What is truly an international trade fair… it is a place where technology companies
wait to launch new products and where visitors from all parts of the world converge
with certain expectations of experiencing these innovations first-hand… Only three
fairs in the world come close to meeting these expectations, namely Texprocess
(Germany and Americas); CISMA (China); and ITMA, a relatively new event with
potential.
Today, there is no other garment processing industry fair which can be truly called international. Even the technology manufacturers now do not see themselves as innovators; they are just concentrating on bringing out small improvements which they prefer to show at the regional fairs… No wonder, regional fairs are gaining importance.
It cannot be said that innovation is not happening, but that is not for the Asian market, it’s mostly to support emerging concepts like ‘re-shoring’ which have put new life into the top industrial fairs with really new and futuristic technologies. At the Texprocess, Americas earlier this year, I saw a concerted emphasis on ‘Robotics’ with companies like Softwear Automation Inc., Baxter and Apparel Made 4 You (AM4U)
presenting some revolutionary technologies. An interesting innovation expected to hit markets in 2015 is a total automated plant for sewing basic garments, while another innovator was working on a business model that lowers costs and removes markdowns of inventories through implementation of dyeing, printing, cutting and sewing operations in a small footprint, under one roof. Truly innovative stuff…
In contrast, I was saddened to see that the AAMA-TEX fair in Singapore, which at one time was a power-packed fair where the visitors would converge from all Asian countries, is not anymore of significance…, this time it died with a whimper, and rightly so… read my small but crisp report.
Among the interesting articles in the current issue is the one on umbrellas…, in a domestic market estimated at US $ 420 million, the share of Indian manufacturers is miniscule. China, as in the case of many other products, is reaping the benefits of a lethargic Indian manufacturing scenario. StitchWorld team details the opportunities while also talking to leading brand owners in the Indian market and what ails the industry... a must read!
Another article worth mentioning is the rundown on the manufacturing infrastructure at Lecoanet Hemant India, the country’s only design house to integrate ‘industrial’ and ‘luxury’ to have a business model that can give both volumes and couture with equal ease. Inspired by luxury brands like Ferragamo, LV, Fendi, Hermès and Bottega Veneta, whose products are handmade but in an industrial environment, Hemant has created a roadmap designers should look at very carefully.
Today, there is no other garment processing industry fair which can be truly called international. Even the technology manufacturers now do not see themselves as innovators; they are just concentrating on bringing out small improvements which they prefer to show at the regional fairs… No wonder, regional fairs are gaining importance.
It cannot be said that innovation is not happening, but that is not for the Asian market, it’s mostly to support emerging concepts like ‘re-shoring’ which have put new life into the top industrial fairs with really new and futuristic technologies. At the Texprocess, Americas earlier this year, I saw a concerted emphasis on ‘Robotics’ with companies like Softwear Automation Inc., Baxter and Apparel Made 4 You (AM4U)
presenting some revolutionary technologies. An interesting innovation expected to hit markets in 2015 is a total automated plant for sewing basic garments, while another innovator was working on a business model that lowers costs and removes markdowns of inventories through implementation of dyeing, printing, cutting and sewing operations in a small footprint, under one roof. Truly innovative stuff…
In contrast, I was saddened to see that the AAMA-TEX fair in Singapore, which at one time was a power-packed fair where the visitors would converge from all Asian countries, is not anymore of significance…, this time it died with a whimper, and rightly so… read my small but crisp report.
Among the interesting articles in the current issue is the one on umbrellas…, in a domestic market estimated at US $ 420 million, the share of Indian manufacturers is miniscule. China, as in the case of many other products, is reaping the benefits of a lethargic Indian manufacturing scenario. StitchWorld team details the opportunities while also talking to leading brand owners in the Indian market and what ails the industry... a must read!
Another article worth mentioning is the rundown on the manufacturing infrastructure at Lecoanet Hemant India, the country’s only design house to integrate ‘industrial’ and ‘luxury’ to have a business model that can give both volumes and couture with equal ease. Inspired by luxury brands like Ferragamo, LV, Fendi, Hermès and Bottega Veneta, whose products are handmade but in an industrial environment, Hemant has created a roadmap designers should look at very carefully.
