2. Chapter 10 ‘Fabric-ating Fashion’: The Clothing Industries

3. Review Concepts to Review – GPNs, export processing zones, WTO, regionalization, role of consumers, centre—periphery divide, branding and identity Key Words – Clothing industry; sweatshop labour; buyer-driven industries, fashion, multi-fibre arrangement

4. The Clothing Industries: Definition and Structure Basis of the industry Satisfies a fundamental human need Subject to complex social and cultural forces Fashion change: stimulate demand for clothes Nature of the industry Capital intensity low, labour intensity high, technology unsophisticated Labour costs are the most significant production factor in the industry Geographical proximity to key markets is vital Globalization of the industry

5. Politics of the Industry Labour Issues Labour force: 80 per cent female, mostly unskilled or semi-skilled, and young In developed countries tend to be immigrants and ethnic minorities Have no protection Consumer and state relations Consumer resistance Regulation is difficult, due to fragmented, transitory nature of the industry Governments intervene in the industry

6. Tariffs and Trade multi-fibre arrangement: define and give history since 1973 Aim: to create trade which would benefit developed and developing world Became more restrictive as time went on 1995 regulation of trade incorporated into WTO – MFA phased out over a 10-year period End of MFA in 2005: what now?

7. Current and Ongoing Trends Technological developments Changes in type of firm Role of retailers Regionalization