Archive for February, 2008
More tycoons seen in Chinese garment making sector
by Tiffany Zhu and Michelle Phong
2456.com, Hong Kong
According to the 2007 China Rich List of Hurun Report published by the UK Forbes magazine, a number of Chinese textile entrepreneurs became some of the wealthiest people in the country as their companies were listed and the Chinese stock markets surged last year.
In 2007, the total assets owned by the wealthiest group in China amounted to US$280 billion, up from US$116 billion. Among the 400-people list, 66 of them had an asset value of more than US$1 billion, compared to 15 only in the previous year.
The Forbes magazine said it showed China has become one of the countries that produce billionaires.
Russell Flannery, Associate Editor (Asia). Shanghai Bureau Chief, Forbes who complied the list said almost all the rich people listed gained their wealth in the capital markets (aka stock markets). This made the statistics more transparent as more of the financial information of these senior management and shareholders is open to the public. The new wealth also brought new responsibilities to these new riches as the listed companies are now accountable for the shareholders among members of the public in China and overseas.
The China’s rich list was made according to personal wealth. For those tycoons running a private company, their wealth is calculated based on an estimated book value of the companies they own, or by estimating with similar listed companies. When the companies are listed both on the mainland and Hong Kong, financial data given in Hong Kong was adopted. Contrary to the Forbes international rich list, the China list includes not only individuals, but also families as a unit of the wealthy
Bosideng is a well-known down garment brand in China
China’s biggest down maker, Bosideng International Holdings Ltd (æ³¢å¸ç™»), was listed last October in Hong Kong and its President Gao Dekang (高德康) became the richest person in the country’s textile industry. His rank in the rich man list climbed from 73th to 32th.
Ding Shizhong, chairman of Anta
Earlier in July last year, another mainland textile manufacturer, Anta (安è¸), launched its initial public offering in Hong Kong and its overseas offering was the largest among the Chinese domestic sports wear brands. With the spectacular offering, its chairman, Ding Shizhong (ä¸å¿—å¿ ) and his family became the 40th wealthiest person(s) in China.
Ranking the 50th is also a sports apparel maker, Chen Yihong (陳義紅), who owns China Dongxiang (å‹•å‘體育).
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February 28th, 2008
Woman seeks to relaunch Toluca garment maker in Minonk
Bloomington Pantagraph, USA
MINONK — About 80 people lost their jobs last fall when the Toluca Garment Co. closed its doors. Soon, former workers may be able to land work at the new Toluca Tailoring Co.
Company President Valerie Lilley hopes to revive the local clothing industry when she opens her business in Minonk in the former Just Stuff Antiques building, 551 N. Chestnut St. Initially, she plans to hire 15 employees, but hopes that number will grow with time.
The business will specialize in high-end, custom-made suits, as the Toluca factory did. Customers include dealers who take orders from tailors. Lilley hopes the company will earn $1 million by 2009.
“Just listening to her business plan is very encouraging,†said Minonk Mayor Bill Koos. “It calls for growth and it shows commitment to the city and the building.â€
Lilley chose to locate in Minonk because she couldn’t find a large enough building in Toluca. She hopes to open within a month.
The city recently approved a $20,000 loan for the business from its revolving loan fund. Minonk also plans to offer other incentives because the business will be located in a tax increment financing district. In a TIF district, some property tax money can be diverted for economic development uses.
Lilley also received loans from Tazewell and Woodford counties.
She got the idea for the business last September, when the Toluca factory closed after 60 years in business. At its heyday in the 1990s, Toluca Garment employed about 125 people.
“Some friends of mine said, ‘You’ve got to do something,’†she said. “And the pieces just fell into place. But we are really starting from scratch.â€
Lilley purchased equipment from the former Toluca business. Locating in the 18,000-square-foot former antique store will also allow the business to be run efficiently.
“The beautiful thing about a new building is that we can set things up the way they should be,†she said.
Lilley also plans to move her Peoria-based business, Sofi’s Stitches, to the Minonk site by November. The costume business has 35 seasonal employees.
“This is a building that could have easily fallen into disrepair,†the mayor said, adding the location had been vacant at least three years. “This will be just another great addition to our downtown area.â€
And he’s excited about the prospect of new jobs.
“This spring we lost jobs when the cheese factory closed,†he said, referring to Zivney Cheese. “This gives us more jobs and additional people downtown on a regular basis.â€
The company is holding a job fair from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight at the Chestnut Street location.
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February 26th, 2008
VIETNAM: Vietnam Saigon Fabric & Garment Accessories Expo 2008
BharatTextile.com (subscription), IndiaÂ
Vietnam Saigon Fabric & Garment Accessories Expo 2008 will be held on Apr 9-12,08 at HIECC, Hochiminh City, Vietnam by CP Exhibition Vietnam National Textile-Garment Corp, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry VCCI Exhibition Service Co Ltd .
Demand for Vietnam fabric, yarn and accessories are increasing rapidly in line with the strong export needs in garment industry in Vietnam.
The growth of garment export is expected to grow from US$5 billion to US$8 – 9 billion by 2010, but supplies of fabric now can only meet 20 – 30% of market needs of the industry.
Great opportunities are shown in the fabrics and garment accessories field for the overseas fabric manufacturers.
February 25th, 2008
Garment godown goes up in flames
Times of India, India
BANGALORE: A major fire broke out at a godown of Arvind Mills on Hosur Road, destroying readymade garments worth lakhs of rupees. Firemen battled seven hours to douse the blaze. There were no casualties.
The fire broke out around 11 am at the package-and-delivery unit of the godown, near Kudlu gate. A security guard noticed the fire and informed the fire control room.
Fire engines rushed in from Electronic City and Jayanagar. But by then, the fire had raced through the whole godown, helped in good measure by the easily combustible cloth and cardboard material used for packaging.
“Initially, five vehicles were pressed into service. After the fire spread blazed into the godown, five more engines were called in. The intensity of the blaze was such that the sheet roof came crashing down.
The iron angles got melted, and it was a tough job for the firemen,’’ a senior fire official said.
The blaze was tamed only around 4.30 pm. The fire officials said ready-for-despatch branded clothing got destroyed in the fire.
“Though the packed clothing materials were kept high on the racks, the leaping flames devoured whatever came in the way. Most racks inside the godown got burnt. The cause of the fire is not known yet,’’ the officer added.
The Electronic City police have registered a case. Senior fire personnel said two fire tenders will be stationed at the godown as a precautionary measure.
February 25th, 2008
Mexico Garment Trade Down 400,000 Jobs
Prensa Latina, Cuba
Mexico, Feb 21 (Prensa Latina) Some 400,000 Mexicans lost their jobs in the clothing industry this year, National Garment Industry Board admitted Thursday.
The situation began with the country’s current economic deceleration reflecting the crisis in the US, the organization added.
The report states that if, as predicted, the Mexican economy only grows three percent this year, 800,000 workers of the sector would be forced to turn to other ways to survive.
Exports fell 1.5 percent of production during January and 8 percent of installed capacity.
The situation might worsen due to used clothing in preferential condition entering from other nations, the report points out.
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February 22nd, 2008
Bina Officials Visit Garment Factories
By Hussin Bru Direct,
Bandar Seri Begawan - Government officials from the Brunei Industrial Development Authority (nina) paid a working visit to two garment factories in Kampong Jerudong on Tuesday.
The visit, led by Bina Director Pengiran Sharifuddin Pengiran Haj i Matali, was part of a series of visits by the agencies to industrial and cooperative establishments in the country in its endeavour to gain insights into activities carried- out at the premises.
The visit also served as a practical platform for the agency to monitor ongoing operations at the establishments while attending to grievances that may surface, thus recommending necessary steps to be taken to counter them. — Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
February 21st, 2008
Belgium : Forced labour & trafficked on rise in garment industry
February 19, 2008
Fibre2fashion.com, India
Traffic slave labour popularly perceived to be confined to the informal economy and especially to the sex trade is now a growing problem in the global garment industry, the United Nations Forum to Fight Human Trafficking was told in Vienna.
Citing examples from Mauritius, Jordan, Taiwan, India, Argentina, Romania, the United States and China Neil Kearney, General Secretary of the Brussels-based International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation (ITGLWF) said workers were been trafficked to industrialised and developed countries alike and their production was on sale in every high street in Europe and shopping mall in the United States.
The workers involved were the victims of an evil triangle involving labour brokers, garment manufacturers and global retail chains held them for maximising profit at the expense of the workers who produce the clothing.
“The victims all have common characteristics. The common characteristics of being young, cheap, submissive, unprotected and often invisible†said Mr. Kearney.
“Typically they are recruited in their villages, required to pay a fee to the labour broker of up to 20 years the local minimum wage. This fee is usually commuted into a loan which must then be repaid with interest.
This becomes the bond with the labour broker which often enslaves a young worker who is then transferred to a holding or transit centre where they can be held for up to three months while their travel documentation is being obtained.
“A change of mind is not permitted. As the workers are usually fitted out in distinctive overalls – often florescent – they are easily identified as belonging to a particular broker.
They are then air-freighted to their temporary owner. However, usually their only contract is with the labour broker who supplies them ‘en bloc’ to the manufacturer who thus avoids all legal obligations for their working conditions.
“Frequently the broker holds on to their identity documents while they work long hours for low wages under often appalling abusive conditions.
Deductions from wages for the repayment of the loan, travel costs, accommodation and food, and fines for mistakes, talking while working, etc. eat up much of their income.
“In one case in China the labour broker was taking more than 30% of the wages for repayment of the recruitment fee alone. In another case workers actually ended up owing money to the broker at the month end and after all the deductions had been made.
“Though not naked or in chains but without identity documents, far from home and facing a strange language and culture they are no less slaves.
“The labour brokers are the villains in all this but the garment manufacturer is a willing accomplice and brands and retailers sourcing the goods in this way greatly profit from this traffic slavery.
Mr Kearney called on governments to legislate to ensure decent work and forcefully to implement theresulting rules.
“The activities of labour brokers must be closely regulated. Recruitment fees must be outlawed in line with ILO Convention 181 with the manufacturers meeting all recruitment and travel cost, etcâ€: he said.
“Every migrant worker should have an employment contract direct with the employer and should enjoy conditions no less favourable than the indigenous workforce.
“Comprehensive advice should be given on rights before departure from the sending country and on arrival in the host country.
“All migrant workers should have the right to join local trade unions and to bargain collectively their wages and working conditions.
“When labour brokers are employers engaged in illegal exploitative activities the workers involved should be awarded exemplary compensation and the penalties for the transgressors should be punitiveâ€: concluded Mr. Kearney.
International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation
February 20th, 2008
Japan : ‘Print on Demand’ garment printer at Sign & Graphic Imaging
February 19, 2008
Fibre2fashion.com, India
Brother Gulf, a global leader in printing, communication and digital imaging products and a subsidiary of Brother Group, Japan, has announced that it will unveil its new GT-541 ‘Print on Demand’ garment printer during the Sign and Graphic Imaging Middle East 2008 trade show, which will be held from February 17-19, 2008, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The unique printer is faster and more efficient compared with traditional screen-printing methods.
The GT-541, which can print images from a PC or built-in compact flash card reader, features an adjustable platen, which holds the garment in place for printing.
The printer can print images on most garments in full colour with a large 14-by-16 inch printable area, is very simple to operate, and consistently prints in high-resolution quality.
Its durable water-based inks can undergo repeated washings and can be cured by a standard heat press, thus eliminating the need for a conveyer dryer.
The GT-541 garment printer is ideal for screen and quick printers, one-hour photo shops, event planners, premium suppliers and apparel printing small and medium enterprises.
Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf, said, “We have created a revolutionary garment printer that will allow users to print directly from a PC or flash card, minus the setup intricacies and high costs of traditional screen printing machines.
The entire printing and fusing process takes around a minute per garment; this pioneering product thus makes the printing of a few pieces of t-shirts per order economically viable.
This is particularly good news for smaller printing shops, who can now accept specialized orders such as corporate gifts regardless of bulk size.â€
The 10th Sign and Graphic Imaging trade show will welcome over 300 participants from more than 30 countries, 35 per cent more than in 2007, indicating the vast opportunities available in the regional signage and outdoor industry.
Sign and Graphic Imaging, the region’s only specialised signage, graphic imaging and screen-printing trade show, is organised by International Expo Consults, a member of the Falak Holding group.
The show will feature the latest in signage and graphic imaging technologies, from laser cutting and display equipment, to large format digital printing and thermal and dye sublimation equipment.
The Arab region is currently a prime area for signage and outdoor publicity, with the GCC alone spending over AED 7.35 billion for visibility.
The UAE leads the region in advertising, with its market growing at a rate of 22 per cent annually; this has in turn raised the significance of events such as Sign and Graphic Imaging in exploring and discussing important industry issues.
Brother Gulf aims to leverage the tremendous opportunities available at the event in partnership with Almoe, a distributor and long-time partner of the company in the region.
“This will be our first time to participate in the Sign and Graphic Imaging show, and with a revolutionary product to display at that.
We look forward to collaborating with industry leaders, international traders and corporate representatives while taking advantage of this important platform for product dissemination.
Brother Gulf considers this show a significant platform for the GT-541 launch, and will take full advantage of the opportunity to network, establish contacts, and mingle with the public,†concluded Tada.
February 19th, 2008
Major relief for garment, footwear industries
Hindu, India
Special Correspondent
CHANDIGARH: In a major relief to the garment and footwear industry in Haryana, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday announced an increase in the limit for Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of their industrial units located in old industrial townships from 125 to 200.
The Chief Minister made the announcement at a meeting held with representatives of the industry at Haryana Bhavan in New Delhi, an official note issued here said.
Mr. Hooda asked them to give an undertaking for using the sites only for textile units for at least the next 10 years.
The meeting was convened by the Haryana Industries Department to discuss various problems being faced by the garment industry due to appreciation of the rupee and other import-related conditions.
Labour Minister A.C. Chaudhary, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Labour) Naresh Gulati, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Town and Country Planning) P.K. Chaudhary, Labour Commissioner N.C. Wadhwa, HSIIDC Managing Director Rajiv Arora, Director Town and Country Planning S.S. Dhillon, Director (Industries) D.R. Dhingrawere among those present
February 18th, 2008
CNMI woes due to problems in garment industry
Radio New Zealand International, New Zealand
Posted at 02:04 on 18 February, 2008 UTC
The governor’s office in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas says a garment industry in its death throes is the main reason economic indicators in 2007 were down across the board.
The garment industry was the CNMI’s second major industry, which at one point even surpassed the tourism industry in revenues.
The Governor’s press secretary, Charles Reyes, has told the Saipan Tribune that previously, the CNMI had two economic legs to stand on - garments and tourism - but now it essentially only has one.
The Department of Commerce released its 4th Economic Indicator Report last Thursday, and it showed that 2007 was one of the worst years in the history of the islands’ economy.
Business gross revenue, for instance, dropped 8.6 percent last year to US$1.67 million from the $1.82 million in the period before.
February 18th, 2008
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