Industry Analysis
Textile manufacturing is one of the oldest of man's technological accomplishments. The oldest known textiles process dates back to about 5000 B.C. Since then, the textile industry grew out of the industrial revolution in the 18th Century as mass production of clothing became a mainstream industry. Starting with the flying shuttle in 1733, inventions were made to speed up the manufacturing process to a industry now that is automated and machine driven.
In the 20th Century, the industry had developed a bad reputation, often involving immigrants in illegal sweat shops full of people working on textile manufacturing and sewing machines. These immigrants would receive compensation for the efforts, but the pay was very minimal. This trend has resulted due to attempts to protect existing industries which are being challenged by developing countries in Southeast Asia, India, and more recently, Central America.
Globalization has seen the manufacturing outsourced to overseas labor markets. Because of the low cost of labor, there has been a trend for the areas historically associated with the trade to shift focus to the more white-collar associated industries of fashion design and retail. The textile market today is worth more than $400 billion and it is still growing every year. As a result, the recent globalization of the textile trade has opened up highly demanding and evolving requirements for outsourcing of textiles.
Current Status
The case at Wickersham Mills is based on article that was written in 1960. Wickersham is a mill that is in the business of converting cotton and synthetic fibers into cloth that can be sold to manufacturers that will use the cloth to produce dresses, shirts, and other clothing. The former preside ...