Latest apparel and textile comment

The future of fashion supply chains – Part II 18 Sep 2020

Roit Kathiala

The second in a two-part series on the future of fashion supply chains proposes that digital supply chains have the potential to unlock endless possibilities across an organisation that take decision-making, responsiveness, customer service and profitability to another level. Roit Kathiala sets out some key steps to get there.

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Multichannel retailers will lead post-Covid recovery 16 Sep 2020

GlobalData Retail

Shopping habits in the US and Europe shifted dramatically because of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, driving rapid adoption and growth in 'buy online, pick up in store' services. And new research reveals that going forward, this combination of online and physical sales channels will form a highly competitive single retail market.

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Broad horizons – The role of export in Covid recovery strategies 11 Sep 2020

Guest author

Gwynne Master, managing director and global head of trade for Lloyds Bank Commercial Bank, explains how firms can make the most of international trade opportunities as part of their Covid recovery strategy.

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Fashion and the end of the Brexit transition period – What next? 8 Sep 2020

Guest author

With less than four months until the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, fashion businesses need to prepare. Here, Stephen Sidkin and Charlotte Kong from Fox Williams solicitors, set out some of the key points businesses should be thinking about as the deadline looms.

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Covid-19 a catalyst to make fashion more sustainable 7 Sep 2020

GlobalData Retail

Though sustainability and ethics fell under the radar at the start of the Covid-19 crisis as many retailers struggled to survive, more enlightened players realised it was an opportunity to gain a competitive advantage in an area that would soon return to the top of consumers’ agendas.

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6 ways to revamp the fashion supply chain in a post-pandemic world 25 Aug 2020

Guest author

Now is the time to redesign the clothing supply chain – and trust, transparency and traceability must be the guiding forces, according to Accenture's Lynda Petherick.

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The future of fashion supply chains – Part I 20 Aug 2020

Roit Kathiala

The first in a two-part series on the future of fashion supply chains takes a look at the changing face of fashion retailing – and why digitising supply chains can unlock large efficiencies, improve transparency and reduce costs to help companies survive and thrive. By Roit Kathiala.

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What happens when the dust settles? Stretching the safety net for India's invisible workers 17 Aug 2020

Guest author

Covid-19 is a wake-up call to improve protections for India's apparel sector workers, including the informal home-based women labourers who remain an invisible part of the supply chain.

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How retailers can prioritise sustainability during Covid-19 14 Aug 2020

Guest author

As apparel brands and retailers rebuild their post-pandemic supply chains, now is the perfect time to rethink how they can embed sustainability into their development, sourcing and distribution decisions, says Mark Burstein, president at NGC Software.

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Burberry trials social retail in China 14 Aug 2020

GlobalData Consumer

British luxury clothing and accessories brand Burberry has opened its first "social retail store" in Shenzhen, China's technology hub, as a way to attract young and tech-savvy consumers, save profits, and stay ahead of the competition in pandemic times.

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From Field to Shelf – The great masking of America 11 Aug 2020

Robert P Antoshak

A shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including face masks, triggered by the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has prompted US domestic textile companies to mobilise their production facilities and supply chains to fill the void. Here's the story of Vidalia Mills – by industry consultant Robert Antoshak, who helped oversee the project.

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Tackling greenhouse gas emissions in fashion supply chains 28 Jul 2020

Roit Kathiala

The fashion industry is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon emissions – making it imperative that fashion supply chains find more environmentally friendly ways of operating. The journey starts with the first step of understanding and measuring the impacts, as Roit Kathiala explains.

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Ascena latest to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection 23 Jul 2020

Michelle Russell

Ascena Retail Group, owner of the Ann Taylor, Loft and Lane Bryant chains, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the latest retail group to do so during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Incoming German supply chain law will weaken SMEs 20 Jul 2020

Hannah Abdulla

Germany's government is to introduce a law that will force companies to ensure human rights and social minimum standards are met in their supply chains, a move the country's textile trade body says is a "slap in the face" for the German economy.

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AI in the fashion industry – The next big thing or one step too far? 13 Jul 2020

Malcolm Newbery

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere at the moment. Much of this is focused around data analytics – crunching business numbers at ferocious speed and as frequently as possible. It is being discussed in terms of its impact on business, employment and human rights across all industries. But in the context of fashion brands and fashion retail, what has it to offer business decision-making? asks Malcolm Newbery.

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From Field to Shelf – How the apparel industry can become exceptional 9 Jul 2020

Robert P Antoshak

As disheartened members of this supply chain, and as optimistic consumers, we commit to being part of the 20% – the minority demanding and developing, launching, and implementing new and sustainable innovations and standards up and down the supply chain. By Robert Antoshak, managing director of Olah Inc, and April Kappler, consultant to the cotton and textile supply chain.

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Adapting to the new normal in factory auditing 6 Jul 2020

Leonie Barrie

The apparel factory auditing process has been impacted on numerous fronts by the coronavirus pandemic – from travel bans limiting on-site access, to a possible surge in violations as factories reopen. It could also give way to innovation in self-inspection methods.

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Retail forecasting helps planners to navigate pandemic 1 Jul 2020

Guest author

Retail planners need an agile approach to see them through a pandemic, with artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques among the tools to help make the best decisions at every stage from initial response to recovery.

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Is Kanye West collaboration the turning point for Gap? 26 Jun 2020

Leonie Barrie

Shares in Gap Inc have jumped 13% after the US specialty apparel retailer revealed it has inked a deal with Kanye West to design a new line of adult and kids' clothing.

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Garments on Hangers – Strategies for a digital world 22 Jun 2020

Roit Kathiala

"To hang or to box" is a question that has long been debated within the fashion retail supply chain. With companies now emerging from the coronavirus pandemic looking to reconfigure their supply chains to withstand future disruptions, the way garments are moved from factory to consumer is a critical consideration as the industry pivots to a digital future – Roit Kathiala decodes.