Textile, Clothing And Footwear Research Articles

Upcycling of textile and footwear wastes for synergistical reinforcement of cement mortar

The utilization of waste polymeric materials from textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry as aggregates in the cement is a valuable approach to reduce plastic pollution. However, the low modulus of polymers and poor interfacial interactions with the cement deteriorate their applications. Herein, we report an upcycling strategy for the recovery of waste fabrics and footwear sole materials from TCF industry as cement mortar reinforcement. The exfoliation of fabrics and pulverization of footwear soles enable them to expose the reactive groups which can absorb Ca2+ dissolved in water, thus helping the formation of C–H–S gel at the organic–inorganic interfacial transition zones between polymers and cement. It was determined by laser confocal Raman spectra. Hence, the exfoliated polyester fibers can prevent the crack expansion of cement and the devulcanized sole elastomers can dissipate energy while subjected to the external force, synergistically enhancing the mechanical properties. The flexural and compressive strengths of cement containing 0.5 wt% PFW and 5 wt% EPW are 48.9% and 59.6% higher than the neat cement. This work suggests a new strategy to realize value-added utilization of waste polymers which are difficult to be classified and separated.

The impact of trading with China on Botswana’s economy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of trading with China on Botswana’s domestic and third markets. The paper also assesses the structure and magnitude of Botswana–China bilateral trade. Design/methodology/approach – The paper used descriptive statistics such as graphic analysis to describe and summarize the basic features of the data. To reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone, the study applied Chenery Decomposition Approach and also applied the extension of Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis. Findings – Botswana mainly exports primary products to China and imports intermediate and capital goods, which are mainly used as inputs in the development of infrastructure in the country. Increased imports from China into Botswana’s domestic market has mainly replaced imports from other countries, and China’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) exports gained market share from Botswana’s TCF exports in the third markets, i.e. South Africa. Unlike Lesotho, the loss of market share by Botswana’s TCF exports in the South African market increased over the period under study. The Botswana Government needs to consider ways of enhancing Botswana’s TCF export competitiveness and learn lessons from China in relation to enhancing productivity in the TCF and other exporting industries. Research limitations/implications – Because of lack of data, this paper failed to estimate the impact of import penetration in the manufacturing subsectors and analyze the rapidly growing Botswana–China bilateral trade in services. There has been no estimate of the impact of intermediate and capital goods on production costs of Botswana’s productive sectors. Lastly, because of lack of data, there have been no estimates of Botswana’s consumer surplus generated from consuming relatively low-priced goods from China. Originality/value – This is the first study to carry out an empirical analysis of the Botswana–China trade relation. The study will be of value to academia and to policymakers who are interested in studying the China–Africa relation.

Dimensions of Textile, Clothing and Footwear Production in the High Wage Cost Country of Australia in a Globalised Environment: Some Interesting Revelations

This paper seeks to assess the performance of the labour intensive and high wage cost textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry in Australia in a globalised environment. The results indicate the Australian TCF industry has become a leaner and more specialised export focused industry by restructuring production from the low to high value added products which exhibit a comparative advantage on the international market. A particularly interesting dimension has been the greater use of high tech production techniques such as bolstering net investment expenditure which has increased the capital intensity of production, undertaking elevated levels of R&D expenditure and using a more skilled labour force which have combined to made it possible to use computer controlled technology and microelectronics to facilitate the production of the higher value added TCF products. This has also combated costs of production and improved the quality of these products thereby reinforcing export competitiveness. The sharper export focus importantly, has provided a platform for sustainable output and employment growth, albeit on a smaller scale. However, this has been associated with large output and hence employment losses.

Rethinking women's resistance and agency: the case of retrenched textile workers

After briefly tracing the recent disappearance of Feltex Carpets, a major yarns mill site in Braybrook, a Western suburb of Melbourne, the paper analyses material collected from interviews with migrant women retrenched from the Feltex factory, as they adapted to their new working lives between 2006 and 2008. Utilising Bourdieu's notions of habitus, disposition and capital, the paper considers the links between individual resistance amongst this group of workers and the power relations beyond the field of work. Whilst much has been written concerning the decline of the Textile Clothing and Footwear (TCF) industries in Australia, little attention has been paid to the lives of individual women workers involved in and affected by these events. Little is known about what happens to migrant women as they move out of long-term, full-time jobs as machine operators and into casual employment. In analysing their subjective shifts in the years following retrenchment, the paper highlights how their changing self-perceptions interact with their subjective framing of choice and resistance in relation to work. The paper uses this analysis to draw some implications for unions seeking to promote the conditions for collective resistance and social transformation around low-paid women's work.

Intra‐Industry Trade and Adjustment Costs in the Australian Textile, Clothing and Footwear and Motor Vehicle Industries: A Comparative Case Study Approach*

Australian studies have focused on different dimensions of intra industry trade (IIT) between the manufacturing sector and the rest of the world at the disaggregated level, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 digit levels. The current study seeks to complement the existing literature by examining the IIT and hence output and employment performance of two different digit industries in the form of the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) (2 digit) and motor vehicle (4 digit) industries because they are characterized by different factor intensity in production. Specifically, the former is fundamentally labour intensive whilst the latter is capital intensive in production. The central results reveal that the motor vehicle industry has exhibited a superior IIT and hence output and employment performance as compared to the TCF industry, as well as the manufacturing sector. The sophisticated capital goods produced and the capital intensive nature of motor vehicle production have made it possible to derive the cost benefits of large scale production which in turn has led to stronger export penetration. Moreover, the industry specific assistance measures which have been biased towards tax incentives for investment and R&D expenditure have favoured the motor vehicle industry's production and exports at the expense of the TCF industry, thereby reinforcing the former industry's stronger IIT and hence output and employment performance.

Government Policy and the Liberalization of Australia’s Car Industry: A Historical Analysis

Australia is regarded as a good advocate of progressive trade liberalization. With the notable exception of textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF), the automotive, and the sugar industries, Australia has reduced its average tariff rate to the lowest levels in the world. Its commitment to increased trade openness is also reflected in the recent review into its trade policy, which expressly supports a strong, rules-based, multilateral trading system administered through the WTO. However, with the suspension of the Doha Round, Australia’s trade policies have tended to be more protective in some sectors, which are demonstrated by increasing amount of budgetary assistance even though trade barriers are dramatically reduced. This paper examines the key developments in the Australian car industry policies over the years, in the context of Australia’s WTO commitments. The discussion is organized in four sections. The first section gives a brief overview of Australian car industry and its relationship to government policy. The three remaining sections examine different periods in Australia’s automotive policy as it relates to Australia’s WTO commitments. It will be argued that, while Australia has made considerable progress towards opening up its car industry to foreign competition, new forms of protection have emerged which pose the risk of undermining some of the benefits of liberalization.

Supply chain management program first- and second-order effects model: a new strategic tool

Utilisation of supply chain management (SCM) strategies have an implicit objective of gaining an advantage over one’s business arena partners, whether they be competition or supply chain partners; an SCM-derived competitive advantage. A literature review accentuated four bases of strategic competition (cost-based, resource-based, time-based and knowledge-based), upon which, such an SCM-derived competitive advantage might be built. A Monash University qualitative research study found that the majority of small- to medium-sized firms have found this to be a risky and unprofitable endeavour. In response, this paper explores the four bases of strategic competition through an exemplary success case found within the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry. The research raised a proposition stated as “effective supply chain management increases shareholder value (SHV).” An effective SCM program influences key success drivers (e.g. expenses, asset utilisation and process cycle time) available to it in a manner that maximises the firm’s competitive position, given its chosen strategy. This paper presents a first- to second-order SCM effects matrix model as a small step towards the mainstream achievement of current world-wide best SCM practice. The matrix can be utilised by individuals planning supply chain change processes or teams evaluating potential change initiatives within their supply chain operations. The substructure of the matrix is examination by isolating just the time-based strategic key success drivers, as found in the literature. The matrix’s utilisation methodology is detailed to enable its application by practitioners.

Enlargement and the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Industry

The textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry is a labour intensive industry, strongly determined by globalization and easy relocation to low‐cost countries. Hence also in the European Union this industry is relatively more important in the low‐wage regions of the EU‐Southern periphery. With the envisaged enlargement, however, these countries fear a further shift of the sector to Central and Eastern Europe as these countries still have a comparative advantage in terms of low labour costs. The present article investigates whether this fear is justified, looking at three main aspects: first at the position and history of the TCF sector in the European Union and its role in the EU periphery, second at the sector in the Central and Eastern accession countries, and third at gobalization issues. The second aspect is dealt with in great detail, as development trends in the Central and East European countries are important and telling. Much has happened during the 15‐year (and more) period between the collapse of communism and the EU membership in this region, most important the integration to the EU by the means of trade, in particular outward processing trade. These developments mainly seem to determine future trends in an enlarged Europe. Overall however, future prospects have to be seen in a global context, strongly influencing the sector via changes in global trade policies.

Effective quick response practices in a supply chain partnership ‐ An Australian case study

Presents a case study on quick response practices in a supply chain within the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry, conducted as part of a government‐led project aimed at improving the performance of the Australian TCF industry towards becoming more internationally competitive. Details of the Australian TCF Industry Quick Response Program are provided, which comprised six major activities: assessing company commitment and readiness; formulation of supply chain clusters; roundtable meetings; workshops and seminars; implementation of quick response techniques and technologies; and audits to assess improvements. The supply chain consists of Myer/Grace Brothers (retailer), Diana Ferrari (shoe manufacturer), Burrowes (shoe components supplier), and Packer Tannery (leather supplier). The activities undertaken within this supply chain are discussed and some of the key lessons learnt from this case study are highlighted.

Quick response practices and technologies in developing supply chains

Discusses the adoption of quick response (QR) practices and technologies in developing supply chains within the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry. The results presented are based on a four‐year study in which 50 companies were involved. Discusses the in‐house practices identified which enable quick response. A case study is also presented of a company that is recognised in the Australian TCF as a leader in the adoption of QR practices. Identifies a number of key factors that impact on the success of QR and supply chain management.

Re‐employment after Retrenchment: Evidence from the TCF Industry Study

Industry Commission inquiries into the passenger motor vehicle and textiles clothing and footwear (TCF) industries have focused attention on the employment prospects of workers who are displaced as a result of structural change. The fact that older and less skilled workers face considerable difficulty finding new employment is now widely recognised. In this paper we examine the post‐retrenchment outcomes for workers retrenched from jobs in the TCF sector. The method of analysis–discrete‐time event history analysis–improves on previous studies of post‐retrenchment out‐comes because labour market conditions are incorporated into the statistical model, redressing the over‐emphasis on supply‐side issues that characterise previous research. The analysis shows that local and national labour market conditions are important determinants of employment outcomes. Personal characteristics, household circumstances and ascribed skill are also important as employers use these attributes to filter potential recruits. The analysis suggests that the utility of retraining is variable, enhancing the employability of workers with the best prospects (based on their personal characteristics and skills) before taking up retraining but decreasing the employment chances of those with poorer prospects.

Deregulation and Restructuring: the (Unintended) Consequences of Australian Labor's TCF Industry Policy 1983–1996

This paper examines the fate and possible future of the clothing industry, which has been deeply affected by the Australian Labor Party's (ALP) programme of ‘structural adjustment’ and industry policy reform. The trade and industry development policy in Australia is evaluated by examining two influential ‘industry development’ reports: the Garnaut Report and the Pappas/Carter Report, the latter of which offers the mainstream challenge. Following an examination of the structure of the Australian clothing industry, the paper looks at the impact of the radical shift in government industry policy in the 1980s and considers and assesses the Industries Assistance Commision's TCF (Textile, Clothing, and Footwear) Plan, the key feature of which was the dismantling of the quota system. The effects of the imposed changes to the working practices and strategies of both the major and minor principals involved in the industry are examined and conclusions drawn as to the future plans open to producers to cope with poss...

Winners and losers: Industry policy and gender concerns in the clothing industry

This article is broadly concerned with the federal government's industry policy in relation to women machinists in the clothing industry. From analysis of various reports and a series of face‐to‐face interviews with 120 people representing government, business and unions, as well as workers in various sections of the industry, I argue that the government's approach to restructuring this industry has not adequately incorporated an understanding of the issues facing the women who make up the majority of employees. The federal government's current textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry plan has failed to sufficiently address women's frequently disadvantaged position. In regard to the clothing industry, I will show that although there have been gradual gains for women, major victories are scarce, particularly for the growing number of outworkers.

Import Competition, Government Subsidies, and Trade with Developing Countries

Highlights the important characteristics of current programmes of industrial adjustment in import‐competing industries in the OECD countries, with particular reference to the textiles, clothing, and footwear (TCF) sectors. Assesses the implications of investment subsidies to the TCF sectors for trade relations with developing countries. Concludes that, unlike trade barriers that are, at least in principle, temporary in nature, investment subsidies have fostered permanent obstacles to the growth of trade between the developed and the developing countries.

Voluntary Export Restraints and Trade Diversion

SUMMARYIt has been shown that when voluntary export restraints are applied against a non‐Member of a trade club, such as the EC and EFTA in Europe, the partner's exports will increase in absolute terms although overall imports are reduced; the trade barrier ‘leaks’ and leads to a misallocation of resources from a global point of view. The partner prefers such a leaking trade barrier to free trade. Compared to traditional customs union theory, where the analysis concentrates on a move from global discrimination to preferential treatment of one foreign country, in this paper the move is in the opposite direction: from free trade with all foreign countries to discrimination against one foreign country (typically a developing one) and retained free trade with the remaining one. Reference was made to international trade in textile, clothing and footwear (TCF). The trade diversion effect of VERs were found to be particularly strong for France and Sweden, less so for Italy and Germany, and non‐existent for the UK. A comparison was made with changes in non‐European countries' integration with LDC exports of TCF (Australia, Canada, Japan and the USA). Finally, the trade diversion effect was illustrated with an analysis of changes in the supply composition of Sweden's home demand for clothing between 1974–82.