Currently, the garment manufacturing companies in the State of Palestine are diverse. Some have their roots in the traditional textile industries, while others are more innovative and entrepreneurial. Below is a list of the top garment manufacturing companies in the country, based on size, market presence, and financial status. These companies have made their mark in the local and international markets.
PaliRoots Funding Projects
Hundreds of tiny businesses exist in the textile and garment industry in Palestine. But the transition to global economic trends has made it difficult for them to compete.
And, if the current pricing pressure continues, businesses will have to decide whether to export or close their doors. The result is that only one-quarter of the industry is staffed by local producers.
This makes it difficult for these businesses to generate a profit and grow. Instead, they are forced to rely on subcontracting to Israeli corporations. As a result, the textile and apparel industry in the State of Palestine has lost nearly half of its domestic market share. Moreover, the industry has also been losing two-thirds of its salaried workers.
In order to support this sector, Amy Hagemeier created a fundraiser to raise money to support Palestinian artisans. She now runs a business called PaliRoots, which sells high-quality fashion products inspired by the Palestinian culture.
PaliRoots has also developed a meal program that gives back to the poorest kids in Gaza. The company donates a nutritious meal for every $25 purchase. The company’s goal is to create a community where people can learn from each other. They have raised over $412,000 for charities and Palestinian causes.
PaliRoots also offers fundraising events that support children with cancer and backpacks for students. It has donated over 7,000 meals to kids in Gaza. They have helped fund tree planting projects, as well.
Anat International
During the 1980s, the textile and garment industry grew rapidly in Palestine. It was a key pillar of the national economy. By 2000, the industry employed over 20,000 people and generated US$126 million in revenue. However, the industry has since suffered a decline. It is no longer the foundation of the economy. It is now a specialized, export-oriented sector.
The industry is made up of hundreds of tiny businesses. Most are micro-enterprises that employ one to four people. Only a few of these businesses have ever exported before. The majority of these enterprises are located in the West Bank, though. They rely on subcontracting with Israeli corporations. This has made it difficult for them to turn new clients into regular customers.
The textile and apparel industry in the State of Palestine is the second largest employer. It lost 60% of its revenues in the last decade. In addition, it has lost three quarters of its salaried workers. It is also suffering from a 52% unemployment rate. The industry is facing numerous challenges, including the recent violence and the Israeli military siege. Despite these problems, there are some businesses that are trying to revive the industry.
One of them is Anat International. The company produces embroidered denim jackets for both men and women. It works to bring the embroidery back to Gaza. It is also an ethical brand that works to uplift local artisans and employees.
Trident Ltd
Amongst the world’s top garment manufacturing companies, Trident Ltd is a renowned name. The company manufactures terry towels, bed linen, and organic cotton. Its products are certified with OEKO-TEX A(r) Made in Green label.
The state-of-the-art technology and facilities provided by Trident ensure quality. The company ensures that every process is clean, and waste water is reused. It has implemented 5S and TPM processes in its factory.
The company has won several prestigious awards for its achievements. It won the ECGC-D&B Indian Exporters Excellence Award in 2015. The company received the IPMA Energy Conservation Award, and won the Best Diversified Exporter. It also won the TEXPROCIL Gold Award.
The company has set a target of becoming a $2 billion company by 2018. The company plans to expand its leadership in the home textile segment. It will increase its focus on value-added yarn for high-end international markets. The company will also focus on innovative blends, wet processing, and towel construction.
The company has a strong focus on building a strong talent pool. It has a graduate program that emphasizes management concepts and 360 degree industrial training. The program also focuses on team building and leadership.
The company has a world-class design studio. It has won numerous awards for its innovation, including the IKEA IWAY Well-Developed Supplier Award. It was ranked as the World’s leading terry towel manufacturer. The company has also won the Punjab State Safety Award for 2014.
The company has set a target of establishing two new spinning units in Budhni. It has already set up a terry towel unit in the complex. The company has also installed a zero liquid discharge plant in the facility. It is planning to set up a sheeting plant in the same complex.
Hirbawi
Located in the city of Hebron, the Hirbawi Keffiyeh factory is one of the only local factories still producing traditional Palestinian head scarves. For decades, this black-and-white scarf has been a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and resistance. It was worn by late Palestinian leader Yasser Arfat. However, the popularity of the scarf has waned in recent years.
The family started making kufiyas in 1965, when they had just six looms. Their products were sold for less than a quarter of the price of foreign copies. The factory’s output soared in the early 1990s, when they produced more than 150,000 keffiyehs a year.
But after the Oslo Accords in 1993, Chinese-made keffiyehs flooded the market, overshadowing the sales of Palestinian manufacturers. Some local customers started thinking twice about supposedly good value Chinese goods.
The influx of imports has taken a toll on the manufacturing industry, and many workers in the industry blame businessmen who buy cheap goods from China. The factories still produce a variety of goods, but their output has declined significantly.
The Hirbawi factory is the last Palestinian maker of the traditional keffiyeh. It has been a family-run business for more than 50 years. Today, only a handful of men work there. The factory’s production output has fallen dramatically, but the family hopes to return to its former heyday.
The factory plans to hire a new employee and restart all of its looms. It recently purchased new equipment. This will allow the factory to produce more than 100 kufiyas a day.
Women in Hebron
Located in the West Bank, the Idna Cooperative Association for Embroidery and Handcrafts is a nonprofit fair trade community center that provides women with education and tools to generate an additional income. Its products are embroidered by Palestinian women.
The association has also opened a small community center in the village of Idna. The group organizes educational programs, meetings, and social gatherings for the members of the community. Its website states that every purchase of its products helps to support the work of women in the organization.
The textile industry in Palestine was a major pillar of the national economy in 2000. Over half of the finished apparel produced by the country was exported to Israel, although the details of the subcontracting operation were not disclosed.
In the late 19th century, Jews and Arabs lived side by side in Hebron. Both groups shared sacred sites. However, tensions between the two communities increased when Jewish Zionists came to the area. The British evacuated the surviving Jewish community after the 1936 riots. The Six Day War gave Jews a chance to return to Hebron.
In 1980, a Palestinian grenade attack targeted Beit Hadassah. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) responded by closing the street. In 1997, the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government signed a protocol that divided Hebron into two parts: the northern section is under Israeli control, while the southern section is under Palestinian control.
Taita Leila
Founded by Noora Husseini, Taita Leila is a social enterprise that creates modern, handmade clothing inspired by Palestinian embroidery. The company employs women in rural communities throughout the West Bank.
They produce modern clothing that’s high-quality, handmade, and crafted using organic textiles. The company also embraces a zero-waste philosophy, donating a percentage of each purchase to non-profit organizations.
Taita Leila’s mission is to preserve the traditional arts and crafts heritage of Palestine. It commissions hand-stitched garments from local women in the West Bank. They’re made using fabrics sourced from local vendors in the region.
A major focus is on tatreez. A tatreez is a long, beautiful garment that is worn by men and women in Palestine on special occasions. They’re derived from the Arabic word taqsireh, meaning to shorten.
The company’s website states that every purchase contributes to employment programs and economic empowerment for women in the West Bank. It’s a small business that works with talented women designers and artisans to produce clothing and accessories.
Their latest collection is titled Prints of Palestine. It features designs inspired by the city of Bethlehem, one of the oldest centers of Arab-Islamic embroidery in the Middle East. The collection is a unique blend of contemporary and traditional styles, and features Palestinian prints.
The textile and fashion industry in the State of Palestine is the second largest employer in the country. It consists of hundreds of tiny businesses that operate from people’s homes. However, only a few of these enterprises have exported before.
Henry Pham (Pham Quang Anh), CEO of DONY Garment
This year, we have found that many international buyers are seeking new suppliers based in nations outside of China and Thailand to purchase many goods and products, including uniforms, workwear, reusable cloth face mask, and protective clothing.
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