Viewpoint

By: Leonie Barrie

just-style editor Leonie Barrie shares her thoughts on some of the top stories in the news.

Viewpoint: Cambodia's garment sector faces continued challenges

9 February 2012

With much of the success of Cambodia's garment industry based on its well-publicised commitment to basic labour standards, it's perhaps not surprising that the sector finds itself under a spotlight when it comes to wider worker welfare issues. Indeed, several events that have taken place in recent weeks highlight some of the challenges faced by the local industry.

Viewpoint: Will Bangladesh be the next sourcing hotspot?

25 January 2012

The global clothes sourcing bandwagon is forever looking for the next hot spot, especially as nearly two decades of apparel price deflation comes to an end and worries continue to escalate about raw material and labour costs, capacity issues and the overall competitiveness of China. But is Bangladesh ready to step into the role of sourcing country of choice?

VIEWPOINT: Heel heights and economic insights

22 November 2011

The correlation between skirt lengths and economic booms and busts - the so-called hemline index - is not only well documented but even seems to have stood the test of time. In essence, short skirts are a sign of confidence and a precursor to rising stock markets; while longer lengths signify caution and a market downturn.

VIEWPOINT: Has Liz Claiborne reached a turning point?

13 October 2011

Five years after taking the helm at Liz Claiborne Inc, it's hard to see exactly what William McComb has achieved. Sales are down, last year it could only muster a loss of $305.7m, and nearly one-quarter of its heyday brands have gone. But yesterday the company was confident it had finally reached a critical turning point.

VIEWPOINT: Apparel and textile industry divided by TPP pact

16 September 2011

If ever there was an issue set to divide apparel brands, retailers and textile companies, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact is surely it. Described as the most significant negotiation for the US and its regional trade partners since the NAFTA agreement, the yarn forward rule of origin has emerged as one of the most divisive issues.

VIEWPOINT: Short-term contracts exploit Cambodia garment workers

9 August 2011

International apparel buyers and their suppliers are being urged to take steps to put an end to the widespread use of short-term employment contracts in the Cambodian garment industry amid concerns the practice not only threatens to erode the industry's competitiveness but also violates labour laws and could lead to widespread unrest.

VIEWPOINT: US apparel retail sales shine in June

8 July 2011

While cold weather, storms and flooding dampened demand for spring and summer merchandise in May, US apparel retailers rebounded with a better than expected performance in June after a combination of lower gas prices, sunshine and deep discounting encouraged shoppers to hit the stores.

VIEWPOINT: Why US textile groups fear Vietnam in TPP pact

2 June 2011

Even though ongoing talks around the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement involve nine nations, for the US textile industry Vietnam is seen as by far the biggest threat.

VIEWPOINT: Apparel continues to drag on Wal-Mart's US unit

18 May 2011

Not only does Wal-Mart Stores' US namesake unit continue to be a drag on its bottom line, but its apparel business continues to weigh particularly heavily on its performance here as well, the world's largest retailer admitted this week.

VIEWPOINT: The yuan's growing role in apparel trade

20 April 2011

As the second largest economy in the world, it is perhaps inevitable that China's currency is set to play a bigger role in international trade.

VIEWPOINT: Helping brands stand out in a crowded market

16 March 2011

For most apparel retailers and brands, choosing the labels, packaging, price tickets and even RFID tags for the garments they sell is most likely to be a decision made at the end of the design cycle. But Avery Dennison believes elevating it to the beginning of the process not only saves time and money, but can ultimately make products stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

VIEWPOINT: Target makes up for lost time with Canadian move

14 January 2011

Having been criticised for being slow to cash in on the potential of international expansion, US discount retailer Target Corp is now making up for lost time with a CAD1.825bn (US$1.83bn) swoop on Canadian discount chain Zellers.

VIEWPOINT: Facing up to forced labour in apparel

16 December 2010

While apparel and footwear firms are all too often caught up in concerns over the use of child labour, the industry can take some small comfort from three new reports just released by the US Department of Labor. But the latest findings may also mean the issue of forced labour moves to the forefront of ethical concerns.

VIEWPOINT: J Crew buyout comes under scrutiny

24 November 2010

No sooner was the ink dry on the yesterday's announcement of a $3bn takeover deal at apparel retailer J Crew, than a flurry of shareholders began to question whether enough efforts had been made to achieve the highest bid.

VIEWPOINT: Gap's rebranding a disastrous move

13 October 2010

Just as BP's disastrous handling of the worst oil spill in US history earlier this year is already a public-relations case study in how not to manage a crisis, so too clothing retailer Gap Inc is likely to be remembered for all the wrong reasons after its rebranding efforts this week.

VIEWPOINT: Cleaning up textile mills makes commercial sense

23 September 2010

Plans by two of the world's largest retailers - Walmart and H&M - to work with their Chinese textile suppliers to reduce water, energy, and chemical use in their factories sends out an important message to global supply chains.

VIEWPOINT: What’s the bottom line on Bangladesh?

6 August 2010

Far from quelling months of violent protests over pay and conditions, an 80% rise in the minimum wage for garment workers in Bangladesh has simply led to a fresh wave of violence over claims it still doesn't meet the high cost of living. And as the pay process has proved, there's no quick-fix to the cycle of unrest.

VIEWPOINT: China "cornerstone" of Gap's global growth

24 June 2010

US casual clothing retailer Gap Inc first mooted its plans to expand in China, the world's fastest-growing economy, last October - but it is only now, eight months down the line, that more details of this major milestone in the company's global growth have been revealed.

VIEWPOINT: Frank retailers are few and far between

7 June 2010

US retailers were last week quick to point the finger of blame for their lacklustre performance in May on a number of factors - ranging from poor weather early in the month which dampened demand for summer merchandise, to the later timing of the Memorial Day calendar, which shifted some sales into June.