Global apparel markets: business update, 1st quarter 2009

Publication Date	July 2009
Publisher	Textiles Intelligence
Product Type	Report
Pages
ISBN Number	9781906720780
Product Code	TXI00054

Buy this product or for assistance call +44 20 7060 7474

PDF £215.00$358 | €241

PRINT £16.00$27 | €18

FAX Order above formats by FAX

Summary

The global apparel industry has been characterised by a number of developments in recent months.

In anti-counterfeiting, Nigeria's federal government has asked for help from the Chinese government in its battle against the illegal manufacture of certain Nigerian textile products in China.

In company restructuring and reorganisation, Arcadia Group has announced plans to integrate British Home Stores (BHS) into its company as one of its brands, and International Textile Group (ITG) is planning to merge its Cone Denim and Burlington WorldWide divisions into a single business group.

Meanwhile, the Clean Clothes Campaign has alleged that the sourcing operations of certain discount retailers are irresponsible. In environmental issues, Teijin Group has introduced its polyester recycling programme in Thailand and has launched a jacket which can be recycled easily.

In international trade, a trade promotion agreement (TPA) between the USA and Peru has become effective, Japan's government is planning to reduce apparel imports from China by about one-third, and the US National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has opposed the inclusion of Vietnam in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade negotiations.

There has been a flurry of strategic activities throughout the world in recent months. In the USA, Levi Strauss & Co has signed a licensing agreement with Oneworld Apparel relating to Levi's women's tops, Karen Neuburger (KN) and Intimo have entered into a licensing agreement covering men's wear, lounge wear and children's wear, and Philips-Van Heusen (PVH) and Free Country have entered into a licensing agreement covering PVH's IZOD branded sportswear. Meanwhile, in Latin America, Iconix Brand Group and New Brands Americas have entered into an agreement to establish Iconix Latin America, and Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA) has set up a new company, called Denimatrix, to produce jeans. In South-East Asia, Polo Ralph Lauren has announced that it will assume direct control of its wholesale and retail distribution activities in the region.

In retailing, H&M is planning to open its first store in South Korea during 2010. In the Middle East, Stella McCartney has opened three new stores in Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh, and Gap is planning to open its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Israel. In South Asia, Celio has established an exclusive Celio store in India, while Inditex and Tata Group are planning to establish new Zara stores, also in India. In South-East Asia, Uniqlo has opened its first store in Singapore.

Content

SUMMARY
- ANTI-COUNTERFEITING
- Nigeria's federal government has called for the cooperation of the Chinese government to help stop the
- counterfeiting of Nigerian textile products in China
COMPANY RESTRUCTURING AND REORGANISATION
- Arcadia Group has announced plans to integrate British Home Stores (BHS) into its company as one of
- its brands
- International Textile Group (ITG) has announced plans to merge its Cone Denim and Burlington
- Worldwide divisions into a single business group
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- Increased pressure from discount retailers on their suppliers is discouraging the promotion of worker
- rights
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
- Teijin Group has introduced a polyester recycling programme in Thailand and launched a jacket which
- can be recycled easily
- EVENTS
- The Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium (SFBC) joined forces with the organisers of Prime
- Source Forum in March 2009 to hold a sustainability workshop
FINANCIAL RESULTS
- Benetton Group has reported a 3.4% decline in its net revenues during the first quarter of its 2009
- financial year
- Levi Strauss & Co has reported a 12% decline in its net revenues during the first quarter of its 2008/09
- financial year
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
- A trade promotion agreement (TPA) between the USA and Peru became effective on February 1, 2009
- Japan's government has announced plans to reduce apparel imports from China by about one-third
- The US National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) has opposed the inclusion of Vietnam in
- the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade negotiations
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION AND LICENSING AGREEMENTS, AND
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
- Iconix Brand Group and New Brands Americas have entered into an agreement to establish Iconix
- Latin America
- Karen Neuburger (KN) and Intimo have entered into a licensing agreement covering men's wear,
- loungewear and children's wear
- Levi Strauss & Co has entered into a licensing agreement with Oneworld Apparel relating to Levi's
- women's tops
- Philips-Van Heusen (PVH) and Free Country have entered into a licensing agreement covering PVH's
- IZOD branded sportswear
- Global apparel markets: business update
- Plains Cotton Cooperative Association (PCCA) has set up a new company, called Denimatrix, to
- produce jeans
- Polo Ralph Lauren will assume direct control of its wholesale and retail distribution activities in South-
- East Asia
NEW STORES
- Celio has established an exclusive Celio store in India under a joint venture agreement with Future
- Group
- Gap has entered into a franchise agreement to open its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Israel
- H&M is planning to open its first store in South Korea during 2010
- Inditex and Tata Group have signed a joint venture agreement to establish new Zara stores in India
- Stella McCartney has expanded its presence in the Middle East by opening three new stores in Dubai,
- Jeddah and Riyadh
- Uniqlo has opened its first store in Singapore
ONLINE RETAILING
- Tesco is planning to launch an online clothing store
- Price cuts
List of figures
- Figure 1: Koh Mr Saxman jacket
- Figure 2: PET bottle in which the Koh Mr Saxman jacket is packaged