GLOBAL SHIFT INTHE FASHION

M A N U F A C T U R I N G

B U S I N E S S

With developing nations altering theways in which their current economiesoperate on the global scale, questionshave arisen as to whether or not Chinaremains the global hotspot for fashion

manufacturers, amidst what some call anoverall economic slowdown. A main topic

of discussion at Business of Fashion’smost recent event in Hong Kong titled

“Voices,” this changing globalphenomenon is indeed an issue that has

been developing in many factoriesacross China.

During the last twenty-five years or so,China’s global manufacturing output

has increased from around threepercent to a staggering twenty-five

percent in value. In accordance withbusiness supply chains within the Asiancontinent, their share actually increased

to double the global amount, reach alittle over fifty percent.

In relation to China’s globalmanufacturing output in the fashionindustry, it is evident this developing

nation has become essential in drivingbusiness growth for brands,

companies, retailers, etc. with theirfactories exporting sixty-percent ofthe world’s shoes, and forty-three

percent of the world’s clothing.

On the other hand, competition does indeedthreaten some manufacturing subfields withinthe fashion industry, such as textile, footwear

and colossal apparel.

An overall increase in production expenses, inaddition to cheaper manufacturing spots inAfrica and Asia have indeed burdened this

powerhouse. Under new governmentaleconomic policy in China to change the

country’s future to a service based economy, itis no surprise this internal ideological differencealso poses a threat to various different fashion

manufacturers.

As a result of this global supplychain economy which emerged

within the last three decades, boththe Chinese government and the

textile producers have also becomemore involved in partnership or

sometimes production firmacquisition in countries such as

Vietnam and Cambodia.

In terms of Chinese manufacturersaccessing and monitoring global

capital, some firms have also evenmoved some mills to the

consumer’s end. To illustrate, onerecent example was in the

American state of South Carolina,where Chinese manufactures usedAmerican labor for production dueto the incredibly low cost of cotton.

Policy researcher Cyrus Yu hasconfirmed data which underlines global

Chinese business ventures acrossvarious African countries that haverecently become grounds for shoe

factories in nations such as Ethiopia,Uganda and Tanzania. With regard to

this ongoing process to further expandoffshore production, even across the

African continent Chinese factories fallinto stark competition with countries

such as India and Turkey.

Although there is increasedcompetition on both the Asian and

African fronts, experts stronglybelieve that these factors should notcause any drastic changes within themanufacturing sector of the fashion

industry in the near future.

Although there is increasedcompetition on both the Asian and

African fronts, experts stronglybelieve that these factors should notcause any drastic changes within themanufacturing sector of the fashion

industry in the near future.

According to some researchers,competition between Eastern andWestern countries is now not only

becoming centered aroundproductivity or quantity of goods

produced in a given timeframe, but itis also currently changing focus toquality, marking a new shift within

the fashion industry.

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