What began as a niche underground trade for budget-conscious shoppers has evolved into a national crisis that now threatens the very fabric of Indonesia’s economic and environmental health. Despite a formal ban on the importation of used clothing that has been in place since 2015, the country is currently witnessing a massive surge in the "thrifting" ecosystem. This phenomenon has created a profound dilemma for the government, as it struggles to balance the public's desire for affordable fashion against the devastating reality of a domestic textile industry that is rapidly being hollowed out by illegal competition.
A comprehensive report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has identified manufacturing as the definitive bedrock of Vietnam’s global supply chain (GSC) ecosystem. The study highlights that the textile and garment sector acts as the primary anchor for this growth, contributing nearly one-third of all manufacturing jobs linked to global production networks within the country.
The year 2025 marks a seismic shift in the global apparel trade. At the center of this storm are two South Asian giants, Bangladesh and India, racing against time to master a tiny technological challenge with a massive impact: the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
Cambodia's apparel industry continues to demonstrate strong growth, with exports rising by 26.29% to $1.73 billion in the first two months of 2025. This surge highlights the country's increasing role in global textile trade, as apparel exports accounted for 38.8% of Cambodia’s total foreign income, which reached $4.46 billion, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
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