All articles by Jens Kastner

South Korea agreement set to boost Philippines apparel sector

The boost to the Philippines apparel sector is expected to come from a free trade agreement (FTA) between the Philippines…
Impact of Vietnam’s authoritarian politics on apparel sector

Tô Lâm was appointed Vietnam president in April 2024 and general secretary of the ruling communist party earlier this month (3…
Explainer: Why isotopic tests raise risks for China-linked Vietnam exports

Isotopic testing on goods from Vietnam could link cotton to specific geographic areas such as Xinjiang by analysing the concentration…
China moves apparel production abroad to keep sales

China textile company Shanghai Jingqingrong Garment announced earlier this year (January) it will open its first production plant abroad in…
EU-Philippines FTA needs right detail to boost garment exports

The potential impact of the EU-Philippines FTA on Philippines' garment exports is expected to depend on the agreed final text.…

Will robots replace garment workers in future?

Research and development has been making major progress in the handling of limp objects such as fabric – a key…
Vietnam apparel sector under pressure to improve sustainability

This realisation on sustainability comes even as Vietnam benefits from free trade agreements (FTA), such as the 2019 European Union…
China fashion market seeks to diversify as Xinjiang takes its toll

The China National Garment Association (CNGA) in a briefing on China’s clothing industry economic operations for H1 2023 warned China’s…
China’s grand plan for Central Asia apparel industry

China's President Xi Jinping used the event in May to unveil an ambitious plan that aims to help develop Central…
Why China’s part of the global apparel supply chain is limping into 2023

At the start of 2023, China's apparel supply chain found itself in a conflicting situation: on one hand, the abrupt…