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Articles by Guest author

Steps to successful sourcing in Vietnam 14 October 2019

Trade and political tensions between China and the US have moved many companies to consider sourcing in other areas in Southeast Asia, and especially Vietnam. While challenges abound, it is possible to build good relationships with factories, as Alexander Twibill, director of marketing for HQTS Group, explains.

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Eco-friendly fashion – Where are we still falling short? 11 October 2019

Despite current efforts to create more eco-friendly fashion, the industry needs a more deliberate approach to integrating sustainability across the entire value chain. Here Feng Xin, VP of downstream business & corporate development at viscose major Sateri, sets out three key areas that should be addressed.

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The Grinch to American retailers – no more love! 1 September 2019

A new round of US tariffs kicks in today (1 September) that will result in a direct tax on 92% of all apparel products and 53% of all footwear items imported from China. Here Rick Helfenbein, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), explains the industry's concern at the likely impact of this tariff manoeuvring, both now and into the future.

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Why the fashion industry must get ahead of its massive pollution problem 8 August 2019

Levi Strauss has taken the lead on climate commitment – but where does the rest of the fashion industry stand today? asks Todd Paglia, executive director at Stand.earth.

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Three steps to the next generation of warehouse operations 4 July 2019

The next generation of warehouse operations can not only deliver new levels of retail profitability, but can stop margin erosion in its tracks. Craig Summers, UK managing director at Manhattan Associates, looks at steps retailers can take to make their warehouse operations succeed.

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Tariff threats stand in the way of apparel supply chain investments 28 June 2019

With the Trump Administration mulling up to 25% additional duties on all US imports from China, Matthijs Crietee, secretary general of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), argues that even the threat of new trade barriers is likely to have a long-term impact on complex global clothing supply chains.

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Why it's time to share your views on trade 24 June 2019

Ahead of her testimony against the proposed Section 301 tariffs on all imports from China – which would include all clothing and footwear – Julia Hughes, president of the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), explains why the negative impact of tariffs on China will not just hurt brands and retailers, but also their global supply chains. And, she says, it's not too late to speak out.

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Why design-to-cost is your trojan horse 4 June 2019

How can the world of fast fashion exploit lessons gleaned from the automotive industry? The answer lies in design-to-cost, says Dominic Jephcott, co-founder and managing partner of management consultancy Vendigital.

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How to support a virtuous sourcing circle in Ethiopia 24 May 2019

From Bangladesh to Ethiopia, garment manufacturing is a potential path to economic development. But this will only happen if Western brands and retailers adopt specific sourcing practices, according to Dorothée Baumann-Pauly and Auret van Heerden from the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.

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Activating brand purpose – and putting it to work at Wrangler 23 April 2019

Over the last few years, there's been a lot of compelling information demonstrating the importance of a brand or organisation's purpose. Just like mission, vision, and values before it, purpose is gaining in critical mass as an organisational architecture trend. Here, Roian Atwood, director of sustainability for Wrangler and Lee jeans, discusses the methodologies involved in discovering brand purpose – and how it was put into practice at Wrangler.