The Nature of Fashion Industry Supply Chain

Fashion Industry Supply Chain
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Fashion Industry Supply Chain
Introduction
The supply chain is an integral part of organizations in the fashion industry. Its significance for the industry is increasing with the advancement of the internet that has enabled 24/7 shopping by customers. Businesses in the industry, therefore, have to implement measures in their supply chains to complement latest developments. Through supply chain management, a firm in the industry can organize its practices and process in such a way that the customer value is maximized and sustainable competitive advantage is achieved. It is important to note that a firm’s supply chain covers activities from design, sourcing, manufacturing, to distribution the final consumer. For the fashion industry, the management of the supply chain can determine the success or failure of firms. This paper examines a number of aspects that characterize the fashion industry supply chain.
The Nature of Fashion Industry
The fashion industry typically consists of firms dealing with products whose element of style is short lived. As such, the lifecycles of products in the industry are short as they are designed according to the trend and mood of the present (Christopher, Lowson, & Peck, 2004). The products in the industry can thus be saleable within a short period which can be weeks or months. The fashion industry is also characterized by volatile demand. The demand for products in the industry is influenced by aspects such as films, sports teams and personalities, weather, or even pop stars. It is therefore difficult for a firm in the industry to accurately forecast its demand during a specific period. Another feature of the industry is impulse buying where customers make the decisions to buy at the point of purchase. It is thus essential for a firm in the industry to constantly understand the needs of the customer and ensure its supply chain serves to fulfill them.
Supply Chain Segments
Fiber and Yarn Production
The fashion industry’s supply chain begins at the production of fiber and yarn. The fibers can either be man-made or natural. Natural fibers can either be from plants or animals. Plant fibers include linen, cotton, and jute while animal fibers’ example is wool. As for man-made fibers, they include polyester, acrylic, and nylon. According to Şen (2008), the production of these synthetic fibers requires huge capital as well as extensive knowledge. Texturizers, spinners, and throwsters are used to convert synthetic and natural fibers of short lengths into yarn.
Production of Fabric
This is the second segment of the supply chain in the industry and encompasses the transformation of yarn into fabric through knitting, weaving or non-women methods (Şen, 2008). The weaving process involves widthwise and lengthwise interlacing of yarns. It is important to note that the yarns may be woven then dyed thereafter or they may be dyed first before the weaving. In the U.S., the production of fabric is done by small and medium-sized companies. Most of these firms have less than 20 employees who participate in the making limited range of fabrics. A wide range of fabrics is produced by huge firms in the country ...