SINGAPORE: Apparel firms step up efforts to supply US retailers

29 October 2008

Apparel makers in Singapore are stepping up their efforts to build business with US retailers by claiming they have the reach and experience to help companies stay competitive in the global credit crisis.

As part of the Apparel Singapore campaign, which was launched in July, manufacturers say they offer a solution for US retailers who are reassessing their sourcing strategies to look for alternative supply chain and apparel partners.

They cite a 40-year track record of working with leading US fashion retailers such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Adidas, Esprit, Gap, Gymboree, JC Penney, Liz Claiborne, Macy’s, Nike, Target and Walt Disney.

And they say their global footprint spans multiple offshore production locations around the world, which means they have the flexibility to re-allocate production to different countries to ensure orders will be met.

Apparel Singapore is backed by the Singapore government and is intended as a seal of approval which stresses the industry's compliance with intellectual property rights and strict social and environmental standards.

Not only does it hope to raise the profile of Singapore apparel companies, but it also seeks to grow Singapore's share of the world apparel manufacturing business.

The initiative is managed by the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore (TaFf).

It is supported by government agencies International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, which supports the overseas growth of Singapore-based companies, and SPRING Singapore, which is responsible for growing innovative companies and fostering a competitive SME sector.

Singapore's apparel industry generated about US$4.5bn in manufacturing output in 2007, a 78% increase from US$2.5bn in 2003.