A New Era for Global Textile and Clothing Supply Chains

23 pages, published in Issue 114, November-December 2004   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The global textile and clothing sector is at a crossroads. The end of quotas in 2004 will have a major impact on how and where textiles and clothing are made, and how the supply chain is managed.

Producers are already affected by changes in retailing. Big retailers are buying up independent brands to give consumers more value and enhance their shopping experience. Target has tied up with Mossimo, Wal-Mart is offering Asda?s ?George? brand in the USA, K-Mart is enticing female shoppers with Jaclyn Smith and Kathy Ireland signature collections, and Levi?s Signature line is being sold through Target and Wal-Mart. The expanding global reach of mega-retailers and mega-brands is putting pressure on local supply channels. Many retailers retain existing suppliers when moving into new geographical markets, which puts pressure on local producers. Clothing makers are also fighting for a share of total consumer expenditure as spending rises in electronics, leisure, and healthcare. Consumers want more fashion and performance. They are also more value driven?as shown by a shift from department stores to hypermarkets and discount stores.

Quota elimination will force down clothing prices further. It will also enable retail buyers to focus on the most competitive suppliers in terms of cost, quality and productivity, rather than being confined to those who possess quotas. Retailers will consolidate by buying from fewer firms and countries. Winning suppliers will be those offering shorter lead times through market proximity or ?perceived? market proximity. Winners will also include firms which can deliver big volumes from vertically integrated operations?although suppliers unable to verticalise could form ?virtual? vertically integrated structures through partnerships.

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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.
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.
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