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This paper examines the impact of the increasing global competition on the Dutch apparel industry and the changes in the whole apparel supply chain. The restructuring of the Dutch industry happened at a relatively early stage in Europe. Main trend was the delocalisation of production while the design and distribution function has survived. Specific attention is given to the statistical limitations to analyze the changes in the supply chain of the apparel sector. The liberalisation process seems to have little quantitative impact on levels of employment taken in consideration that the supply chain consists of a broad scale of companies from industry to design and retail. The Dutch apparel sector is not heading to a final demise so long as the sector utilize the specific domestic features and succeed in retaining the value adding activities. The Dutch case provides a more in‐depth analysis of the strategies taken by the industry that faces a growing global competition.