Hong Kong: Market report on textile fabrics for the clothing manufacturing industry
This report is the outcome of interviews with a selection of Hong Kong clothing manufacturers, textile fabric agents and resident international buying offices (Appendix I) conducted by members of the British Trade Commission in April/May 1980.
SUMMARY
1 Hong Kong vies with Italy as the world's leading manufacturer of clothing for export.
2 The European Community and the USA between them take almost 75 per cent of Hong Kong's exports of clothing and accessories. A quarter of Britain's clothing imports are from Hong Kong.
3 The garments industry has been 'trading up' and therefore requires quality materials.
4 The local spinning, weaving, knitting and textile finishing industry lacks the capacity to supply the quantity or quality of fabrics needed by the garments industry.
5 The need for imported fabrics places Hong Kong, in world terms, third behind the EC and USA.
6 The bulk of imported fabrics, especially cottons and man-made fabrics, comes from neighbouring suppliers.
7 European suppliers are more competitive in high quality and special materials.
8 Britain's market share is traditionally greatest in wool and worsted suitings for the tailoring industry.
9 Methods of ordering garments differ between the mass production and designer fashion sectors of the industry.
10 At the mass production end, price is the single most important factor in the selection of fabrics but quality, design and delivery have taken on increasing significance in the 'trading up' process.
11 At the fashion end, design innovation and quality of fabrics are vital compared to costs. 12 More and more internationally known fashion houses are having garments made up in Hong Kong.
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Garment buyers tend to visit Hong Kong in May/June for the following spring season and October/November for the following autumn.
14 Agents are useful links in establishing and maintaining relationships between textile fabrics suppliers and local garment manufacturers.
15 Garment manufacturers appear ready to diversify their sources of fabrics, given the right quality/price mix.
16 The major British, European and American bulk order garment buyers should be tackled to interest them in specifying UK textiles.
17 The advantages of the Outward Processing Relief Scheme should be considered for garment imports into the EC Member States.
18 Steps should be taken by the British textile industry to correct Hong Kong garment manufacturers' ignorance of the range of fabrics available from Britain's mills.
19 The Hong Kong garment manufacturing industry is deserving of closer examination by British textile suppliers.
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