Denim designer Maurice Malone of Williamsburg Garment Company (WGC) believes the US garment manufacturing industry is poised for growth driven by small to mid-sized brands. WGC is an American denim brand manufacturing in US Malone is a 30-year veteran of clothing design and production. WGC is doing its part to drive American infrastructure as it expands into manufacturing its own knit products and establishing a manufacturing line for others to utilize.
On why denim manufacturing has moved overseas, Malone says it was not fair to say automation and foreign production didn't erode the American garment manufacturing industry, on the contrary it were manufacturers themselves. The goal of corporations is to maximize profits for investors. In contrast this was against the Chinese philosophy of keeping people working by choosing larger volumes for smaller margins while sacrificing higher profit per piece.
On why manufacturing units moved overseas, the Malone opines Americans almost always choose to buy cheaper textiles than buying American. That is why American producers not claiming the luxury sector must find ways to steam line production process and offer a better product at competitive prices as per the WGC goal. Consumers seek lower cost products, companies move production to lower cost areas to stay competitive. This happens even if people want to see products made in America.
Aiming to reverse the snowball effect, Malone believes Americans should start small and develop their own production chains within the US. This would help reverse the outflow. For consumers, the goal of the manufactures must be to produce reasonably priced, completive goods.
