Empowering THK Asia with Advanced ERP Capabilities
The Buying House ERP by Skylark Soft Limited is a comprehensive software solution designed to meet the unique demands of buying house operations. Equipped with essential modules such as Marketing, Merchandising, Sample, Time & Action, Inspection, Manual Production, Commercial, and MIS, the ERP is tailored to optimize processes, enhance efficiency, and provide real-time insights.

THK Asia has also integrated advanced add-on modules like Inventory, Procurement, Accounting, and HR-Payroll to further enhance operational scalability and performance.

“This partnership underscores Skylark’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that transform operations and create tangible value for our clients. THK Asia’s vision for execution excellence aligns perfectly with the capabilities of our Buying House ERP,” said B M Shorif, Managing Director & CEO of Skylark Soft Limited.

THK Asia: Pioneering Fashion Sourcing with Innovation
Known for its exceptional supply chain management from “Sheep to Shop,” THK Asia delivers fast fashion solutions by integrating style trends, sustainable practices, and operational excellence. With Skylark’s ERP, THK Asia is set to elevate its capabilities further, achieving:

• Seamless order tracking and management with the Merchandising and Time & Action modules.
• Efficient sample processing using the Sample Management module for quicker turnaround times.
• Enhanced financial oversight and resource utilization with Accounting and Inventory modules.
• Real-time data integration via the MIS module for data-driven decision-making.

“We are excited to partner with Skylark Soft Limited to adopt a robust ERP system tailored to the buying house sector. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and delivering value to our clients,” said a spokesperson from THK Asia.

A Step Towards Transforming the Buying House Sector
The agreement ceremony, held in the presence of top management from both organizations, signifies a shared vision to redefine excellence in the buying house industry. Skylark Soft Limited’s expertise in ERP solutions, combined with THK Asia’s leadership in fashion sourcing, sets the stage for groundbreaking advancements in operational efficiency and service delivery.

About Skylark Soft Limited
Founded in 2018, Skylark Soft Limited is a Bangladesh-based software company specializing in ERP solutions for the textile and apparel industries. With a global footprint in countries like India, UAE, USA, and more, Skylark has been instrumental in driving efficiency and innovation in garment manufacturing and buying house operations. Its flagship product, goRMG ERP, is trusted by over 100 clients globally.

About THK Asia
THK Asia is a leading name in global fashion sourcing, offering end-to-end supply chain solutions with a focus on quality, speed-to-market, and sustainability. By integrating style trends, structured research, and strong sourcing strategies, THK Asia continues to deliver value and excellence in the fast fashion industry.

For more information, please contact:
Skylark Soft Limited
Website: www.skylarksoft.com
Email: info@skylarksoft.com
Phone: +8801848 346310-14

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Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Michael Miller on Tuesday expressed the EU’s intention to partner intensively with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (EuroCham) EuroCham to maximise trade and investment.

He laid emphasis on exploring more B2B contacts, navigating the challenges of LDC graduation and promoting sustainable due diligence in supply chains, opening up the prospect of greater EU foreign direct investment (FDI) and a more diversified Bangladeshi economy.

The EuroCham was officially launched on Tuesday which is seen as a new milestone in EU-Bangladesh business relations.

EuroCham is a business initiative that is actively supported by the European Union Delegation and the EU Member States in Bangladesh.

The Chamber will serve as a centre of excellence, promoting business relations between European investors and their counterparts in the country.

It will facilitate dialogue between the private sector and key government stakeholders, such as BIDA, the Ministry of Commerce, and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to improve the ease-of-doing business in Bangladesh.

EuroCham will advise European and Bangladeshi companies on the impact of upcoming EU legislation on their supply chains, – the corporate sustainability due diligence directive, textile strategy, circular economy, digital product passport, and eco-design for sustainable products, to name just a few.

With a view to facilitating Bangladesh’s green and digital transition, EuroCham will offer a platform for sharing know-how.

EuroCham Bangladesh will form part of the European Business Organisations (EBO) Worldwide Network that represents European business interests in over 54 key global markets.

It caters to European multinationals, as well as micro, small, medium, and large enterprises, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka.

EuroCham Chairperson, Nuria Lopez, and the Board welcomed attendees, saying that the Chamber will focus on branding Bangladesh to attract more European investment; Europe not only brings capital but also a model of good governance and sustainable growth.

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RUDOLF is committed to maintain the exceptional level of service and quality products that Proeza‘s customers have come to rely on. Our commitment to customer satisfaction remains a key priority and we look forward to introduc a range of innovative products from the RUDOLF portfolio to expand the product offering and drive innovation.

Proeza has built a strong reputation over its 40 years in the industry and we are honoured to build on this legacy. To ensure seamless integration and local expertise, RUDOLF has appointed Mr Javier Sagrero as the new Managing Director of RUDOLF Mexico. With his valued leadership, we are confident in our ability to continue to deliver outstanding service and pioneering solutions.

With RUDOLF‘s century-long global presence and Proeza‘s extensive industry experience, we are excited about the opportunity to provide our customers with unparalleled technical support and a highly innovative product portfolio. This powerful synergy will empower our customers to deliver the best solutions to the marketplace, reinforcing our commitment to their needs and success.

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The Brazilian Cotton Producers Association (Abrapa) announced today that, as of December 1, 2024, it will be a full member of the Make the Label Count coalition. Abrapa joins Make the Label Count to contribute its voice and influence in a joint effort to ensure that sustainability claims for textiles in the European Union are fair and credible.

As the EU Green Claims legislation enters the final phase of negotiations (trilogues), it is urgent to highlight the environmental profile of natural fibres compared to synthetic ones.

Together with Anea, the National Association of Cotton Exporters, Abrapa’s membership ensures that the entire Brazilian cotton sector supports this important effort, reaffirming Cotton Brazil’s commitment to strengthening and defending the environmental benefits of natural fibers, such as cotton, at this crucial time.

Abrapa President Alexandre Schenkel (pictured, left) commented on the motivation for joining the coalition. “The Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for apparel and footwear are poorly designed and not fit for purpose. In their current form, they unfairly favor synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels, while inappropriately classifying natural fiber clothing as unsustainable. This runs counter to the very purpose of the Green Claims Directive, which aims to ensure ‘reliable, credible and verifiable’ claims. By joining the Make the Label Count coalition, we are committed to correcting this serious situation before it is enshrined in European law,” he said. 

Elke Hortmeyer (pictured, right), from Make the Label Count, welcomed Abrapa’s membership. “We are delighted to welcome Abrapa and, consequently, Cotton Brazil to the Make the Label Count coalition. As a globally recognized organization committed to sustainable cotton production, their expertise and leadership will strengthen our voice and collective effort to ensure fair and credible sustainability claims for natural fibers. In addition to the socioeconomic importance of raw material production for many cotton farmers, the EU PEF methodology needs to adequately address the environmental impact of petroleum-based materials, such as polyester, which contribute to enormous plastic waste and release microplastics into our waters and soils,” she highlighted. 

To ensure that the tools used to validate green claims are reliable, it is essential that they are based on scientific research. While experts have provided extensive research to inform this process – covering areas such as Life Cycle Assessment, consumer behaviour and microplastics – not all of the findings have been properly considered by policymakers or those developing the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for apparel and footwear.

It is essential that the PEF and PEFCRs for apparel and footwear accurately reflect the true environmental impacts of textiles. To ensure a fair assessment, factors such as microplastic pollution, plastic waste and circularity must urgently be integrated into the analysis.

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Notably, imports from various countries experienced fluctuations during this period:

• China’s imports declined by 1.64% to $18.87 billion.
• Bangladesh saw a 2.06% decrease to $14.60 billion.
• Turkey experienced a 6.76% decrease to $7.60 billion.
• India’s imports fell by 0.69% to $3.68 billion.
• Indonesia faced an 8.44% decline to $765.24 million.

In contrast, Cambodia showcased significant growth of 15.95% to $2.97 billion, while Pakistan rose by 8.69% to $2.76 billion and Morocco by 6.87% to $2.25 billion. These shifts in import numbers among suppliers indicate evolving dynamics in global supply chains, necessitating deeper exploration into price fluctuations and other factors influencing market share adjustments.

This month’s data shows a positive trend for the EU economy, indicating a strengthening economic landscape. The growth is not limited to the EU alone; it also extends to their purchasing power from Bangladesh. In September 2024, Bangladesh witnessed a significant increase in Ready-Made Garments (RMG) exports to the EU, with a notable surge of 6.9% to $1.62 billion compared to $1.51 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year. This upward trajectory underscores the promising outlook for further expansion and underscores Bangladesh’s pivotal position in the apparel market, especially during periods of stability or growth.

Author
Mohiuddin Rubel
Former Director, BGMEA & Additional Managing Director, Denim Expert Ltd.

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“A challenger like Circulose, with the power to make the textile industry circular, will need experienced and world-class leaders to drive that change. We are taking action on that now, and we are immensely proud to attract Helena and Jonatan, a true dream team. Their experience and expertise are key for us to secure a stable and successful path for Circulose moving forward. They will be a great addition to Magnus, who has done an excellent job navigating Circulose through an intensive year as interim CEO and will continue to lead operations moving forward” said Clara Zverina, Principal at Altor.

Helena Helmersson joins Circulose with an extensive experience from the fashion industry and driver of sustainability leadership, most recently in her role as CEO at H&M Group. “I am thrilled to be joining Circulose and support the company in my role as Chair. We have an ambitious agenda ahead of us and a talented team ready to make it happen. I am glad to be working with Altor, our partnership will benefit from their industrial heritage and helping companies scale. Circulose feels very much like a natural fit, for me and for the future, and I look forward to contributing with my many years of experience in the fashion industry.” said Helena Helmersson, Chair of Circulose. Jonatan Janmark assumes the role of CEO for Circulose, Jonatan Janmark joins the company with in-depth experience from the consumer and textile industry as Partner at McKinsey & Company. “For the past years, I have had the fortune of dedicating my time to helping companies navigate the sustainability transition in the apparel and textile industry, working with both brands and textile manufacturers. When the opportunity to join Circulose opened up, I was excited to accept the challenge. With a strong team, we will now focus on strengthening Circulose to unlock the necessary shift from a linear to a circular textile industry. We recognize the many challenges ahead and the shift won’t happen overnight, but we are fully committed to seeing it through” said Jonatan Janmark, CEO at Circulose.

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In order to facilitate the implementation of the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan, Afreximbank, Arise IIP and Rieter AG signed a framework agreement on October 14, 2024. The framework agreement outlines the collaboration to establish 500 000 metric tons of African cotton transformation capacity over the next three to five years, supported by USD 5 billion in financing. The Africa Textile Renaissance Plan aims to achieve the following key objectives:

• establish 500 000 metric tons of African cotton transformation capacity over the next three to five years, with potential expansion of an additional 500 000 metric tons,
• localize machine repair expertise in Africa,
• create up to 500 000 jobs,
• reduce Africa’s annual textile imports,
• boost exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), focusing on full value addition within the continent and to export to the rest of the world and
• develop a strong financing structure to support capacity building.

Countries benefiting from the program will be selected based on criteria such as power and gas availability, and textile parks with standard infrastructure or equity contribution. Training centers will be established in selected countries to develop and improve skill levels. 

The partnership aims to secure financing of textile projects, streamlining the process through:

• standardized loan documentation and security packages,
• expedited two-month application process and
• standardized business plan templates.

To foster long-term growth, Rieter has committed to gradually establishing a manufacturing presence in Africa subject to commercial viability, including the:

• setup of a repair and maintenance facility in ARISE’s industrial park in Benin,
• establishment of spare parts warehousing and
• phased introduction of machine assembly operations.

Gagan Gupta, CEO and Founder of ARISE IIP expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “The Africa Textile Renaissance Plan represents a significant milestone in the continent’s industrial development. I’m convinced that this initiative will not only boost local manufacturing and create thousands of jobs but also position Africa as a global leader in sustainable textile production.”

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, stated that the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan is a “game-changer” for African trade. He remarked: “By transforming Africa’s cotton into high-value textile products, we are not only driving industrialization but also reducing dependence on imports while building a competitive export base. This partnership complements our ongoing efforts, such as the transformative change we are spearheading in Africa’s Cotton-4 plus (C4+) countries, alongside other partners. It underscores Afreximbank’s unwavering commitment to industrialization and export development.”

Thomas Oetterli, CEO Rieter Group, said: “We are thrilled to support this important initiative with our commitment, expertise and consulting knowledge. We are convinced that the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan marks an important starting point for the future development of the textile industry in Africa.”

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According to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), in July-October exports grew by 10.8% to reach $15.79 billion, up by $1.54 from $14.25 billion in the same period in 2023. Apparel sector accounted for $12.81 billion of the exports.

In October, the readymade garment (RMG) sector, the country’s highest export earner, and generated $3.30 billion, with 22.8% increase from $2.68 billion in the equivalent period of FY24.

Of the $3.30 billion, knitwear contributed $1.86 billion, a 24.6% increase from $1.50 billion, while woven garments earned $1.44 billion, reflecting a 20.54% increase from $1.20 billion compared to the October of the last fiscal year.

Among other notable sectors, agriculture products experienced positive growth of 7%, reaching $113.1 million, up from $105.8 million in October FY24.

Leather and leather goods witnessed a slight decline of 1%, totaling $83.2 million, while the earnings were $84 million in October 2023.

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Birla Cellulose, the cellulosic fibres business of the Aditya Birla Group and one of the world’s leading Man-Made Cellulosic Fibre (MMCF)  producers through its flagship company Grasim Industries Limited, and Circ, a US-based textile-to-textile recycling innovator, have announced a long-term strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the scaling of recycling fibres within the textiles sector.

This groundbreaking collaboration proposes, for Birla Cellulose to purchase up-to 5,000 tons of Circ’s pulp, per year, for a period of 5 years from Circ’s first commercial-scale facility. This pulp will be converted into lyocell staple fibre, significantly enhancing access to recycled materials and supporting Circ as it scales its commercial production.

“Our partnership with Birla Cellulose, a leading global producer of MMCFs, is significant as it demonstrates both Circ’s ongoing progress towards scalability as well as the industry’s commitment to investing in a truly circular economy,” said Peter Majeranowski, CEO of Circ. “Together, we are poised to create a more sustainable fashion future by integrating recycled materials into textiles on the global stage.”

Dr. Aspi Patel, Chief Technology Officer of Grasim Industries Limited, said, “This partnership reflects our deep commitment to environmental stewardship and represents a crucial step in advancing innovation within the textile industry. By combining Circ’s cutting-edge recycling technology with our cellulosic fibres, we are significantly enhancing the potential for a truly circular economy.”

As brands and consumers increasingly prioritize eco-friendly options, the supply chain will play a pivotal role in facilitating demand. The partnership between Birla Cellulose and Circ demonstrates the role of collaboration in effectively scaling recycling initiatives. With the appetite for recycled materials outpacing the current supply, Birla Cellulose’s willingness to procure and utilize Circ pulp ensures Birla Cellulose’s customers have access to high-quality recycled Circ Lyocell. This partnership enables brands and supply chain partners can partake and play their part in the future of the global fashion industry. Both companies are committed to promoting circular economy practices and reducing environmental impact through innovative technology and material reuse. They are also aligned on their shared vision for a sustainable future with a promise to set new benchmarks in the textile industry.

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The U.S. apparel imports data by country from January-September of 2023 and 2024 suggests that while the overall U.S. apparel import seen a slight decline, there was significant movement within the market, with some countries experiencing growth and others declining. Total U.S. apparel imports decreased by 2.47% between Jan-Sep 2023 and Jan-Sep 2024. Among all the reported countries, the substantial decrease in imports from Bangladesh is concerning, at 6.29%. This is a significant drop compared to other major suppliers. However, the decline was even higher in the January-August period, meaning that a significant growth in imports from Bangladesh was achieved in the month of September 2024.

Several countries showed growth in apparel imports to the U.S., including Vietnam (1.27%), Cambodia (7.15%), and Pakistan (2.41%).
Mohiuddin Rubel
Additional Managing Director, Denim Expert Ltd. & Ex-Director, BGMEA said,

This suggests a shift in sourcing patterns. The varied performance of different apparel-exporting countries indicate a competitive global market which has been significantly driven by price and supply chain stability.

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