Special Report

Give Before You Get!

Textile Insights January 9, 2025

The principle of reciprocity describes the tendency of human nature to want to offer something when something is received. You feel obliged to do something in return because something was done for you, writes Murugan Santhanam I felt so happy! Finally, I got an inquiry from our principal in

Special Report

AFWA’s 2024 Report Reveals Wages In Asia’s Garment Industry Fall Considerably Short Of Living Wage Benchmarks

Textile Insights December 10, 2024

The Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) has released its much-anticipated Path to a Living Wage report, which highlights glaring disparities between garment workers’ earnings and the wages required for a dignified standard of living. Covering eight key garment producing nations, the report underscores how poverty level wages continue to trap millions in financial insecurity

Special Report

The ‘Addition By Subtraction’ Principle

Textile Insights December 9, 2024

By following the principle of ‘addition by subtraction’, company managements can eliminate inefficient machines and people and also customers that drag down efficiency, observes Murugan Santhanam “Can you increase value by subtracting something?” The management coach posed a thought-provoking question. I quickly ducked behind my book, hoping to avoid being called on by the

Special Report

T&A Demand Set To Revive As US Retail Shows Positive Trends

Textile Insights November 11, 2024

The Indian textiles and apparel (T&A) sector is finally on the revival path. If one goes by the recent export numbers, the cumulative exports in September 2024 have registered a significant growth of 12.38 per cent (Y-o-Y). In fact, at around $1.1 billion, the apparel exports from the country surged by 17.30 per cent in […]

Special Report

Goma Suri – What Is It and Why We Should Avoid It?

Textile Insights November 9, 2024

“They are Goma suri!” whispered my Japanese friend into my ear, making a curious motion with his hands, like rotating his closed hand on the palm of the other hand. “What?” I couldn’t quite grasp what he meant. Though I knew some Japanese, it was just enough to get by in casual conversations. He mentioned […]

Special Report

‘Tech-Enabled, Personalised And Sustainable Solutions To Drive India’s Corporate Travel Landscape’

Textile Insights October 10, 2024

India’s corporate travel sector, valued at over $10.6 billion, is entering a transformative phase, betting on new ways of working and technological disruption. Deloitte’s latest report highlights corporate travel innovation, which is essential for employee experience management and cost efficiency. The corporate travel sector market is projected to grow at 10.1 per cent

Special Report

EU-WCO Publishes Study On Rules Of Origin For Textiles And Vehicles

Textile Insights October 9, 2024

The EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme has released a new publication titled “A Comparative Study of the Rules of Origin in the Textiles and Vehicles Sectors,” which offers a detailed analysis of the product-specific rules (PSRs) across eight prominent free trade agreements (FTAs). These agreements include African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), East African

Special Report

Study Finds Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Clothing From 13 Countries

Textile Insights October 9, 2024

An international study by IPEN and Arnika has uncovered alarming levels of toxic chemicals, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), in clothing sold across 13 countries, including children’s jackets. These chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to breakdown in the environment, were found in 63.8% of the

Special Report

Buyer’s Remorse: Don’t Have It, Nor Give It To Others!

Textile Insights October 9, 2024

Those who proactively address and learn from buyer’s remorse foster a loyal customer base and a strong, positive brand reputation and also won’t have buyer’s remorse themselves as buyers, writes Murugan S. “I don’t want to continue doing business with that mill!” Mr. X exclaimed; his face flushed with frustration. He was the head of […]

Special Report

Lack Of Scale And Absence Of Right Product Mix Playing Spoilsport For Textile Industry

Textile Insights September 10, 2024

Bangladesh and Vietnam, among other countries, have in the past captured a large part of China’s declining share in the global ready-made garment (RMG) exports, while India failed to adequately capitalise on China’s losing share. Recent political upheavals and social unrest in Bangladesh  which is the second largest exporter of RMG after China, once again brings to […]