Apparel

U.S. Gig Economy: Data Shows 16M People in 'Contingent or Alternative' Work

June 11, 2018

How big is the “gig economy”? Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics gave the first official reading of how many Americans rely on temporary work, freelancing, and on-demand apps to make ends meet. And the answer is: a lot.

There Now Are More Job Openings in the U.S. Than Unemployed Workers to Fill Them

June 7, 2018

Los Angeles Times

The labor market has hit a tipping point that should help boost wages: There are more job openings in the U.S. than unemployed workers to fill them.

Apparel Retailers, Finally Recovering, Eye Cotton Prices Warily

June 6, 2018

Bloomberg

Apparel retailers are finally winning back shoppers just as a new potential problem arises: more expensive cotton.

How Adidas Plans to Bring 3-D Printing to the Masses

June 5, 2018

Forbes

In retailers' hot pursuit for that magic trick to entice consumers on a mass scale, 3-D printing has more or less come and gone as a fad, but to sneaker giant Adidas, mass-market 3-D printed products may soon be a reality with sizable retail promise.

As Global Plastics Demand Expands, Sustainability ‘Key’ to Industry’s Future

June 1, 2018

IHS Markit

Global demand for polyethylene, the world’s most used plastic, has nearly doubled since 1999, but this growth in demand is being met with significant new market pressures, such as a rise in consumer expectations around sustainability, along with tightening environmental regulations in key growth markets such as China.

Gartner Announces Rankings of the 2018 Supply Chain Top 25

May 24, 2018

Gartner

Gartner, Inc. has released the results of its annual Supply Chain Top 25, identifying supply chain leaders and highlighting their best practices. Analysts announced the results at the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference last week in Phoenix.

Supply Chain Execs Still See Their Role As Support — Not Growth Enabler, Report Shows

May 23, 2018

Material Handling & Logistics

It turns out that many chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) are not leveraging their C-suite counterparts to help reinvent the supply chain function and transform it into an engine of new growth models and customer experiences, according to new research from Accenture.

Getting Bangladesh’s Apparel Industry on the Map

May 21, 2018

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

It’s been just over five years since the collapse of a Bangladeshi factory complex took the lives of 1,135 workers. How can manufacturers and apparel brands ensure that such a tragedy never happens again?

Your Next Pair of Sneakers Could Be Made From Recycled Gum

May 15, 2018

Fortune

Sneakers and gum have always had a strained relationship. But that could change soon.

Name and Shame Brands With Abuse in Supply Chains, U.K. Labour Tsar Says

May 11, 2018

Supply Management

The U.K. government’s labour market tsar has called for large businesses to be held jointly responsible for abuses in their supply chains.

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.