JC Penney goes whole hog on Indian apparel & textile outsourcing

10 Jun '05

2 min read

One of the largest US-based departmental stores J C Penney will outsource apparels and textiles in increased quantities, said a senior company official.

He said that over five times that is $800 million worth apparels and textiles would be sourced from India by 2009 from the current $150 million.

China had been hot outsourcing spot for most of the US retailers so far, but since the expiration of the textile quotas, and its image has taking a beating due to its unstoppable imports to the US and the EU claims of harming their domestic textile industries. This has raised Indian hopes particularly, in the garments and textiles sectors.

In the bouquet of textile products sourced from India consists shirts, suit tops for ladies, knitted items, T-shirts, men's suits, blouses, denim bottoms, sports jackets and sleep wear in the garments category, besides carpets.

It is the quality and cost-effectiveness that has attracted JC Penney to look forward to outsourcing from India apart from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He praised Indian skill set terming it “world class,” both in fashion and technology.

Currently, the company has tied up with about 30 vendors from India, and is seeking more vendors who can offer clothing at competitive prices, he informed.

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