Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Expanding Market of Outsize Clothing

Have you seen or at least heard the stories of your grandma stitching clothes of various sizes- personalized clothes for each and every member of the family? Today, no one has so much of time to stitch clothes or even get them stitched from professional tailors. What all of us do is, go to a boutique or a mall and buy clothes of standard sizes available there! Many of you might recall your experience of not getting perfect sized dresses because of your being petite or plus size or tall and some of you would have even written your feedback to the retailer. Why am I telling all this to you? In fact, while surfing net today, I saw a news which told about the expanding outsize clothing segment of apparel garments market and it's really interesting to know the reasons for this growth!



Factors for Growing Demand of Outsize Apparels

  • Globally, people are always on a move, which creates a diverse demographic in a country and the apparel suppliers and retailers must sell customized clothing.

  • Due to the changing dietary and work habits, the proportions of petite, plus-size, and tall individuals in a country's population also change creating demand for garments of various sizes.

  • Globalization have resulted in the apparel garment companies marketing their products in different countries having differently shaped people and thus they have to produce outsize clothing too, along with the regular ones.

  • Apparel Manufacturers and clothing retailers are working in collaboration, retailers taking feedback from the customers and passing it on to the manufacturers who then make garments that fit the customers like never before.



The Growth of Outsize Apparels

The outsize apparel garment market, which manufactures clothing for petite, plus-sized and tall customers, is fast growing in scale and sophistication. According to the United States Department of Commerce, outsize apparel sales grew from less than 5% of total market share in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008. It is expected to reach US$73.3 billion and will represent 28.8% of all US apparel sales by 2014. From among this outsize apparel market, most of the growth is recorded by the plus-sized apparels, thanks to the increased daily intake of calories. As far as petite apparel is concerned, the demand in units has fallen in the last two years due to reducing percentage of petite women in the population but revenues are likely to rise in the future due to rising unit prices, higher quality and fit. Tall customers represent a small but fast-growing segment of the total apparel clothing and garments , that has recorded 40% growth in three years. If the garment manufacturers and dealers in wholesale apparels are reading this, I must tell that the tall market hides immense opportunities to profit from the global market gap between demand and supply.

I've given this data just to give an idea about the gradual changes in average clothing size which has provided the necessary incentive for manufacturers and wholesale apparel suppliers to deliver fashionable outsize clothing in a variety of styles. So, now you can get personalized clothing in the guise of mass customization!

Expanding Market of Outsize Clothing

Have you seen or at least heard the stories of your grandma stitching clothes of various sizes- personalized clothes for each and every member of the family? Today, no one has so much of time to stitch clothes or even get them stitched from professional tailors. What all of us do is, go to a boutique or a mall and buy clothes of standard sizes available there! Many of you might recall your experience of not getting perfect sized dresses because of your being petite or plus size or tall and some of you would have even written your feedback to the retailer. Why am I telling all this to you? In fact, while surfing net today, I saw a news which told about the expanding outsize clothing segment of apparel garments market and it's really interesting to know the reasons for this growth!



Factors for Growing Demand of Outsize Apparels

  • Globally, people are always on a move, which creates a diverse demographic in a country and the apparel suppliers and retailers must sell customized clothing.

  • Due to the changing dietary and work habits, the proportions of petite, plus-size, and tall individuals in a country's population also change creating demand for garments of various sizes.

  • Globalization have resulted in the apparel garment companies marketing their products in different countries having differently shaped people and thus they have to produce outsize clothing too, along with the regular ones.

  • Apparel Manufacturers and clothing retailers are working in collaboration, retailers taking feedback from the customers and passing it on to the manufacturers who then make garments that fit the customers like never before.



The Growth of Outsize Apparels

The outsize apparel garment market, which manufactures clothing for petite, plus-sized and tall customers, is fast growing in scale and sophistication. According to the United States Department of Commerce, outsize apparel sales grew from less than 5% of total market share in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008. It is expected to reach US$73.3 billion and will represent 28.8% of all US apparel sales by 2014. From among this outsize apparel market, most of the growth is recorded by the plus-sized apparels, thanks to the increased daily intake of calories. As far as petite apparel is concerned, the demand in units has fallen in the last two years due to reducing percentage of petite women in the population but revenues are likely to rise in the future due to rising unit prices, higher quality and fit. Tall customers represent a small but fast-growing segment of the total apparel clothing and garments , that has recorded 40% growth in three years. If the garment manufacturers and dealers in wholesale apparels are reading this, I must tell that the tall market hides immense opportunities to profit from the global market gap between demand and supply.

I've given this data just to give an idea about the gradual changes in average clothing size which has provided the necessary incentive for manufacturers and wholesale apparel suppliers to deliver fashionable outsize clothing in a variety of styles. So, now you can get personalized clothing in the guise of mass customization!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Decorative Curtains- Special Window Treatments

Are you bored of the same regular types of curtains? Then we'll talk about some special window treatments that can give an aesthetic feel to your home, the Decorative Curtains!



Beaded Curtains: Beaded curtains can be used in a variety of ways, a curtain made entirely of colorful beads having strands from the top of the window right down to the floor, lends remarkable beauty to the room. A beaded curtain as a room divider defines your choicest of areas without completely closing them off from other areas. They can also close off a closet area if you have lesser space to adjust doors. Beads in contrasting colors, made of acrylic, bamboo, fabric, PVC and what not, reflect light in beautiful tones. If you don't want an entirely beaded curtain then beads can be sewn in random patterns across the fabric or can make an elegant edging. For added beauty, you may even dress up furniture with throw pillows accented with the same beaded edging as the drapes!


Embroidered Curtains: For giving an exotic charm and charisma to your home, use embroidered curtains whose elegantly shaded threads will brighten up the whole surrounding. The most suitable curtain materials for them include cotton, organdy, tissue, hand loom fabrics, and polyester. If going for hand embroidered curtain then just be careful that patterns of embroidery reveal the precision and creativity of skilled craftsmen.



Lace Curtains: If you have always longed for a romantic look for your interiors then go for the simple, traditional, and beautiful lace curtains. Although they are available in many colors these days but the white lace curtains have an extra appeal in them. They can be hung alone in rooms where privacy or controlling of lights are not a consideration and alternatively can be used over simple window shades or blinds.



Valence Curtains: Frill fabrics, that are exclusive feature of valance curtains, are also good option for giving a different look to your home. The short piece of fabric or the valence that decorates the top fourth of the window, has pleats in a variety of style. These pleated headings can be decorated with braid, ribbons, tassels and trimmings and your beautiful customized valence curtain is ready.



Cafe Curtains: Although mostly used in kitchen and bathroom, they can as well be used in any other room. A little imagination and they'll become stunning! For a layered look, matching cafe curtains can be made with one hung at the top of the window and the other positioned halfway down the window. They can be made lined or unlined in lace, sheer or lightweight fabric to give that beautiful look of your dreams!



If you don't want to spend much time or efforts at the moment, then simply go for printed curtains or draped curtains. Make them or buy them. Available in various prints and designs, these curtains can easily match the different types of walls and decor. If you don't even want to invest in curtains right now then just decorate your existing curtains with ribbons, buttons, shells or any other thing that can give that new look to your curtains! So, enjoy looking at the great pieces of artwork on your windows and doors!