A greatly increased potential for import penetration and environmental pressures in the heartaland are major challenges facing the United Knigdom's knitting industry. Commission dyers and finishers of knit fabrics have had to become adept at dealing with fiber blends, natural fiber variations, dyeing with pigments, and applying finishes. Because vertical integration and import penetration have decreased ommission business in knitwear dyeing and finishing, finishers must fit supply patterns to customer buying patterns and make strong commitments to maintain agreed upon turnarounds while meeting price points for the market. Technical training programs for empolyees are also important for United Kingdom dyeing and finishing companies trying to remain competitive. Since 1961, the number of jobs in the United Knigdom textile industry has decreased from 800,000 to 380,000. The United Knigdom knitting industry must revitalize its marketing skills, increase exports, source from foreign countries, and enter into more joint ventures to remain competitive.