The Chinese market represents a high potential market for premium clothing made in Mexico, because the Chinese consumers with high purchasing power now prefer American and European brands. The growing middle and upper classes in China have enough money and are now buying more at stores that offer products of American and European clothing brands, said Patricia Medina, CEO of Aztex Trading, during an event related to Intermoda Mexico, which is to be held from July 16-19, 2013, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Last year, Mexico's clothing exports to China are increasing, and there is still good scope for increasing Mexican share in Chinese clothing imports, the business woman said. Although Mexico's main clothing item is jeans, the country also produces casual clothes such as jackets, shirts and woolen clothing like suits and coats. For the value-added Mexican apparel industry, China is no longer a headache, instead both the countries can now become partners, according to experts, who cite the return of high-quality global apparel brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Ermenegildo Zegna and Adolfo Dominguez to Mexico during the past two years.
Europeans buy American quality goods that are produced in Mexico and then sell them in the Chinese market, where the tag 'Made in Mexico' is well-received, Ms. Medina said. During the first three months of 2013, Mexico exported US$ 1.8 million worth of clothing to China, showing an increase of 163 percent year-on-year, according to the data from the National Chamber of the Apparel Industry (CANAIVE). In 2012, Mexico's apparel exports to China grew 25 percent year-on-year to US$ 2.9 million, representing five percent of Mexico's total garment production during the year. Intermoda, the International Fashion Trade Show in Mexico, is the most important fashion industry event in Mexico, held twice a year in January and July. Over the years, the event has got international recognition and it sees participation of apparel firms from countries like Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Spain, Chile, the US and India, among others.
