Purpose – To examine how the textile and clothing industries, both of which retain a significant employment presence in the EU, have responded differently to heightened overseas competition and changes in buyer‐supplier relations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses...

This paper examines earlier and more recent patterns of restructuring that have occurred as a consequence of import penetration. It focuses upon work reorganization, job losses and changes in the retail‐manufacturer relationships and how these trends differ in key European countries. Finally,...