Apparel Industry was one of the first globallyoperating industries. Already in the early 1970ies did European fashioncompanies extend their manufacturing workbenches into lower cost neighbouringcountries, making it one of the first industries to have a globally distributednetwork. In the first decade of the 21st century, the conditions for clothesmanufacturing has changed considerably. The Sourcing Share of Asia increaseddramatically especially since Chinas participation in the WTO in 2005 which ledto the abolition of quotas. India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the Philippines also play a major role in the Asian Textile and Garment Market.


But even so, West Europe, the Mediterranean Rimand the East European Countries still play an important role on the globaltextile and apparel market, maybe no longer from the volume perspective but interms of variety, complexity and product quality, particularly for the moredemanding markets. Latin America has seen a significant decline over the lastdecade but is developing similar strategies like Europe to compete throughquality and specialty niche rather than volume. Does this mean that the WestEuropean Apparel Industry is dead? The European Textile and Garment industryhas undergone a severe decline since 1970 which nearly made it extinct in someof the EU founding economies. The labour intensive manufacturing segment whichis almost not existent in Western Europe today particularly suffered. The onlyuncritical area where specifically one country in Western Europe is stilldefending its share, possibly due to changed sourcing practices and a recentlyincreased presence on the global marketplace is the textile sector in Italy, which has even seen a rise in both volumes and employees over the last decade.



ReadFull Article



Originally published in: New Cloth Market, August-2010


Image courtesy:


  • essessfashions.com
  • supplychainlogistics.htcorp.net