Apparel and textile management briefings
At just-style, we understand the need for depth in analysis. Using a mixture of data and analysis, our portfolio of management briefings delve deeper into the issues and environment shaping today's news. Topics are grouped together on a monthly basis, allowing us to cover subjects from multiple angles, giving you an unrivalled view of what's important.
May 2012 management briefing: Apparel software trends in the year ahead
1 May 2012
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. We also ask where firms should be focusing their investments now if they want to remain competitive into the future.
April 2012 management briefing: Recycling textiles and clothing
3 April 2012
With fast fashion and quick turnover key commercial ingredients of today’s apparel industry, excess textile production is prompting the sector to gravitate towards more recycling and reuse of materials, to conserve energy, increase sustainability and lower raw material costs. In this month’s management briefing just-style looks at solutions to boost textile recycling, services on offer, worldwide initiatives and regulations.
January/February 2012 management briefing: Apparel industry issues to watch in 2012
2 February 2012
For this year's annual management briefing on apparel industry issues to watch in the year ahead, just-style asked leading executives for their feedback on the challenges and opportunities likely to emerge in 2012. Their insight provides a fascinating overview of the state of the sector today.
December 2011 management briefing: A year in review
19 December 2011
Global economic turmoil continued to impact on the apparel industry in 2011, and in all sectors, from retailing to manufacturing and sourcing, winners and losers were not hard to find. just-style’s review of the year tracks those for whom 2011 will be memorable in more ways than one, and also takes a look at some of the more unusual stories hitting the headlines.
Bonus: Australian retail's perfect storm
7 November 2011
Australian apparel retailers are facing a perfect storm. The country is only now seeing signs of the global economic crisis, the strong Australian dollar is driving shoppers to look at international online retailers - and the world's major fast fashion retailers are plotting their entries. Petah Marian reports on how the major firms are faring.
November 2011 management briefing: Fibres and yarns
1 November 2011
Following a period of turmoil over the past year as apparel retailers, brands and manufacturers grappled with soaring cotton costs, this month’s management briefing from just-style looks at the latest fluctuations in the market. Natural fibres and yarns still hold strong, there is talk of a rise in domestic yarn and fibre sourcing in the west, man-made fibres are waiting in the wings, and cotton supplies fuel the struggle between Indian producers and users.
October 2011 management briefing: ERP-PLM on the apparel radar
4 October 2011
It's no secret that Product Lifecycle Managment (PLM) has taken the global apparel industry by storm. But a much older and less popular cousin - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) - is now back on the radar as clothiers realise that linking it with PLM yields bigger benefits than using either technology alone. This month's management briefing from just-style looks at the rise of integrated ERP-PLM solutions, implementation issues, and its growth in emerging markets.
September 2011 management briefing: Size, fit and 3D fashion tools
1 September 2011
Garment sizing and fit can be a major challenge for clothing manufacturers. Not only do they change in line with the population's expanding waistlines, but as more and more firms start selling internationally they need to adapt their ranges to new markets. This management briefing looks at the issues – and discusses how 3D technology can be used to help designers, pattern makers and even online retailers to increase sales and reduce returns.
August 2011 management briefing: Corporate responsibility gets a collaborative edge
5 August 2011
Collective corporate responsibility activity in the clothing sector has risen to a new level this year, on the one hand setting up the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to tackle environmental and social issues, and on the other making moves to address the commercialisation and sexualisation of children. This month’s management briefing takes a closer look.
July 2011 management briefing: PLM software in the apparel supply chain
1 July 2011
Three years ago industry observers forecast that product lifecycle management (PLM) software would be a make-or-break investment for the apparel industry. That was before the global economic slowdown of course, but software suppliers remain confident the tools are even more relevant today as firms seek to save crucial time and money in their sourcing, supply and inventory activities.
June 2011 management briefing: The changing face of clothing retail
1 June 2011
As the economic recovery accelerates, global clothing retail trends are showing great diversity. From eco-friendly fashions to online opportunities and emerging BRICM markets, this management briefing from just-style looks at where the smart money will be heading next.
May 2011 management briefing: Apparel software trends in the year ahead
4 May 2011
In this month’s management briefing, just-style looks at apparel supply challenges in 2011, how software can help tackle some of these issues, and where firms should be focusing their investments now if they want to remain competitive into the future.
March 2011 management briefing: Eco-friendly textiles and clothing
4 March 2011
In its drive to become more ethical and environmentally-friendly, the global fashion and textile industry is facing numerous challenges and opportunities. In this month’s management briefing, just-style looks at how green production can help to cut costs and deal with factory waste, and the way regulations are pushing the sector towards sustainability.
January/February 2011 management briefing: Apparel industry issues to watch in 2011
7 February 2011
A perfect storm of supply and demand has left apparel manufacturers and retailers facing a cocktail of higher costs at a time when western economies are still limping towards recovery. Here just-style looks at some of the key issues topping the apparel industry agenda in 2011, including what will happen to cotton prices and availability; how firms can try to alleviate some of the pain within their supply chains; and opportunities for the retail sector.
December 2010 management briefing: A year in review
20 December 2010
The global apparel industry was largely in recovery mode in 2010 following global economic turmoil the year before. And in all sectors, from retailing to manufacturing and sourcing, winners and losers were not hard to find. just-style’s review of the year tracks those for whom 2010 will be memorable in more ways than one, and also takes a look at some of the more unusual stories hitting the headlines.
November 2010 management briefing: Tapping into RFID tagging
22 November 2010
RFID’s growth could be poised to accelerate dramatically, in a move that would take apparel retailing to a whole new level. Networked clothing that ‘talks’ to mirrors and shelves, increased accuracy in inventory and stock management, and protection against theft and counterfeits are a few of the benefits discussed in just-style’s November management briefing. But privacy concerns are also likely escalate as the tags become popular.
October 2010 management briefing: Tomorrow’s clothing and textile industry
25 October 2010
In ten years’ time the textile and clothing industry maybe almost unrecognisable from its organisation today: Chinese-owned offshore production, unstoppable e-commerce, demand for eco-textiles, shifting luxury markets to Asia’s new middle class, and higher prices for everyone, are just some of the predictions discussed in this management briefing.
September 2010 management briefing: Clothing safety regulations
27 September 2010
Wearing clothes is not the most dangerous of pastimes, but there are risks associated with wearing clothes, from the contact consumers and workers' skin has with the chemicals used in production, to potential for strangulation by drawstrings. This management briefing looks at how mature markets protect clothing and textile consumers from harm; how companies can make the REACH chemical safety system work for them; and how emerging markets are playing catch-up on global safety standards.
August 2010 management briefing: Distance to market
27 August 2010
In troubled economic times it is safer to order small, often and close to home. Conversely, will the return of relative stability see textile and clothing firms ramp up their sourcing from manufacturers with low labour costs in Asia, no matter the distance to market? just-style's latest management briefing takes a look.
July 2010 management briefing: Size matters
27 July 2010
Addressing size and fit issues is key to helping brands and retailers maintain a competitive edge and build their businesses in new and existing markets. In this latest management briefing, just-style looks at the challenges facing firms as they expand intentionally, the potential for growth in the US plus-size market, and how the latest data on body size has a commercial role to play.
June 2010 management briefing: Latin America special report
25 June 2010
There are signs around the world that the textile market is beginning to recover from the global economic crisis, and that developing markets will be leading the recovery. Here, just-style looks at how countries in Latin America have weathered the storm, with their dynamic textile and apparel industries now well positioned for future expansion.
BONUS: June 2010 management briefing
22 June 2010
Earlier this year just-style surveyed its global readership of apparel industry professionals concerning the year ahead. The survey included questions on manufacturing, retailing, global demand and sourcing. This exclusive briefing provides a summary of the responses.
May 2010 management briefing
10 May 2010
With so much competition in design and price within the apparel and textile sector, manufacturers are always looking for an edge. One way in which they can steal a march on competitors is with fibre innovation. Here just-style takes a global look at some of the top centres of fibre research.
March 2010 management briefing
1 March 2010
In this latest management briefing, we round up some findings from some of just-style’s recently published market sector research reports, plus we preview a forthcoming title looking at how tomorrow’s apparel industry might take shape. This new report will be a think piece about the future of the apparel industry. It’s intended to encourage apparel industry executives to consider what is going to shape future products, markets and processes in the apparel industry.
February 2010 management briefing
1 February 2010
If 2009 was a year of struggle for the global clothing and textile industry, as manufacturers and retailers alike battled to cope with the depth and severity of the worldwide recession, then what lies ahead in 2010? Searching for those elusive ‘green shoots’ of recovery following the economic turmoil of 2009 will certainly top the agenda for the apparel sourcing community this year. This briefing looks at what's in store for the apparel industry in 2010, from sourcing winners and losers to trade
December 2009 management briefing
1 December 2009
A year of struggle would be the best way to sum up 2009 as far as the global clothing and textile industry is concerned. The depth and severity of the worldwide recession left many clothing and textile companies reeling, even impacting upon China, which had previously been dominating global markets. However by the end of the year, the recovery had kicked in, especially in the key Asian emerging markets and saw established brands looking to strengthen their position in these new economic powerhou
November 2009 management briefing
1 November 2009
Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, results across the clothing and retail sectors have demonstrated how exposed the apparel industry is to the economic turmoil gripping the world. just-style has tracked its impact on the industry and, as this briefing shows, made sense of an unprecedented time. This collection of articles from just-style's team of leading researchers, analysts and commentators puts the complex events of the last year and their impact on the manfacturing, so
October 2009 management briefing
6 October 2009
It almost seems common sense to say that an industry providing such a human product as clothing has to take account of cultural sensibilities in target markets. But it is not as simple as that. It’s not only Italians who appreciate Italian suits and shoes. Women worldwide appreciate French couture. And British tailoring has respect far beyond the shores of the UK. But one-size does not fit-all consumers. There are a bewildering variety of body shapes and sizes in different countries, and althoug
September 2009 management briefing
9 September 2009
The Indian clothing sector is emerging from its traditional outsourcing-hub image and establishing its own brands that sell modern design and high quality garments in the international market. A resurgent economy still growing during the current global economic downturn and the official encouragement of entrepreneurial freedom have brought forward talented designers to challenge established names in the business. Many companies, at the cutting edge of this new development are learning the market
July 2009 management briefing
1 July 2009
The progress the clothing sector has made over the past ten years in improving labour conditions in its supply chain has shown what can be achieved by companies acting both individually and collectively to address an area of acute public concern. To a degree, the intense media focus given to social issues in the supply chain has resulted in less public attention being given to the environmental impacts of the clothing and textiles industry, and by the same token to the efficacy of the industry’s
