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TABLE OF CONTENTS Volume
4, Issue 2, Fall 2004 |
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| Modeling
of Niche Market Behavior of US Textile and Apparel Firms
Erin D.
Parrish, Assistant Professor Nancy L.
Cassill, Professor ABSTRACT Intense competition from low cost producing countries, particularly China, presents a number of challenges for US textile and apparel firms. In order to remain competitive, these firms must find strategies in order to adapt to the changing dynamics. One direction in which US firms are moving is to focus on specialization, or niche marketing. By implementing a niche strategy, US textile and apparel firms are better positioned to insulate themselves from lower priced, commodity products. The current research examined how companies can identify, implement and maintain a successful niche strategy. The data collection consisted of two phases. Phase I used an industry survey with an aim to clarify niche strategy issues and to obtain information to develop Phase II of the study. Phase II used in-depth interviews conducted with US textile and apparel executives of companies deemed to have profitable niche products. The study resulted in an overall niche strategy model in addition to sector models [fiber and yarn producers, mill producers, sewn good manufacturers, “auxiliary” companies]. These models can be used for the identification and implementation of niche markets and/or products that can be used as a global competitive strategy. KEYWORDS:
Niche marketing, competitive strategy, US textile and apparel
industry, textile and apparel management |
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| How
do Industry Clusters Success: A Case Study in China’s Textiles
and Apparel Industries
Zhiming
Zhang, Chester To, & Ning Cao ABSTRACT In the course of transformation toward a market-driven, globally oriented economy, China’s textiles and apparel industries have been experiencing profound changes, both in terms of individual firms’ sustainable competence and the agglomeration competitiveness at industrial level. Among various changes, the most significance should be the phenomenon of regional clusters of various specialized industries. In each of the regional cluster localities, hundreds and even thousands of enterprises of various sizes have been formed and clustered together. Industrial clustering as an economic phenomenon is relatively new in China. No formal investigation and systematic analyses have been found on the phenomenon, especially for the textile and apparel industry. This research observed and documented a case study of industrial clustering in the Wujiang county of Jiangsu province. Through the analysis, the researchers generalize the factors that account for existence of the clusters and how the clusters sustain high performance of industry competitiveness. As the industry is one pillar of China’s economy, it is important to study this trend for further growth of the industry. KEYWORDS:
Industrial clusters, geographic economics, regional specialization |
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| Model of Design Process
of Hong Kong Fashion Designers
Dr. Joe S. Au, Assistant Professor ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to identify the underlying model of design process of Hong Kong fashion designers by using the qualitative research method of grounded theory developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967) and Glaser (1978). In this research, a total of 19 fashion designers, educators and students were interviewed. Five on-site observations of fashion designers and educators were done. The model of design process of Hong Kong fashion designers was synthesised from in-depth interviews and participant observations of fashion designers, educators and students. The results of theory-building research suggested that during the design process, the major factor influencing Hong Kong fashion designers was ‘aesthetic presence.' KEYWORDS: design process, fashion, grounded theory, influential
factors, qualitative research method |
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Elizabeth
Bye ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to profile the current computer technologies, manufacturing strategies, and business practices occurring in the Minnesota textile and apparel industry. Currently, the industry is undergoing a shift from mass production of standardized products to mass customization of individualized products. Advances in computer technology and management methods allow customized products to be produced at a low cost, increasing consumer demand for individualized products and services. The survey was sent to 400 Minnesota textile and apparel manufacturers selected randomly from those identified by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code to document the level of mass customization based on1) product development 2) computer technology, 3) business strategy, 4) manufacturing strategy, and 5) business environment. Results indicated that Minnesota textile and apparel industry showed great diversity in company size and product type. There was a wealth of expertise in customized products, so the potential for the development of mass customization is strong. Use of computer technology was low, so considering the increased and strategic use of computer technology, and the development or expanded use of a website to build potential markets would strengthen the industry. KEYWORDS:
Apparel and textile industry, customization, computer technology,
product development, Minnesota |
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| Extraction
of Residual Chlorinated Pesticides from Cotton Matrix As a part from certification method of cotton reference material Kh. El-Nagar*, Michele Schantz**, Adel B. Shehata*,
and Barbara Porter** ABSTRACT As a part of developing a certified testing method for residual pesticides analysis in cotton materials using gas chromatography (GC), the target pesticides listed in Oeko-tex standards should be isolated from a homogenized cotton matrix. The sample homogeneity and extraction procedures are the most effective steps in this analysis. Any error in this procedure must leads to incorrect results. Two extraction methods were used throughout this work with different solvents e.g. methanol, hexane, hexane/acetone (1:1 v/v) and dichloromethane. Extraction methods were soxhlet (SOX) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The resulted extracts were concentrated then injected in a GC equipped with Electron Capture Detector (ECD). The qualitative results when compared with those of the NIST standard reference materials (SRM-2261) that certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology USA, proved that the ASE and SOX techniques with dichloromethane as extracting solvent is more selective for all concerned pesticides for homogenized cotton samples. The ASE extraction with dichlormethane is better for hexachlorobenzene, gamma-HCH, heptachlor, Cis-chlordane, trans-nonchlor and SOX extraction technique with dichloromethane is better for Heptachlor epoxide, 4,4'-DDE, Dieldrin, 2,4'-DDD, 4,4'DDT and Mirex. KEYWORDS: Cotton,
Oeko-Tex, gas chromatography; organochlorine pesticides, cryogenic homogenization,
liquid extraction |
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Jun Li, Xuchu Jin, and Yan Liu ABSTRACT Clothing consumption plays an important role to indicate consumers’ living pattern and lifestyle. Confronting with the huge yet intensely competitive consumption market of apparel in China, the apparel companies at home and abroad face the problem of how to create and maintain their market shares. Utilizing the statistical data of cash income, discretionary income, living expenditure and apparel expenditure of urban residents in 2000, this paper analyzes the structure and characteristics of clothing consumption by region and by income level in China. In addition, this research includes sampling research of urban residents in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing by means of questionnaire investigation to reveal the status quo of clothing consumption of China urban residents, and summarizes the characteristics of their consumption behavior. KEYWORDS: China, Clothing consumption, Income, Expenditure |
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| Spun Yarn Strength as a
Function of Gauge Length and Extension-Rate: A Critical Review
Anindya Ghosh, S. M. Ishtiaque, R. S. Rengasamy, P. Mal and A.
Patnaik ABSTRACT It has been known for many years that the strength of a spun yarn depends on the two important testing parameters, namely, the gauge length and rate of extension. There is no doubt that all studies relating to the influence of gauge length and extension-rate on yarn strength are invaluable both in theory and practice. In this article, a critical review of various theoretical and practical aspects of the influence of gauge length and extension-rate on yarn strength has been discussed. KEYWORDS:
Yarn Strength, Gauge Length, Extension-Rate, Weak Link |
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