Fierce competition and higher inputs pulled down the fashion and footwear product prices down by 30 percent in the country.
Last five years trend seems to go against the present one and has turned around in a reversal of the general inflationary trends in consumer goods, IBEC's Fashion and Footwear Federation (FFF) said.
The Consumer Price Index has shown that clothing and shoe prices have dropped down by 30 percent in the past five years.
Fashion retailers on their part are contesting that they are not making fatter margins at the expense of the Irish consumers.
The ongoing embargo on Chinese imports will definitely affect the markets sources said.
However, retailers have managed to remain competitive by sourcing their clothing products from the most economical markets across the world.
Prices are expected to increase for sometime though, till retailers get hold of alternative sources that may keep the prices under wraps.
