This work analyzes the competitive forces which dominate this major sector and traces how the nature of competition has evolved during the last 200 years. Through an analysis of key factors, including demand, related and supporting industries, firm strategy, structure and national rivalry, chance and government policy, the author explains how and why the locus of competitive advantage in textiles and apparel has moved from country to country, particularly in the period since 1945. Drawing on Porter's recent work on the competitive advantage of nations, a new framework of analysis is developed...