Talking strategy: expert views on US apparel sourcing

5 pages, published in Issue 1, 1st Quarter 2008   Report price: Euro 275.00; US$ 365.00

The US clothing industry is going through a period of profound change. The elimination of quotas has led to intense competition from manufacturers in low cost countries. As a result, retail buyers are placing strict demands on apparel manufacturers in terms of product quality and delivery times. To make things more challenging, clothing firms face rising raw material costs, high energy prices and a faltering US economy.

In order to adapt to this situation and remain competitive, US clothing firms have been forced to make some big changes in their sourcing strategies. A popular course of action has been to reconfigure their portfolios of foreign suppliers. Many firms have decided to foster close strategic relationships and partnerships with suppliers in order to minimise costs, maximise quality and optimise lead times.

Another response has been to invest in special manufacturing capabilities to enable firms to offer a better overall customer service. Such capabilities include total quality management systems, modern design facilities, logistics and transportation functionality, and information technology (IT) infrastructures.

That said, the future of the US industry appears to be in the hands of efficient and “well-capitalised” producers who have abandoned conventional buying strategies—such as “country of the month” and “factory of the season”—in favour of long-term partnerships. Those manufacturers who have not kept up with the competition face a tough up-hill struggle over the next few years.

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• Trade and trade policy: leading clothing suppliers to the USA, (2nd Quarter 2008)
• Talking strategy: how will green manufacturing policies, high fuel prices and a slowing economy affect the global apparel industry?, (2nd Quarter 2008)
• India's Apparel Exports: Strategic Responses to Slower Growth, (May-June 2008)

Global Apparel Markets provides intelligence, analysis and insight on the global apparel and fashion industries.

What's in it? Each issue contains data and expert analysis on key industry topics, including: artificial intelligence (AI); augmented reality (AR); consumer expenditure; corporate social responsibility (CSR); cotton; denim; environmental sustainability; fibres; imports and exports; key geographical markets; labour law; product innovations; regulation; retail; sourcing; strategy; supply chains; and trade and trade policy. A single issue of Global Apparel Markets includes: practical and strategic advice from an industry expert a report on a key geographical market a round-up of the latest product innovations a feature on trade and trade policy comprehensive coverage of the latest business news An annual subscription to Global Apparel Markets is a cost-effective way to keep informed about trends and developments in the global apparel and fashion industries. Subscriptions are available in printed and/or digital formats. Printed and digital subscribers receive each issue in printed format in addition to a digital PDF file, which is available immediately on publication. Subscribers also receive a complementary digital subscription to Global Apparel Update, delivered directly by email once a month. This free supplement contains essential information on business news and the latest product developments. Like all Textiles Intelligence publications, Global Apparel Markets is a reliable source of independently sourced business information, and it does not carry advertising. This is what our customers say: "In our work, we were looking for industry insights and trends - who the major suppliers were, which countries were producing and what, productivity rates, investment incentives, where investors were moving to and why, etc. A lot of the individual country case studies you did were great - I remember one recently on the UK for example. There was also a great article from a guy on the Turkish market and recent trends there. Both these articles were written for the layman so they were easy to understand but comprehensive at the same time. The technology articles were also interesting. Basically, it was an all-round good publication that covered everything in enough depth so that you would always find something of interest in each issue." (Alan J. Saffery; Competitiveness, Private Sector & Economic Growth ; Saffery Consulting)