Editorial: Counterfeiting of Textiles and Apparel: A Growing Global Business

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but for those being imitated counterfeiting is a costly business. Revenues are lost, and companies targeted by counterfeiters spend millions of dollars a year trying to stamp out the activity and catch the culprits.

Counterfeiting is estimated to cost the global economy as much as US$512 bn a year or 7% of world trade?according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Customs Organization.

In the financial year ending September 20, 2005, US authorities confiscated over US$93 mn worth of counterfeit goods. Moreover, apparel was the leading commodity seized with a value of US$16.1 mn?representing 17% of seizures. Footwear accounted for 10% of the total or US$8.9 mn in value.

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Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
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