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Globalisation

Global pandemic and resistant economies: The time is now

April 28, 2020

As I write this, it is late April. And our lessons from the last few weeks in Corona lock down and the impact of the pandemic on our communities and societies, all over the world, have thrown an even harsher light onto some of the realities we either assumed as a given, or worked hard to change for years already. And the lessons have been truly tough medicine.

Globalisation Governance Opinions

We have the choice: The future is ours – to define, to demand, to make it happen

April 21, 2020

The world ‘at the other end’ of the Corona tunnel could never be the same as before. It could be so much better than ever – with a real opportunity to put it on the rails that will make it the place we desire it to be. Or: it could be same, but indeed worse place then ever. Where past misbehaviours is ignored at best, OK’ed at worse.

Italy sings and applauds during Corona lock down

Globalisation Governance Opinions

The Post Corona World – A Backwards Corona Forecast

April 14, 2020

When will Corona 'be over'? never. There are historical moments when the future changes direction. We call them bifurcations. Or deep crises. These times are now. Matthias Horx discusses what that means concretely.

Biz Strategy Globalisation Governance Opinions

Deep Policy Responses: Could it happen again?

April 7, 2020

It is end of March / early April 2020 as I write this. Corona (Covid19) increases its grip onto the world. Draconian, tough policy measures are being put in place limiting people's lives ... and rattling the global economy. Could it hall happen again in the future? And if so - in what way?

Globalisation Governance Supply Chain

Risky Fashion: The challenges of Integrating Product Design and the Supply Chain

March 7, 2014

The design stage is usually the longest, most expensive and riskiest part of the chain. Additionally, research has shown that at least an estimated 80% of a product's environmental (and to a lesser degree also social) impact is locked at the design stage into a product. By integrating the product design with the supply chain, companies can compress non-value adding time and costs in their supply chains, increase responsiveness and mitigate supply chain risks – while simultaneously managing (improving) their sustainability performance without added costs or efforts.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destination: Ukraine

February 20, 2014

During the former Soviet Union, Ukraine developed as one of the largest centres of textile industry, representing approximately 50% of the entire SU's textile industry. And even after the SU fell to pieces, the Ukraine for quite some time remained with its manufacturing power. So, what is the status quo today?

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Ethiopia

January 29, 2014

Already early last year the Swedish Fast Fashion retailer H&M announced the placement of test orders for garments from Ethiopian and Kenyan suppliers. And they're not even the first ones: Retailers such as Tesco and Walmart seem to have gone down that lane already some time ago.

Future Tech Globalisation Governance

Scenario Planning: How useful is it, practically speaking?

January 28, 2014

As part of a workshop given at the Textile Exchange 2013 conference, we ran a small survey among workshop participants in order to find out more about their perception of and experience with Scenario Planning. Here the survey results.

Globalisation Labour Supply Chain

Cost of (Fair) Labour in Apparel (I/III)

January 22, 2014

Mid last year, an interesting campaign piece was delivered to my mailbox: London based Offset Warehouse launched a capsule collection of T-shirts retailing at £4.99 (app. Euro 6, plus P&P). Now, the point is, that even if these T-shirt were sold through a major retailer, they would hardly have retailed at more than £10 - and this at a vastly superior quality then is often case.

Consumer-ism Globalisation

The ‘better consumer’ 2013 update: Latest study results

November 26, 2013

n early April this year we released a report that consolidated 60 studies, from the time period 2005 to early 2013, on the behaviour, attitudes, shopping criteria of the ‘better consumer’. Over the summer, two of the source reports used for our evaluation have been updated, expanded and released in their 2013 edition with further relevant details.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destination: Brazil – A Latinamerican Powerhouse

October 30, 2013

For retail, Brazil is the ‘next hot’ place to go to. For a variety of reasons: For one, the country’s economy has been for a long time up and raising. Brazil is one of the 4 BRIC countries – the 4 most dominant raising economies, and ranks forth among them. Its retail sector is expected to boom tremendously over the next few years owing largely to the two major global sport events – the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Rio 2016 Summer Olympics that will take place in the country.

Globalisation Labour Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Burma – the next hot spot, for apparel sourcing too?

September 4, 2013

Since the moment that Burma's opposition Leader, Aung San Suu Ky, was released from her decade of house arrest it was clear: Nothing would remain the same.

Consumer-ism Globalisation

The Better Consumer in China: Status quo of research insights

August 21, 2013

China is the set to be the next big consumer market. Brands and retailers – hoping in this way for a few more loops of ongoing growth without reconsidering their business model – are scrambling to get their foot down in the country. The most exclusive retail addresses in Shanghai, Bejing, Hong Kong and many other metropolitan areas sell out in record time and at record prices.

Book Reviews Globalisation Supply Chain

The state of the (fashion) world as it happens in Australia

August 21, 2013

Australia is a little bit like a big blank spot of knowledge as far as many of us here in Europe (and the US) are concerned. The recently launched ‘Australian Fashion Report‘ is the first piece of work that looks very specifically at the sustainability and ethical trade practises of brands that are retailed in Australia, both local Australian as well as global brands.

Book Reviews Circularity Globalisation

Economies of Recycling – The globalised value of trash

August 8, 2013

That textile waste – in the shape of garments as well as in other incarnation – has increasingly a commercial value in an area of globalised markets was a topic here in Shirahime on more than one occasion. This book takes on a larger perspective: Each chapter of the this book offers insights into the recycling economy of a distincly different industry.

Biz Strategy Globalisation Supply Chain

Fashion-wise speaking: Sustainability and the Business Case

August 1, 2013

Does sustainability, or not, impact share price? Does it, or not, make for a profitable bottom line business case? Does it, or not, help increase efficiencies? Here the insights from research, and what they mean.

Future Tech Globalisation Supply Chain

2045: Fashion Industry Scenarios

July 24, 2013

2045: scenarios for the textile and fashion industry: How will the industry look like in 5, 10 and 30 years time? Scenarios offer research-based insights, and potentially can show how realistic a world is, that looks rather quite different from what we're used to. What if Asia become today's Europe? What if we did not buy to own? What if everyone was a maker?

Globalisation Labels

Spotlight on labels: Indian Standard for Organic Textiles (ISOT)

July 19, 2013

India, the largest producer of organic cotton in the world is all set to have an Indian Standard for Organic Textiles (ISOT) of its own. The unique selling proposition (USP) of this standard is that it will cover the life cycle of the cotton fibre right from crop to clothing. This is different to GOTS which is primarily concerned with the growing stage of cotton, and only includes minimum regulations for the subsequent manufacturing stages. From the Indian perspective, GOTS does not permit to maintain traceability and integrity of organic textiles.

Future Tech Globalisation

Sustainability + Fashion in Japan: Chartering, Marking Territory

July 18, 2013

Japan – for multiple reasons, not the least the still ongoing, if diminishing, cultural influence onto its neighbours – remains an interesting case to look at in terms of sustainable and ethical fashion. And vocabulary and its use and evolution is the start of it all.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Garment manufacturing – Next stop North Korea?

July 17, 2013

The news is fresh. And it could potentially be some of the most interesting news in the present for cost savvy – and patience as well as unscrupulous investors looking for a somewhat different opportunity: High risk, yes, but potentially with outrageously high returns. Things in North Korea, secluded for the last 60 years, are undoubtedly changing.

Future Fit Industries of 'Stuff': Governance, Responsibility, and the Age of Doughnut Economics

Globalisation

Global pandemic and resistant economies: The time is now

We have the choice: The future is ours – to define, to demand, to make it happen

The Post Corona World – A Backwards Corona Forecast

Deep Policy Responses: Could it happen again?

Risky Fashion: The challenges of Integrating Product Design and the Supply Chain

Sourcing Destination: Ukraine

Sourcing Destinations: Ethiopia

Scenario Planning: How useful is it, practically speaking?

The ‘better consumer’ 2013 update: Latest study results

Sourcing Destination: Brazil – A Latinamerican Powerhouse

Sourcing Destinations: Burma – the next hot spot, for apparel sourcing too?

The Better Consumer in China: Status quo of research insights

The state of the (fashion) world as it happens in Australia

Fashion-wise speaking: Sustainability and the Business Case

2045: Fashion Industry Scenarios

Spotlight on labels: Indian Standard for Organic Textiles (ISOT)

Sustainability + Fashion in Japan: Chartering, Marking Territory

Sourcing Destinations: Garment manufacturing – Next stop North Korea?

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