Taiwan's textile industry developed in 6 stages after WWII, starting with recovery and later focusing on export expansion and technology upgrades. It has shifted away from textiles but still accounts for 70% of the global market. Major companies like Singtex create specialized fabrics using recycled materials like plastic and coffee. China has a long tradition of textiles and is now a top manufacturer after establishing special economic zones with few trade restrictions. Both countries are trying to make their industries more sustainable and reduce pollution.

1. Textiles in Taiwan
and China
JOANNE PAN
GES400
DR. BENNETT
5/4/16

2. Taiwan’s Textile History
 Started in 1945 after World War II
 6 stages:
1. Recovery stage from 1945-1951
2. Cotton production development stage from 1952-1961
3. Export expansion and emerging product scope from 1962-1971
4. Growth stage from 1972-1981
5. Maturity and upgrading of technology from 1982-1991
6. Transformation, outward investment and innovation stage from 1992-2016

3. Recovery Stage
Year Cotton-Yarn (Spindle) Weave Machine (Set) Product Value (NT$ million)
1945 8268 428 -
1946 10664 794 -
1947 14564 1087 -
1948 18108 1791 -
1949 23787 2557 70.5
1950 50020 3326 286.0
1951 98536 5205 620.8
Source: “The Development History of Taiwan Textile
Industry”, Special Issue of Taiwan Textile Industry (in
Chinese), Commercial Times Publisher, 1952.

4. Locations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=667cG
7BVwb4

5. Currently
 Has shifted from textiles as a main export product to semiconductors and
other electronics
 Textiles are a large portion of exports
 Accounts for “70% of the worldwide market for such items”, according to
the Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.
 Most companies create fabrics rather than apparel
 Makes industrial, waterproof, camouflage print, outerwear, fire retardant,
clearance, breathable, lining and specialized fabrics

6. Economic Policies
 Become more competitive and sustainable
 Generally speaking, manufacturers create fabrics for apparel rather than
apparel
 “Can serve as an example of sustainable competitiveness, since they have
intensified their efforts by continuously exploring new solutions and
employing different capabilities and activities in order to retain their
businesses in the global T&A industries” (Shih, 2013).
 China is reducing tariffs from 539 Taiwanese products, and 136 are “textile
and apparel products” (Zacapa, 2011).
 Trying to “set the table for Taiwan’s re-emergence as an international
player in the textile and apparel industry” (Zacapa, 2011).

7. Environmental Issues
 Using recycled materials to create fabrics
 Singtex-recycled plastic and coffee
 Nike-used “recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, bottles”
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en3edtRl8L8
Wang, Audrey. “Recycled Plastic is Fantastic for Taiwan Textile Firms.” Taiwan Today.
Taiwan Today. 19 August 2010. Web. 4 May 2016.

9. Singtex Industrial
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nrIfoYPWJA
 Family-owned business in its third generation
 “Running the business with conscience and a deep respect for people”
 Specializes in cloth for athletics and other outdoor activities
 Doesn’t make clothing, but the fabric for the clothing
 Originally started out as a bedding store, but have gone into fabrics for
clothing, outwear, and athletics with different lines for different activities
 Their newest line is S. Café, where they use coffee in their fabrics and bedding
 Financial information: http://inv.singtex.com/WebMaster/

10. Eco2sy ® The Amazing Insulation
 Making Fabric
from recycled
bottles and coffee
grounds
 Newest material
for clothing

11. S. Café AIRNEST ™ New ECO foam for
life
 “Our innovative patented
technology extracts at least
25% PU from coffee grounds
oil. This cutting edge
technology helps to reduce
consumption of oil energy
from the earth”
 Odor control function.
 Outerwear-jackets, etc.

12. P4Dry ™ SHELTER
 Also used for outerwear and athletic
clothing
 Fabric is created, and then prints are
added on using recycled coffee grounds
for 3D printing

13. China’s Textile History
 Long tradition of creating their own fabrics-over 5700 years old
 Usually done by women
 Different classes wore different fabrics

17. Economic policies
 Fewer trade restrictions
 Top manufacturing country for any good with the creation of SEZs
 In 2008-2009, there was a “three-year U.S.-China textile agreement”
 National Committee of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the “spokesman for
the current U.S. textile industry “strongly requested that the U.S.
government instantly take safeguard measures in case the monitoring
results ‘suggest’ Chinese exports ‘disrupt’ the U.S. market, the same vague
standard that invoked the U.S.-China textile trade dispute between 2003-
2005” (Lu, Sheng. University of Delaware.)
 Some scholars believe that China is losing the “race to the bottom”, and
being overtaken by other SE Asian countries

18. Environmental issues
 Heavily polluting industry
 Trying to become more sustainable
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0i_EPNSXbs
 Used to be located near ports  easier for transportation (SEZs)
 A consequence of their fast rise in economic power was because of lax
environmental standards

19. Bibliography
 Chiu, Chen Lee-In. “The Policy, Institution and Market Factors in the
Development of Taiwan’s Textile/Garment Industry.” Chung-Hua Institution
for Economic Research. N.d. Web. 13 April 2016.
 “Equipment.” Taiwan Dyeing & Fabric Co., Ltd. N.d .Web. 4 May 2016.
 Lu, Sheng. “The Outlook for U.S.-China Textile and Apparel Trade in 2009:
From the Trade Policy Perspective.” Issue 3. n.d. Web. 4 May 2016.)
 Shih, Wen-Ying Claire. Investigation of the Competitiveness of a Textile
and Apparel Manufacturer: A Case Study in Taiwan. Thesis. University of
Manchester, 2013. Manchester, UK: U Manchester, 2013. Web.

20. Bibliography
 “Taiwan Floral Prints.” Pinterest. Pinterest, n.d. Web. 4 May 2016.
 Taiwan. Department of Investment Services, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
“Invest in Taiwan.” n.d. Web. 13 April 2016.
 Taiwan. Ministry of Economic Affairs. “High-Tech Textile Products Mart
Aimed for the Year-End Big Sales.” Industrial Development Bureau, MoEA.
7 January 2015. Web. 27 April 2016.
 Zacapa, Ed. “Taiwan’s Textile Industry Weaves a Bright Future.” Taiwan
Today: Opinion. Taiwan Today. 15 July 2011. Web. 13 April 2016.
 Wang, Audrey. “Recycled Plastic is Fantastic for Taiwan Textile Firms.”
Taiwan Today. Taiwan Today. 19 August 2010. Web. 4 May 2016.