Profile of Fruit of the Loom

Fruit of the Loom is one of the largest manufacturers of basic apparel in the USA. It is also a major producer in world terms. Its products include men?s, boys? underwear, women?s and girls? underwear, casual wear, children?s wear, and active wear for the screen print, T-shirt and fleece markets.

Fruit of the Loom?s operations are vertically integrated. Its North American business makes use of capital intensive spinning, knitting and cutting operations in the USA. However, labour intensive sewing and finishing operations have been moved offshore to lower cost locations in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Basin. Fruit of the Loom has also established a significant business in Europe. For this market, the company?s manufacturing is concentrated in Ireland, although labour intensive activities are being relocated to lower cost plants in North Africa.

Fruit of the Loom?s products are strongly branded, which is viewed by the company as one of its main competitive advantages. Other advantages include its vertically integrated structure, its ability to produce individual categories of clothing in large volumes, and the strong relationships it has forged with leading US discount chains and mass merchandise retailers over many years.

In late 1999 Fruit of the Loom was forced to seek protection from its creditors under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code. But since then it has worked hard to reduce its cost base, and has withdrawn from a number of businesses - including its Pro Player Sports and Licensing activity and its Gitano jeanswear operations. Fruit of the Loom looks set to emerge from Chapter 11 by the end of 2001.

To read the full report buy issue 93 now	Subscribe

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.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
Textile Outlook International is available on subscription ? either in printed format only, or in printed and electronic format. If you choose the printed only option, you will receive 6 printed publications a year, containing a total of 30 reports plus editorials written by Robin Anson, our editorial director and in-house industry expert.
Electronic supplement If you choose the printed and electronic option, you will receive an extra service. You will still receive each issue in printed format, delivered to you by traditional post. In addition, you will be able to download PDF files containing the same information ? but the PDF files will be available immediately on publication, so you don?t have to wait for the printing and mailing. You also have all the benefits of electronic files: instant access even when you are away from the office; convenient storage in your PC or laptop; portability; electronic search facility; and copy/paste facility.