Women's suits

	Liaoning Times offers model EX802, which is made of 100 percent polyester.

With an eye on creating a flattering silhouette, makers are releasing models that have contoured hips, pleated hemlines and V-necks.

China suppliers of women’s suits and separates are focusing on formfitting models designed to enhance the wearer’s silhouette.

Blazers, and pants and skirts are contoured at the waist and hips, respectively, to highlight the feminine figure.

Jackets have large V-neck or notch collars, tulip hemlines, flap pockets and one- or two-button closures. A few designs come with belts to emphasize the waist.

Aside from the basic three-quarter and long sleeves, recent releases include short-sleeved designs.

High-waisted trousers with flared leg openings are available. Some feature wide cuffs at the hem. Zippers, buttons, and hooks and eyes are used for the closure.

Skirts typically come in lengths of 20 to 25 inches to create a leaner and longer look. The classic pencil and A-line versions are the most common types produced. Pull-on styles are also offered.

Pencil skirts come with a double-layered pleated panel at the back hem or an all-around pleated hemline for a more feminine appearance.

High-waisted models with curved front and back yokes provide a flattering shape as well.

Closures include zippers, which are placed either at the side or at the back, and hooks and eyes.

Embellishments such as embroidery and applique are incorporated in upscale suits and separates for added visual interest.

Aside from monochromatic models, companies are releasing designs with patterns.

OEM accounts for the majority of product development work for suppliers of suits and separates. ODM and OBM make up 30 and 5 percent, respectively.

Large companies such as Jiangsu Botai Group Co. Ltd employ at least 80 personnel in their R&D departments, some of whom have more than five years of experience in the industry. Liaoning Times Garments Imp./Exp. Inc. has hired two designers from Hong Kong.

Samples are finished in five to seven days.

To enhance competitiveness and shore up margins, most large manufacturers are boosting their R&D capability.

Suppliers are using 100 percent wool or more than 50 percent of the material for upscale models. They are also focusing on garment trimmings for enhancing the product's aesthetic appeal.

China makers of women's suits and separates focus mainly on the midrange and high end. Suits dominate exports, as buyers usually do not want to consume time in mixing and matching separates.

Quotes depend primarily on the raw materials used.

Low-end skirt and pants suits go for less than $10. These sets are made of 100 percent polyester that weighs 200 to 300gsm.

Midrange designs, which are between $10 and $50, adopt T/R. Compared with pure polyester, the material is smoother to the touch and resists wrinkling better. Rayon or polyester blended with less than 30 percent wool is also employed. The fabric weight ranges from 300 to 400gsm.

High-end versions exceed $50. These are pure wool or combinations of more than 50 percent wool and polyester or rayon. Other fabric blends such as nylon and polyester are also used. A few companies adopt Lycra for added stretch. The materials come in a weight of more than 400gsm. Suits in this segment are embellished with embroidered motifs or applique.

Pants, skirts and blazers as separates are also offered.

Low-end models in 100 percent polyester or cotton and polyester-cotton blends are less than $10 per piece.

Upscale versions can top $30. These suits and separates typically use fabric blends because they are more durable and crease-resistant, easy to care for, and can withstand multiple washings.

Models typically come in plain gray, black, brown, red and navy, but versions with checkered and pinstriped patterns are available.

Components are rarely imported because textiles and accessories are readily available in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces.

More than 50 percent of suit and separates suppliers in China are locally owned, while less than 10 percent are SOEs.

Small companies with no more than 300 employees and midsize makers with up to 500 personnel represent more than 70 percent of the supplier base.

Companies operating on a large scale have a workforce exceeding 800. They have advanced and imported manufacturing and QC equipment, and follow ISO guidelines when performing product inspections.

The quality of suits and separates is supervised at each stage of the manufacturing process.

Incoming raw materials are thoroughly checked. Final QC is carried out in-house, although some makers can send samples of output to third-party testing laboratories on request.

In the first nine months of 2008, customs statistics show that the country exported more than $5 billion worth of models, up 5.7 percent from the same period the previous year. In terms of volume, overseas shipments rose by 14.6 percent compared with the corresponding span in 2007.