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
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?
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
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.
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.
Latest apparel and textile news 
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?
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
Latest comment
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.
US: Sales at clothing stores slow in April
16 May 2012
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.
Hot issue
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.
Latest insights
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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Apparel Retail: Global Industry Almanac
Apparel Retail: Global Industry Almanac is an essential resource for top-level data and analysis covering the Apparel Retail industry. It includes detailed data on market size and segmentation, textual analysis of the key trends and competitive landscape, and profiles of the leading companies. This incisive report provides expert analysis on a global, regional and country basis.
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The just-style blog
Record inventories weigh on cotton prices
By: Leonie Barrie
14 May 2012
International cotton prices for July delivery fell to a low of 77.16 cents a pound last week after a US government report forecast record inventories for the second season in a row. While prices subsequently rebounded, they are still sitting at around one-third of the cotton price peak reached in March last year.
How low can clothing prices go?
By: Leonie Barrie
09 May 2012
Apparel acquisitions see an upswing
By: Leonie Barrie
08 May 2012
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