Performance apparel markets: business update, 4th quarter 2014
ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTMENTS AND MERGERS
Archroma will acquire BASF’S textile chemicals business
BeoCare has acquired Shelby Elastics, a manufacturer of knitted medical textiles
Nilit has acquired Invista’s nylon 6.6 manufacturing facility in Americana, Brazil
Quiksilver has sold its majority equity stake in Surfdome to Surfstitch
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
Primaloft has implemented the Responsible Down Standard (RDS)
Primaloft has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)
DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES
Under Armour will build a new distribution facility in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, USA
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Adidas
Third quarter 2014
First nine months 2014
Columbia Sportswear
Outlook
Nike
Second quarter 2014/15
First half 2014/15
Perry Ellis International
Puma
Under Armour
Unifi
VF Corporation
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND DISTRIBUTION
DSM Dyneema has entered into a manufacturing agreement with JS Gloves
Under Armour Has entered into a partnership with Andy Murray
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES
Tanatex has opened a new textile chemical production facility in Thailand
NEW STORES
Nike has opened its first two stores dedicated to women’s products
Table 1: Adidas: breakdown of revenues by brand, 3 qtr 2013 and 3 qtr 2014
Table 2: Adidas: breakdown of revenues by region, 3 qtr 2013 and 3 qtr 2014
Table 3: Adidas: breakdown of revenues by brand, Jan-Sep 2013 and Jan-Sep 2014
Table 4: Adidas: breakdown of revenues by region, Jan-Sep 2013 and Jan-Sep 2014
Table 5: Nike: revenues by geographical region, 2 qtr 2013/14 and 2 qtr 2014/15
Demand for antimicrobial fibres, textiles and apparel is set for strong growth, according to Issue No 47 of Performance Apparel Markets from the business information company Textiles Intelligence.
Demand will be spurred primarily by growing awareness among consumers of the importance of personal hygiene and the health risks posed by certain microorganisms.
Also, the promotion of healthier and more physically active lifestyles will buoy demand as consumers look to purchase sportswear and fitness apparel with antimicrobial properties.
Moreover, the greater use of fabrics, particularly cotton, which are prone to harbouring large bacterial colonies will present opportunities for antimicrobial fibres, textiles and apparel.
Between 2013 and 2018, the global market for antimicrobial agents for all end uses, including textiles, is forecast to grow by nearly 12% per annum.
However, there is concern among consumers that some agents used to provide textiles and apparel with antimicrobial properties -- notably silver nanoparticles and triclosan -- are toxic. Such agents can become dislodged from a textile during laundering and thereby pollute water sources. Also, they can come into contact with the skin and cause skin irritation.
Amid these concerns, manufacturers are stepping up their efforts to develop effective and durable antimicrobial technologies which are less likely to be harmful to human health and the environment and which comply with environmental certifications.
As a result of such developments, antimicrobial products which are likely to record the strongest gains in sales over the coming years will be those that offer the highest efficacy and durability while posing little or no threat to the safety of consumers or the environment.
Consequently, the market for natural antimicrobial compounds -- although still in its infancy -- is likely to expand given the growing interest in environmentally friendly products among consumers and a tightening of the regulations which govern the use of many common biocides.
Environmentally sustainable antimicrobial technologies have been developed by a number of manufacturers.
Dow Chemical Company has produced a silver-based antimicrobial technology, called Silvadur, which does not release silver particles into the environment. In addition, Silvadur is said to help reduce the amounts of energy and water used by textile processing plants.
In a similar vein, Sanitized has developed a range of antimicrobial products, called Sanitized, which comply with Oeko-Tex Standard 100 -- which certifies that they are free from harmful substances.
Also, Quick-Med Technologies has developed a technology called Stay Fresh, and claims that this is the only hydrogen peroxide based antimicrobial technology approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
