The production of clothes, which was considered to be an art in the prehistoric period, has undergone several technological changes. The technological innovations have helped apparel manufacturers, brand merchandisers, and retailers to shift towards a new global reality where customer choice and service are not just the priorities but have the potential to create a difference between success and failure in a highly competitive market. Today, in the global apparel trade, retailers and brand merchandisers are playing a dominant role, and the apparel industries continue to change faster than ever. The retail sector is becoming increasingly concentrated, and the largest international retailers are becoming more powerful through acquisitions. The textile and apparel supply chain accounts for a good share in terms of the number of companies and people employed.
The whole industry is divided into four main segments i.e. fiber (at the top), then comes fiber processing into the fabric, then comes manufacturer, and finally the retailer who makes it available to the consumer.
The “T” angel of the apparel supply chain indicates how buyers, manufacturers & retailers are linked to each other. There are two sides of the “T” i.e. the left and the right. The left side shows buyer to manufacturer & the right shows supplier to manufacturer. The two sides are linked to each other through one horizontal side.
The “T” angle illustrates how information flows from the buyer to the manufacturer. The information normally, sketches of the product given by the buyer, are studied by the manufacturer and accordingly list of raw materials required is made. The different swatches (standard for type of yarn, color of the yarn, and piece of accessories) are sent to different suppliers for development. The supplier develops and sends it to the manufacturer and which is forwarded to the buyer. Once approved by the buyer, the orders are placed with the suppliers with approved samples. When the raw materials are received as per the specifications given to the supplier, in-house manufacturing starts with the production. The different processes of manufacturing result in the final product which is finally dispatched to the Buyer. The Buyer then retails the same through stores to the ultimate consumers.
Description of the Buyer Side of the Apparel Supply Chain: The buyer side is normally involved with designing of the garment, production of samples, order collection, apparel retail.
