Global Vibes

Scots march on
SCOTLAND: The spiritual home of the tartan print is to receive a much-needed boost in profile with a series of catwalk shows around the world. A new promotional group, The Scottish Fashion Council, has been formed to promote the Scottish fashion industry to a wider audience. It is hoped the council will allow Scotland to take ownership of its designers, models and fashion photographers and ensure the country reaps some economic benefit from the growing number of its fashion workers contributing to the worldwide market. The council's first project is launching a show devoted solely to Scottish designs and textiles at fashion weeks in New York, Paris and London. In 2006 the Scottish fashion and retail industry had a total turnover of £21 billion ($A52.3 billion) and employed 23,400 people.

Macy's brand buy out?
UNITED STATES: Nationwide retail chain Macy's had told media it may consider buying some apparel brands in the wake of a host of high profile labels being offered for sale. Speaking during an earnings conference call the brand's chief financial officer said her company believed having brands and exclusive merchandise was important "so as you would expect, we might consider some of those". Current US brands up for sale include Liz Claiborne owned-brands Dana Buchman, Ellen Tracy and Sigrid Olsen and Jones Apparel Group brands Ann Klein, Nine West and Evan Picone.

UK cottons on
ENGLAND: Department store John Lewis is trialling the launch of a range of school uniforms made from organic cotton. The range, available for students aged between three and 13 years, features skirts, tunics, trousers, polo shirts and sweatshirts. Currently being trialled in just five stores, the collection will retail for between £4 and £7 ($A9 to $A17).

Shoe makers Thai-ing hard
THAILAND: Sports footwear exporters have been told to step up efforts to find new markets as local sales and exports of the product are on the decline due to an economic slowdown and stronger baht. Think tank Kasikorn Research Centre said some footwear manufacturers had to close business or slow employment after being affected by the sharp baht appreciation. In the past, the footwear industry had experienced issues with labour shortage, wage hikes, and higher production costs however now the country was facing a slow down in exports with overseas companies moving product to China and Vietnam where wages and raw material costs were lower. The group has recommended the sportswear brands take advantage of new potential markets such as Japan, Mexico, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates where the shipment of sports footwear is not as high.

Quota concerns
UNITED STATES: Thousands of US-based apparel companies have begun shifting production to Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Central America and the Caribbean in the wake of the "safeguard quotas" being introduced into China later this year. In Los Angeles alone more than 3000 apparel companies have been affected by the quotas which first came into effect in 2006. Imposed as a result of pressure from US textile manufacturers who were alarmed at the rising imports from China, concern is rising that imports will be shut off early with the limit of 271 million cotton pants and 261 million pairs of underwear from China expected to be reached as October. Already this year, quotas on certain items have filled to nearly 70 percent with the busy winter shipping season having just begun.