All articles by David Birnbaum
David Birnbaum
Redefining public service for the apparel sector in the age of climate change
Apparel industry consultant David Birnbaum argues it is time to redefine public service to benefit the wider apparel sector and tackle the impact of climate change.
Strategic development or meeting the needs of the future garment industry?
In the 27 years from 1992 to year to date July 2022, garment retail market share fell from 5.9% of total retail sales to 4.4%: A decline of 26%.
The story behind 2022’s US garment retail disaster
Everyone is aware of the disaster facing US garment retail but no one has explained what exactly happened or more importantly why, writes apparel industry consultant David Birnbaum.
EXPERT OPINION: Apparel industry must learn cost is not equal to price
Apparel industry consultant David Birnbaum discusses why sector-wide confusion on the relationship between cost and price is distorting the entire decision-making process.
The effect of reducing free on board (FOB) prices on garment costs
Apparel industry consultant David Birnbaum discusses how changes to the way the global garment industry operates have markedly altered the effects of free on board (FOB) prices on garment costs.
The flaws of fashion’s basic cost sheet
Apparel industry consultant David Birnbaum shares his analytical approach to the fashion industry’s basic cost sheet and reveals how to create a better one.
OPINION: What can the apparel industry learn from the pandemic right now
Apparel industry expert David Birnbaum discusses the key questions the apparel industry needs to ask right now if it wants to learn from the pandemic and plan for a more successful future.
EXPERT OPINION: Understanding the digitised apparel supply chain
Apparel industry expert David Birnbaum discusses the problems and solutions that need to be taken into account when working with a digitised apparel supply chain.
EXPERT OPINION: When the fashion industry meets the real world
Apparel industry expert David Birnbaum discusses why so many people in the real world have such a fascination with the fashion industry and how the apparel supply chain works within it. The key question he says: Is does the apparel industry itself really understand what it’s doing and why?
Is the Bangladesh apparel industry trapped in its culture?
Apparel industry expert David Birnbaum explains why the current issues facing the apparel industry in Bangladesh could be based on culture. He explains that successful companies succeed because they imbue their people with a culture of respect, just as failing companies have a culture of failure.