After the Earthquakes: Impact on the Textile and Clothing Industry

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake struck Haiti, and on March 11, 2011, an earthquake hit the north-east of Japan resulting in a catastrophic tsunami. The Haitian earthquake caused widespread devastation but, remarkably, the apparel industry was hardly affected. The Japanese earthquake will have a more far reaching effect on the global textile and apparel industry as the Japanese textile industry remains a major force in world terms in certain sectors. This report assesses the wider economic and industrial impact of the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti, and comments on recent investments and measures to improve the welfare of Haitian apparel workers.