The fashion industry is constantly evolving, and it is crucial for buyers to stay ahead of the curve. Managing margins while still meeting customer expectations is a delicate balancing act that is becoming even more challenging as material, labor, and shipping costs fluctuate. Missing the mark on the customer’s quality expectations, could negatively impact brand loyalty, sending them straight to … Read More
Designing High-Performance Clothing for Functionality
Creating high-performance clothing is a challenging task that requires a deep understanding of fabric selection, functionality, design, fit, and garment construction. If one element is wrong, the garment may no longer function in the rigorous conditions of the activity. Adding to the complexity, some details may counteract each other, rendering one, or both ineffective. Every decision in the process is … Read More
Avoiding Pilling During the Product Development Stage
Have you ever purchased a sweater and been so excited to wear it out? After a day and maybe a wash later, it’s covered in fuzz balls and its feeling and quality as decreased. As a sweater weather advocate, this happens to me all the time. I’m constantly pulling the pilling fabric off and hand-washing my garments to insure that … Read More
Apparel Programs as a Brand Extension
It is an iconic piece of apparel that spans gender, socio-economic status and geographic location. The t-shirt is universal fashion that fits all sizes and can be dressed up or down. While graphic t-shirts are a staple in our wardrobe, they are historically a relatively new garment. Printed t-shirts date back to 1942, when an Air Corps Gunnery School shirt … Read More
Moving Production while Managing a Manufacturing Portfolio
The question: “How can we move our production out of China to domestic or nearshore options?” is becoming a daily conversation. Considering that China supports nearly 80 percent of the world’s apparel manufacturing, there is not a simple answer to this question, nor an immediate “flip the switch” solution. With planning and awareness of strengths by country, however, there are … Read More