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Can Haiti's textile and apparel industry stand up again?

The sector carved out a particular niche in quick-turn, mass-market basics, supported by flexible rules of origin that allowed the use of imported yarns and fabrics, export-oriented industrial parks such as the Parc Industriel de Caracol (Caracol Industrial Park), and internationally monitored labour standards under the Better Work Haiti programme. Together, these factors gave Haiti a sourcing advantage that few regional competitors could replicate.

As a result, the industry attracted major US and international buyers including Hanesbrands, Gildan Activewear, Fruit of the Loom, Levi Strauss & Co, and MAS Holdings, many of which relied on Haitian factories for large-scale, time-sensitive production. Foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly from Asian manufacturers, played a decisive role in building this ecosystem, anchoring Haiti’s position within regional and global apparel supply chains.