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An industry unraveling
Washington Times ^ | Sunday, December 26, 2004 | By Jeffrey Sparshott

Posted on 12/26/2004 12:32:45 AM PST by JohnHuang2

MAIDEN, N.C. - Steve Dobbins in the past four years has closed 10 plants, laid off 1,400 workers and refocused his textile company on products that won't go toe-to-toe with competition from lower-cost factories in China, India and a handful of other nations. But he's still not certain that Carolina Mills, a company that today employs 1,200 in a 30-mile radius around this small North Carolina town, will survive a massive change in the clothing and textile markets slated for Jan. 1. "We're busting our cans trying to find ways [to compete]. We don't know whether or not we will succeed, but we are trying," said Mr. Dobbins, the company president. Foreign competition has been creeping up on U.S. companies that spin yarn, weave fabric and sew clothing. The industry has adjusted by consolidating, scaling back U.S. operations and refocusing overseas.

Many believe the worst is yet to come.

Starting Saturday, a global system of quotas that limited foreign apparel sales to U.S., European and other wealthy markets since the 1960s is set to expire. China is expected to capture about 50 percent of the U.S. clothing market, up from 16 percent, once quotas end, the World Trade Organization estimates. India and a handful of other countries also are expected to prosper. Their gains are expected to come at the expense of companies in the United States, Europe and smaller, less-efficient countries, such as Mexico, Turkey and Indonesia.

Companies in the United States have been preparing on several fronts -- sometimes making internal changes to become more competitive, but also petitioning the government for a new round of protection.

(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: china; freetrade; globalism; imports; tariffs; textileindustry; textiles; trade
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1 posted on 12/26/2004 12:32:45 AM PST by JohnHuang2
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To: JohnHuang2

Chicomdeshi products suck. The designs suck, the materials suck, the fit sucks, they suck. When you see a clothing company logo that sounds like "Old Time Western Trading Post" it really ought to be reading "Chicomdeshi Import Weasels." Go to a website like

Woolrich
Established 1830
Reselling Chicomdeshi Crap 2004

Now let's hear some stupid buttheads complaining about the "union label."


2 posted on 12/26/2004 12:41:02 AM PST by agitator (...And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark)
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To: JohnHuang2
China is expected to capture about 50 percent of the U.S. clothing market
3 posted on 12/26/2004 12:53:39 AM PST by miltonim (Fight those who do not believe in Allah. - Koran, Surah IX: 29)
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To: JohnHuang2
For once I'd like to see some coverage of the barriers to US exports that exist in all of these countries. If you don't believe this just try to export virtually anything to almost any Asian country - Almost impossible and, after all of the tariffs and non-tariff specifications are met, non economical and non competitive.

IMO Our trade negotiation Elites are as bad as our Immigration policy Elites.

4 posted on 12/26/2004 12:57:30 AM PST by drt1
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To: miltonim

After some research I found America never really had a domestic shoe industry.


5 posted on 12/26/2004 1:04:32 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
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To: JohnHuang2

Its almost impossible to find brand-name American made clothes these days. Virtually of the American labels import foreign textile products.


6 posted on 12/26/2004 1:19:59 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: miltonim

My leather jacket and down coat from Columbia Sportswear are made - you guessed it - in China!


7 posted on 12/26/2004 1:21:00 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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taiwan has been outsourcing to china as well


8 posted on 12/26/2004 1:31:20 AM PST by KneelBeforeZod ( I'm going to open Cobra Kai dojos all over this valley!)
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To: Willie Green; ninenot; A. Pole

ping


9 posted on 12/26/2004 1:39:37 AM PST by raybbr
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To: agitator

Woolrich? You're kidding?


10 posted on 12/26/2004 1:41:30 AM PST by durasell (Friends are so alarming, My lover's never charming...)
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To: endthematrix

http://www.aldenshop.com/

I would stack these shoes up against almost any other, with few exceptions.


11 posted on 12/26/2004 1:44:44 AM PST by durasell (Friends are so alarming, My lover's never charming...)
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To: JohnHuang2
300 million Americans...walking around naked, but for an enslaved China....a national disgrace.

A country that makes nothing IS nothing.

12 posted on 12/26/2004 2:08:37 AM PST by NoControllingLegalAuthority
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To: durasell

I was about to correct endthematrix and you made my point. Here in West Texas we have several makers of USA boots, but we are talking custom, high dollar boots. Go to Wallyworld, Sears etc. and you are going to see shelves full of "made in China".


13 posted on 12/26/2004 2:19:00 AM PST by barkeep
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To: barkeep

I had a pair of Tony Lamas once. Not that great. Maybe you could suggest a good pair.

The truth of the matter is -- we can make great stuff. Unfortunately, it's priced beyond the means of most people. For instance, if you want a really great dress shirt, you can buy one that's made in the USA. However, that shirt will cost you more than most people spend on a suit. And if you want a great Made In the USA suit, it may cost more than a decent used car.


14 posted on 12/26/2004 2:22:39 AM PST by durasell (Friends are so alarming, My lover's never charming...)
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To: durasell
There was story on Lou Dobbs that showed a US shoemaker who mad you shoes in (IIRC) an hour! You walk in, get measured and CNC machines go to work. The mechanization and the convenience brings the cost down.
15 posted on 12/26/2004 2:38:16 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
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To: NoControllingLegalAuthority
A country that makes nothing IS nothing.

If I recall correctly from my school days:

If you export raw material and import finished goods, you are, by definition, a colony.

16 posted on 12/26/2004 2:43:26 AM PST by Glenn (The two keys to character: 1) Learn how to keep a secret. 2) ...)
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To: endthematrix

That sounds like kind of a novelty deal. A decent pair of custom (called "bespoke") shoes will run you over $1,000, John Lobbs being the most famous. There also used to be semi-custom shirt guys who mixed and matched sleeves, buttons, collars etc. from a stock of different sizes/styles. They didn't last long. People tend to go either go "all out" when it comes to custom clothing or not at all.


17 posted on 12/26/2004 2:46:35 AM PST by durasell (Friends are so alarming, My lover's never charming...)
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To: barkeep; durasell

Re: I was about to correct endthematrix

No need, my post still stands. Imports 98% penetration (2003)
http://www.apparelandfootwear.org/data/shoestats2004.pdf


18 posted on 12/26/2004 2:46:53 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
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To: endthematrix

The jobs are going and they ain't coming back, no matter what Lou Dobbs says. As a country, we either figure out a way to build or create something else or we sink. As individuals, we either learn to adapt or get ground into dust.


19 posted on 12/26/2004 3:01:01 AM PST by durasell (Friends are so alarming, My lover's never charming...)
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To: durasell
As for shoes, I picked up mine while in Italy. Custom made, $130 Euro. Great shoe and price. I'd pay twice for the same shoe in the US.
20 posted on 12/26/2004 3:24:37 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
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