Apparel Insider

DUTCH PET PLASTIC RECYCLER, IONIQA TECHNOLOGIES, FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY: Dutch innovator Ioniqa Technologies, known for upcycling low-grade plastic waste into "virgin-like" quality materials, has filed for bankruptcy protection. The news comes as another blow to plastic recycling efforts globally. While Ioniqa’s focus was on creating a recycled material suitable for high quality food grade applications, the news will still sound alarm bells for PET recyclers focused on #fashion applications. Do the economics of such work stack up? Ioniqa developed technology for recycling PET plastics, securing over €20m in funding and partnering with industry giants like Indorama, Coca-Cola, and Unilever. Despite this, the company has been unable to achieve positive cash flow. In a statement the company said: "“In the last decade, the company has made significant progress towards selling technology licensing packages, demonstrating the viability of its advanced plastic recycling technology on an industrial scale and preparing comprehensive technical, process, and economic documentation. “However, the advanced recycling sector is challenged by the low cost of virgin plastics derived from fossil oil and a plastic recycling supply chain still in development. Furthermore, the implementation of regulated mandatory standards for meaningful recycling levels are too far out into the future. “These factors combined render the large-scale deployment of Ioniqa’s advanced recycling technology for a circular PET supply chain economically unfeasible for the company at this time and in its current set-up.” OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/eFqqz9qf

CHINA THREATENS TO BLACKLIST PVH CORP OVER ITS XINJIANG COTTON BOYCOTT: US fashion giant PVH Corp. , parent company of brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, is facing a potential blacklisting in China over its boycott of cotton from the Xinjiang region. China’s commerce ministry has accused PVH of violating market trading principles by “unreasonably boycotting” Xinjiang cotton without a factual basis. PVH now has 30 days to respond to the allegations. The move by China marks the first time a major U.S. company could be added to the country’s national security blacklist, the "unreliable entities list." Other brands that have boycotted Xinjiang cotton, such as adidas , Nike , and H&M , may be watching the outcome of this case with interest. The situation highlights growing tensions between international companies and conflicting pressures from Western governments regarding sourcing from Xinjiang, which has been the subject of human rights abuse allegations by the UN and other watchdogs. #FashionIndustry #China #PVH #SupplyChain OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/e6kYSm4W

Why is SHEIN now stocking adidas ? One of our readers sent us this screenshot taken from the German website of the Chinese fast fashion juggernaut. It's not clear whether this an agreement with Adidas (highly unlikely) or whether the listings are from a third party. Regardless, questions continue to rage about what the ultimate end game is for Shein. Some believe the company will ultimately shift into higher value goods, similar to Amazon . Others suggest data harvesting - the company now has tens of millions of users - mean it is primed to capitalise on all manner of digital markets moving forwards. Let us know what you think.

TEMU SHARES FALL AFTER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES DE MINIMIS IMPORT DUTY REFORM: The Biden administration's latest move to tighten US import regulations has sent shockwaves through Chinese e-commerce firms. Shares of PDD Holdings, owner of Temu, dropped 3 per cent after the announcement of a proposed rule to curb the exploitation of the US$800 de minimis threshold. This rule has allowed companies like Temu and SHEIN to avoid tariffs on low-value shipments. The new regulations aim to level the playing field for US businesses by eliminating exemptions on goods subject to tariffs and increasing transparency for small package shipments. This could particularly impact US retailers serving low- and middle-income consumers, such as dollar stores, who may benefit from reduced competition. Despite the market reaction, Temu remains confident, claiming its growth is not dependent on the de minimis exemption. However, this could signal a shift in how international e-commerce operates in the US as the regulatory landscape evolves. #TradePolicy #Ecommerce #Retail #USChina #SupplyChain OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/eenGkbWA

GLOBAL APPAREL GIANT ACCUSED OF MONEY LAUNDERING: Bangladesh's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has accused Beximco Group of laundering at least Tk 1,480 crore (US$135m) by exporting goods through 18 companies without repatriating the export earnings. This practice, termed "trade-based money laundering" by CID, is currently under investigation, according to Kusum Dewan, Deputy Inspector General of Organised Crime. Beximco Group, one of Bangladesh's largest conglomerates, is a major supplier to many of the world's leading fashion brands in the US and Europe. The company's extensive portfolio includes numerous apparel and textile businesses that have built a strong reputation in the global fashion industry. However, despite its prominence in the international market, the group now faces serious allegations of financial misconduct. OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/e7JUrv3R

GERMANS BOUGHT AROUND 1 BILLION ITEMS OF SHOES & CLOTHING FROM PLATFORMS LIKE SHEIN IN 2023: Analysis by the Germen BTE Trade Association found in 2023, German consumers bought around one billion items from non-European platforms like Shein and Temu. An estimated 400,000 packages from Shein and Temu are shipped to Germany daily, often bypassing traditional foreign trade statistics. NOTE - Apparel Insider believes trade statistics across the Western world are not counting direct-to-consumer purchases from Asia, greatly distorting trade figures. The shift in Germany has significantly impacted the local market. Domestic supply dropped to 3.514 billion garments and 266 million pairs of shoes in 2023, from 4.457 billion garments and 413 million pairs in 2022 - a 22% decrease. BTE claims many direct-to-consumer imports from Asia don’t meet EU standards and could pose health risks. They are now advocating for stricter import controls to ensure consumer safety and fair competition. #RetailTrends #ImportRegulations #shein OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/ekjrbydy

** European textile trade body calls for €150 import duty exemption for small consignments to be abolished ** EURATEX - European Apparel and Textile Confederation says there is an urgent need to abolish the €150 import duty exemption for small consignments. The trade body claims the de minimis exemption has been exploited by e-commerce companies, creating unfair competition for European manufacturers. EURATEX is advocating for the immediate removal of this loophole, rather than waiting until 2028. Dirk Vantyghem, EURATEX director general, highlighted the critical role customs play in safeguarding fair competition within the EU Single Market and ensuring products meet environmental and safety standards. He stressed the necessity of a reformed system that is fit for the 21st century, especially given the rise of e-commerce and growing complexity of regulations. OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/erUxm4TX

Researchers claim a new chemical-based recycling method broke down poly-cotton clothing blends into reusable molecules in just 15 minutes. With more fine-tuning, they say this processing time could be slashed to seconds in the future. The study team used ‘microwave-assisted glycolysis,’ to decompose fabrics into reusable building blocks. They processed fabrics with different compositions, including 100% polyester and 50/50 polycotton blends. For pure polyester fabric, the reaction converted 90% of the polyester into a molecule called BHET. This can be directly recycled to create more polyester textiles. The researchers found the reaction did not damage the cotton in polyester–cotton fabrics, making it possible to break down the polyester AND recover the cotton. They say that with optimisation, the process could be cost-effective and scalable. Co-author Dionisios Vlachos from the University of Delaware said: “From days to just a few minutes – this is a major renewal. We envision reducing the process time to seconds.” #Sustainability #Innovation #Recycling #TextileWaste OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/ebc4GdKj

BELGIUM TO STAGE EXPO AND CONFERENCE FOR TEXTILE RECYCLING – A first-of-its-kind event in Belgium on 4-5 June 2025 will showcase new and emerging technologies in textile recycling. The Textiles Recycling Expo and its accompanying conference are free to attend. This strategic choice of location is intended to draw an international crowd from all sectors of the apparel supply chain. This includes recyclers, waste managers, textile producers, clothing suppliers, retailers, and other key players. The exhibition will provide a stage for advancements in addressing textile waste, showcasing the latest sorting, shredding, and recycling technologies. Exhibitors include textile recyclers and manufacturers using reclaimed materials. Notable attendees confirmed include Aimplas, CARBIOS, Closeoop (DBT Fibre), MagnoLab, List Technology, New Retex, Pellenc ST, PICVISA, Reverse Resources, Stadler, and Tomra. Running parallel to the exhibition, a two-day conference will provide a platform for industry innovators and stakeholders to offer insights and perspectives on textile recycling. OUR STORY: https://lnkd.in/epp2yTYU

DHAKA – A study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances has revealed significant microfibre pollution from Bangladesh’s textile industry. Researchers from the Bangladesh University of Textiles and Jahangirnagar University investigated microfibre prevalence and removal efficiency in 11 textile effluent treatment plants (ETPs) across various regions, including Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi. Bangladesh, the world's 2nd largest textile hub, faces environmental threats from microfibre pollution, particularly affecting aquatic ecosystems. The study found traditional ETPs struggle to effectively remove emerging pollutants like surfactants, dyes, additives, and especially microfibres. Microfibres, released during textile manufacturing processes, pose a ecological risk and are ingested by aquatic species. https://lnkd.in/e3xtxzPy