Product Sourcing

The days when brands and retailers could turn a blind eye to where their products come from are over. Amid heightened awareness of social and environmental abuses throughout the supply chain, governments around the world are moving quickly to hold businesses accountable for the actions of their suppliers. New supply chain due diligence laws are…

Diverting textiles from landfills is increasingly becoming a top-of-mind concern for clothing manufacturers and retailers alike. In the face of legislative changes, consumers are more aware of the environmental impact of their clothing choices. The fashion industry generates around 92 million tons of textile waste each year, which not only clogs up landfills, but also…

The fashion industry is constantly growing, introducing new brands in various categories, whether digital, sustainable, circular, or fast fashion. The global apparel and footwear market is expected to be valued at up to $2.25 trillion by 2025, according to Statista. Sourcing is a crucial aspect of a clothing supply chain. For a private-label clothing company, sourcing…

Consumers have long said they prefer sustainable products, and a new study shows that they've been putting their money where their mouth is. Researchers from McKinsey and NielsenIQ studied 600,000 products from 44,000 brands and conclusively found that products that make environmental, social and governance (ESG) claims experienced faster growth than products without them. This…

The environmental toll of the fashion industry is astounding. Each year the fashion industry creates an estimated 92 million tons of textile waste while creating nearly 20 percent of the world’s water pollution. Sixty percent of apparel products today aren’t recyclable, so most of them are dumped in landfills or burned. And it gets worse:…

Target announced earlier this week that it would be stocking its shelves with more products priced under $10 as it tries to appeal to more cost-conscious consumers dealing with once-in-a-generation inflation. The retailer has shifted its focus to selling more food and lower-priced items under its higher-margin private-label brands including Favorite Day, Good & Gather,…

Nordstrom has teamed with The Folklore Group as part of the retailer’s commitment to build a more equitable marketplace and reduce barriers to access for diverse suppliers, reports Yahoo. Through The Folklore Connect platform, Nordstrom’s merchants will be better able to identify and engage with wholesale fashion and lifestyle brands founded by Black, Latinx, Asian and other people…

Maurice Contreras is founder and CEO of Volcanica Coffee, a specialty coffee roaster that imports 150-plus exotic coffees from volcanic regions around the world. While at the National Retail Federation Big Show in New York City earlier this week, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan spoke with Contreras about the company and his career background, the online shopping…

A differentiated merchandise assortment is one of the top ways retailers can remain competitive in an economic downturn. Retailers that offer unique, exclusive or sustainable products become differentiated shopping destinations unto themselves. However, as consumers demand more authentic, responsibly made products that either improve communities or better the planet, retailers need to expand their wholesale…

When it comes to luxury goods, the perception of exclusivity and premierness are two very important elements. However, the truly paramount aspect of luxury items that allows for the high price point associated with them is their absolute authenticity. If the authenticity isn't absolute, then it's not luxury. Would it be OK if you were…