Global Competitiveness in the Textile Industry: Any Strategy Beyond Lowering Costs

The European textile-apparel industry has recently undergone major changes, due to increased competition from low cost, emerging countries and changes in the international division of labour. Most companies have globalised their supply chains, either sourcing components from around the world, or moving manufacturing to East Europe or East Asia. This paper analyzes how the Italian textile industry has been trying to contain the effects of globalisation. Using a variety of data sources and on the basis of extensive field work, the paper offers some insights on possible strategies to remain competitive in such a global and mature industry: a) high qualifying product and service offer, guaranteeing quality, reactivity and innovation; b) outsourcing and global supply chain re-designing. The paper argues that only companies able to couple lean and agile supply chain structures, thus solving the trade-offs between the corresponding design and management principles, are likely to remain competitive in the futur