Latest apparel and textile analysis

US apparel imports from China tumble in April 7 Jun 2018

Michelle Russell

While it may be too early for the prospect of heavy US tariffs on goods from China to impact apparel imports from the country, it appeared to fall out of favour in April with a 14.5% slump on  last year. Meanwhile, five of the top-ten garment supplier countries booked double-digit gains, with Pakistan recording nearly 40% growth.

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Esquel elevates green credentials with new Chinese facility 5 Jun 2018

Wang Fangqing

Hong Kong-based Esquel Group, the world's largest woven shirt maker, has been bedding-in operations at a ground-breaking new $313.3m manufacturing complex launched in March. With a focus on sustainability, the Chinese facility is starting with the supply of premier blended cotton yarns, with a garment factory to follow – as CEO John Cheh tells just-style.

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Guatemala eyes export surge amid yarn investment 5 Jun 2018

Ivan Castano Freeman

Guatemala expects to double its apparel export growth this year amid surging US orders and investment to boost synthetic yarn production to help Central American neighbours churn out more fashionable apparel, executives told-just-style during the country's latest Apparel Sourcing Show.

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Clothing caught as EU and US tariff spat escalates 1 Jun 2018

Leonie Barrie

The European Union (EU) has moved ahead with its plans to impose temporary safeguard duties on imports of US-made clothing in response to punitive tariffs by the Trump administration on imports of steel and aluminium – a decision that has been slammed by the US clothing sector.

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Inventory issues weigh on Gap brand performance 1 Jun 2018

Leonie Barrie

US speciality clothing retailer Gap Inc is still struggling to get its namesake Gap brand back on track, with inventory issues the latest challenge to weigh on performance.

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Made-to-order apparel a highlight at Texprocess Americas 31 May 2018

John Winston

If there was a central theme to the 2018 edition of Texprocess Americas held in Atlanta last week, it was the movement towards made-to-order apparel. While this concept is in its relative infancy, equipment manufacturers are aggressively pursuing how to make it a reality.

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Li & Fung’s ‘shot at the moon’ approach to digitalisation 25 May 2018

Michelle Russell

Digitalisation offers a solution to some of the challenges facing the global apparel industry – but as Spencer Fung, group CEO of Li & Fung explains, the goalposts are constantly evolving.

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Can Vietnam reach its apparel export potential? 24 May 2018

Dr Sheng Lu

Vietnam’s clothing exports have surged over the past decade, and the country is widely seen as the ‘next China’ for apparel sourcing. But despite optimism for further expansion under the upcoming CPTPP and EVFTA trade pacts, buyers should instead prepare for limited growth.

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How purchasing practices impact apparel supply chains 23 May 2018

Michelle Russell

Sustainability and social responsibility is no longer just an option in business, it has become a commercial imperative and needs to be integrated into the DNA of a company. But are businesses really there yet? And are workers' lives improving as a result of social and environmental auditing? Bill McRaith, chief supply chain officer for PVH Corp, joins the debate at the recent Copenhagen Fashion Summit.

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What Marks & Spencer's FY numbers mean for clothing 23 May 2018

Beth Wright

Today's (23 May) full-year results from Marks & Spencer have once again emphasised the challenges it faces in reinvigorating its clothing business, with the UK retail group posting a 1.9% fall in like-for-like clothing and home sales. While CEO Steve Rowe is optimistic the group's wider five-year transformation plan is off to a good start, is this enough to revive the retailer's fortunes?

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Jordan garment sector makes progress on compliance 22 May 2018

Leonie Barrie

Working conditions in Jordan’s garment sector are continuing to make "important progress," according to a new report, but a lot remains to be done if the industry is to move beyond compliance.

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A digital-first future requires an agile mindset 21 May 2018

Michelle Russell

As the ‘see now, buy now’ culture gathers pace, retailers are feeling the pressure to get products to market faster than ever before. To achieve this means jettisoning traditional sourcing models in favour of more agile methods of production, and embracing new technologies.

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Why digitisation is the smart approach to quality 17 May 2018

Leonie Barrie

Digitising the quality process at Helly Hansen and VF Corporation is disrupting the traditional concept of quality control – and paving the way for a move from inspection towards in-process quality management.

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Six ways retailers can keep up with digital trends 16 May 2018

Guest author

Online fashion sales appear to be on an upward trajectory, generating GBP16.2bn (US$22bn) in 2017 and expected to jump 79% by 2022. Here we set out six areas for retailers to focus on over the next year if they want to grow their presence digitally.

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Apparel sector lagging on sustainable engagement 10 May 2018

Ben Cooper

A report from Boston-based sustainability non-profit Ceres analysing the performance of US companies on a range of sustainability criteria has found footwear and apparel firms are lagging behind in terms of investor engagement on sustainability, notably with regard to water-related risks.

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Seven trends changing the face of online retail 9 May 2018

Michelle Russell

Online clothing and footwear sales are set to continue to rise at a rapid pace over the next few years – yet constant innovation is key if retailers are to remain relevant in this fast-changing environment. Here are seven key trends set to have a significant impact on the online marketplace in the future.

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US apparel imports tumble in March 8 May 2018

Michelle Russell

Apparel imports into the US took a downturn in March, with double digit declines from three of the top ten countries year-on-year. China - the US's largest supplier - and Mexico were the only two to record growth for the month.

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How to tackle the apparel industry's digital skills gap? 4 May 2018

Beth Wright

As the apparel industry wakes up to embracing digitalisation as a way of delivering on speed, customisation and transparency, it is also seeing a gap in the digital skills set of its workforce. Some tips the industry can take include collaborating with teaching staff on job expectations, sharing new technologies, and making them accessible to students.

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EU textile and apparel trade – four key things to know 3 May 2018

Dr Sheng Lu

Based on an analysis of the latest Eurostat data, Dr Sheng Lu, assistant professor in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware provides a big-picture overview of the state of the EU textile and apparel industry and trade. Understanding these critical patterns is key to helping companies better explore the region's huge sourcing and market access opportunities.

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Innovation sharpens US clothing sector's competitive edge 2 May 2018

Whitney Pipkin

Innovation and new technologies are helping pave the way for the US apparel industry to become faster and smarter – and sharpen its competitive edge in commercially uncertain times – according to speakers at the annual American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Sourcing Conference in Washington DC last week.