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2:32:29 PM
Saturday, May 18, 2013

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DEEPAK MOHINDRA
(Editor-In-Chief)
EDITOR'S DESK -

MAY - 2013

Walmart has threatened to pull out of Bangladesh if the country does not
improve compliance and safety regulations. In fact they are even reconsidering
to go back to China for its skilled workforce despite increasing production cost...
It is indeed intriguing that India does not figure in their future strategies
since it is never named in their communiqu�s, whereas China, Vietnam and
Cambodia are omnipresent. Myanmar has been mentioned as the next sourcing
destination for them.
This is not only with Walmart, even at the latest three-day American Apparel &
Footwear Association�s annual summit, apparel executives from companies like
Li & Fung, Macy�s and Williamson-Dickie Co., to name a few gathered for the
conclave, did not even take the name of India as a strategic partner.
Has India lost favour with the buyers or has it become too expensive, or is it
that the buyer has written off the country as a fashion destination for small
quantities and difficult orders, but with fast turnarounds� because of which
there is little or no impact on its overall sourcing strategies.
It may also be true that the increasing opportunities in Indian retail have
diverted many players� attention from exports, and many exporters are also
shifting focus to develop new buyers in emerging countries. Whatever the
reason� it is worth the effort to explore, to understand the future of the
industry in India.
Even the Government of India, in all fairness to their efforts, has not been able
to pull the industry out of the woods. The last 7 years of Foreign Trade Policy
has brought about a cumulative growth of around 5%, which taking into
consideration the weakening of the rupee and inflationary trends would in fact
work out to a negative growth. What kind of a Foreign Trade Policy is it� I may
be cynical for the first time in my approach, but I expected much more from the
Foreign Trade Policy for the industry.
This issue of StitchWorld has a rundown on the knitting hubs of India � Ludhiana
and Tirupur � and the latest technologies on offer for upgradation and
growth in both flat and circular knits. We also have a very interesting article
on SEDAC, wherein small interventions are highlighted which can bring in
quantum improvements in the running of the company by helping to achieve
organizational business improvement goals through team orientation.

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