Latest apparel and textile analysis
Comprehensive coverage of the apparel and textile industry's latest, breaking news brought to you by just-style's leading network of international journalists.
Rana Plaza one year on: Remedies doomed to fail?
Major remedial plans established in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster are “failing to address” the greatest risks posed by the systemic we...
Rana Plaza one year on: Timeline of change
The Rana Plaza factory disaster has proved to be a catalyst for change in Bangladesh. While there has been criticism of the speed of the fac...
Rana Plaza one year on: Bangladesh in words
One year today, one of the worst industrial disasters in history occured when the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killin...
Changes in China cotton policies cause uncertainty
The impact of recent changes to Chinese government policies on both the production and sale of raw cotton are continuing to cause uncertaint...
Who has signed the Bangladesh safety accord - update 24 Apr 2014
More than 160 companies have now signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh following the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in Dhaka, which killed more than 1,100 people one year ago.
ANALYSIS: Responsive supply chain key to Gap's growth plans 23 Apr 2014
US clothing giant Gap Inc has set its sights on growing operating margin beyond 13%, as it looks to gain a larger share of the US$1.4 trillion global apparel market. Key to this is building a more responsive supply chain, seamless inventory, international expansion, and omni-channel capabilities.
ANALYSIS: Garment firms set sights on Vietnam amid TPP talks 22 Apr 2014
Progress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) continues to falter, with the latest talks coming to an end last week in Japan amid "considerable differences." Yet many garment makers continue to ramp up their investments in Vietnam - one of the negotiating countries - despite ongoing uncertainties over the rules of origin issue.
Analysis: Tesco takes second stab at US market with F&F 17 Apr 2014
Retail behemoth Tesco this week revealed plans to open a chain of F&F clothing franchise stores in the US, marking the group's return to the States following the sale of its Fresh & Easy chain seven months ago. The announcement was shadowed somewhat by the group's second year of falling profits, published a day later. Nonetheless, industry observers believe the move appears to be a logical one, despite the failure of its food venture.
Hong Kong garment manufacturers eye Myanmar outsourcing 16 Apr 2014
As China's garment manufacturing industry continues to lose its competitive edge as a low-cost clothing supplier through worker wage rises and increasing regulation, more companies are looking to alternative sourcing destinations. As a result, new frontiers like Burma/Myanmar are being assessed.
Tesco FY results: What the analysts say 16 Apr 2014
UK retail giant Tesco this morning (16 April) proved it remains under pressure after it revealed its second consecutive annual drop in profits. Nonetheless, the beleaguered behemoth, which has seen its share price and market share struggle at near-decade lows, said clothing online continues to perform strongly. Analysts offered a mixed view of the results.
Mexico's shoe makers blame their woes on China 15 Apr 2014
Mexico's shoe industry continues to blame its woes on China - demanding the government act to quell a flood of imports which trade leaders say could force the shutdown of hundreds of factories.
PSF 2014: No one size fits all in apparel sourcing 14 Apr 2014
Even though China continues to play a pivotal role as an apparel supplier, interest in alternative sources continues to dominate industry discussions. And the picture they paint is of strategies that take account of shifts in domestic demand, investment in Southeast Asia, and outside opportunities like Africa.
Teen retail being rocked by fast fashion headwinds 11 Apr 2014
The popularity of fast fashion retailers such as Forever 21, H&M and Zara has changed the way consumers shop for value on a global basis. And according to new research, continued expansion of these concepts is likely to put more pressure on speciality retailers in the US - particularly those in the teen space.
US retailers' March 2014 sales roundup 11 Apr 2014
Michelle Russell and Katie Smith
US apparel retailers recorded mixed comparable store sales in March, but overall managed to beat very modest expectations resulting from the Easter holiday shift and continued cool weather.
US trade stance shifts from fast-track to smart-track 11 Apr 2014
US trade legislation that is "smart-track" rather than "fast-track," and reflects the apparel and footwear industries "as they are in this century - not as they were in the last one," is how the Senate Finance Committee's new chairman this week set out his upcoming agenda.
Is the US cotton sector losing out to synthetics? 10 Apr 2014
Cotton's share of the US clothing market has fallen following the sharp rise in cotton prices in 2012 - but the industry is fighting back.
M&S trading update: What the analysts say 10 Apr 2014
Marks & Spencer would seem to have turned a corner after recording a 1.3% increase in fourth-quarter clothing sales. But analysts believe the retailer's story remains the same - and that much more radical reforms are still needed.
Political and labour unrest to drag on Cambodia in 2014 8 Apr 2014
As if political tensions and strikes for higher wages by garment workers have not already caused enough disruption in Cambodia, new research suggests they will continue to weigh on the country's growth in 2014.
Stark contrast in US imports from China and Vietnam 7 Apr 2014
February is historically the slowest month of the year when it comes to US apparel imports, so it's not surprising that volumes were down. But the fortunes of the two biggest suppliers tell a very different story, with shipments from China seeing a double-digit decline and those from Vietnam continuing to rise.
US apparel firms failing to exploit free trade deals 3 Apr 2014
Are free trade agreements that allow the clothing and textile industries to import products free of duties, or at sharply reduced rates, really worth the effort involved in their negotiation? Maybe not always, or at least not in the US, say some experts.
South Africa curbs textile and garment job losses 3 Apr 2014
The decline of South Africa's beleaguered garment and textile industry is bottoming out, and the sector has stemmed job losses by 66% between 2010 and 2013, industry experts say.
Analysis: Asos targets global opportunities with supply chain changes 2 Apr 2014
Online fashion retailer Asos believes the next leg of its investment requires the group to flex its supply chain to access a further GBP1bn (US$1.66bn) of international sales.
Asos H1 trading update: What the analysts say 2 Apr 2014
Online fashion retailer Asos this morning (2 April) revealed a decline in first-half earnings but stronger sales growth. Pre-tax profit and gross margin were in line with analyst expectations, who gave a positive view of today's results.
Analysis: Progress needed on supply chain living wage 1 Apr 2014
A new report suggests retailers are still failing workers in their supply chains by not paying a living wage. The survey, which aims to provide greater transparency for consumers on the living wage issue, concludes that while some work has been done, much more progress is needed. just-style takes a closer look.
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Insights
- Garment firms set sights on Vietnam amid TPP talks
- Garment manufacturers eye Myanmar outsourcing
- Changes in China cotton policies cause uncertainty
- Responsive supply chain key to Gap's growth plans
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News
- Wage strike by Cambodia garment workers falls flat
- H&M still committed to higher wages and Bangladesh
- Vietnam Q1 textile and garment exports surge 21.9%
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