Recently, it was learned at the annual meeting of the Foreign Trade Apparel Branch of the Wenzhou Garment Chamber of Commerce that, under multiple pressures such as the ongoing decline in international orders and the continuous rise in labor costs, Wenzhou's foreign trade apparel companies are planning to join forces to tap into the promising U.S. market.

　　It is understood that this Friday, 17 foreign trade apparel companies—including Fister, Zhengqi, Deya, Yaming, and others—will depart from Wenzhou to attend the MAGIC International Apparel & Textile Show in Las Vegas, USA. This exhibition is one of the most influential, largest-scale, and most comprehensive apparel shows on the global stage. It will kick off on the 18th of this month at the Las Vegas Convention Center and run for four days. This marks Wenzhou’s largest-ever collective overseas exhibition event for its foreign trade apparel sector, as companies aim to leverage the opportunity to connect with new customers and secure fresh orders.

　　Meanwhile, on August 22, the Los Angeles Weng Fashion Show Center Co., Ltd. in the United States will officially open its doors. The company was jointly invested in by 10 foreign-trade apparel enterprises from Wenzhou City, and currently hosts 30 such businesses. Since commencing trial operations in 2012, the center has already enabled some U.S. customers to browse samples and place orders through its platform.

　　Cai Huantian, Chairman of the Wenzhou Foreign Trade Apparel Branch and Chairman of Zhejiang Fister Garment Co., Ltd., stated that over the past two years, Wenzhou's foreign trade apparel industry has been actively exploring overseas markets and proactively seeking new orders. In recent years, the Wenzhou Foreign Trade Apparel Branch has organized multiple specialized business missions to the U.S. market. Looking ahead, Wenzhou-based foreign trade apparel companies plan to combine traditional trade show promotions with e-commerce marketing strategies, aiming to expand their presence across the entire U.S. market while steadily advancing into Canada and South American markets as well.

　　According to statistics from Wenzhou Customs, in 2012, Wenzhou’s exports of apparel and clothing accessories reached US$1.862 billion, a 11.2% decline compared to the same period last year. From January to June 2013, exports totaled US$794 million, also down 11.2% from the same period in 2012. Over the past two years, Wenzhou’s foreign trade apparel exports have continued to fall, constrained by a series of factors such as the ongoing decline in international orders and the steady rise in labor costs. Several apparel exporters have emphasized that exploring new markets has become an urgent priority. Participating in trade shows and establishing public platforms for showcasing products are currently seen as one of the quickest ways for Wenzhou’s apparel industry to expand overseas and align itself with global standards.