A report from the Social Research Center (CIS) of the Argentine University of Business (UADE) exposes the price gap and proposes a survival strategy based on the export of cultural value and design. According to the Argentine News Agency, the study analyzed the impact of this ultra-fast fashion that emerges with ultra-low prices and demonstrated that the price gap is substantial. The Impulsive and Low-Quality Purchase Model The report details that the economic saving is compensated with an evident drop in quality: Prices vs. Quality: A puffer jacket at SHEIN costs $65,000 pesos, compared to $90,000 for its local equivalent, but the product features lightweight textiles, a high presence of polyester, and a feeling of a 'disposable' product. Discovery Consumption: Chinese platforms stimulate occasional and discovery purchases (the logic of the haul). Strategic Exit: Compete for Culture, Not for Price The study highlights that the Argentine textile industry, which employs 300,000 workers, faces two critical weaknesses: high levels of labor informality and internal prices 35% higher than the Latin American average. In the face of this threat, UADE proposes a strategic repositioning: 'Faced with an e-commerce dominated by speed and low cost, the Argentine opportunity lies in competing for cultural value, not for price.' The key is for Argentine design to bet on its creativity, cultural identity, and sustainability consciousness to project itself into global niches that value the story behind the product.
