In today’s highly competitive environment, it’s natural that operators are examining their options for reducing costs in key areas. Merchandise costs certainly qualify as one of these. In recent years, competition has spurred major changes among garment manufacturers. Less than 20 years ago, the majority of industrial garments were manufactured in the United States. Ten years ago, the majority of industrial garments were manufactured in Central America and Mexico. The latest trend is the sourcing of garments made in Asia. The labor costs at both mills and assembly plants, along with favorable trade regulations, has created a cost advantage for ...