In the 2014 autumn and winter series of products, the OEM (OEM) business of trading companies has set off a wave of using European fabrics. European raw materials have always been recognized by customers, so even if foreign exchange rates have a negative impact, many trading companies still use European fabrics in their OEM production business. This, combined with ASEAN’s sewing processing advantages, has suppressed the increase in overall costs. Although it is not easy for OEM business to launch differentiated products, for trading companies, the use of European fabrics can indeed increase the added value of products.
Toshima Company exhibited many apparel products using European fabrics at the comprehensive exhibition. Due to the depreciation of the yen and the increase in import costs, the company has focused on shoes, bags, hats and other products that “use less material and can easily recover costs”. The company uses fabrics from the Italian Ardites company and the British BRITISHMILLERAIN company. The main fabric of Ardites is top-fed plush knitted fabric, which is characterized by fluffy, lightweight and warm, and can be used to make gloves, shoes, bags and other products. BRITISHMILLERAIN Company is an old fabric manufacturer specializing in wax cotton (Oiled Cotton). The company’s fabrics are used in all bag products this time.
Tamura Koma’s focus is on Harris Tweed fabric, which used 50,000 to 60,000 meters last year and plans to continue to increase its usage this autumn and winter. Tamura Koma started operating Harris Tweed more than ten years ago, and his business volume has increased rapidly in recent years. The company’s managing director Hiroyuki Ueki believes: “If the selection of fabrics is not emphasized, it will be difficult for the OEM business to differentiate products.” In addition to Harris tweed, Tamura Koma also conducts business with 10 fabric manufacturers in Europe In recent years, the company has also expressed interest in fabric procurement in Portugal. At the same time, the company is strengthening the establishment of a sewing and processing system for European fabrics in ASEAN.
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Products Co., Ltd.’s women’s clothing series 1 and 3 also use more European fabrics. At this year’s autumn and winter series exhibition, 40% to 50% of the samples were made of European fabrics. Two years ago, the proportion of products using European fabrics was only 5%. Now the use of European fabrics has increased significantly.
Among them, fabrics from Italy and Portugal are mostly used, and the sewing production is completed in Vietnam or Myanmar. They believe that by combining European fabrics with ASEAN sewing processing, the price competitiveness of their products can be improved.
