Speaker: Dirk Vantyghem / Director General, European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX)
Topics covered
- Macro-economic development of the EU textile and apparel industry
- Impact of COVID-19 on the EU textile and apparel industry
- The EU trade policy context
- Key elements of EU textile and apparel industry’s post-COVID development strategy
Additional reading:
- Fibre2fashion interview with Dirk Vantyghem (March 2022)
- EU Textile and Apparel Industry and Trade Patterns (Updated January 2022)
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
Something discussed in the video above, regarding a macro factor in the development of the textile and apparel industry intrigued me to think about how the great resignation that is taking place currently could affect the way our clothing and garments are produced. Dirk Vantyghem and the man from Taiwan Textiles that he was interviewing with addressed the issue with finding talent in younger generations to work in textile and apparel manufacturer and related factories. I found this interesting because with the growing popularity and capability of using smart automation in garment factories and textile producers lessens the need for human and hands on labor, however it still is a concern for employers. To combat these worries, they discuss coming up with an agreement or pact to keep an open market within employment as well as work on the industry’s image by changing the perception of the textile and apparel industry from a dirty and labor-intensive environment to one that is technologically advance, sustainable, and impacts the world in many different aspects.
Nowadays, younger generations are finding ways to make a living without working a 9-5 and don’t really want to endure the discipline of such jobs that require getting their hands a little dirty. There could be potential in this area of employment for those willing to get in and help make changes.
I am so glad you watched the interview! agree totally! Just to add that as we discussed in the class, most western-EU countries still physically make garments. Notably, these garments primarily target the high-end of the market, requiring the workforce to obtain demanding skillsets such as advanced sewing, craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of the local cultural heritage. Thus these western EU countries must change the perception of “working in the factory” and attract the young generation to join the workforce.