The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently issued a new strategy to combat illicit trade in textile and apparel products and “level the playing field for the American textile industry, which accounts for over 500,000 jobs and is critical” for U.S. national security.

Clothing exports in 2023 experienced a 4% year-on-year decline in 2023, and a 47% decrease compared to pre-COVID figures in 2019. As COVID-related restrictions are lifted and the negative impacts of the pandemic gradually subside, firms in the sector are eager to expand their business and reverse the industry’s decline. According to Euromonitor estimates, apparel retail sales grew modestly by 5% in 2023.

Although attracted by the growth of the Middle East apparel market, industry players still have reservations regarding logistics and access.

The recent International Apparel & Textile Fair underlined the appeal of the UAE as both an underserved market and a unique sourcing hub.

The European Parliament voted, earlier this month, in favour of an amended Waste Framework Directive (WFD) which will impose new obligations on economic operators in the textiles sector. The draft amendments brought to the European Commission’s original proposal point out that consumers should benefit longer from high quality affordable textiles, and that up to 35% of global microplastics released into the aquatic, terrestrial and marine ecosystems are from synthetic textiles. It is also noted that 73% of clothes and household textiles that are consumed in Europe are imported. Thus, among the new obligations laid down for operators in the textiles sector, the European Parliament has also expressly noted that producers should be made to finance the development of reuse and repair operations.

This page lists the contact information of Hong Kong trade associations related to garments, textiles and accessories.

It was disclosed earlier this month that national representatives from the Member States within the so-called “REACH committee” have officially sanctioned a partial prohibition of PFHxA, a commonly utilised PFAS. This decision comes amidst criticisms directed at the European Commission’s choice to opt for a narrower ban, excluding industrial applications, as campaigners advocated for a broader prohibition.

The European Commission (the Commission) has issued a statement that Zalando, one of Europe’s biggest online fashion and beauty retail platforms, has committed to providing clearer information to consumers, following talks with the Commission and other EU national competent authorities. The commitments must be implemented by Zalando from 15 April 2024, and the agreement comes as a result of the EU’s recent tightening of consumer protection rules regarding green claims.

The European Parliament is due to vote this month on a draft report adopted by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI) concerning textiles. ENVI adopted its position IN February, to inhibit and reduce waste from textiles across the EU. Under the future new rules, which will be entrenched into an updated EU waste framework Directive (WFD), producers will be required to cover costs for collecting, sorting and recycling of waste textiles.

Including statistics of Garment Sales of China in the past 5 years.