"After close to 70 years of development, Taiwan's hosiery industry now faces challenges like growing costs of labour and raw materials, foreign competition, stifling over-reliance on producing as OEMs, lack of brand development and innovation and a generational gap in talents," he said.

Remedial strategies

In response to these challenges, the Material and Chemical Research Laboratories (MCL) at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has pushed for remedial strategies including field evaluation of industry needs, data collection and analysis.

Other strategies suggested include assisting companies in applying for the Smile MIT (Made-in-Taiwan) certification, marketing quality certified products (in both B2B and B2C modes), amplifying design competence, reinforcing brands through improved design and packaging, and mentoring new talents to fill the generational talent gap.

According to The China Post, with the launch of the HIDC in Shetou Township in May last year, the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has started reconciling industry needs and market trends. By introducing fashion-awareness and smoothening the line from R&D to marketing, the HIDC is said to be aiming to help hosiery enterprises develop products with a high value-margin and upgrade to a vertically integrated, sustainable mode of operation.

"Shetou Township has long been a hub of hosiery production. The HIDC sets out to revitalize the local hosiery industry by all the above mentioned means, plus assisting in worker training, quality control, product certification and integration of the academic resources," the report said.

Taiwan's hosiery industry is also tapping into the knowledge of its research and educational institutes.

"Asia University and Mingdao University, for instance, lend their design talents while Feng Chia University and Chienkuo Technology University lend their expertise in dyeing, finishing, and mechanical engineering," said HIDC director Luo Li-qing.

Adding value through technology

According to Luo, the MCL has developed various materials for making uniquely functional hosiery. Highlighted features include:

• Heel-wrapping design
• Ergonomic design
• Shock absorbance with sole-loop
• Suppression of trichophyton mentagrophytes (fungal condition)
• Aabrasion resistance at the toes
• Water-vapor permeability
• Mark-free design
• Hollow polyester yarn for the instep

Luo explained fabric functionalities were applied during the dying process, applying MCL's chemical research.

Source: The China Post