just-style authors and correspondents

Articles by Guest author

Why US innovation is vital to global value chains 21 July 2017

An article on just-style last week described as a "missed opportunity" the distribution of a Vietnam-made backpack at the launch of a new multi-million dollar initiative intended to develop US-made high-tech fabrics. But for Stephen Lamar, executive vice president at the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), the article’s value is overwhelmingly US – and reflects the way supply chains are likely to evolve in the future.

---

5 ways to stay agile in an on-demand economy 18 July 2017

Thanks to the digital revolution, consumers today are in control. With endless options for where to shop, when to shop, what to buy, what price to pay, and how to receive it, customer loyalty erodes each time expectations are not properly met. This article asks if on-demand manufacturing a game changer – and sets out five ways to stay agile in an on-demand economy.

---

'Who Made My Clothes?' will redefine fashion supply chains 15 May 2017

24 April marked the anniversary of the horrific collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory complex in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In the years since, the incident has sparked a worldwide movement called Fashion Revolution, whose mission is to unite people and organisations to work together towards radically changing the way clothes are sourced, produced and consumed.

---

Bangladesh Accord – New phase should protect unions 11 May 2017

Apparel companies involved in a widely hailed effort to protect garment workers in Bangladesh factories from harm need to take another step to make sure the gains are sustainable. Making that happen depends in large part on workers' ability to organise and to call out dangerous conditions without fear of being beaten or fired, says Aruna Kashyap, senior counsel for the women's rights division of Human Rights Watch. 

---

Retail’s newest trend – Buying things that don’t exist (yet) 10 May 2017

It seems like every week we read another story about the death of the high street, with various retailers switching to a more digitally integrated and online-first strategy. Just recently, the luxury retailer, Gucci unveiled a partnership with Farfetch’s F90 to deliver luxury accessories in 90 minutes. These tactics are very much to capture consumers who’ve switched behaviours from high street shopping to online browsing, represented by a growth of 16% in online purchases between 2015 and 2016 in the UK.

---

Why collaboration is key to a successful fashion supply chain 27 April 2017

Collaboration between retailers, brands and their suppliers is a mission critical element in developing a slicker and more cost-effective supply chain. But in today’s complex fashion environment, putting it into practice is still a considerable challenge – as Siobhan Gehin, managing director, Kurt Salmon part of Accenture Strategy, explains.

---

Four steps to reduce product defects 17 March 2017

In the modern apparel industry, change is rapid. Consumer behaviours and perceptions are shifting. Cost pressures are intensifying. And while poor quality has long resulted in widespread markdowns and chargebacks, now it may result in permanently lost clients.

---

Finding value in reverse logistics in fashion retail 16 March 2017

Driving the cost out of your returns process and rethinking whatever programme you have in place is a must in today's highly competitive retail landscape, and can mean the difference between winning and losing.

---

Alarm bells ringing for millennial fashion brands 10 March 2017

A recent survey, commissioned by GT Nexus and conducted by research company YouGov, confirmed a lack of brand loyalty among millennials. For the fashion industry, the devil is truly in the detail of this research as it not only sounds a series of clear warning bells to fashion brands, but also reveals some surprising truths about influencing this most fickle of markets.

---

Five ways to reduce bribery in quality control 8 March 2017

In recent decades, global supply chains have advanced in many ways. Technology, efficiency, and responsiveness have improved. Investments in quality control and compliance have increased. But two things have remained: corruption and bribery. Here Jose Suarez suggests five ways to reduce bribery in quality control – and strengthen your brand in the process.