For over two decades, the apparel industry has been trapped in mediocrity, unable to break free from outdated practices, burdened by high costs, underutilized resources, and stagnant profits. This mindset originates from the quota-driven mass production era and leans on temporary solutions like capacity expansion, significant technology investments, increased sales efforts, and ineffective isolated improvement initiatives, leaving core issues unaddressed. As a result, many companies remain stagnant, unable to drive real progress in an increasingly fast-changing and competitive landscape.
Leading apparel companies promote a circular economy, ESG principles, and compliance, yet they remain ineffective without integrating them into daily workforce practices. Similarly, AI tools and real-time data can enhance agility, but without a hybrid lean-agile system, engineering-driven value, role-based disruption elimination, and supporting strategies, which are currently missing, their impact remains limited.
Gender equality initiatives clash with outdated, military-style management—how can women be truly empowered in such environments? Likewise, applying the Toyota Production System (TPS) without adapting it for apparel needs, raises the question: How effective are these improvement initiatives?
Above all, engineering remains the missing link to innovation. Lean and agility cannot thrive without engineering-driven systems and forward-thinking manufacturing strategies. Yet, most improvements remain isolated, narrowly focused on sewing lines rather than full-system enhancement, primarily led by work-study staff who maintain the status quo rather than drive innovation.
The result? Outdated beliefs and ineffective leadership have left the industry struggling to keep up in a rapidly changing market. With technological advancements, shifting market demands, and increasing local and regional competition: how much longer can the industry afford to resist meaningful change and avoid misguided initiatives for evolution?
So, who will lead this revolution? Bold action is essential In an industry still driven by outdated knowledge and lacking professionals with the expertise to build resilience and competitiveness. The future belongs to those who embrace true engineering, smart and dynamic leadership, and an adaptive, agile workforce to achieve lasting, industry-wide excellence.
