Apparel industry leaders address concerns at PSF

19 Apr '10

5 min read

Henri Mura, Executive Chairman of the VIPTEHUI Group, told the audience that on-line retailing was an effective way of reaching increasingly sophisticated consumers. He noted the many opportunities online purchasing had presented for young mainland companies to build their own brand names due to the absence of available US and European brands in China.“There is a rapidly increasing number of consumers who choose to purchase goods, such as apparel, via the Internet rather than through traditional brick-and-mortar retail,” Mr. Mura told the audience.

In addressing the question as to when global consumer levels of purchasing would return to the levels experienced prior to the global financial downturn, Mr. David Dodwell, CEO of Strategic Access, a well-known trade and political analyst in Hong Kong, commented that it was necessary for household consumption to increase before consumer markets returned to pre-financial downturn levels.

Cost-effective innovation was another topic that attracted the interest of delegates. Joachim Hensch of Hugo Boss suggested creating “hot spots” to inspire designers' creativity.Concurring, Roger Lee, COO of TAL, focused on ways to inspire staff to learn new skills and develop creativity.

Meanwhile, Douglas Tong HSU, Chairman and CEO of the Far Eastern Group, stated: “While domestic consumption in China is increasing, local demand does not currently equate with the level of imports into the country.”

On the second day of the Forum, Prof. Dr. Helmut Merkel of EurAsia and Mr Hans-Werner Scherer of the EOS Group addressed the issue of global sourcing after the financial crisis and whether China is still the top sourcing country for the international apparel sector.

The event closed with an innovation for PSF in the form of a debate. The motion before the “house” suggested that: “China will soon no longer be the first choice for sourcing apparel”.
Following a lively, often controversial and sometimes humorous debate, the motion was almost unanimously rejected.

This year, the principal 2010 PSF sponsor, CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements, the product brand for the world's finest loose cut crystals, was joined by Avery Dennison, Checkpoint, Dassault, DyStar, KEE Zipper, Lawson, Lectra and several other sponsoring organisations.

The 400-plus participating companies included such well-known brands as adidas, Ann Taylor, AWI, Bossini, the Crystal Group, Fountain Set, H&M, Jockey International, Jones International, Li & Fung, New Balance, Nike, Pacific Brands, Polo Ralph Lauren, Target, VF and YGM.

The 6th edition of PSF, the definitive meeting place for the global apparel industry, will be held in Hong Kong from 30 March to 1 April, 2011.

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