Apparel

In Supplier Management, Companies Need to Step Up Their Game

April 10, 2017

The ability to monitor the behavior and condition of one's suppliers depends on having access to hard numbers. But a surprisingly large percentage of companies lack this critical data.

Major Fashion Brand Makes Move Against Instant Fashion Strategy

April 7, 2017

Los Angeles Times

See-now-buy...bye? And then there were four. Of the five major brands that have beat the drum for see-now-buy-now within the last 12 to 18 months, one has drastically shifted course from the strategy in the last two weeks, specifically Tom Ford.

Shoe Retailer Uses RFID to Bring Omnichannel to Physical Store

April 6, 2017

RFID Journal

Italian footwear retailer Store of the Future (SOTF) opened its new Florence shop in September 2016, with an EPC ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) RFID-based system to bring more personalized service to customers as they try on shoes, while also enabling omnichannel sales.

H&M Invests in Supply Chain as Fashion Rivalry Intensifies

April 4, 2017

The New York Times

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.

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.