Latest apparel and textile analysis

Why Hong Kong is the new hub for sustainable innovation 7 Aug 2018

Leonie Barrie

Hong Kong's once powerhouse textiles and apparel sector might be shrinking, but that doesn't mean it's losing its significance. Far from it. A number of new projects being unveiled in September – and revealed exclusively on just-style – include the first mill being set up in the territory in more than half a century to produce recycled yarn from post-consumer apparel.

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Nicaragua crisis could hit Central America sourcing 2 Aug 2018

Ivan Castano Freeman

A worsening political and social crisis in Nicaragua is having a spillover effect in Central America, where the spectre of rising violence in Guatemala and El Salvador is threatening to undermine apparel sourcing and investment in the region.

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Why is the used clothing trade such a hot-button issue? 2 Aug 2018

Shannon Brady and Sheng Lu

Apparel exports from Rwanda to the United States this week lost their duty-free benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) after the country refused to lift a policy that effectively bans imports of used clothing. Here, Shannon Brady and Sheng Lu from the University of Delaware offer some insights into world used clothing trade – and share their thoughts on why it deserves more attention.

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Global lingerie sourcing supply and market trends 2 Aug 2018

Malcolm Newbery

just-style's 2018 'Global market review of lingerie – forecasts to 2023' is the first in the report's editions to utilise the new re:source online strategic planning tool. Here we take a look at the global sourcing position, growing and declining exporter countries, the global market position, and growing and declining markets.

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Who has signed the new Bangladesh '2018 Accord' – Update 2 Aug 2018

Beth Wright

186 companies have now signed the new Bangladesh worker safety pact – the '2018 Accord' or 'Transition Accord' – with Australian apparel retailer The Just Group, and non-profit organisation Global Impact among the latest to commit.  Here we list the signatories so far.

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Mexico exports and jobs could rise with new President 30 Jul 2018

Ivan Castano Freeman

Mexico’s textile and apparel industry is forecasting a sharp rise in exports and jobs under the $7.5bn spending package proposed by President-elect Andres Lopez Manuel Obrador – despite ongoing uncertainty around the key North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

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re:source monthly trade programme roundup – June 2018 27 Jul 2018

Guest author

To tie in with the launch of re:source, the new online strategic planning tool from the team behind just-style, this is the first in a monthly round-up of updates to key free trade agreements and trade preference programmes involving the US, EU and Japan.

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Timeline – Trump’s track record on trade – Update 20 Jul 2018

Dr Sheng Lu

Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, his administration has been busy fulfilling major campaign promises on trade policy – much to the concern of US fashion brands and apparel retailers. To keep abreast of developments, Dr Sheng Lu, associate professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware, has compiled a timeline of all the key milestones.

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Trade policy remains top sourcing concern for US fashion firms 19 Jul 2018

Leonie Barrie

The impact of a protectionist trade policy agenda in the United States is not surprisingly ranked the top challenge for the US fashion industry in 2018, a new survey has found – closely followed by increasing cost pressure, which is creeping up executives’ agendas again.

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US fashion sector mulls tactics to tackle Trump tariffs 18 Jul 2018

Keith Nuthall

Executives from the US clothing industry have met in Washington DC to plot tactics to push the Trump administration away from a protectionist policy they regard as potentially damaging for brands, retailers and consumers.

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What should suppliers do when retailers go bust? 12 Jul 2018

Michelle Russell

Difficult trading conditions on the high street, increased online competition, rising costs and low consumer confidence are pushing retail bankruptcies to record-highs. Yet while the store closures and redundancies are widely reported, the fallout is also reverberating further along the supply chain.

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What’s hindering progress on sustainable fashion? 11 Jul 2018

Beth Wright

The fashion industry might like to think sustainability is at the top of its agenda, but fierce competition on price, a fast fashion focus on volume rather than value, and flagging consumer interest are all hindering progress. Yet industry executives remain hopeful that as issues like microplastics pollution move into the mainstream, the issue of cheap and disposable clothing may also come to the fore.

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US apparel imports from China slide in May 9 Jul 2018

Michelle Russell

Apparel imports into the US from China jumped nearly 30% in May from a month earlier, despite trade tensions growing between the two countries. Year-on-year, however, imports were down, while Cambodia booked the highest growth of the top ten.

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Knowing your supply chain is the first step to sustainability 4 Jul 2018

Beth Wright

With most of the environmental impact of an apparel brand or retailer's business embedded in its supply chain, knowing and understanding exactly who’s on the list is a vital first step to tackling sustainability.

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The world’s 10 worst countries for workers 3 Jul 2018

Leonie Barrie

An annual survey of violations of human and trade union rights ranks key apparel-producing nations including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, the Philippines and Turkey among the ten worst countries in the world for worker rights.

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Why apparel firms must plan for "responsible automation" 2 Jul 2018

Leonie Barrie

As digitisation, connectivity, robotics and artificial intelligence start to make inroads into apparel production, now is the time for the industry to move towards  "responsible automation" – where workers are trained and supported so they have the skills for the future.

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Nike's new digital connections drive speed and efficiency 2 Jul 2018

Michelle Russell

US sporting goods giant Nike expects to accelerate its efforts to leverage data and analytics to inform design and capabilities during the current fiscal year – and ultimately drive speed and efficiency throughout its supply chain.

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How to tackle forced labour in apparel supply chains 27 Jun 2018

Michelle Russell

The latest thinking on corporate social responsibility (CSR) matters puts forced labour at the forefront of issues impacting the apparel, textile and footwear sectors, while working hours are at the centre of attempts to increase transparency in supply chains. Progress is also underway on key harmonisation/convergence initiatives.

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How to unlock the value of time in your supply chain 14 Jun 2018

Guest author

A new metric has been developed to help textile and apparel supply chains evaluate the value of time in product development, merchandising and sourcing decisions. The model is aimed at brands and retailers searching for ways to increase full-price sell-through or grow profit, as Vaughn Jordan, deputy director at Cotton Council International, explains.

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Machinery trends confirm China's textile leadership 8 Jun 2018

Leonie Barrie

China looks set to continue its dominance of the global textile industry, with new data showing the country remained by far the world’s largest investor in spinning, texturing, weaving and knitting machinery last year.