Here’s what’s happening this week in the apparel world …
Athletic wear companies Under Armour and Adidas have kissed and made up. Both retailers have reached a settlement in a patent infringement lawsuit regarding mobile fitness product patents, according to The Baltimore Sun. “Adidas AG, Under Armour Inc. and MapMyFitness Inc. have resolved their pending patent litigation and entered into a confidential settlement agreement,” an Under Armour spokesperson said in a statement, The Baltimore Sun reported.
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Not everyone is drinking Beyoncé’s lemonade right now. Refinery29 reported that the British tabloid The Sun has accused the singer of using a sweatshop to manufacture clothing for Ivy Park, the singer’s activewear brand with Sir Phillip Green. Allegedly MAS Holdings factory in Sri Lanka, known for exploiting employees, is where some of the clothes are made. Ivy Park released a statement about how it has factory inspections, and works closely with its suppliers to ensure they have proper working conditions.
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Tampa Bay Lightning is feeling blue. The NHL team is determined to turn its stadium, the Amalie Arena, blue for the Stanley Cup playoffs by enforcing a dress code. For The Win reported the dress code states restricted apparel as any clothing that references any of the Lightning’s former or current playoff opponents. (Bus some teams have found ways around that.) All Lightning-branded apparel is obviously welcomed.
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According to Business Standard, 319 more Bangladesh garment factories will be closing down. Some of the reasons the world’s second largest exporter of Western brand apparel is struggling are power crises, the devaluation of the U.S. Dollar and high interest rates on bank loans. Siddiqur Rahman, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Associations (BGMEA) voiced his concern last week and suggested some solutions, like garment accessories not having added tax.
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The makers of “the greatest hoodie ever made” decided to try their luck with T-shirts. American Giant, a made-in-the-U.S. apparel company, started it’s journey to create the best T-shirt a year ago and worked closely with the sewing crews to make sure its vision came to life, Fast Company reported. The cotton tee is now available for men and women in v-necks and crew necks for $35.50.
