Apparel

H&M Invests in Supply Chain as Fashion Rivalry Intensifies

April 4, 2017

Cost controls helped H&M to limit a drop in quarterly pretax profit but the fashion chain said it was increasing investments this year as it tries to keep pace with its larger rival, Zara owner Inditex.

Near-Shoring Is No Cure-all for the Traditional American Worker

March 27, 2017

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

The return of manufacturing to the U.S. and Europe from Asia is happening - but not at the pace that proponents of reshoring might hope. And there are some unexpected complications that need to be addressed.

The Real Reason Behind Lost U.S. Manufacturing Jobs

March 24, 2017

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

So the major driver behind all those lost American jobs is free trade? Not so fast.

Adidas Banks on Sports as Lifestyle to Drive U.S. Sales

March 22, 2017

The New York Times

Adidas set a target last week for sales in North America to rise by almost half by 2020, predicting strong demand will continue for fashion sneakers after its retro Superstar was the top selling shoe in the U.S. market in 2016.

Report From Next Gen Customer Delivery 2017

March 21, 2017

Mario Matulich, Executive Dir Customer Management Practice, IQPC

H&M Factory in Myanmar Damaged in Violent Labor Dispute

March 14, 2017

The New York Times

Workers demanding better conditions and benefits have destroyed the production line of a Chinese-owned factory making clothes for Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz, in one of the most violent labor disputes in Myanmar in years.

North Face, Timberland Set Forest Policy, Extend Responsible Sourcing

March 14, 2017

Environmental Leader

VF Corporation, whose brands include The North Face, Timberland, Wrangler and Lee, released its first-ever Forest Derived Materials Policy, which sets purchasing guidelines and commits the company and its suppliers to using sustainable forest materials and products.

New Adidas CEO Plans Fast-Fashion Focus to Catch Up to Nike

March 14, 2017

Bloomberg

Adidas AG's new chief executive officer is doubling down on surging sales of casual sneaker lines like Stan Smith and Tubular to transform the German sportswear maker into a fast-fashion business and gain ground on larger rival Nike Inc.

What Are the Benefits of Private Label?

March 2, 2017

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Exclusive in-house brands or comprehensive private-label ranges are increasingly being used to execute a differentiation strategy. Exclusive differentiation is one of the key elements to creating an exciting and productive retail environment. It is vital to explore the importance of exclusive and private-label brands as a key differentiator in apparel retailing today. – Nancy Marino, Senior Vice President, Tompkins International

What Went Wrong: Nasty Gal, Former Fashion World Darling, Is Now Bankrupt

March 1, 2017

Los Angeles Times

By 2012, Nasty Gal was a fashion world success story, growing from an Ebay store to nearly $100m in sales in just six years.

Apparel

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the apparel industry — which consists of companies that manufacture clothing, accessories and footwear. Learn how apparel companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.