China has the largest
apparel industry in the world
and continues to be a major
business partner for both large
and small companies,
said the
journal's editor, Hye-Shin Kim,
associate professor of fashion
and apparel studies at the
University of Delaware.
Additionally, China also has
millions of young consumers with
unprecedented spending power,
who are interested in buying top
brands, including apparel by
foreign manufacturers,
she
noted.
Industry and academic experts share best practices and tips for conducting business in China, as well as valuable insights into young Chinese consumers, and the changing face of social responsibility in the Chinese apparel industry, with the rise of social media.
Kin-fau Au, associate professor and associate head of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, provides an overview of China's apparel industry, and Priscilla Y. L. Chan, also a faculty member at that institution, writes about foreign brand expansion into China.
An interview is included with Brian DeLeu, design director for JC Penney, on future sourcing design and product development in China. DeLeu, a University of Delaware alumnus, is responsible for the design and merchandising of JC Penney's St. John's Bay brand.
Maria D'Andrea, supervisory international trade specialist in the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), U.S. Department of Commerce, details the status of the U.S. textile and apparel trade with China and provides an overview of the office's responsibilities and services.
Here is a summary welcome from Dr. Hye-Shin Kim Project Director,
and Editor, University of Delaware
As we begin the Western New Year with deepening financial troubles in the United States and its worldwide global impact, the FIBER journal focuses on China -- a country that has reported record-breaking economic growth in the past years and impressively showcased its strength as a global economic power during the 2008 Summer Olympics. The slowdown of the world economy and recession fears have become a painful reality in developed markets that are major importers of Chinese goods such as the U.S, Japan, and Europe.
China's big economy now is being tested to prove it is a strong economy. As the Chinese economy transitions with the shrinking worldwide demand for goods and services, many Chinese workers are being laid off. Traditionally a country for manufacturing low-cost, export-oriented goods, China is now working to rebalance its economic profile to be similar to that of the U.S. and Japan, where technology-based manufacturing and the service sectors dominate. At the same time, China needs to increase Chinese consumer spending and increase consumption of both domestic and imported goods and services to stimulate demand for production.
A similar pattern of
change is seen in China's
textile and apparel sector.
Although China is the
world's largest supplier of
apparel items, accounting
for more than half of U.S.
apparel imports, we see
China's economic growth
impacting its
competitiveness in the
textiles and apparel sector.
In this issue of the
FIBER
journal, we provide an
overview of the U.S.
China
textile and apparel trade
and discuss the impact of
its slowing growth rate on
the maturing textiles and
apparel industry in China.
As China continues to be
a major business partner for
big and small companies, we
present current practices
and insights by business
professionals, as well as
academic scholars, and also
recognize the significant
role of Chinese consumers in
the global marketplace. In
addition, you may read about
student and faculty
experiences in Hong Kong,
learn about
kid-centric
garment therapies,
and see
the results from our poll
that asked readers about the
future of U.S. apparel
production.
Finally, this issue of the FIBER journal highlights social responsibility in the textiles and apparel industry. Articles shed light on current attitudes related to social responsibility in China and a futuristic view of sustainable business practices in our industry.
The journal also announces the first FIBERcast, a 45-minute audio program set for Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m. on social responsibility in the apparel industry.
Learn more about Fiber Journal.
Here are a few links to some of what is in the China Apparel Issue:
- Doing Business the Chinese Way: Eastern and Western World Views and Business Practices in China
- Doing Business in Textiles and Clothing with China? What You Need to Know
- Lessons Learned Trying to Conduct International Business
- Evolve Staying Globally Engaged
- China Manufacturing and Responsible Sustainability: A Perspective from Fountain Set
- The Future of Sourcing Design and Product Development in China
-
Survey Results
Trends in Sourcing: Will the United
States Expand Production?
- Young Chinese Customers
- Foreign Brand Expansion into China
- The Maturing Apparel Industry in China
-
The Outlook for
U.S.
China Textile and Apparel Trade in 2009: From the Trade Policy Perspective - The Office of Textiles and Apparel: Promoting the Competitiveness of the U.S. Textile and Apparel Industry
- Looking Upstream: A New View of 21st-Century Business Practices
- Look Who's Talking Now
- New Book Examines Social Responsibility in the Apparel Industry
- Aligning Internal Corporate Practices with Compliance
- Industry Resources
- Factory Tour Transforms Student into Change Agent
- Spring/Summer 2009 Hong Kong Fashion Week
- Fun and Function: Innovating Kid-centric Garment Therapies
