US workers critical in global apparel supply chains

The goal of Analyzing the Value Chain for Apparel Designed in the United States and Manufactured Overseas was to capture the actual experience of American companies and determine the U.S. value for specific apparel products.  Data were gathered on five specific products: men’s and women’s cotton knit shirts, men’s and women’s woven cotton trousers (included denim and non-denim), and women’s manmade fiber outerwear (including water-resistant and non-water-resistant).Respondents included seven U.S.-headquartered apparel and retail companies that together employ more than 500,000 people globally and 350,000 in the United States. 

Combined retail sales in 2011 totaled more than $92 billion.  Total U.S. apparel retail sales totaled more than $270 billion in 2011.The findings included in this report mirror similar findings in other recent studies related to global value chains for non-apparel products.

About Moongate Associates, Inc. and Susan Hester

Moongate Associates is an international consulting firm based in Seattle, Washington.  Susan Hester, Ph.D., is the Managing Partner of Moongate Associates, Inc. She has extensive experience in the formulation and analysis of international trade policy and practice. Susan Hester's career has encompassed work in the public and private sectors, as well as education and training in more than a dozen countries. 

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