Latest apparel and textile comment
The best views and opinions in apparel and textile industry publishing, all in one place, from apparel and textile's monthly columnists and in-house experts.
What price fast-fashion and the future of clothes?
The harsh realities of the global business of textiles and apparel are set out in a new book 'Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and t...
Can the Fashion Pact shift dial on sustainability?
The vast number of sustainability-focused initiatives already running across the global apparel and textile sectors has a new addition: the...
The Trump trade war moves from reality to fantasy
President Trump's goal to force brands and retailers to move their orders out of China, at no cost to the US consumer, is the final triumph...
The Grinch to American retailers – no more love!
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 footwe...
Trump's Christmas gift to China hosiery makers 22 Aug 2019
Some say President Trump's decision to delay the introduction of certain new tariffs until December is a gift to American consumers. David Birnbaum believes it is President Trump's Christmas gift to China's hosiery makers.
From Field to Shelf – US cotton pays the price for Trump's trade war 20 Aug 2019
There have always been daunting challenges for the US cotton industry – only now the stakes are higher thanks to US trade policy. And even if there's a truce in the US-China trade war, permanent damage may have already been done, according to industry consultant Robert Antoshak, managing director at Olah Inc.
How garment factories can become retailers – Part 2 15 Aug 2019
The first of a two-part series looking at 'Why garment factories should move into retail' discussed some of the fears and concerns facing manufacturers and suppliers. Now, in the second instalment, Emma Birnbaum proposes two retail models that could help augment and redefine their operations.
Why garment factories should move into retail – Part 1 12 Aug 2019
Sourcing and manufacturing are no longer enough to fuel apparel company and industry growth. In the first of a two-part series, Emma Birnbaum sets her stall on why factories should become retailers.
Why the fashion industry must get ahead of its massive pollution problem 8 Aug 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.
Does latest US trade data point to China's fall from grace? 7 Aug 2019
At the halfway point of 2019, the fallout of the China-US trade spat on US apparel imports is starting to surface. Growth in shipment volumes from Vietnam and Bangladesh outpaced that of China in the first six months of the year – but imports from China are still edging up and the country's share of the market is virtually unchanged.
From Field to Shelf – Trade wars hit as apparel loses its appeal 30 Jul 2019
The trade struggle between the US and China coincides with a changing apparel market that is getting more complicated and confusing to navigate, writes Robert P Antoshak, managing director of Olah Inc.
The ‘compliance trap’ that hinders sustainable procurement 24 Jul 2019
Businesses are getting stuck in a kind of compliance trap, whereby they under-invest in programmes – which essentially come down to ticking boxes and collecting documents – but do not drive suppliers to embrace long-term performance improvement, a new survey suggests.
Vietnam collective bargaining move good for garment workers 12 Jul 2019
The recent decision by Vietnam’s National Assembly to ratify one of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) fundamental conventions to promote collective bargaining sends "a strong signal" to the country’s garment industry and could lead to higher productivity in the sector.
Three steps to the next generation of warehouse operations 4 Jul 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.
Tariff threats stand in the way of apparel supply chain investments 28 Jun 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.
Why it's time to share your views on trade 24 Jun 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.
From Field to Shelf – Can global supply chains ever be sustainable? 18 Jun 2019
How can our industry be truly sustainable if it maintains global supply chains? Don't those supply chains create a carbon footprint so large that there will never be a way to offset the overall ecological impact of such operations? It's an interesting question, says Robert P Antoshak, managing director of Olah Inc.
Morrisons not yet taken seriously by UK clothing shoppers 5 Jun 2019
Just 2.7% of UK clothing shoppers purchased from Morrisons in the past year – significantly underperforming the rest of the big four supermarket retailers.
Why design-to-cost is your trojan horse 4 Jun 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.
Can Stitch Fix unpick ingrained shopping habits? 4 Jun 2019
Following success in the US, the online personal styling service Stitch Fix has launched in the UK. However, convincing consumers to change their shopping habits will be tricky - limiting its ability to make a real impact in the UK clothing market.
From Field to Shelf – Welcome to Trade Wars. I wish it were only a movie 30 May 2019
We're looking at a significant readjustment of trade relations between the US and China. Get used to it, writes Robert P Antoshak, managing director of Olah Inc.
Why it's time to build a new US textile industry 9 May 2019
In an increasingly competitive world, it is time for the US textile industry to consider a new strategy, according to David Birnbaum. Instead of relying on free-trade partners for exports, he suggests a move away from garment related fabrics, a focus on high-tech materials, and replacing the yarn forward rule with fibre-only could be the key to reinvention.
From Field to Shelf – Economic inequality and its impact on apparel demand 2 May 2019
Our industry makes products that sell based upon discretionary spending by consumers. Clothing is essential, but it's not crucial like food or water. And we're under continuous assault from economic and societal pressures. Income inequality may seem an abstract concern for some readers, but as Robert P Antoshak, managing director of Olah Inc, explains, it comes with real-world consequences.
Activating brand purpose – and putting it to work at Wrangler 23 Apr 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.
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