy to speed decarbonization and protect competitiveness. Factory Spotlight: Bangladesh’s PRAN-RFL reopened a long-closed Rajshahi textile mill under PPP, adding bag and luggage production and jobs. Handloom & Craft: Karnataka’s handloom expo in Mysuru is running through Sept. 8, with major saree and shawl categories from across India. Policy & Trade: India’s tariff advantages for textiles and EU/fast-fashion fee pressure keep trade rules in focus. Sustainability Push: Oxfam’s Second Hand September urges donations and shopping pre-loved to cut textile waste. Cultural Textiles: Qazvin’s living kilim and related weaving traditions are being adapted for modern markets.

Kenya–China Investment Risk: A Kenyan commentary warns that politicising foreign firms could scare off Beijing-backed projects that underpin industrialisation and jobs, from the Nairobi–Mombasa rail corridor to roads, power and water works. Hemp Policy Shock: Kansas’ Kanna Next conference in Wichita flagged a looming federal crackdown on some hemp-derived products, with businesses warning they could collapse without clearer rules. Textile Finance Pressure: India’s Ashnoor Textile Mills says FY26 profit fell 46.85% as US tariff disruptions hit exports, while Borana Weaves approved a Rs 5 crore unsecured loan to support operations. Trade & Compliance: EU envoy Raimundas Karoblis told Pakistan that the next GSP+ phase will hinge on measurable progress on labour, human rights and governance, not just laws on paper. Cotton Knowledge for Yields: Pakistan’s Cotton Research Institute hosted a global web conference where experts stressed cotton yield is a composite trait, pushing for more directed breeding. Skills for Garments: Egypt’s ready-made garments and home textiles chamber joined EU AlignVET workshops to align vocational training with real factory needs. Design & Heritage: Bradford’s “We Are One” flower carpet ties to the city’s textile heritage, while Ethiopia’s Addis Raw turns Addis Ababa architecture into wearable art.

Smart Textiles: Harvard researchers used standard knitting machines to create shape-shifting, multistable knitted fabrics that can also act as soft electrical switches—an industry-friendly route to programmable textiles. Fashion Power Shift (A/W 2026): Power dressing is getting darker and sharper, with pinstripes and body-conscious tailoring framed as “psychological armour” for the new season. Tamil Nadu Mill Modernisation: The state will modernise six government textile mills with ₹12 crore, add captive wind power, and support handloom and powerloom wages tied to the free dhoti and saree scheme. Labour Action in Sircilla: Power loom workers and master weavers in Telangana extended their strike to day six, demanding higher per-sari wages amid rising costs. Trade Pressure on Wool: Canadian wool producers face U.S. tariff-driven red tape and extra costs, with some turning away from U.S. customers. Kenya’s Export Lifeline: Trump signed an AGOA extension to 2028, giving duty-free runway for Kenya’s textile and apparel jobs. Company Watch: Vinod Texworld’s ₹42.83 crore IPO opens Sept 9 at ₹94/share on NSE Emerge. Health & Microplastics: New research links higher lung microplastics burden with lung cancer, raising fresh questions about exposure and disease risk.

Kenya–Textiles Supply Chain Shock: President William Ruto ordered Tata Chemicals to exit Kenya’s Magadi area, arguing soda ash is exported as raw material instead of being processed locally—an input used across glass, detergents, chemicals, textiles and paper. Trade Policy Pressure: Canada and the U.S. won’t restart trade talks before Ottawa’s retaliatory tariffs hit Sept. 8, with textiles among the covered goods—raising the risk of more cross-border costs. EU Market Access: India’s Piyush Goyal says all 27 EU nations back the India–EU FTA, expected to benefit labour-intensive sectors including textiles and footwear. Forced-Labor Enforcement: U.S. lawmakers pressed DHS for a briefing on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act enforcement after detentions reportedly declined, with concerns about transshipment and pipeline delays. Branding Push in Pakistan: APTMA and CAP agreed to jointly develop Pakistani textile/apparel brands for global markets, moving downstream into product development and retail. Company Orders: SBC Exports landed repeat ₹7.5 crore and major ₹22 crore readymade garment orders from Dubai-based buyers. Fashion & Craft Momentum: NIFT Mumbai held its joint convocation urging sustainable fashion and support for artisans; Sindh’s Sartyoon Sang crafts exhibition ran with thousands of rural women makers showcasing textiles.

Sustainability Audit: ALLIED Feather + Down says a Hangzhou carbon footprint audit found its cradle-to-gate down processing generates 85% less emissions than the industry average, giving brands a new benchmark for lower-impact sourcing. Trade Certainty for Apparel: Kenya welcomed Trump’s AGOA extension through Dec. 31, 2028, calling it a boost for its textile and apparel jobs and exporters’ planning. Cleaner Power for Textiles: Fourth Partner Energy will supply solar power from its Sirsa park to Manohar Filaments in Haryana, supporting cleaner manufacturing for textile trims, labels and packaging. Local Ownership in Ghana: Olive Africa Partners Fashions acquired Vlisco’s stake in TexStyles Ghana and the Woodin brand, moving the iconic GTP/Woodin labels under Ghanaian principal ownership. Cotton Demand Signals: Global cotton mill use is projected to hit the highest level since 2017/18, with Asia—especially China and India—driving the rebound. Industry Pressure on Jobs: Nigeria’s manufacturers urged a credit guarantee and a prioritized FX clearance window, warning labour-intensive sectors like textiles, apparel and footwear are still under strain. Fashion Talent Pipeline: V&A Dundee launched “Scotland Fashion Now,” showcasing graduate collections from multiple Scottish schools to keep new designers in the region. Supply Chain Disruption Watch: Lesotho’s minister ordered an investigation into labour issues at Precious Garments after workers protested reduced hours, wages and delayed payments. Manufacturing Heritage: Knoxville’s historic Standard Knitting Mill, once a major underwear producer, is listed for $8.5 million as the city seeks a new future for the site. Circularity Debate: Batley residents and councillors are pushing back on mystery clothing donation bins, fearing they’ll become dumping hotspots again.

Digital Product Passport (DPP): The EU’s Digital Product Passport is moving from concept to rollout, with new rules setting up the registry for tracking product info across a product’s life cycle—materials, repair, reuse and recycling—while textile-specific requirements are still to come. Circular Procurement Push: India’s GeM and the Textiles Committee signed an MoU to help government buyers procure recycled and upcycled textiles, creating dedicated GeM categories and a verification/certification pathway for eligible producers. Microplastics Health Link: New research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress reports higher microplastic burden in lung cancer patients, with more particles detected in lung-wash samples than in non-cancer patients. Workwear Shift: A new report argues workwear is changing fast as comfort, fit and inclusivity become safety essentials, not optional add-ons. Industry Outlook: A Gherzi Germany study for VDMA says textile processing and finishing competitiveness through 2035 will depend less on single machines and more on integrated, digitally networked production systems. Sustainability in Design: Hong Kong’s Redress Design Award 2026 challenged designers to rethink waste at the design stage, with the winner creating collections from discarded materials. Market Access & Trade: Vietnam’s UKVFTA gains for textiles are real, but exporters face tighter requirements as they try to hold market share and grow sustainably.

US-India Trade Talks: Piyush Goyal says the deal will be finalized once the U.S. offers India a preferential tariff rate versus competitors—textiles are a key example of how FTA/LDC advantages have shifted. Ghana Textile Deal: Olive Africa Partners Fashions will acquire TexStyles Ghana and the Woodin brand from Vlisco, keeping TexStyles operating in Ghana under existing management. Bangladesh Leather Reform: The government unveiled an integrated plan to revive leather by tightening tannery compliance, mandating Leather Working Group certification, and building a “Bangladesh Leather” brand for higher-value exports. France vs China Fast-Fashion: China threatened retaliatory measures unless France repeals ultra-fast-fashion penalty charges, escalating a trade dispute tied to Shein/Temu-style imports. Retail/Home Textiles: HTT’s Top 50 Retailers report flags resilience after tariff shocks but highlights sharp declines at Big Lots and others, while Amazon and value-focused players gained. Sustainability & Recycling: A U.S. upcycling nonprofit says it has diverted 130+ tons of household fibers to new products, reflecting growing reuse demand. Cotton Revival Effort: Eastern Uganda is pushing to revive cotton farming as production has fallen about 40% over a decade. Fashion/Heritage: A museum appeal in Coleraine seeks stories from shirt-factory women, while National Trust opens free heritage access in parts of England.

Textile Recycling & Circularity: UPPAREL says a major investment is set to multiply Australia’s onshore textile recycling capacity tenfold, using traceability tech to track garments through recycling stages and cut emissions. Material Innovation: DSC® unveiled MORPH, a platform that lets brands engineer multi-functional foam-and-textile systems by combining foams with fabrics, films and functional layers. Handloom Support: Andhra Pradesh’s handloom ministry says yarn will be supplied upfront to weavers under a loan-like model to ease cash pressure, while verification for Nethanna Sevalo beneficiaries is being fast-tracked. Trade & Industry Cooperation: Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan agreed an action plan to lift bilateral trade to $200m, explicitly including textile and light industry cooperation. Market Access & Ethics: A South Korea-linked program helped African businesswomen sell beaded and upcycled textile products, citing strong demand for ethical brands. Policy & Compliance: India’s government defended GDP growth methodology amid “apples and oranges” claims, while separate coverage highlights new disclosure rules tied to corporate slavery history. Cultural Textiles: A Sri Lankan designer presented a hand-made cyanotype to King Charles, and Qatar Museums opened Uzbek heritage exhibitions at the Museum of Islamic Art.

Textile Trade & Policy: India’s Commerce Ministry is gathering exporter and industry input on US market access concerns ahead of trade talks, with textiles among the sectors raising worries about tariff uncertainty and shifting buyer orders. Sustainable Materials: Researchers say discarded denim can be converted into a porous carbon cloth for lithium-sulfur batteries, aiming to cut textile waste while boosting next-gen energy storage. Circularity in Retail: Marquette’s Spirit Shop is rolling out a closed-loop apparel recycling program that collects used T-shirts and other garments for domestic recycling and resale. Glacier Protection with Wool: A Swiss NGO trialed sheep’s wool blankets on a glacier, reporting melt reduction comparable to synthetic tarpaulins with lower environmental impact. Industry Events: Bangladesh opened major international textile expos in Dhaka, bringing together thousands of companies and trade visitors across yarn, fabric, and dye-chem sectors. Market Signals: Dhaka’s stock recovery continued, with textile stocks leading turnover and posting gains.

Technical Textiles & Manufacturing: Messe Frankfurt says it will push deeper into China’s higher-end manufacturing via new/expanded exhibitions beyond traditional textiles, aiming at areas like factory automation and additive manufacturing. Microplastics & Synthetic Fibers: A UK parliamentary report warns the country is lagging on microplastic cuts and flags synthetic textiles among major sources, linking contamination to food security risks. Sustainability in Materials: Seabin teams with ReSmart to recover and recycle waste pulled from Sydney Harbour, including textiles, instead of sending it to landfill. Industry Signals: ISM’s August Manufacturing PMI rose to 54.6, with textile mills among the sectors expanding. Textile Finance Pressure: Nigeria manufacturers report borrowing costs still above 30%, with textile and apparel firms paying about 31.6% on average. Craft & Heritage Textiles: Rithihi’s Textile Tales highlights how indigo revival and innovation must go together to keep near-extinct crafts alive. Product/Design Spotlight: Kvadrat Febrik and Bang & Olufsen launch a Woolscape fabric cover for the Beosound A9 speaker, turning Nordic textures into knitted upholstery material. Trade & Policy: China’s new measures to boost commodity consumption point to sustained retail growth in categories including textiles.

EU Green Fashion Rules: The Apparel Impact Institute says EU apparel emissions rose 6.3% in 2024, driven by higher fibre use—especially polyester—putting the bloc further from its 2030 cut target, even as circularity rules tighten. Bangladesh Export Push: 12 Bangladeshi apparel and textile firms are showcasing at Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris-2026 (Aug 31–Sep 2), backed by the EPB and the Bangladesh Embassy in Paris. India-US Trade Uncertainty: India’s commerce ministry is gathering exporter concerns on US market access ahead of Piyush Goyal’s late-September US trip, with buyers reportedly holding back orders due to tariff uncertainty. Textile Modernisation in India: Tamil Nadu mills are restarting investment after demand revived for cotton and blended yarns, with examples including KPR Mills’ ₹260 crore modernisation plans. Circular Tech Milestone: Carbios says it completed its 100th trial batch at its Clermont-Ferrand plant and is extending biorecycling licensing to textile PET waste streams. Health & Safety Scrutiny: Public health groups challenge a US EPA draft review of flame retardant TBBPA, arguing it understates risks for children via household dust exposure. Design & Craft: Zambia’s handloom sector gets market and training support via HATTAZ and the International Trade Centre, aiming to connect rural weavers to buyers.

Textile Tech & Equipment: Epson unveiled the SureColor F360, an A3 desktop dye-sublimation printer aimed at small businesses and personalized textile/prodution runs, extending its F160 lineup. Cutting & Production: Durst Oceania confirmed its first Hasler cutting table sale in the region, signaling broader access to Hasler textile/rigid-media cutting through Durst’s integrated workflow. Public Health & Waste Textiles: Kenya’s mitumba secondhand clothing market is under scrutiny after research warned that imported textile waste can exceed sorting capacity and may carry bacteria such as E. coli, raising risks near dumpsites. Trade Policy: South Korea will impose antidumping duties on Chinese butyl acrylate, a chemical used in paints, coatings, plastics and textiles. Fashion & Craft: NÒMARHYTHM TEXTILE and Jordan Brand launched a collaboration built on Tokyo textile craft, using woven fabrics and embroidered motifs for baseball-inspired apparel. Community & Resilience: Hurricane Lala flooded The Sewing Hui’s Maui studio, damaging fabrics and equipment; organizers are seeking support to rebuild and keep sewing programs running. Industry & Business Support: Pakistan’s acting president Gilani highlighted cooperation including the Pakistan-Italy Textile Centre in Faisalabad and the Footwear Centre in Lahore, as ties expand across trade and investment.

AI & Industry 4.0: A new BCC Research report says AI and machine learning are accelerating technical textiles adoption as smart-factory needs, labor gaps, and sustainability rules push producers toward real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. India Textile R&D Push: India’s Ministry of Textiles met Textile Research Associations to make research more industry-led, outcome-driven, and aligned with technical textiles priorities under the National Technical Textiles Mission. Bangladesh Trade Show Drive: Bangladesh will bring 17 companies to Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris 2026 to showcase fabrics and apparel to international buyers. Sri Lanka Export Pressure: Sri Lanka’s apparel and textile exports fell in July, with weaker demand in key markets cited. Circular/Heritage Textiles: Aubusson’s tapestry tradition and Denmark’s rare Viking-era clothing fragments highlight how textiles keep turning up in culture and science. Policy & Compliance: Bangladesh targets 100+ green-certified ship recycling yards, tying environmental compliance to industrial growth.

Cotton Price Shock: Pakistan’s textile mills are panic-buying as New York cotton rates lift local prices; stakeholders also warn about adulteration of cotton with waste material. Customs Crackdown: Pakistan Customs and the FBR stepped up checks on greige fabric imported under the Export Facilitation Scheme after concerns over misdeclaration to claim duty-free benefits. Sustainability Pressure: Pakistan’s hosiery sector is being urged to fix environmental and boiler emission issues, with EPA Faisalabad offering technical support to meet national and international standards. Export Growth in Bangladesh: Ishwardi EPZ in Pabna says diversified output is driving exports and jobs, with FY25-26 exports up to $289.32m. Energy Strain Hits Industry: Bangladesh’s energy crisis is pushing up import costs and delaying industrial gas connections, with business leaders urging supply reliability before new investment. Textile Heritage on Stage: Meghalaya showcased indigenous textiles and handloom culture at Delhi Fashion Week 2026, bringing Northeast craftsmanship to a national runway. Testing & Standards: SDL Atlas donated a Vortex M6 lab laundering instrument to AATCC for its 10th anniversary, reinforcing standardized textile testing. Trade Promotion: The U.S. Commerce Department’s textiles and apparel office set up a booth at ASD Market Week to help companies find market access.

India-US Trade: India’s Commerce Ministry will meet industry bodies and export promotion councils on Sept 1 to review India-US trade performance ahead of Piyush Goyal’s late-September US talks, with textiles among the sectors expected. UAE Heritage & Textiles: Sharjah Museums Authority launches a student photography competition on “Traditional Emirati Ornaments,” inviting entries that highlight heritage designs across architecture, clothing and textiles. ASEAN Soft Power: Philippines First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos says ASEAN spouses’ tour in November will showcase Filipino arts and crafts, including fashion and textiles. Textile Supply Chain Pressure: EY expects India’s FY27 real GDP growth at 7–7.2%, citing stronger industrial output where textiles contributed, even as PMI signals easing momentum. Garment Training: Myanmar garment professionals and students complete a six-day pattern-making and sample-development course led by Chinese instructors, aimed at improving garment manufacturing skills. Bangladesh Apparel Branding: Bangladesh’s BATEXPO 2026 steering committee seeks Bangladesh Foreign Affairs support to attract high-level buyers and strengthen global branding for the apparel sector. Kenya Uniform Tender: Kenya’s National Police Service says Bedi Investments won the KSh 2.8–3bn police uniform contract and rejects claims linking Nalitex to the procurement. Power Disruption Protest: Textile workers in Narsingdi block the Dhaka-Sylhet highway over prolonged load-shedding, saying it disrupts fabric production and wages. Afghan-Uzbek Deals: Afghanistan and Uzbekistan sign 20 trade agreements worth $267m, including textiles and apparel, as ties expand. Industrial Momentum: India’s IIP hits a 23-month high in June, with textiles named among manufacturing drivers.

Cotton & yarn pressure: India’s apparel exporters are urging the government to regulate cotton yarn exports after domestic yarn prices jumped about 60%, squeezing garment margins and competitiveness. Recycling breakthrough: MIT says it has developed a polyethylene-based stretch yarn that can be melted and reprocessed up to 10 times, aiming to tackle the hard-to-recycle problem of spandex blends. Trade & investment push: Uganda invited Pakistani investors with tax incentives and proposed a Pakistan-Uganda business forum plus farm visits covering tea, coffee, cocoa and cotton. Shipping/blue economy: Maersk Line is exploring direct investment in Bangladesh’s shipbuilding and ship recycling sectors, seeking jobs and skills transfer. Export promotion: Egypt’s Nelly Kids Fashion 2026 drew about 300 factories and targeted $50m+ in export contracts. Handloom livelihoods: A report highlights Telangana weavers’ low earnings despite GI-linked heritage, as rising input costs and cotton tax changes add strain. Retail tax digitisation: Pakistan’s POS integration for large retailers rose 31% to 17,337 businesses, with concerns about a new small trader scheme affecting the push.