| Trade Measures Affecting Exports of Clothing | | | | phenomenon in many developed countries in Europe |
| According to the ATC, textile quotas were eliminated | | | | as well as Japan and the US. Elderly people constitute |
| among WTO members at the first day of 2005. | | | | a major market segment called 'silver market'. |
| However, resistance to quota removal spread in the | | | | Supported by savings, social security benefits and |
| US and EU. Particularly in the US, China-specific | | | | pensions, many elderly people have rather strong |
| safeguards on 10 categories of clothing items from | | | | spending power. It is estimated that the age group of |
| China were invoked. | | | | 65 year and above accounted for about 21% of |
| The China-US agreement, effective from January | | | | Japan's consumption expenditure in 2000. |
| 2006, governs the exports of a total of 21 groups | | | | Plus-size Market: The plus-size market has been an |
| involving 34 categories of Chinese textiles and clothing | | | | area of growth for many years, and the trend is |
| products to the US during 2006-2008. The China-EU | | | | expected to continue in the coming future. It is |
| agreement provides for an annual growth of 8-12.5% in | | | | estimated that 65 million women in the US wear size |
| 10 categories of Chinese textiles and clothing exports | | | | 14 or above. This group represents one-half of the US |
| to the EU during 2005-2007. In addition, both EU and | | | | female population. It is reported that some renowned |
| US agreed to exercise restraint in invoking | | | | brands have already responded to the trend by |
| China-specific safeguard against Chinese textiles and | | | | offering merchandise of larger size; these companies |
| clothing that are not covered in the agreements. | | | | include Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. |
| Product Trends | | | | Easy-care Clothing: Clothing made of stain-resistant |
| Formal Dressing: While casual wear accounts for the | | | | and wrinkle-free fabrics are well received in the |
| bulk of clothing sales, a general trend towards stricter | | | | market. It is estimated that about a quarter of clothing |
| corporate dress codes has led to a rising demand for | | | | is now made of easy-care fabrics, and its popularity is |
| formal dressing. | | | | expected to continue in the next few years. While |
| Teenager: One of the major driving forces of clothing | | | | major clothing brands like Dockers and Liz Claiborne |
| market appears to be the teenagers in the coming | | | | have already marketed extensively easy-care clothing, |
| years. The number of teenagers in the US expects to | | | | major hypermarkets, like Wal-Mart, also offer more |
| increase from 31.6 million in 2001 to 34.1 million in 2010. | | | | merchandise of such quality. |
| Silver Market: Ageing population becomes a common | | | | |