Thesis
A study of the shifting patterns of global sourcing in the U.S. textile and apparel industry
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2011
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101986
Abstract
The U.S. textile and apparel industry is a long chained business that involves billions of dollars throughout the world. Although this industry is overly competitive and complicated, the profitability is enormous. The highly saturated market depends on the global sourcing to obtain a competitive advantage. Due to the radical changes in the industry, global sourcing has been shifting drastically as well. To understand these shifts is important. However, previous studies of this issue are limited. Therefore, this thesis is designed to fill this gap. The purpose of this study is to identify the shifting patterns of global sourcing in the U.S. textile and apparel industry by analyzing four selected data set points in 1996, 2002, 2006, and 2009. These shifting patterns are yielded from cluster analysis with five perspectives. Each country's trade regulations, costs, logistics, cross-culture and technology levels are examined. This study identified 28 leading supplying countries, and determined China, Vietnam, India, Mexico, Canada, and Hong Kong1 1 Hong Kong is an area but rather than a country. However, in this study Hong Kong is discussed as an individual country. as the most important supplying countries. Shifting patterns with different perspectives are various. This reflects the U.S. textile and apparel industry's changefulness and complications. In the 1990s, Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, and more countries were top suppliers of the U.S. market. However, only China lasted and became the ultimate dominator in this field over time. The reasons behind China's achievement are included: a large amount of cheap labor, favored trade conditions, ongoing upgraded technology, and infrastructure supports. Combining all these competitive advantages together, China has been accelerating towards to succeed powerfully. "Made in China" will continue its growth in the U.S. textile and apparel market.
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Details
- Title
- A study of the shifting patterns of global sourcing in the U.S. textile and apparel industry
- Creators
- Lin He
- Contributors
- T. Chi (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525151901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis