Wenzhou garment enterprises suffer from "single-term shortage" and "labor shortage"

From primary processing to self-created brands to advanced customization, Wenzhou garment companies are constantly looking for their own accurate market positioning in the process of transformation. At present, with the rise of "high-end men's clothing manufacturing base," Wenzhou apparel companies have begun to suffer "order shortage."

According to reports, Wenzhou has nearly 4,000 garment companies, 80% of which are OEM processing companies. Zegna, Armani, Versace, Gucci and other top global apparel brands have long been ordered in Wenzhou. "Wenzhou Manufacturing" supports hundreds of high-end brands at home and abroad to the end market. The statistics show that in 2009, the trade volume of Wenzhou menswear market jumped over 200 billion yuan. At present, one in every two pieces of top national menswear brands is produced in Wenzhou.

However, the “single-point shortage” that emerged at the beginning of this year began to plague these Wenzhou apparel companies that are working for high-end domestic brands and even top international big names. Zheng Yinchi, general manager of Wenzhou Prama Clothing Co., Ltd., who has been processing OEM for more than ten years, said: “The most troublesome thing this year is the 'order shortage'. Looking at a steady stream of orders, we can’t parry only. Reluctantly cut love.” Xu Zhengjie, chairman of Zhejiang Kuaishuai Garments Co., Ltd., who had similar feelings, estimated the loss of orders this year and reluctantly said, “This is a big profit.”

In response to the "single-point shortage," Zheng Richi pointed his finger at "labor shortage." In Wenzhou, in the face of "labor shortage", many companies have shown all kinds of helplessness. Many eye-catching locations of the company’s entrances are filled with large-scale recruitment advertisements that were only hung out at the end of the year: “Free air-conditioned rooms, half-subsidy meals”, “Public workers’ wages at least 1,800 yuan/month, and technicians 3000-5000. RMB/month, rest 4 days a month.... "In such a courtesy, we are still not spared from the 'shortage of orders' brought about by the shortage of labor." Zheng Richi seems a little excited.

Many factors contribute to the birth of "single-term shortage" and "labor shortage" is just one of them. Zheng Chenai, president of the Wenzhou Garment Merchants Association, believes that Wenzhou must firmly establish the high-end men's manufacturing base and must first increase the added value of its products. He said that only by transforming from low-value-added manufacturing to high-value-added manufacturing can it be possible to strengthen the industrial chain of Wenzhou's manufacturing so that both production investment and technological innovation can be implemented simultaneously, and the platform for the “high-end men’s manufacturing base” can really be lifted. .

“In fact, the single-discipline phenomenon is a self-adjusting method of the market. It forces companies to accelerate the pace of structural upgrading and technological transformation. This kind of change will not wait.” Zhang Qiongyao, secretary general of the Wenzhou Garment Merchants Association, said that the Chamber of Commerce in our country is advocating “ The concept of "Made in Wenzhou" is to reduce the number of OEMs and increase the value-added of OEMs, and do a good job of "high-end manufacturing".

With the acceleration of the transfer of textile and garment industries in the coastal areas to the central and western regions, Wenzhou garment processing OEMs are increasingly aware of the importance of creating "high-end manufacturing." "You can't do any more clothing in the coastal areas. You must do something worthwhile. If we continue to keep the quantity going, there must be no way out." Zheng Chen loves to say with certainty.

According to Zhang Qiongyao, Wenzhou Garment Chamber of Commerce is currently organizing Wenzhou garment companies to jointly explore the industrial plan for further building “high-end menswear manufacturing bases”. Soon, the top 20 manufacturers in Wenzhou will also be released. Zhang Qiongyao also said: "October 22, the Wenzhou Garment Merchants Association will hold a global high-end menswear development forum in Shanghai with a number of institutions in China and abroad. By then, 'Wenzhou Manufacturing' will face high-end clothing brands at home and abroad."