(note: the following comments are from students in FASH455 based on the video “Textile Manufacturing in America, post-globalisation”
Argument: The U.S. textile manufacturing industry has been a winner of globalization
Comment #1: While it is true that many Americans lost their jobs due to the increase in trade, there are more benefits to both importing and exporting rather than the mercantilist view of trade. Increasing trade and globalization, especially during the Clinton administration, was an opportunity to develop strong relationships with other nations. The value of U.S. textile exports since 2000 has risen by 30% for yarn and 15% for fabric, after the establishment of agreements such as NAFTA. Additionally, one of the U.S. apparel manufacturers in the video used machinery for their production from Sweden. Without globalization and trade, they would not be able to use this high-tech equipment. All in all, U.S. textile manufacturing sector benefits from both importing and exporting goods.
Comment #2: Deeper down, the US textile sector seems to be winning in the long run. The squeeze that globalization has placed on them has allowed for innovation within the industry as they fight to stay relevant and compete with overseas goods. Operational slack such as high turnover jobs have been eliminated with automation, and US manufacturers gained a new branding niche that overseas companies do not: a US “personal touch.” Consumers may now be more willing to pay more for a garment just because it says it is made in the USA. USA-made clothing may now be perceived as higher quality and more scarce. The sentiment towards US-made goods and their quality could enact change to reduce overseas reliance, which is a win for US manufacturing in the long run. Additionally, globalization expands the export market for the US textile manufacturing sector.
Comment #3: As discussed in the video, there is a growing trend of reshoring and regionalization in some manufacturing sectors, including textiles. Some U.S. textile manufacturers have seized this opportunity to bring production back to the United States, capitalizing on the advantages of local supply chains, quality control, and speed to market. The video also shows how technology and automation can help streamline production processes and make manufacturing more competitive, even in higher-cost regions like the United States. US textile manufacturers have invested in innovation and automation, making them competitive in producing textiles with advanced features and properties in today’s global economy. It is globalization that is pushing the US textile industry to adopt these new technologies and continue improving its international competitiveness.”
Argument: the U.S. textile manufacturing industry has been a loser of globalization
Comment #4: One of the biggest arguments for globalization is the lower prices & affordability for the consumer. From this perspective, it seemed that the United States was a winner of globalization as a whole. However, when beginning to look at the consequences of moving production overseas, we not only see the textile manufacturing sector being affected, but we also see this impact disperse to the communities in America as well. When brands offshore and outsource production overseas for lower prices & labor, our very own US textile manufacturing industry is losing out on this business. It also forces this industry into a highly competitive environment that does not have equal “playing fields” and does not have insurance/protection in case environmental factors ruin crops. The US has clear labor laws and human rights policies (as well as increasing environmental policies), whereas their cotton-growing competitors, for instance, do not have to follow the same rules. This allows labor exploitation to decrease costs and makes US companies seem unappealing or less competitive.
Comment #5: Over the past few decades, the number of manufacturing jobs in the US textile industry has plummeted after companies began moving production overseas, specifically to countries like China, which have preferential treatment. These foreign facilities can produce things much faster and cheaper because the standards and regulations are completely different than those of the United States. Free trade does not consider these differences in labor and environmental laws, making it much less “free” than it claims. As countries overseas– specifically China and regions like Xinjiang– continue to not play by the rules, the US is forced to keep up by implementing things like the Toyota System…Americans want to be the best in manufacturing and globalization often gets in the way of this. With near-shoring, the US can reclaim high-quality, American-made garments while helping with job security and sustainability.
Comment #6: Overall, I believe that the U.S. textile manufacturing industry is a loser of globalization and international trade, mostly due to the competition from overseas. This competition includes more manufacturers from other countries, but also the competition of pricing since other oversea manufacturers are able to sell their cotton/textile materials at a lower price. Since the U.S. struggles to compete with these lower prices, they are forced to look for another way to have a competitive advantage in the textile manufacturing sector, such as lean manufacturing and technology improvements. At Carolina Cotton Works, Bryan Ashby shares how they have increased efficiency and use high-quality machines (note: imported) for their products. Although this sounds great, this also means that there are fewer workers.
Comment #7: Globalization creates a trade dependence on imports. It’s important we don’t depend on things for when things happen that we can’t predict like the pandemic where we can’t import anymore. Since there was a lack of local textile manufacturing and sourcing in the United States compared to what was being imported, there was less of a chance for technological advances and improvement in the United States textile manufacturing sector. Post Globalization, however, may be the chance for the United States to bring back the textile manufacturing sector momentum. I think this because the United States has seen the result of heavily relying on other countries for their cheap labor/sources, and this could add extra motivation for companies to want to figure out better alternatives in manufacturing in their own country.
Comment #8: I think currently the US is a loser to globalization only because brands want to get the product for cheap. I think brands think that would create more profit that way. However, I do believe we could get to a future where more things would be created in the US and wouldn’t have to pay that much in tariffs and other external prices. I think it would help boost people to work more. I think people are worried about making things in our country because of the relations we have with other countries.
Discussion questions:
Do you agree or disagree with any particular argument above? Any follow-up comments on the impact of globalization on the US textile manufacturing sector? What should government do with trade given the debates? Please feel free to share any additional thoughts.
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
After watching this video I noticed how it looked into how China’s surveillance state uses cutting-edge technology like facial recognition and artificial intelligence. The largest DNA database in the world, which contains the genetic information of more than 40 million people, is kept in China, according to a fascinating fact presented in the video. Concerns about privacy and human rights have been raised by the Chinese government’s collection of this data from citizens without their permission. The use of facial recognition technology in public areas and the creation of a social credit system, which assigns citizens a score based on their behavior and may affect their capacity to travel, access services, and even find employment, are also highlighted in the video. An insightful look at how technology and authoritarianism intersect in contemporary China is offered by the video.
While some claim that the globalization of trade has benefited the U.S. textile manufacturing sector by opening up new export markets, fostering positive relationships, and providing access to technology, others maintain that the industry has suffered from unfair competition, job losses, and increased susceptibility to outside influences, rendering it a loser in the context of globalized trade. The various viewpoints draw attention to how intricate and varied the effects of globalization have been on the American textile sector, though I must stand with the stance that globalization has achieved more benefits for the US than harmed. This is due to the advantages of global relationships, access to technology, and economic growth. The globalization process has made it possible for the American textile manufacturing industry to establish strong ties with other countries. Since 2000, yarn exports have increased by 30% and fabric exports by 15% thanks to agreements like NAFTA. Furthermore, globalization gives American manufacturers the chance to purchase efficient machinery from overseas. The American textile manufacturing industry is now positioned as a competitive force in the global market thanks to this innovation and technological opportunities. Primarily, globalization has expanded the export potential for the textile manufacturing sector in the United States. The ability to sell goods to other countries has increased, which has been crucial to the sector’s overall growth and prosperity.
The impact of globalization on the U.S. textile manufacturing industry is a multifaceted issue, as reflected in the diverse perspectives presented. Discussion questions center around finding a balance in government policies to support the benefits of globalization while addressing concerns about labor disparities and environmental regulations. The sustainability of innovations and competitive advantages gained by the U.S. textile industry is also a point of consideration. Furthermore, the role of the government in incentivizing reshoring for job security and sustainability, as well as strategies for leveraging globalization while addressing ethical concerns, are essential aspects to explore. In conclusion, the discourse underscores the complexity of the globalization debate and invites careful consideration of policies that foster innovation, competitiveness, and ethical business practices within the U.S. textile manufacturing industry.
The discussion around the role of the government is crucial. Striking a balance between promoting international trade and protecting domestic industries is a delicate task. Perhaps there’s a need for policies that incentivize companies to invest in advanced technologies and prioritize ethical manufacturing practices. The impact of globalization on the U.S. textile manufacturing industry is multi-faceted, with both positive and negative aspects. It’s clear that a nuanced and comprehensive approach, involving collaboration between the government, industry, and consumers, is necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization.
I found this discussion very interesting, and it is one I have conflicting opinions on. While on the bright side, the U.S. has their pick of what countries they can produce from, many of which are very inexpensive, their low prices makes them impossible to compete with for U.S. production. Producing in the country would allow the U.S. to make money from these productions, and balance trade, especially between the U.S. and Asia. Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible.
With Section 301, which we learned about in our Case Study, the playing field is leveled a bit, and the U.S. textile industry would be able to compete with eastern manufacturers
The debate surrounding the impact of globalization on the US textile manufacturing sector is very interesting, as you can see the diverse comments by students. It is difficult to take a definitive stance when it can be argued that there are increased trade relationships, access to foreign technology, a stronger focus on innovation and branding saying that the sector is the winner. And then on the other hand, you can highlight things such as job losses and concerns about ethical practices and environmental standards overseas. A challenge that remains is finding a balance between domestic interests but also participating in the global economy at large.
Overall, I think that this debate is very interesting, and I have a few opinions about who I think is the “winner” versus who is the “loser”. I think that the U.S. textile manufacturing sector is a loser if globalization because it is much easier and cheaper for some companies to source textiles internationally. If less textiles are being sourced internally, there is no longer a need for as many jobs. Millions of jobs have been lost in the past. As globalization increases, more jobs will continue to be lost as more textiles will be coming into the U.S. from international locations. However, new technology (that is a product of globalization) has been making textile production easier and safer in the United States.
Both sides of this debate have stated key justifications for why the US Textile Manufacturing sector is a winner or a loser of globalization and trade. I believe it is difficult to explicitly say whether the US is a winner or loser because there are implications that prove both sides of the argument. As a capital-intensive country, the US can maintain its textile manufacturing sector and the US also has implemented free trade agreements with the Western Hemisphere that ensure that the textile manufacturing is being put to use, such as the Rules of Origin. But, due to lower costs overseas, there is a threat to the textile sector here in the US. We can also see from the data that the production of textile manufacturing in the US has been fairly stagnant within the last 3 years but what does this mean for the future? I believe the US can compete with China even though they are the top textile manufacturers but in terms of “incentive to buy” some fashion brands will choose China over the US due to their lower costs.
There is ample information for both sides of this debate, but in my opinion, the US textile manufacturing has been a loser in the globalization debate. While being one of the largest distributors of textiles in the world, the US has little exports to Asian countries, where the bulk of apparel manufacturing takes place. Most retailers also choose to use sources in a variety of different countries. This is due to cheaper pricing or a specialization in a certain product. As technology advances happen in the industry, the loss of jobs will become prevalent across the world. The United States can start to become a winner in the globalization debate by expanding their exports to other countries.
Globalization is a nuanced topic, especially in terms of the consequences for the United States. Globalization has allowed for trade to spread around the world and is crucial for the fashion industry. The US can specialize in exporting textiles while importing finished garments from other countries. This is good for the economy as a whole, but this process has slumped the textile and manufacturing sector. Because the US has a strong economy, it can pivot to capital and technology-intensive manufacturing, which takes less personnel to operate. This has caused many people to lose their jobs and created a reliance on labor-intensive countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam to make clothing for the consumers of the US. To combat this problem, the government could establish initiatives or aid programs to get more fashion companies to source wholly in the US.
I think this discussion and debate is very interesting on whether the United States Textile Manufacturing is a winner or loser of globalization and trade. I believe that the United States is the loser because many companies utilize undeveloped countries for their sourcing since their textiles and labor are more affordable. Sourcing from other countries is still cheaper and allows them to make their garments more affordable and accessible for United States consumers. Even though this allows their textile manufactures to have a chance on becoming more competitive, it is nearly impossible against these low price points when comparing to their competitor’s overseas such as China.
I found this article interesting in providing a debate on this issue. I believe in general that US manufacturers do lose in this situation because it affects volumes of production, as companies prefer to utilize cheaper labor from underdeveloped countries and aren’t as willing to spend more on US labor. US consumers also lose in this case as they have to spend more and more on products in the end due to the policies put in place.
In thinking about globalization, all countries theoretically are winners in being able to trade resources. With the current fashion industry, the US has been more on the losing side as a variety of companies focus on sourcing textiles and apparel from offshore locations to save money on labor costs. However, as mentioned in Comment #1 globalization makes the US a winner by providing the machinery needed to become fully automated for producing “Made in the USA” products. Something that is interesting that comments #1-#3 discuss is the dominance that the US has on investing in automation and the weight that “Made in the USA” labels carry for consumers. While I believe strong arguments support their potential win, ultimately, any data indicates the opposite since there is a very low and underutilized textile manufacturing industry in the US. Thus, the US has “lost” to globalization as the domestic textile manufacturing industry would likely be more expanded if it were not so interconnected.