jeans

The world jeans market was worth US$49bn in 2004 and just-style forecasts that this figure will rise to US$53.2bn by 2012 - a volume growth of around 11％. This predicted increase in retail is based on population growth, spending power and on the lure of the western jean for the world consumer. New evidence also shows how denim and jeans production is accelerating the pace of its move to lower cost countries, notably Turkey, India and China. China, the world's largest denim garment supplier, produced 30 percent of total global output in 2004. Denim jeans account for 80 percent of total output, and are priced between US$5 and US$6 FOB. Lower priced jeans are made of handbrushed pure cotton with enzyme or monkey wash. Higher priced jeans are made of linen and cotton blends with other washes and finishes such as whiskering, grinding, embroidery and beading. Each pair of jeans comes with a belt, which is offered in retail shops as a free gift with the garment. However, since the factory's production net margin is as low as 10 to 20 cents, the belt adds US 50 cents to US$1 to the price of a pair of jeans. The belts are made of wood or silk fabrics and embellished with beads or rhinestones.