5.1 – The Industry
5.1.1 5.1.1 Definition of the Industry
Malaysia’s clothing and apparel industry accelerated in the early 1970s, when the country was on the course of export-oriented industrialization. The industry was the seventh largest contributor to total earnings from manufactured exports in 2006. Malaysian exports of textiles and clothing have increased significantly over the years driven by a few factors.
Malaysia clothing and apparel industry is one of the most important sectors of the economy in terms of investment, revenue, and trade and employment generation all over the world. Apparel industry has short product life cycles, tremendous product variety, volatile and unpredictable demand, long and inflexible supply processes. The industry has been in a transition over the last 20 years.
5.1.2 Shape of the Industry
The Malaysian textile and apparel industry comprises two main sub-sectors which is textile (encompasses a broad range of activities such as polymerization, spinning, weaving, knitting and wet processing) and apparel (includes garment making and clothing accessories)
Clothing is including in apparel cover garment making and clothing accessories such as jackets, skirts, lingerie, coats and so on. It cannot be denied that there are much talented Malaysia local designers, particularly in utilizing Malaysian traditional textiles and chothing. Technical experts are often lacking to help grow the industry.
The other constraint is tied to availability of funds. These factors have deterred the small and medium size local players from engaging in design and development (D&D) activities in the industry. Unlike the major fashion centers such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore, Malaysia has limited number of design houses and designers.
5.1.3 Development of the Industry
Textile and apparel are basic consumption items, in both developed and developing countries. The industry, especially clothing, is labor-intensive and requires relatively modest capital to start up and operate. Therefore, developing economies such as China, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, and others, that have pool of low wage rates labors, appeal to the companies seeking off-shore production with cost advantage than the developed countries. The textile and apparel was once the top three export earners of manufactured goods for Malaysia, and Penang is one of the prominent locations for textile and garment makers in the country. However, there are no longer the low wages labor intensive production centre, with the emergence of China and Indochina.
The growth of Malaysia's clothing and apparel industry accelerated in the early 1970s, when the country was on the course of export-oriented industrialization. The industry was the seventh largest contributor to total earnings from manufactured exports in 2009.
Malaysian exports of textiles and clothing have increased significantly over the years driven by a few factors increased market access after the phasing out of the export quota system under the Multi Fibre Agreements (MFA) in 2006. Improvements in delivery time due to the use of advanced technology and efficient supply chain management strong external demands from Malaysia's major markets particularly United States of America (USA) and European Union (EU). Quality textiles and apparel through the use of quality certified production processes.
Although the industry is presently increasing but it still considered young compared to high fashion countries like Paris and United Kingdom. This is because of the culture and thinking of Malaysian, clothing and apparel are linked to luxury, which is un-necessary. Therefore, warehouse sales and annual mega sales helps to solve this problem.
5.2 – The Marketplace
5.2.1 Current Condition of the Marketplace
The lady underwear market in the marketplace is extremely competitive. This is due to the fact that there are a lot of different lingerie brands in the market. Although the products and service might not same but the target audience is almost the same, no matter is well-known brands or new brands.
Beside that, there is also competition among the cheaper product that sell in night market and also shopping malls that offers cheaper but yet fashionable. As we can see that the market size is increasing year by year as people starting to concern about their apparel.
XIXILI international, as consider a well-known brand in the marketplace, should continue selling its products together with the unique selling point which is their hands-on bra fitting service. XIXILI promise they as the most passionate lingerie brand will improve their products and service to uplifting you as always.
5.2.2 Changes in Marketplace
The competition between the other well-known lingerie brand such as Triumph, La Senza and Wacoal is considered high. People are afraid to change, or trying out the other brand, this is the reason why XIXILI should have more promotion and advertise about their product and the service.