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Global Apparel Sourcing for US----The post January 01, 2005 scenario.

 


             The apparel industry in US has witnessed an overwhelming transition, especially in the last ten years or so, to the developing world. Same is the case with the textile industry that is currently experiencing its roughest times. .
             It is a global economic fact that when a country climbs the ladder of development its concentration on high value, capital-intensive output is proportionately increased. Take the case of Singapore which once used to earn a chunk of its foreign exchange with apparel exports to US and EU but as the economy advanced and labor supply became more and more specialized Singapore lost its competitive edge to countries like Thailand, Phillipines, Pakistan etc. Now Singapore boasts its foreign exchange earnings to electronics, computer chips, semi-conductors etc. .
             The US being a huge market of apparels consuming 25% of the total output at one time had its own booming apparel industry up until the 70s in addition to sourcing from a handful of Asian countries like Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. The 80s saw the emergence of new vendor countries all over the world from Macau to Mexico and from Lithuania to Lesotho. US retailers and importers now have the world to shop from. This changed the whole outlook the way US retailers and importers source their products. .
             Retailers don't care where the product comes from as long as its ready to hit the shelves on the day they want it, noted Tom Gardener, senior vice president of bath manufacturing for Springs Industries, the largest home fashion producer.
             THE STATE OF THE US TEXTILE INDUSTRY-----------WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH!.
             What is the state of US apparel and textile industry now? It is suffering from surge of Asian and Central American imports. Companies have shifted their sewing plants overseas where cheap and skilled labor out competes their US counterparts by the mile. With NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in effect, US manufacturers, in hoards, have shifted their sewing plants to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala etc.


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