ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerned with the studies which follow in relation to competing theories of change. In developing a framework through which the processes of restructuring can be analyzed, it is necessary to consider various meta-theories, which attempt to offer all-embracing explanations for many of the changes which can be subsumed under the notion of restructuring. Clothing manufacture is an important industry throughout the world in terms of the wealth created by garment production and the number of individuals who depend upon the industry for their livelihoods. In general, clothing enterprises, even in the most developed industrialized countries, are small in comparison with other branches of manufacturing and are very labour intensive. Market changes in clothing, as in other manufacturing industries, have created a crisis for mass production, but it is important to recognize the limits to the application of Fordist techniques in the clothing industry. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
