Review of TCF Assistance

The Commission was asked to evaluate current assistance arrangements to the TCF industries and provide policy options for post 2005 assistance and to report on a range of related matters that will affect the sector's long-term viability. The inquiry will also look at relevant workplace issues and international trade developments.Australia; Public Inquiry; Adjustment; Assistance; Awards; Clothing; Cotton; Employment; Enterprise agreements; Exports; Footwear; Garments; Hides; Imports; Industrial relations; Industry; Labour costs; Labour market programs; Leather; OAP; Overseas Assembly Provisions; Productivity; Quotas; Redundancy; Regulation; Tariff Concession System; Tariffs; Taxation; TCF; Textiles; Trade;

An analysis into the impact of globalization on the clothing industry in conjunction with the clothing industry in South Africa

The clothing industry in South Africa is seen as a conventional industry with characteristics such as: labour intensive with low levels of qualification; low salaries; low potential for investment in research and development and innovation; flexible labour legislation and powerful labour unions. However, it continues to be an important sector in terms of the South African labour market with regards to job creation. The strong impact of globalisation and delocalization in the organization of work is pressurizing the industry in terms of its competitiveness. Global competitiveness in terms of quality, price and supply chain management are reducing the viability of the industry. Few organisations are able to keep their positions in the marketplace without changes in the organisation of work and workers. Organisations that respond to the challenges have positioned themselves for economic stability. Organisations have found different methodologies in dealing with the reality of the situation. Two distinctive paths can be identified: outsourcing production with dismissal of workers and relocation of facilities; and skilling the workforce through continual improvement. The aim of the paper is to highlight the predicament faced by the clothing industry and what could be done to change the levels of productivity in the industry. This paper presents results through qualitative research analysis from the case study conducted in Kwa-Zulu Natal on several clothing organisations in comparison to international experiences

Retailing is more than shopkeeping : manufacturing interlinkages and technological change in the Australian clothing industry

This paper is one of a series on the Australian clothing industry, forming part of the research project "A Local Division of Production: Technological Change and Productive Interlinkages in Australian Manufacturing". The project examines the effect of technological change and modern production philosophies upon the relationship between clients and suppliers within industry sectors. As the emphasis on quality becomes a cornerstone of entrepreneurial survival and success both process and product innovation take on an increasing significance. The project hypothesizes that these changes will have far-reaching consequences upon the interaction between leading , or 'core' ,firms and their manufacturing suppliers. Within the overall context of the project, the purpose of this paper is definitional. It is argued that within the clothing industry chain (or filiere) large retail chains are 'core' firms promoting technological and managerial change among manufacturing suppliers and their suppliers. It is further argued that the responses to change from manufacturers take on diverse forms according to size and market position. While manufacturers have responded 'flexibly' to changing conditions, the diverse forms of flexiblility introduced by different sectors of the market are more characteristic of ' neo-Fordism' , and evidence of an emerging 'post-Fordist' consciousness among management remains limited. The paper begins with a brief history of the Australian clothing industry over the past two decades.focusing upon the changing policy environment. This leads to a description of the Federal Government's Textile, Clothing and Footwear Plan , and an assessment of the problems manufacturers face in adjusting to the new conditions . It is then argued that an analysis of the 'industry chain' must take into account the role performed by core retailers in altering manufacturing practices. Two areas in particular are examined; the growing awareness of quality control, and the introduction of Quick Response strategies. The conclusion reached is that the core retail sector has performed, and will continue to perform, a catalytic role within the Australian clothing manufacturing sector, and that commentators and industry analysts must broaden their conceptions of industry chains in order to take account of this factor

Regulating Clothing Outwork: A Sceptic's View

By applying the strategies of international anti-sweatshop campaigns to the Australian context, recent regulations governing home-based clothing production hold retailers responsible for policing the wages and employment conditions of clothing outworkers who manufacture clothing on their behalf. This paper argues that the new approach oversimplifies the regulatory challenge by assuming (1) that Australian clothing production is organised in a hierarchical ‘buyer-led’ linear structure in which core retail firms have the capacity to control their suppliers’ behaviour; (2) that firms act as unitary moral agents; and (3) that interventions imported from other times and places are applicable to the contemporary Australian context. After considering some alternative regulatory approaches, the paper concludes that the new regulatory strategy effectively privatises responsibility for labour market conditions – a development that cries out for further debate

Academic Aspect of the Leather Industry: An Interpretation from the Perspective of Business Science

In the leather industry, a production process that is the subject of many different disciplines is dominant. Many studies on these branches of science have examined the sector in detail in terms of production. On the other hand, studies dealing with the sector in terms of business administration department and sub-disciplines are not common. In this study, academic publications examining the relationship between the leather industry and the business administration department are the subjects. 98 scientific studies obtained after the search in the Web of Science database were examined in terms of the form of publication, the year of publication, the country where the publication was made and the sub-disciplines of the business department

Shopping their wardrobe: Changing costume practices in Australian theatre

Over the past thirty years the primary method of generating theatrical costumes in Brisbane has changed significantly. Traditionally costumes were hand sewn in dedicated workshops from original designs, with a few bought items to supplement these costume ‘makes’. Now designers and costumers have become shoppers, styling costumes from new and second-hand retail fashions, or finding items from existing wardrobe stock. This research examines why the primary method of costume generation in Brisbane theatre has changed, and the impact this is having on the costuming industry. The examination focuses on changes in the Australian labour market and the Australian fashion industry. It uses Queensland Theatre as a case study, along with interviews with industry veterans, to demonstrate the relationship between current costume practice and these factors, concluding that costuming in Brisbane is highly responsive to, and reflective of, these shaping forces. The research forms the beginning of an academic and industry dialogue about a major shift in the theatre industry that needs to be acknowledged. This shift is causing skills to be lost in the industry, and raises issues applicable to costume generation around Australia

An analysis into the impact of globalization on the clothing industry in conjunction with the clothing industry in South Africa

The clothing industry in South Africa is seen as a conventional industry with characteristics such as: labour intensive with low levels of qualification; low salaries; low potential for investment in research and development and innovation; flexible labour legislation and powerful labour unions. However, it continues to be an important sector in terms of the South African labour market with regards to job creation. The strong impact of globalisation and delocalization in the organization of work is pressurizing the industry in terms of its competitiveness. Global competitiveness in terms of quality, price and supply chain management are reducing the viability of the industry. Few organisations are able to keep their positions in the marketplace without changes in the organisation of work and workers. Organisations that respond to the challenges have positioned themselves for economic stability. Organisations have found different methodologies in dealing with the reality of the situation. Two distinctive paths can be identified: outsourcing production with dismissal of workers and relocation of facilities; and skilling the workforce through continual improvement. The aim of the paper is to highlight the predicament faced by the clothing industry and what could be done to change the levels of productivity in the industry. This paper presents results through qualitative research analysis from the case study conducted in Kwa-Zulu Natal on several clothing organisations in comparison to international experiences.Mechanical and Industrial Engineerin

Clean Clothes Newsletter No. 20

Details the Clean Clothes Campaign’s various European efforts and issues surrounding international fair labor standards

Clean Clothes Newsletter No. 20

Newsletter of Clean Clothes Campaign, detailing European campaigns and issues surrounding fair labor standards

A study of children’s wear in the Australian mass fashion sector: Is there synergy between education outcomes and industry needs?

The purpose of this research is to examine whether education outcomes match the Australian mass fashion industry’s needs. This fashion sector is the largest employer of fashion-trained personnel in the country. The research examines the industry’s needs from the perspective of the mass fashion retailers and the sourcing firms that supply them. The study also focuses on the role of computer aided graphic design as a means of communicating design ideas to buyers, as well as garment construction drawings, textile prints and placement prints to suppliers. The discipline crossover that is evident between fashion design, textile design and merchandising is also examined in depth. The thesis focuses on the Australian generic market, that is, product commissioned by retailers for their own brands, with an emphasis on the mass fashion children’s wear sector. This sector was selected as it captures the current industry in a nutshell, in particular: 1. The sector’s focus on maintaining low retail prices; 2. The sector’s stringent fit and quality control requirements; 3. The sector’s reliance on understanding supply network capabilities to maintain low costs and to be aware of new innovations. A purposive sampling process was used to select participants for the research as participants were required to have in-depth knowledge of the mass fashion children’s wear sector. Data was gathered through the use of open-ended thematic interviews and duly coded using a qualitative data analysis program, NVivo. Nvivo is designed to facilitate the organization of the data set more efficiently, enabling easier comparisons of answers in each theme. At first glance, it appeared from preliminary discussions with industry and education that there is a dissonance between industry needs and education outcomes; however, on reflection through the interview process it became apparent that it is not possible for education to meet all of industry’s perceived needs. The more salient point to note is the rapid rate of change in attitudes and practice in the industry over the last thirty years and especially the last four years. Retailers have transformed from just being sellers of product to now being in control of their own product development and manufacturing. This change has affected the role of industry participants, requiring practitioners to need less hands-on practical garment construction knowledge and more research and sourcing skills. However, on deeper examination, whilst the practical construction skills are no longer used in the workplace, an intimate understanding of these is important when it comes to product development. Considering these changes, this study has found that industry cannot pinpoint all the skills the product designer/developer needs. The literature examining design process and reflective practice generally is informative in its approach and this translates well into mass fashion product development as studied here. Clearly, a close connection between industry and education is very important, both for undergraduate study and for professional development. The responsibility lies with both parties to make this a success. In summary, this research has uncovered a need to forge a much deeper collaboration between industry and education that could include internships throughout undergraduate study. Further, the retail industry should examine its own training programs, consider shifts in the industry, and take product development more into consideration for future professional development