| African apparel industry offers volume and niche |
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Apparel manufacturers from eight countries in Southern and West Africa staked a continental presence at the industry’s leading trade show, MAGIC in Las Vegas, February 16-19. Funded by USAID, Enterprise Mauritius, and the AGOA Plus Project, the SOURCE Africa pavilion drew intense interest from buyers―including Disney, Leslie Gordon, Blair Corporation, Vantage Group and representatives from major US retailers―seeking both large-scale production of uniforms (with cheaper labor costs) and niche products like organic cotton and bamboo. Other countries’ woes may be Africa’s gain: Visitors said they are seeking alternatives to China as its labor costs grow and reputation for quality worsens. Two potential US investors also expressed interested in buying a factory in southern Africa as a safer location than their current site in Pakistan. Leading retailers at the conference said the slumping global economy is spurring consolidation of sourcing, preferably across several countries, making regional collaborative efforts like the Southern Africa Trade Hub’s annual apparel B2B event all the more essential. Published March 2009 Share through your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
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