| The Textile Industry | | | | manufacturing process, in those areas where textile |
| The textile industry witnessed a unique development | | | | trade was common, the focus was later changed to |
| that started in Britain, since the spinning and weaving | | | | the whiter collars, and so the industry of fashion |
| machines have been invented here. In recent years, | | | | design, and fashion modeling have began to flourish. |
| all over the world, there has been high production of | | | | Also known in the United Kingdom and Australia as |
| wool, cotton and silk and this only contributed to | | | | the Rag Trade, the Textile Industry is concerned |
| boosting the world economy. With the launch of | | | | with designing and manufacturing clothing items, |
| textile industry in the UK, the textile production was | | | | together with distributing using textiles . |
| passed over to Europe and North America, in the | | | | Now the global textile market is worth more than |
| 19th century, after mechanization was also | | | | $400, according to present statistics, even if the |
| introduced in these areas. In time, other countries | | | | industry was faced with fierce competition coming |
| especially in Asia have started to invest more in | | | | from other industries, but also opportunities. It is |
| industrializing their economies and the textile sector | | | | estimated that between 2002 and 2010, the global |
| gained more ground. Thus, Japan, India, Hong Kong | | | | textile production is likely to grow by 25 percent, and |
| and China were eventually leading producers, since | | | | the region that is going to bring a major contribution |
| due labor force was cheap. | | | | to this growth is Asia. |
| The industrial revolution in the 18th century acted as | | | | The one that has taken many steps forward to help |
| an incentive for the growth of textile industry, and | | | | the textile industry grow is The World Trade |
| mass production of clothing was turned into | | | | Organization (WTO). In the year 1995, adopted |
| mainstream industry. Later, in the 20th century textile | | | | Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), according |
| industry gained a rather bad reputation since the | | | | to which, all quotas on textile and clothing will be |
| labor force was made of immigrants working in illegal | | | | removed for WTO member countries. Despite this |
| "sweat shops", workers being paid less | | | | and the high tariffs imposed, as well as the |
| than minimum wages. | | | | quantitative restrictions, exports of textiles coming |
| While globalization has contributed to outsourcing the | | | | from developing countries are still growing. |