Global apparel markets: business update, 2nd quarter 2012

This report provides an update of business news in the following categories: acquisitions, divestments and mergers; corporate social responsibility (CSR); financial results; international trade policy; joint ventures, cooperation, licensing and distribution; markets; new stores; and online retailing. Companies, organisations and brands analysed in the reports include Abercrombie & Fitch, Anvil Knitwear, Aquascutum, Asos, Benetton Group, Bosideng International, Brooks Brothers, Delta Galil Industries, DyStar, Fast Retailing, Fawaz Al Hokair, Gap, Gildan Activewear, H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), Inditex, JC Penney, J Crew, Lane Crawford, Lee Cooper, Lenzing, Levi Strauss & Co, LVB, Maison Martin Margiela, Marks & Spencer (M&S), My-wardrobe.com, Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT), Perry Ellis International, Reliance Brands, Schiesser, Tesco, TJX Companies, Tuscarora Yarns, Uniqlo, US International Trade Commission (USITC) and YGM Trading.

Clothing And Textile Industry

List of contents
SUMMARY
ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTMENTS AND MERGERS
Delta Galil has acquired Schiesser
Gildan Activewear has acquired Anvil Holdings
YGM Trading has acquired the luxury clothing brand Aquascutum
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
H&M has published its Conscious Actions Sustainability Report for 2011
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has launched a new recycling initiative called “Shwopping”
The European Union (EU) has launched a new programme in Pakistan to support the
development of a sustainable cotton supply chain
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Abercrombie & Fitch: net sales increased by 10% in the first quarter of 2012/13
Asos: Total Group revenues rose by 46% in 2011/12 thanks to continuing strong international
sales
Fourth quarter 2011/12
2011/12
Benetton Group: net sales and net income declined in the first quarter of 2012
Gap: net sales increased but net income remained static in the first quarter of 2012/13
Gildan Activewear: net sales increased by 25.9% but net earnings declined by 56.4% in the
second quarter of 2011/12
Outlook
H&M: sales were up by 14.1% and gross profit rose by 12.3% in the first half of 2011/12
Second quarter 2011/12
First half of 2011/12
New stores
Inditex: net sales and net income rose in the first quarter of 2012/13
New stores
JC Penney: a net loss was incurred in the first quarter of 2012/13 due to restructuring charges
and a new pricing and promotional strategy
Levi Strauss & Co: net sales and net income increased in the first quarter of 2011/12
Marks and Spencer (M&S): total sales increased by 2.0% in 2011/12
Fourth quarter 2011/12
2011/12
Perry Ellis International: total revenues and net income declined in the first quarter of
2012/13
Outlook
TJX Companies: net income rose by 58% as net sales increased by 11% in the first quarter of
2012/13
INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY
The US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA) has entered into force
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND
DISTRIBUTION
Brooks Brothers and Reliance Brands have formed a joint venture company in India
Dystar and Tuscarora Yarns have entered into a partnership agreement to develop new
environmentally friendly dyed yarns for coloured denim
Inditex will expand its head office and build a new logistics centre in Spain
J Crew and Lane Crawford have entered into an agreement to bring the J Crew brand to Asia
Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT) and Lenzing have signed a joint development
agreement
Maison Martin Margiela will develop an apparel collection for H&M
MARKETS
EU clothing imports fell in value and volume in the first quarter of 2012
US clothing imports were up in value by 2.7% in the first four months of 2012
NEW STORES
Bosideng International has opened its first flagship store in the UK
Fast Retailing will open a new Uniqlo flagship store in San Francisco, USA
Fast Retailing has set up a subsidiary in China
Lee Cooper plans to open 20 new standalone stores in Russia during 2012-14
Tesco has opened its first F&F store in Saudi Arabia
ONLINE RETAILING
My-wardrobe.com will expand into the Asian retail market