The Apparel Industry

All students of clothing and fashion need to understand the structure of the business in which they will make their living. Although the market is worth many billions of pounds the industry is highly competitive, fast moving and complex and demands in–depth knowledge, flair and flexibility. In such a dynamic, high speed market success can turn to failure very quickly. This textbook describes the structure of the industry in the UK and globally, and explains the current problems and strategic responses to global shifts in production. Issues of trade barriers and changes of exchange rates are addressed and the book ends with a number of potential survival strategies for businesses. The new edition has been updated throughout to include the lastest available data, and takes account of the acceleration of the decline of manufacturing in the UK since 2002, the rapid expansion of production in China, and the final demise of the system of quota control.

What is the apparel industry?. The apparel industry in the UK: current size and structure. The apparel sector in the global economy. The role of labour costs and theories of development. The facts: UK apparel trade: the current trade position. The concept of globalisation. The response to global shift: strategic imperatives and the diamond framework. Issues in offshore production strategies. The role of trade barriers and exchange rate fluctuations in the global apparel market. The economics of the UK apparel market. Emerging markets and the globalisation of the UK apparel industry. Conclusions in the light of the textile industry policy of the EU and the future growth of China

Richard Jones is a former Principal Lecturer in the Department of Clothing Design and Technology, Manchester Metropolitan University. He is also Editor of the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management .