US: Textile and apparel imports up in March

US: Textile and apparel imports up in March

US imports of apparel and textiles were up by 1.7% by volume in March on a year ago, according to the Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel.

SRI LANKA/CAMBODIA: Textile workers hurt by lifting of quotas

SRI LANKA/CAMBODIA: Textile workers hurt by lifting of quotas

A World Bank assessment has concluded the abolition of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) multi-fibre agreement (MFA) on textile trade quotas failed to deliver wealth to Cambodian and Sri Lankan textile and clothing workers.

The Flanarant: Is garment production coming home?

The Flanarant: Is garment production coming home?

Suggestions that reshoring, or bringing back jobs lost to China, would benefit the Western apparel industry are dismissed as "flagwash" by Mike Flanagan. He says there is still a need for businesses in developed countries to provide sewing services.

May 2012 management briefing: Apparel software trends in the year ahead

May 2012 management briefing: Apparel software trends in the year ahead

In this month's management briefing, just-style canvasses the views of software experts on the biggest challenges facing the global apparel supply chain in 2012 and the ways technology can help tackle some of these issues.

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just-style's research roundup

Featured research on just-style this week includes prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Indonesia, a report on trends in US textile and clothing imports, and a look at specialist apparel retailers in Sweden.


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US: Abercrombie & Fitch Q1 tumbles on costs and comps

16 May 2012

Higher costs, "challenging" trends in Europe, and falling same-store sales in the US have combined to push teen-apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co to a sharp drop in first quarter earnings.

CHINA: Plans to lift textile output as export growth slows

16 May 2012

China's textile and garment export growth in the first quarter of this year has slowed from the double-digit figures posted in 2011 - but plans are also afoot to double textile output by 2020.

MAURITIUS: Cost cuts help Ciel Textiles treble 9-month profit

16 May 2012

Mauritius-based apparel major Ciel Textiles has seen its nine-month profit more than treble thanks to improved efficiency and aggressive cost cutting.

 

Easing US sanctions on Burma could prove difficult

Is the US Government likely to follow the European Union, Canada and other major markets in lifting sanctions against Burma? Trade expert Brenda Jacobs, an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, believes that the "targeted easing" plan outlined last month is likely to be slow and cautious.

Hot issue

Is garment production coming home?

Is garment production coming home?

Suggestions that reshoring, or bringing back jobs lost to China, would benefit the Western apparel industry make no economic sense - but there is still a need for businesses in developed countries to provide a range of sewing services.

Read more here / View all hot issues

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Comment: The US-Colombia trade pact two-step

The US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement comes into force today (15 May) - but, as in so many cases, the disruptive nature of US trade policies means all is not quite what it seems. Here Steve Lamar, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), cautions the US apparel and footwear industry about the immediate rule changes impacting the supply chain.

Read more here / View all comments

 

Weather forecasts offer brighter outlook for retailers

The wettest April in the UK meant last month was a washout for retailers - but contrasts with an unexpectedly warm March as shoppers flocked to the stores to buy summer clothes. With the weather changing every day, forecasting upcoming trends is as important for the apparel industry as any other.

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Speaking with style: Henry Tan, CEO, Luen Thai Holdings

Speaking with style: Henry Tan, CEO, Luen Thai Holdings

Luen Thai Holdings is Hong Kong's largest listed garment firm, with 34,000 employees, revenues of around US$1bn and a flagship business that produces over 80m garments a year. Here CEO Henry Tan talks to just-style managing editor Leonie Barrie calls about the need for industry-wide collaboration, the push into new production bases and the changing role of China.

Read more here / View all hot issues

Latest insights RSS feed

Comment: The US-Colombia trade pact two-step

15 May 2012

The US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement comes into force today (15 May) - but, as in so many cases, the disruptive nature of US trade policies means all is not quite what it seems. Here Steve Lamar, executive vice president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), cautions the US apparel and footwear industry about the immediate rule changes impacting the supply chain.

The Flanarant: Is garment production coming home?

14 May 2012

Suggestions that reshoring, or bringing back jobs lost to China, would benefit the Western apparel industry are dismissed as "flagwash" by Mike Flanagan. But while such a move would make no economic sense, he believes there is still a need for businesses in developed countries to provide a range of sewing services.

Comment: Easing US sanctions on Burma could prove difficult

14 May 2012

Is the US Government likely to follow the European Union, Canada and other major markets in lifting sanctions against Burma? Trade expert Brenda Jacobs, an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP, believes that the "targeted easing" plan outlined last month is likely to be slow and cautious and highlights the complex web of rules currently in place.

just-style's research roundup

14 May 2012

Featured research on just-style this week includes prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Indonesia, a report on trends in US textile and clothing imports, and a look at specialist apparel retailers in Sweden.

George dials up fashion credentials with shorter lead times

11 May 2012

Supermarket fashion brand George at Asda, a unit of retail giant Wal-Mart Stores, is working to "dial up" its fashion credentials this year with shorter lead times on fast fashion following its acquisition of the sourcing arm of its Turkish supplier GAAT.

Weather forecasts offer brighter outlook for retailers

10 May 2012

The wettest April on record in the UK meant last month was a washout for retailers - but contrasts with an unexpectedly warm March that saw shoppers flock to the stores to buy items like summer clothes. With the weather changing every day, forecasting upcoming trends is as important for the apparel and footwear industry as any other. Katie Smith reports.

Speaking with style: Henry Tan, CEO, Luen Thai Holdings (Part I)

9 May 2012

Luen Thai Holdings is Hong Kong's largest listed garment firm, with 34,000 employees, revenues of around US$1bn and a flagship business that produces over 80m garments a year - as well as footwear and bags - from production bases in China, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia. In the first of two articles based on a conversation with just-style managing editor Leonie Barrie at the recent Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong, CEO Henry Tan calls for industry-wide collaboration in a bid to increase efficiency and offset rising costs in the apparel supply chain.

Speaking with style: Henry Tan, CEO, Luen Thai Holdings (Part II)

9 May 2012

In the second of two articles based on a conversation with just-style managing editor Leonie Barrie at the recent Prime Source Forum in Hong Kong, Henry Tan, the CEO of Hong Kong's largest listed garment firm Luen Thai Holdings, talks about the push into new production bases and the changing role of China.

Hikes in raw materials prices hit US and EU imports

8 May 2012

US and EU textile and clothing import prices rose sharply in 2011 reflecting hikes in raw material prices, new research shows.

 

Mexico clawing back role as key US clothing supplier

Signs are emerging that Mexico's textile and apparel industry is reclaiming a growing proportion of the US market as it benefits from an increasing focus on higher-value products and greater diversification.

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