Global Vibes

Jeans from $14
SRI LANKA: Colombo and nearby cities are emerging as key sites for European and US-based companies to source distressed jeans. Drawn by the fact the jeans can be made for as little as $US12 ($A14) per pair but often sell for more than $US100 ($A120), overseas buyers such as Levis, Gap and Pierre Cardin are now regular buyers of premium jeans from Sri Lanka. Workers there can cut and sew a basic five pocket pair of jeans in around 15 minutes. The country's $US3 billion ($A3.7 billion) garment industry accounts for more than half its export earnings, and provides jobs for nearly one million people. Casualwear, including jeans, are the key to Sri Lanka's success in the global apparel market accounting for 16 per cent of the total garment export earnings.

On the rise
UNITED KINGDOM: The trend for cheap clothing will be phased out as retailers come under pressure from increasing overheads and growing consumer concerns over ethical sourcing, a new report has found. The study, undertaken by retail analysts Verdict Consulting, shows retailers are expected to pass on rising energy, staff and rent costs to consumers but prices will also increase if the demand for ethical sourcing leads to the end of cheap offshore manufacturing. The availability of large volumes of clothes at low prices has led to a saturation of the market, with the average UK woman now buying twice as many items per year than a decade ago. Verdict predicts retailers will focus on added value ranges and customer experience to convince consumers to continuing buying if prices do rise.