Is There an Alternative to China as the Dominant Location for Apparel Sourcing?

BROMSGROVE, England, January 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

China's growth in recent years has led to concerns the sourcing giant is losing its competitive edge. Is this really the case? If so, why? And where, if at all, are the alternatives? just-style, the leading online magazine for the apparel and textile industries, is hosting a seminar to discuss these key issues.

Based upon research by the highly-regarded garment industry consultancy Clothesource, commissioned by just-style, the webinar will examine the key trends in the debate, including:

• Why China dominates overall in apparel sourcing
• The competitiveness of alternative locations
• How garment manufacturing is likely to develop to the end of the decade
• Things to look at when considering a sourcing alternative to China

Hosting the debate will be Leonie Barrie, Managing Editor of just-style, Kurt Cavano, CEO of Tradecard and Mike Flanagan CEO of Clothesource.

Barrie said: "Our research into the question, is there an alternative to China as the dominant location for apparel sourcing concludes that the simple answer to this question is 'no'. Barring some catastrophic event, China will continue to dominate global apparel sourcing overall until at least 2025 - and if it ever does begin to show significant share loss, there is no one alternative country to which production will shift. But China does not dominate sourcing for every major buying country in every product category."

She continued: "This webinar will look at why China dominates overall and the areas where it does not dominate, assesses the current and evolving competitiveness of alternative locations, and makes some tentative predictions of how garment manufacturing will develop to the end of this decade.

"But sourcing from China has its dangers, as the market discovered between 2010 and 2011, and we believe all buyers need to have contingency plans for a re-emergence of those dangers."

This event is not only free to sign up to but attendees will also receive exclusive discount on accompanying research.

To register for this webinar simply follow this link, http://www.just-style.com/webinars/sourcing-in-china-whats-the-alternative_id2005.aspx

About just-style.com

Established in 1999, just-style is a leading online resource for global apparel and textile sourcing teams and retailers, publishing around 15 news articles, analysis features and insights every working day. Under the direction of Managing Editor Leonie Barrie, its experienced team of journalists, consultants and analysts provide a unique blend of apparel,  extile and footwear industry news,interviews and research that is delivered to over 100,000 business executives per month.

Via its web site, webinars and in-depth management briefings just-style offers insight into apparel sourcing and supply-chain trends, brand and corporate strategies, CONSULT research platform, enterprise technologies such as PLM and ERP, technical textiles and manufacturing developments and how clothing and footwear retailers perform around the world.

For details of how just-style is "helping decision makers make decisions" visit http://www.just-style.com.

For further information and images please contact Kate Varvedo, Marketing communication manager at Aroq Limited on +44(0)1527-573-616, alternatively email kate.varvedo@aroq.com