Motivations for an organisation within a developing country to report social responsibility information : evidence from Bangladesh

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to describe and explain, using a combination of interviews and content analysis, the social and environmental reporting practices of a major garment export organisation within a developing country. Design/methodology/approach – Senior executives from a major organisation in Bangladesh are interviewed to determine the pressures being exerted on them in terms of their social and environmental performance. The perceptions of pressures are then used to explain – via content analysis – changing social and environmental disclosure practices. Findings – The results show that particular stakeholder groups have, since the early 1990s, placed pressure on the Bangladeshi clothing industry in terms of its social performance. This pressure, which is also directly related to the expectations of the global community, in turn drives the industry's social policies and related disclosure practices. Research limitations/implications – The findings show that, within the context of a developing country, unless we consider the managers' perceptions about the social and environmental expectations being imposed upon them by powerful stakeholder groups then we will be unable to understand organisational disclosure practices. Originality/value – This paper is the first known paper to interview managers from a large organisation in a developing country about changing stakeholder expectations and then link these changing expectations to annual report disclosures across an extended period of analysis

Export Performance Assessment: A Case Study of MAA Garment Factory

In the age of Globalization firms need to compete internationally to stay in business. Export remains the most widely used entry mode to international business for its less risk and costs involved. MAA garment has been in the export business for about seven years starting from the beginning of 2004 but has not conducted any systematic assessment of its exports yet. The study has assessed the export performance of the MAA garment based on different dimensions that have direct relevance to the export performance construct. Both primary and secondary sources of data are used to assess the export performance. Export Data for the years 2004/5 up to 2008/9 are used and the company managers are interviewed for analysis. Results show that despite the prevalence of some strong sides the company’s export performance was at a low stage compared to company goals and major competitors. Recommendations for enhanced performance of exports of the company are also forwarded by the researcher

Fashion Industry

Fashion is a lot more than providing an answer to primary needs. It is a way of communication, of distinction, of proclaiming a unique taste and expressing the belonging to a group. Sometimes to an exclusive group. Currently, the fashion industry is moving towards hyperspace, to a multidimensional world that is springing from the integration of smart textiles and wearable technologies. It is far beyond aesthetics. New properties of smart textiles let designers experiment with astonishing forms and expressions. There are also surprising contrasts and challenges: a new life for natural fibers, sustainable fabrics and dyeing techniques, rediscovered by eco-fashion, and "artificial apparel," made of wearable electronic components. How is this revolution affecting the strategies of the fashion industry

China's creative industries : clusters and performances

A working paper submitted to the Annual Conference of the Chinese Economist Association held at Cambridge University from 1st to 2nd April 2008Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

3D Garment Modelling - Creation of a Virtual Mannequin of the Human Body

This work presents the modelling and numerical simulation of mannequins as well as clothes in a 3D virtual environment. The paper explains garment modelling, with the objective of defining the development of a 3D body model that is useful and based on the demand of the garment industry. For this purpose a development strategy should be defined. Many scientists are working on the creative process for virtual garment development to create a garment directly on a 3D model of the human body, also called “ virtual tailoring”.The first strategic issue in this context that we present is that the model must necessarily incorporate the ease garment model associatively. These parameters define the priority concepts that are the draping and proper fit of the garment. The second point is that the transition between the 3D and 2D patterns, known as flattening 3D patterns, must be associative, precise and must take into account the real deformation of the fabric.Project entitled “Development of the research infrastructure of innovative techniques and technologies of the textile garment industry” CLO-2IN-TEX, financed by Operational Program Innovative Economy, 2007-2013, Action 2.

Awareness of Cotton Among Generation Y

The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness and use of cotton in fabric and clothing by Generation Y (college students 18-15) for enhanced product marketing