According to Lauren Bravo’s book How to break up with fast fashion, we only wear 10-20 percent of the clothes in our closets every day. Patrick Robinson – a designer who has transformed global brands like Giorgio Armani, Perry Ellis and The Gap – has made it his mission to transform the way we consume and our wardrobes. value sat down with Robinson to discuss the deep-seated issues of exploitation and excess in the fashion industry and how his regenerative brand, Pashhochanging the fashion landscape.

Growing up in Southern California, Robinson was surrounded by surf culture from an early age. “I wanted to make surf shorts and run my own business,” he says. After finding a successful niche designing and selling board shorts to his peers, he enrolled at Parsons School of Design. “I think my designs have always had a utilitarian edge,” he says. “Obviously the look of the shorts was important to me, but more than anything I wanted everyone to be able to wear them. It was very important to me that they bridge the gap between functionality and fashion.”

After graduating from Parsons, Robinson was hired by Giorgio Armani to overhaul a failed business model. During his five years at Armani, Robinson transformed the brand’s Le Collezioni line into an internationally profitable venture. Nonetheless, even in the early stages of his career he had made a remarkable name for himself as someone who not only understood design but also how to run a business. For over 25 years, Robinson has helped haute couture and other fashion brands rethink and rethink their business models. “I was fine on paper,” he explained. “I made good money. I ran global companies and led design teams in Tokyo, London and New York. But I’ve also made more clothes than anyone on earth could ever wear.”

Related Make DEI a business necessity

“I felt like I was lying. I spoke out of both sides of my mouth. On the one hand I believed in sustainability, ethical work practices and community. But neither my dealings nor my actions reflected that,” he said. He knew he had to change something, and that’s how Paskho was born. Paskho is a company that strives to create functional, fashionable clothing to combat the issues of waste and exploitation that are rampant in the fashion industry. After laying the ethical groundwork for the business, Robinson began buying fabric scraps from factories.

“After seeing how much high-quality material is wasted, it made me feel like I was sticking to my values,” he explained. Even today, much of Paskho’s fabrics are saved from landfills, underscoring the critical importance of conscious consumption in today’s world. “Not only are our manufacturing practices sustainable, we create garments you want to wear anywhere: our clothes work at Heathrow Airport; they work on the mountainside; You work at the fanciest restaurant in Bologna,” said Robinson.

The brand works to address social inequalities in the United States by bringing jobs back to underserved communities while adhering to sustainable manufacturing practices. It’s a business model that aims to bridge the gap between the production process and the consumer by providing consistent, quality work to talented Americans who mostly work with their hands. Unlike other companies that have taken a financial hit during the pandemic, 2020 served as a catalyst for Paskho to launch its signature community-made-maker program.

Related The female disruptors are creating the future of fashion

“The global economy came to a standstill. And it just clicked for me. There are so many work-hungry Americans who already have the wonderful skills we need to increase our competitive advantage,” Robinson said. “We really did it.”

The first makers in the Program created by the community were the talented Broadway customers, seamstresses and tailors suddenly out of work during the pandemic. Paskho opened an eighteen-maker store in New York City, which allowed the brand to continue making and supplying clothing to consumers at the height of the pandemic when other companies couldn’t. The second maker community Robinson founded was in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, a community with a notable and unusual quilting tradition. Although the community’s quilts have been recognized as significant pieces of American art exhibitions at the Whitney and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the actual quilters themselves have remained relatively obscure. They have made little financial gain despite the recognition of the art world.

Stella Pettway. Photo courtesy of Pashho

Through the work of Upstart Co-Laba foundation that aims to connect capital with creative minds who make a difference, Robinson linked to the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the work of black artists from the American South. A year after launching the Community Made program in New York, Paskho created its second sewing pod in Gee’s Bend to provide the community’s skilled quilters with reliable salaries and work that recognizes their craft. In 2022, Paskho constructed his third pod at Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota.

Related Fall fashion to feel good

“Some of the worst systemic inequalities are perpetrated on Native American reservations,” Robinson said. “I know that I cannot solve these problems alone. But I hope I can make a difference by creating economic opportunity for our makers and their communities.”

By eliminating shipping processes, middlemen, and all the costs associated with overseas manufacturing, Paskho is able to turn a profit and pay its manufacturers and workers a fair wage. Everyone benefits from the regenerative business model, from makers to investors to consumers. “Not only are we doing the right thing by employing talented Americans, but we actually have a strategic advantage over other companies,” said Robinson. “Something we’re working on today will be ready in production in a week or less. Then we can start shipping directly to our consumers. I don’t have to wait or pay for a boat to get a shirt halfway across the world. We’re a much smarter, faster company.” Although it took some time for Pascho’s unusual regenerative model to take root from the start, investors have realized that having the production site so close to the consumer quickly pays off.

Paskho’s model offers real, measurable impacts such as job creation, more economic opportunity for chronically underserved populations, and less environmental damage. There is nothing political about Paskho’s philosophy and ethos. It’s a brand built on the simple value of being conscious of each other and our planet. Robinson wants us all to think about what makes us happy and what fulfills us. “It’s not our stuff, it’s not our property. It’s the care we give to the world and the people around us,” he said.

“We don’t have to give up beauty. We don’t have to give up our style or individualism. But we have to ask ourselves: how can I go through this world more easily?”

The post Thread easily appeared first value.

Something interesting has happened in the small-cap space over the past few months. The BSE small cap index is nearing its all-time high, hit in January this year.

Chartist Brijesh recently highlighted that the The broader index has yet to gain momentum with a larger index.

Meanwhile, Equitymaster’s small-cap expert Richa Agarwal points to both upside in small-caps and the need for caution.

The smallcap/sensex ratio is above the long-term median of 0.44, but is well below previous highs.

It seems there’s a lot of money chasing small-cap stocks.

India’s top investment gurus have also expressed their bullish stance on select small-cap stocks.

For example, Vijay Kedia increased exposure to small cap stocks Elecon Engineering last quarter.

Meanwhile, Ashish Kacholia took a position in a small-cap stock that’s up 1,000 percent in 5 years.

Added to this is Dolly Khanna. Released data shows that the star investor has increased its exposure to a small-cap stock in the textiles space.

A word about Dolly Khanna…

Dolly Khanna is a Chennai-based investor known for picking lesser-known mid-cap and small-cap stocks. She has been investing in stocks since 1996.

Dolly Khanna’s portfolio, managed by her husband Rajiv Khanna, typically leans towards more conventional stocks in manufacturing, textiles, chemicals and sugar.

Which Smallcap Stock Did Dolly Khanna Buy and Why?

Monte Carlo Fashions’ latest ownership pattern shows that Dolly Khanna added 0.71 percent stake in the apparel company during the July-September 2022 quarter.

As of September 2022, her stake in the company is 2.49 percent. In the previous quarter, she held 1.8 percent of the shares.

Khanna has held an interest in Monte Carlo Fashions since the December quarter of 2021.

While we don’t know why Khanna added the presence in Monte Carlo, there are a few reasons we can guess…

Monte Carlo is one of those Top Textile Company in India.

Over the past few quarters, Monte Carlo has delivered outstanding revenue and earnings growth.

In the June quarter of 2022, the textile company reported record sales as cotton prices fell and strong store expansions.

The company opened 11 new Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs). It is planned to open a total of 30 storage facilities by the end of March 2023.

In an IPO filing, the company said it was seeing strong demand across all segments in terms of revenue, with things returning to normal.

A month ago, the company announced its September 2022 results, in which revenue showed a 5 percent growth.

The company said revenue for the quarter was good on the back of end-of-season sales and encouraging festival and wedding seasons across India.

It strengthened its retail presence by opening 14 new EBOs and now has a total of 335 EBOs.

Looking ahead, the company has a strong order book for the summer season.

Meanwhile, the winter season has started early in some parts of India this year. Monte Carlo dominates the winter wool clothing segment with a market share of over 50 percent. Around 26 percent of sales come from this segment.

The improvement in quarterly performance and the upcoming winter season could be the reasons why Dolly Khanna became bullish in Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo will also benefit from the center’s PLI program. This year, the company qualified for the government’s Production-Based Incentive (PLI) scheme for the textile sector.

The textile company is currently trying to increase its online presence.

How Monte Carlo has developed in 2022

In 2022, Monte Carlo’s share price has increased by 13 percent. Today the stock is up 1 percent and is trading at Rs 690 per share.

Monte Carlo has a 52-week high of Rs 908 set on Sep 15, 2022 and a 52-week low of Rs 425 set on May 30, 2022.

Monte Carlo Stock Price in 2022

Monte Carlo has had a good track record of paying dividends and rewarding shareholders through buybacks since 2015.

For 2022 the Board recommended a final dividend of Rs 200 i.e. Rs 20 per share.

Take a look at the table below that compares Monte Carlo to its competitors in terms of various parameters.

About Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo Fashions is a fashion house offering apparel products for men, women and tweens.

The company was initially introduced as an exclusive wool brand. Today it has a well diversified presence in different categories such as cotton, home textiles and children’s wear. It has also gained importance in the manufacture and supply of accessories such as ties, belts and socks.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated by Equitymaster.com.

(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published by a syndicated feed.)

No wonder, as the Swedish fashion retail giant has steadily expanded its presence in South Africa to 27 stores since its inception in 2015 and now employs 900 South Africans in its local operations. But despite production facilities around the world and cooperation with some local brandsit produces no garments in SA, a country whose once thriving textile and clothing industry has been all but decimated by cheap foreign imports.

But things appear to be taking a turn for the local industry, with a renewed focus on localization being a strong feature in many South African clothing retailers’ strategies for years to come.

For H&M to start production here, however, Nelson says it must be a viable business move for the company. And in terms of the technology and infrastructure for sustainable production, “South Africa isn’t quite there yet,” she said, particularly when it comes to making sustainable fashion that’s affordable and accessible to the majority of consumers.

Source: Delivered

“We don’t want to produce like we did 20 years ago,” remarked Nelson. She was speaking at the H&M Sustainable Production Africa Summit, an event recently held in Cape Town to facilitate discussion between retailers and suppliers to build a sustainable South African clothing industry – one that produces competitively but reduces waste and uses water and minimizes energy and chemicals.

At the event, Nelson called on local retailers to work together to create a sustainable future for South African garment manufacturing that will benefit both domestic and international producers.

“The goal is to support each other to make South Africa the global future of sustainable production. Our goal is to drive the shift towards a circular and net-zero fashion and use our scale to create a better industry.”

On the way to a circular product life cycle

As a major global fast fashion player, H&M has faced criticism for unsustainable production methods in the past. But the company was on track to clean up its operations and supply chain, redesigning its manufacturing operations to meet its 2040 target with net carbon emissions.

To achieve this, the company has focused its investments on technologies to improve production design, efficient recycling and the development of new materials that have less impact on the planet.

H&M is aiming to double sales while reducing its environmental impact, said Harsha Bammanahali, H&M’s head of material innovation and strategy, who attended the event virtually. To that end, the retailer is working to decouple growth from natural resources to enable a fully circular lifecycle for products.

“Most of the clothing produced worldwide ends up in landfill. This is a problem for sustainability, but also for companies because we are throwing away valuable resources. Fashion should be able to support itself by reusing resources that are thrown away.”

Part of the sustainability journey involves improving demand forecasting to reduce overproduction. Bammanahali also highlighted H&M’s launch of an an internal carbon pricing model and tool to help quantify the cost of emissions from the group’s various decisions.

Regarding textiles, Gagan Bansal, Head of Material Innovation and Strategy at H&M, noted during the event that the retailer aims to use 100% sustainable or sustainably-sourced materials by 2030 and target 30 recycled materials by 2050 % of those used for H&M products. In case new materials are needed, H&M prefers natural fibers made with regenerative processes.

Currently, the majority of H&M’s global wool is sourced from South Africa, and the retailer aims to support the development of more sustainable wool production by working with WWF and regenerative farming projects in the rural grasslands of the Eastern Cape.

Wrong perception around sustainable production

During a panel entitled “Solutions for the 21st Century”, Mike Mikkelborg, Founder of Sustainable Fashion Strategy, expressed high hopes for the potential of South African garment manufacturing, comparing it to “a rising phoenix”. He said that as SA has yet to develop an industry-wide, sustainable apparel manufacturing operation, this will allow the industry to lay the groundwork for a “better rebuild from scratch.”

“There is a wrong image of sustainable production. In terms of margins, it’s no less attractive. Factories with good working conditions have higher productivity,” he noted.

Mikkelborg reiterated that manufacturing in South Africa can be a powerful job generator, but said retailers need to start with clear goals and then bring government and investors together.

“I believe South Africa can be a significant producer for both local and international brands,” he said.

The heated clothing market is booming with strong growth prospects

This press release was originally distributed by SBWire

NJ New Jersey, USA — (SBWIRE) – 11/08/2022 – The latest study published by AMA Research on the Global Heated Clothing Market assesses market size, trend and forecast to 2027. The Heated Clothing Market study encompasses key research data and evidence to form a practical resource document to be managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people to have access to easily accessible and self-analyzed studies that help to understand market trends, growth drivers, opportunities and upcoming challenges as well as information about the competitors.

Key players covered in this report include:
Columbia Sportswear (US), Venture Heat (US), Gerbing (UK), Ravean (US), Warm & Safe (US), Volt Resistance (US), Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation (US), Robert Bosch Tool Corporation (USA), Makita USA, Inc. (USA).

Download sample report as PDF (including full TOC, table and figures) @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/31555-global-heated-clothing-market

Definition:
Heated clothing is the best choice to stay warm. The heated clothing market is expected to grow in the future due to increasing outdoor sports like trekking, winter cycling, etc. and increasing demand for technically advanced products from both developed and developing countries. There are many different styles, from heated jackets, heated vests, heated gloves and heated socks. Battery heated clothing is available in many heat ratings, from 12 volts, 7 volts, 3 volts etc. Rechargeable batteries help keep you warm all winter long.

Market Trends:
Availability of product innovations, such as the installation of USB chargers, sensors that regulate the temperature of the jacket

Market leader:
Frequent temperature drop below freezing point, especially in Europe and North America
Rising popularity of outdoor sports such as trekking, winter cycling, snowmobiling, downhill skiing, etc.

Market Opportunities:
Increasing number of bikers, mountaineers and adventure sports enthusiasts
Increasing R&D for technologically advanced products

The global Heated Clothing market segments and market data breakdown are shown below:
by type (heated jackets, heated pants, heated gloves, other), application (construction, military and defense, winter sports, other), distribution channel (online, offline), end user (men, women), by rating (up to 5 volts, 5 to 7.4 volts, 7.4 to 20 volts)

In February 2019, Makita® USA, Inc. released a new 18V LXT® Cordless Heated Jacket (DCJ205Z). The heated jacket is available in sizes from S to 3XL and provides up to 35 hours of warmth with an 18V LXT 6.0Ah battery (sold separately).

The Global Heated Clothing Market report highlights information related to current & future industry trends, growth patterns, and offers business strategies that help stakeholders to make informed decisions that can help ensure profit development over the forecast years.

Do you have a question? Make an inquiry before buying @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/31555-global-heated-clothing-market

Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of the following regions:
Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Egypt, etc.)
North America (United States, Mexico and Canada)
South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.)
Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, UK, Italy, France etc.)
Asia Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Australia).

Objectives of the report
– Careful analysis and forecast of the Heated Clothing market size by value and volume.
-To estimate the market shares of the main heated clothing segments
– To show the development of the Heated Clothing market in different parts of the world.
– To analyze and study micro markets with respect to their contribution to the Heated Clothing market, their prospects and individual growth trends.
– To offer precise and useful details on factors affecting the growth of heated clothing
– To provide careful evaluation of crucial business strategies of leading companies operating in the Heated Clothing market including research and development, collaborations, agreements, partnerships, acquisitions, mergers, new developments and new product launches.

Buy Now Full Heated Clothing Market Assessment @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=31555

Important highlights from the table of contents:

Heated Clothing Market Study Coverage:
It includes key manufacturers, growth histories of emerging players and key business segments of the Heated Clothing market, years considered and research objectives. Additional segmentation by product type, application and technology.
Heated Clothing Market Executive Summary : It provides a summary of the overall studies, growth rate, available market, competitive landscape, market drivers, trends and issues, and macroscopic indicators.
Heated Clothing Market Production by Region Heated Clothing Market profile of manufacturers and players is studied on the basis of SWOT, their products, production, value, financials and other important factors.
Key Points Covered in the Heated Clothing Market Report:
Heated Clothing Overview, Definition and Classification Market Drivers and Barriers
Heated clothing market competition by manufacturers
Impact Analysis of COVID-19 on the Heated Clothing Market
Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) of Heated Clothing by Region (2022-2027)
Heated Clothing Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2022-2027)
Heated Clothing Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type {Heated Jackets, Heated Pants, Heated Gloves, Other}
Heated Clothing Market Analysis by Application {Construction, Military & Defense, Winter Sports, Other}
Heated Clothing Manufacturer Profiles/Analysis Heated Clothing Manufacturing Cost Analysis, Industry/Supply Chain Analysis, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Marketing

Strategy by key manufacturers/players, affiliated distributors/dealers, standardization, regulatory and collaborative initiatives, industry roadmap and value chain market effect factors analysis.

Browse the full abstract and table of contents @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/31555-global-heated-clothing-market

key questions answered
How Feasible Is the Heated Clothing Market for Long Term Investment?
What are the influencing factors driving the demand for heated clothing in the near future?
What is the impact analysis of different factors in the global Heated Clothing Market growth?
What are the current trends in the regional market and how successful are they?

Thank you for reading this article; You can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Middle East, Africa, Europe or LATAM, Southeast Asia.

For more information about this press release, go to: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/heated-clothing-market-is-booming-with-strong-growth-prospects-venture-heat-makita-ravean-gerbing-1366010.htm

“I tried one and wore it for three days, cleaned the house, mopped, waxed the floors, washed five girls’ heads, bathed the dogs and did everything else that goes into a house with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, ten people and two dogs needed and it was still in one piece,” wrote a young California mother of eight to Asheville’s Mars Manufacturing Company, complementing her new disposable product — the paper dress.

“When we’re done painting I’ll get another one and save myself from ruining a cotton housedress,” the woman continued. “Also for canning season I plan on having three or four as I always ruin a few dresses with stains of something.”

Originally conceived in 1966 as a marketing gimmick by the Scott Paper Company to sell more disposable paper products, the paper dress quickly became a fad. Women could purchase a “Paper Caper” branded paper dress by clipping a coupon from an ad in Seventeen magazine and mailing it, along with two receipts and $1.25, to the Scott Paper Company offices in Philadelphia. (By contrast, a Sears cotton dress cost between $5 and $10 back then.)

The course is part of PLU’s International Honors Program (IHON), which means that it is specifically designed to explore a topic across multiple academic departments and subjects. PLU’s IHON website explains that the courses “use multiple lenses to break the blindness of insisting on just one.”

While Heath’s class is advertised as a spaceship design class, the course is actually a multidisciplinary exploration of the current state of planet Earth and the problems facing humanity.

“This course is about asking big questions and finding insightful answers,” Heath writes in the syllabus. “Although we will use some scientific inquiry methods and examine scientific ideas, this is not a science course. As we work to design our spacecraft, we will find that many of the lessons we learn can be directly applied on Earth.”

“[The goal is]to get students to really see some of the harm our society is doing, so they can’t really ignore it and live the way they’ve been.”-Professor Daniel Heath

In the first few weeks of class, Heath’s goal is to convince the students that they are actually building a spaceship. This is the most important part of the course as the spaceship concept forces students to think beyond their assumptions. When Heath designed the class in 2016, he asked people what they thought were the most harmful things people do and how they would redesign those systems.

“I’ve noticed that people are holding on to the fact that ‘that’s just the way it is,'” says Heath. “Troubleshooting the spacecraft and the students into believing they are designing it is essentially a ploy to get them out of this ‘The Way It Is’ box.”

In the first three weeks, the students deal with the most important questions when designing a ship, such as propulsion, a sustainable energy source for the 1,000-year journey to another star, how to create artificial gravity and how many people on board bring so that the genetics of those on board will not be affected in future generations. Next, they discuss the challenge of using a self-sustaining biosphere to feed the population. Students then build their own self-sufficient terrarium in a glass jar and seal it to represent the conditions that would exist on the ship.

This project was a favorite of many Heath students, including Matthew Helmer ’24 with dual majors in math and physics. “It was the most hands-on part of the course, where we researched and experimented with how to create an artificial water cycle for plants to thrive,” he says. “We’ve seen an aspect of the spacecraft design process that is secretly linked to our experience on Earth – what a life cycle looks like in a largely closed system, open only to sunlight and its energy. We got a better sense of the balance and delicacy of life.”

Like Helmer, Rae Hyra ’22 realized during this portion of the class that designing a starship might not be the sole purpose of the class. Hyra recalls initially being afraid of being the least bright person in the room, but soon discovered that the physical and technical aspects explored in the first few weeks of the course were not the important concepts. “Sure, the spacecraft needed fuel, life support, and artificial gravity, but what about food? Cattle? clothes and music? Body modification and medicine? What about the crew itself? Who would be selected and how?” Hyra, a music major, recalls. “It didn’t take me long to realize that the course was masquerading as a thorough, analytical look at our current lifestyles, personally, socially and globally.”

Nylon 6.6 is incredible at moisture management

NILIT is a leading global manufacturer of high-quality, sustainable fashion and functional fibers made from nylon 6.6. Founded in Israel in 1974, the company has four vertically integrated manufacturing facilities and global offices serving its customer base in EMEA, Asia, LATAM and North America. SENSIL, the company’s premium sustainable nylon 6.6 apparel brand, is the new quality standard for underwear, legwear, sportswear, denim, outdoor apparel and other products. In conversation with Shilpi PanjabiNILIT’s Vice President of Global Marketing Michelle Leah discusses Nylon 6.6 and next plans.

How big is the world market for Nylon 6.6? Which countries/regions are the main markets?

What is the percentage of Nylon 6.6 in the Manmade Fibers Industry? At what rate is it growing?

Where do you get your raw materials from?

Nylon 6.6 is used in the manufacture of all types of clothing from undergarments to outerwear. What makes it so versatile?

People in tropical countries prefer to wear sweat-absorbent clothing. How do you rate nylon 6.6 compared to clothing made from cotton and other natural fibers?

It is predicted that all petrochemicals will be exhausted in a few decades. In this context, what is the future of nylon 6.6 as it uses petrochemicals as a raw material?

What is SENSIL’s USP? How is SENSIL Nylon 6.6 different from other nylon fibers on the market?

How environmentally friendly is SENSIL? What is it made of?

What is SENSIL Heat?

Which countries/regions are the main customers of SENSIL? And what is their end use?

Demand for sportswear and activewear has increased post COVID. How much has the demand for SENSIL increased?

Have you recently attended trade fairs? How was the response?

Yes, we are participating in industry events again and are very satisfied with the response. It’s nice to reconnect with people and work together face to face. Our customers are also happy to be back and their enthusiasm for innovation and sustainability is higher than ever. We’ve launched a number of new products over the last few years, even during COVID, and it’s good to see designers really taking advantage of the significant opportunities we offer with our SENSIL portfolio.

What are the next plans at NILIT?

trade focus
Alan Majuru

THE current development agenda focuses on increasing exports, especially of value-added products.

Thus, the export community becomes an important pillar for the goal of a prosperous and capable middle-income economy by 2030.

During the ZimTrade Annual Exporters Conference held in Harare recently, President Mnangagwa – in a speech read on his behalf by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube – told exporters they had a bigger role to play in boosting foreign exchange earnings and Jobs in the country would have to play creation and technology transfer.

As part of efforts to expand the country’s export business base, the government has prioritized decentralization.

President Mnangagwa recently stated the importance of decentralization to support exports: “The need to establish economic independence at the district level is paramount and this integrative approach ensures that the country’s exports are managed to the fullest extent of the country’s capabilities be broadly diversified across the country. The success of our employees at the district level is the collective success of all of us at the national level.”

Under the new approach, provinces are expected to identify products and services unique to them that could be developed for export.

And to identify such products and services, ZimTrade — the country’s trade development and promotion organization — conducted surveys in every province.

The Midlands survey concluded that sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and services could be used to boost exports.

gweru

The capital of the Midlands province has a predominantly urban population and offers viable economic activities in sectors such as agriculture, leather, manufacturing, mining, engineering and education.

Gweru is home to Zimbabwe’s largest shoe company, Bata, and this could easily support a strong leather cluster in the province, which in turn could transform the district into a shoe manufacturing and export hub in southern Africa.

There is huge potential for exporting shoes and other leather products to regional markets such as Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In addition, the district has potential for the export of steel products.

Other manufacturing activities that could bring quick profits on the export front are weaving and textiles, apparel and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).

Gokwe North and South

The most common economic activity in Gokwe North and South districts is agriculture, with most small farmers specializing in cotton production.

However, some farmers are increasingly tapping into honey production.

Even more value can be unlocked when cotton adds value.

This could create more jobs and lead to better incomes for farmers, including improved livelihoods.

There are also new products such as chillies and dried fruits that could provide alternative export opportunities for rural communities in Gokwe.

For honey, regional markets that don’t require certifications could provide a soft landing.

In order to quickly develop honey export opportunities, capacity-building measures are needed so that farmers can produce enough quantities needed by buyers in regional markets.

Chirumhanzu

The most common economic activities that could support export prospects in Chirumhan are mining and agriculture.

Most of the small farmers in the district have experience and knowledge in the production of small grains such as bambara nuts (Nyimo/Indlubu), ground nuts, sorghum and rapoko and these could be destined for export as international demand increases.

For example, Bambara nuts are not complicated to grow and can thrive in many soils, allowing Chirumhanzu to develop an export cluster around the produce and other small grains and nuts.

As other horticultural products such as onions and tomatoes are grown in the district, value-added activities such as canned food will allow farmers to preserve value and gain access to export markets.

kwekwe

This is a center for agricultural, manufacturing and mining activities, with low-hanging fruit in products such as steel.

The largest steelworks, Steelmakers, is located at Redcliff, near Kwekwe, the district capital.

The district contains many large and small mines and several large steel mills.

It has the potential to become a steel export center in the province.

In terms of agriculture, the district produces chillies, tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers that can be exported.

Manufacturing economic activities include agricultural food processing, where the district already produces canned vegetables for the local market.

With increased production, the market could expand to countries in the region such as Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique.

Mberengwa District

Mining and small grain production are important economic activities in the district.

However, efforts have been made to boost the production of fresh vegetables and fruits.

The district’s export potential lies in the production of horticultural products such as tomatoes, cabbage and butternuts, all of which are in high demand in regional markets such as Botswana.

However, in order to be able to export successfully, the focus must be on capacity skills for smallholders.

This includes training in agronomy, post-harvest handling and cold chain management.

Zvishavane and Shurugwi districts

These two districts in the Midlands province have large deposits of minerals such as platinum and gold.

Value creation and processing can thus increase export earnings.

The other profitable economic activity for export markets in the districts is agriculture, although production is still small.

What is encouraging, however, is that the districts have seen an increase in smallholder farmers in recent years, most of whom have only a limited connection to export markets.

But irrigation programs have been successful in exports, with buyers coming from Francistown in Botswana to buy vegetables like kale/canola.

Some of the products with export potential that can be produced in the districts are sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, baby squash and cucumbers.

To be successful, small farmers need to be integrated into the lucrative export market.

Also, their products need to be consolidated for destinations like the Netherlands, the UK and China that require large volumes.

To achieve this, a concerted effort must be made to establish group cohesion.

Allan Majuru is CEO of ZimTrade

LONDON — Ecommerce veteran Martin Bartl puts its 25 years of experience in online fashion retail and British brands to life, unveiling a menswear line with a discreet, avant-garde edge.

Bartle, who has worked behind the scenes for years, among other things Net-a-porterMatchesfashion and Farfetch and brands like Paul Smith and advise Margaret Howelllaunches Quiet Man, a collection of timeless, tailored clothing just like him, suited to men in the creative industries.

Made entirely in London with fabrics sourced from Italian, Spanish and Portuguese mills, the collection has military flair but nothing heavy or jagged. Instead, it’s soft and roomy, with roomy cuts and plenty of drape.

Patch pockets adorn the front of an oversized white shirt, while wide-leg pants have cummerbund-like gurkha waistbands that fasten with buttons.

A flowy frock coat style coat has a certain ‘wheeling’ charm, while its oversized silhouette and dark pleats are reminiscent of Japanese menswear, with extreme cuts and draping.

This clothing is suitable for artists, architects, curators and writers looking for everyday pieces that make a statement but are still comfortable enough to hang paintings for a day before a private view or address book lovers at the Cheltenham Literary Festival .

Prices are in the contemporary range, with jackets ranging from £500 to £600 and coats from £800 to £1,000.

In an interview, Bartle described Quiet Man as the “highlight” of his career and said the approach was very personal.

“I’ve always been the person behind the scenes, at smaller brands or multi-brand retailers, and I’ve always felt like there was something missing in the market. And I wanted something that would fit well with my personal creative and fashion needs,” he said.

Bartle added that he wants to create a collection that is simple and not beholden to seasonal trends. Above all, he wanted it to be understated and durable.

“In this pretty brash, influencer-led world, I’m trying to make a little space for those of us who prefer something more timeless and quiet,” Bartle said.

The collections, the first of which launches this month, will be in season, with the brand planning to release capsules every two to three months. The debut collection has 12 pieces and Bartle said he hopes women will wear the clothes too.

The drop is followed by a smaller collection of basic items like sweatshirts, t-shirts and waistband pants.

Quiet Man has a sustainable, zero-waste approach and – like its competitors – a desire to engage with its community.

The business is vertical and has no offices or studios. Working virtually with his design and production teams, Bartle manufactured the collection at North London factories. He said he was “humbled” by the level of craftsmanship and know-how available in the UK today

The brand will begin direct-to-consumer sales, with plans for physical pop-up stores. Bartle plans to market the label in an appropriately understated manner with a series of events, such as dinners with like-minded people.

He said each event will be themed around the idea of ​​stillness and explore how people can achieve a sense of peace in their daily lives.

The brand works on several fronts. There will be a bespoke offering where people can give Quiet Man an item of clothing they love or a picture of something they love and the brand will recreate it. The plan is to work with the same tailors who cut and sew for the Savile Row homes.

“The whole brand is about emotional connection and resonating with people on that level. Therefore I approach marketing from a broader perspective of music, art, fiction and aesthetics. I really want Quiet Man to be something that people integrate into their lives,” he said.

With that in mind, Quiet Man plans to take back and resell the brand’s items when customers no longer wear them or want to replace them with a newer style.

In addition, Bartle is building a Quiet Man resale platform. Customers can buy and sell designer clothing with a similar aesthetic and quality to Quiet Man.

Bartle said that while he’s starting out with small-scale production, wholesale may be part of the plan as the business expands. Physical pop-ups are planned, but the focus is on digital commerce for now.

As an e-commerce veteran, Bartle analyzed numbers, conversion rates and basket sizes from the very beginning Net-a-porter and other online retailers.

Last, He was Chief Operations Officer at the London showroom Rainbowwaveand played a crucial role in this company’s digital transition when COVID-19 hit and physical showrooms were forced to close their doors.

Bartle said that the digital retail channel is finally having its moment and that people no longer need to experience a brand in physical space before buying it.

“I think the pandemic really made it possible, especially social commerce. Before the pandemic, how many people came across and bought from a brand just on social media? I think that number was pretty small,” Bartle said.

“I think people are now willing to try new brands, even if they have only experienced their digital presence so far. And that’s a big, big change,” he said.