Business as usual for Israel’s clothing industry
Israeli business leaders say latest conflict in Lebanon has had little impact on country’s clothing industry, companies are continuing to fulfill all their order commitments to customers
“The number of factories that has been affected is very small,” confirms Mr Dan Catarivas, director of the International Department at the Manufacturers Association of Israel. “Most plants are working at full capacity.”
Likewise, Mr Dov Lautman, founder and chairman of Delta Galil Industries told just-style: “In general, we are working as normal in Israel.”
The company, one of the world’s leading underwear manufacturers with customers including Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss, Nike, Marks & Spencer and Ralph Lauren, is also working to full capacity with three shifts a day at its factories in neighboring Jordan and Egypt.
“We are showing everyone that it is business as usual and that supply will be on time,” Mr Lautman adds.
'Orders continue to stream in'
A similarly positive message comes from Mr Ofer Gilboa, CEO of suit maker Bagir Ltd, who says: “Our production facilities and manufacturing process have not been affected at all.”
He told just-style: “Business and orders for our products continue to stream in from clients all over the world, regardless of the current situation.”
Exports are a cornerstone of the Israeli apparel industry because of the small domestic market, so maintaining deliveries is a prime objective.
Last year Israel’s clothing exports were valued at over USD 1 billion, and in the first six months of 2006 the country’s textile, clothing and leather exports were worth USD 545.9 million. The US is one of the country’s main export destinations, with shipments between January and May 2006 amounting to USD 218.3 million.
Reprinted with permission of The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute
