Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

Three-quarters (76 per cent) of consumers say online shopping lacks excitement, and 29 per cent describe it as a ‘chore’, according to a new survey from Paris-based commerce media company Criteo.

More than half (61 per cent) of shoppers say they turn to online shopping purely for convenience, while a third (36 per cent) lament the loss of ‘unexpected finds’ online, which is a key driver of retail joy, the survey revealed.

Criteo partnered with Harvard PR and market research specialist Vitreous World to poll 6,000 consumers and 600 brand leaders across the US, UK, German, French, Japanese and South Korean markets.

Seventy-nine per cent of consumers feel online shopping is ‘lonely’, and 78 per cent say they are overwhelmed by too many product choices. Only 50 per cent find online shopping relaxing or enjoyable.Customers want to be understood by brands also, as 43 per cent of online shoppers expect brands to use their data to create personalised experiences.Fifty-five per cent of brand leaders believe influencers drive traffic, but only 29 per cent of consumers say influencer content makes them feel positively towards a brand. Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of consumers say visiting a brand’s website contributes to their excitement.

Almost all brand leaders (98 per cent) believe their discovery strategies are effective, and 80 per cent stating their approach contributes to brand growth, the Criteo survey found.

While 79 per cent of brands acknowledge that data privacy concerns hinder their ability to refine discovery strategies, almost half (43 per cent) of online shoppers are open to brands using their data when it leads to better, more personalised experiences, provided it’s done transparently and with trust.

More than four-in-five (83 per cent) brands say they are set to lean on AI tools to improve user experience.
 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

Livestream platforms are attracting a diverse range of buyers, with apparel as the most popular category—31 per cent of buyers purchase clothing during livestream sessions. Twenty-five per cent of buyers showed interest in shoes, according to a report by Whatnot, a live-stream shopping platform.

This year, thirty-seven per cent of European consumers are shopping more frequently on live platforms compared to the previous year, as livestream shopping rapidly gains traction across Europe and emerges as a powerful revenue channel, according to the first-ever European Market Report by Whatnot titled ‘The Live Selling Revolution: 2025 European Market Report.’

A striking 94 per cent of European live sellers consider it vital to their business success, with 59 per cent generating over half their total revenue through the medium. Nearly 65 per cent earn more than £10,000 monthly, and one in four surpass £50,000, highlighting its strong income potential.

Livestream platforms are expanding opportunities across various product categories—from clothing to collectibles. Women’s fashion leads with 25 per cent of sellers, followed closely by men’s fashion (22 per cent).

In the UK, fashion has emerged as the fastest-growing category, experiencing an average quarterly sales growth of 90 per cent in 2024. This sector also leads in sales volume, with UK sellers averaging 25 items sold per hour during livestreams.

In France too, live shopping is booming, with Whatnot viewers logging over 1.3 million hours of live shows in 2024 and the number of French sellers rising by nearly 650 per cent year-on-year.

In Germany, Whatnot users watched over 1.6 million hours of live shows in 2024, while the number of sellers increased by 30 per cent month-over-month (MoM).

Cross-border sales between the UK, France, and Germany have grown by an average of 40 per cent MoM, with some markets seeing 60 per cent of their sales from other countries.
 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

After welcoming nearly 95,000 visitors from 131 countries and regions (2024: nearly 90,000 from 116), curtains closed for the global apparel flagship on 13 March, signalling a successful end to the international Spring / Summer 2026 sourcing season for apparel textiles and accessories. As buyers crossed paths with over 3,100 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), a wide range of industry players was represented onsite and optimistic about future business. Key highlights included the Spring Edition debut of Econogy Hub; the spring show’s largest-ever Japan Pavilion, Hong Kong Pavilion and France Zone; 13 Econogy Talks seminars; and two new display areas for functional fashion.

Ms Shea continued: “Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is a platform that offers opportunities to the entire industry, no matter the size of the company, where they’re from, or the type of product, and the fantastic participation of returning and new exhibitors and visitors this spring demonstrates their votes of confidence.”

From fashion fabrics and accessories and functional fashion, to sustainability, innovation and digital transformation, prospects for the industry’s future were on show across the show’s seven halls. In addition to a host of domestic exhibitors grouped by product end use, the fair gave a platform to seven country and region pavilions and zones (France, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Türkiye), three group pavilions (Ecocert, Korea Textile Center, and Lenzing), and seven featured zones (Digital Printing Zone, Digital Solutions Zone, Econogy Hub, Functional Lab, Premium Wool Zone, SalonEurope, and Verve for Design).

Compared to the previous Spring Edition, there was an overseas exhibitor increase of nearly 15%, with a more than 50% return rate, while over 100 suppliers made their debuts in the International Hall. Beyond showcasing at their booths, exhibitors submitted visual-tactile samples to not only the Intertextile Directions Trend Forum, but also to two new display zones: The CUBE (Functional Lab), and the Functional Suiting Display Area (Premium Wool Zone).
 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

The 60th edition of JEC World 2025 marked a new milestone as the largest JEC World ever, attracting over 45,000 professional visits from 94 countries, 29 per cent coming from France, with 27 regional and national pavilions and hosting more than 1,350 exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge innovations, and a very strong increase in business relationships as part of the JEC business meetings programme.

After three days of intense business interactions, expertise sharing, and knowledge exchange, JEC World 2025 reaffirmed the pivotal role of the composites industry in building a more sustainable future. Under the unifying theme ‘Pushing the Limits’, the event showcased the extraordinary versatility and innovation of composite materials that continue to redefine lightweighting, performance, and design possibilities for an increasing number of applications.

With more than 600 new products and innovations launched during this year’s show, JEC World remains the best place to introduce new developments to the global market. The JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognised 11 collaborative achievements, reflecting the industry’s dedication to providing new solutions for all application sectors of composites.

For its 8th edition, the JEC Composites Startup Booster competition, now firmly established as the leading competition for start-ups in the advanced materials sector, rewarded 3 companies from Netherlands, Spain and the US for their impressive market potential.

The Live Demo zone was particularly visible on the show floor and well attended over the three days. This feature, highlighting automated and robotised processes, including large-scale additive manufacturing technologies, together with more than 100 machines available on exhibitors’ booths, made the JEC World experience unique. 59 per cent of the exhibition space has already been booked for the next edition, which will take place from March 10 to 12, 2026.
 

Source: www.fibre2fashion.com

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) raincoats shall be classified under HSN 3926 as plastic articles and attract a goods and services tax (GST) of 18 per cent, the West Bengal Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) recently ruled responding to applications filed by Dollar and Aristocrat brands.

PVC, being highly durable and water-resistant, is an ideal material for crafting raincoats as protective outerwear.

Aristocrat argued that PVC raincoats are functionally made as protective outerwear and must be included under HSN Code 6201 as apparel articles.

Aristocrat’s counsel referred to a ruling by the Customs Authority for Advance Rulings (CAAR) in the case of NZ Seasonal Wear Pvt Ltd that categorised similar PVC raincoats under HSN Code 6201, acknowledging them as textile garments due to their composition and intended use.

The West Bengal bench noted that synthetic polymer PVC is covered under Chapter 39 of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975. It stressed that the chapter notes of Section XI, which deals with textile articles, exclude materials that are categorised under Chapter 39, according to media reports from the state.

Even though PVC raincoats serve as protective outerwear, their composition and manufacturing process make them plastic articles instead of textile garments, the bench ruled.