Denim Industry 2017
Here at Denim Freaks we are freaking out a bit so instead of wishing another great and successful new ear we want to look back at 2017 and guess what?
2017 has been a very sad year for the Denim industry with Cone Mills closing Carolina, DNA in Columbus, Nisshinbo dismantling Japanese operations, Italian ITV finally shutting down.
Why is this happening all at the same time?
Maybe because these mills have not invested much in the past few years.
Not much innovation, R&D, crazy marketing… Maybe.
The truth is, these mills could not remain competitive in the global market based on their original location and according to their customers.
Too expensive.
“Cost” is the main reason they all shut down.
“Cost” is the key element which does not include tradition, heritage, history, passion and thousands of workers loosing their job. In the end, Denim is traditional, historical fabric made of passion which has to cost pretty much nothing.
And this “nothing” can be quantified between 2.50 and 3.50 USD per yard.
Sadly at these conditions, at these prices, no one can make Denim in the US, Japan, Italy or in the rest of Europe.
Unfortunately in these countries a yard of Denim costs normally 5.00 USD and who cares if this Denim is much nicer. Right? It’s too crazy expensive.
Let’s keep in mind one pair of Jeans is made of an average of 1.5 yards.
You do the math especially when you are about to pay for your new pair of Jeans.
But it’s all good and we will be fine since we trust in the Denim and we know our noble, strong, favorite fabric is simply leaving these Old Countries in order to create jobs and opportunities in the Third World, to improve worker’s conditions, their rights, their safety, their education.
Yes, right. Denim is leaving America, Europe and Japan for all these good purposes, not to be made cheaper and not in the name of profit of measly couple of cents.
Denim Freaks
