The COVID-19 has proved to be a blessing for the Britain textile sector.
In a situation where a lot of countries have experienced tremendous downfall in their business, Britain textile sector has got a good boost.
That’s because a lot of retailers have reconsidered placing their orders with the UK’s manufacturers owing to the crisis of COVID-19. In 1990, a lot of these retailers had shifted their orders to China, due to the cheaper manufacturing, which caused a huge loss of business for the UK manufacturers.
“We’ve been getting a lot of enquiries solely due to the fact that retailers and brands need to be spreading their risk and placing orders locally and making sure the shops aren’t empty,” said Bhavik Master, boss of Paul James Knitwear, a knitted apparel manufacturer in the city of Leicester in the English Midlands.
Though the factories are shut for now, these manufacturers expect a surge in order as soon as the Coronavirus subsides. Bhavik further mentions of increase in their productivity by 20 to 30 per cent.
Other textile players like Leicester have also experienced a boost due to the current situation. Alkesh Kapadia, a local manufacturer, also informed a flood in orders and enquiries from the retailers; however he also expressed his concern over getting the raw materials from China.
A lot of other manufacturers have expressed their concern on the same as sourcing of raw material is done by the countries hit hard by Coronavirus like Italy, which is a major yarn supplier.
Kate Hills, Make It British, a manufacturing advocacy group, informed that British clothing retailers and brands will now be focusing on sourcing their fabrics domestically, so that the complete garment can be made in the UK “I think the Coronavirus is going to change the clothing industry’s mindset. The industry will ask, ‘Do you want all your products made somewhere like China, or should you spread your risk and start making at least a percentage of your products much closer to home, in the UK?’”
