ISAIC Announces 2026 ISAIC Honors, Co-Hosted by SPESA
SPESA is thrilled to announce that it will be co-hosting the ISAIC Honors 2026 event, taking place April 23, 2026 in Detroit, MI. Join us, alongside SPESA member ISAIC (Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center), as we celebrate the unsung champions of the domestic manufacturing world! Don’t miss this extraordinary event at ISAIC's NEW space in the Taubman Center.
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Nominations are now open! Click the link below to learn more.
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INDUSTRY NEWS | 10.15.25
Trump Trade Rep Says New 100% Tariff on China Depends on Beijing’s Next Move
CNBC | October 14, 2025
President Donald Trump has threatened China with 100% tariffs in response to Beijing imposing strict export controls on rare earth minerals. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC that China’s actions will determine whether these steep tariffs are implemented. Greer shared that U.S. and Chinese officials spoke as recently as Monday, and that President Trump and President Xi Jinping are still scheduled to meet later this month.
President Trump's threat of additional 100% tariffs on Chinese imports has sounded alarm bells among retail and trade experts, who caution it could lead to more price increases and squeeze demand.
From The Guardian: Why has US-China trade war restarted and how have markets reacted.
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AAFA Responds to New Port Fees on Chinese-Owned and Operated Carriers
Press Release | October 14, 2025
"While we welcome the goal to strengthen our domestic shipbuilding industry, these port fees fail to achieve their stated objectives," said AAFA Executive Vice President, Nate Herman. "Rather than reducing reliance on Chinese shipbuilding, carriers have simply reshuffled their fleets by deploying non-Chinese-built ships on U.S. routes while continuing to expand orders at Chinese shipyards.”
AAFA Trade and Transportation Specialist, Audrey Clark: "We urge the Trump administration to reconsider this policy. Instead of imposing punitive port fees that create inefficiencies and divert business away from U.S. ports, the focus should be on creating strong domestic incentives and providing sustained support to revitalize American shipbuilding. Only by investing at home can we strengthen U.S. competitiveness and secure our maritime future.”
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Circ Announces Its First Sourcing Partnership with H&M Group
Press Release | October 14, 2025
For the first time, H&M will incorporate Circ’s recycled fibers from polycotton textile waste into its product offerings. The first products debut in Fall 2025, with a womenswear v-neck fleece sweatshirt made with Circ® Polyester and expands in Spring 2026 with menswear denim crafted with TENCEL™ | Circ® with REFIBRA™ Technology.
This launch builds on the global SWITCH2CE program led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and a two-year pilot with Intellecap and H&M Group, through which Circ piloted its recycling technology with H&M Group’s suppliers in Bangladesh, successfully recycling 2.6 tonnes of polycotton waste into Circ® Lyocell and Circ® Polyester.
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Walmart Partners with OpenAI for ChatGPT Shopping Feature
Reuters | October 14, 2025
Walmart announced that it is partnering with OpenAI to enable customers and Sam's Club members to shop directly within ChatGPT, using the AI chatbot's Instant Checkout feature. Shares of the company rose 5% to $107.21 at market close following the announcement. This announcement comes as companies across sectors adopt AI technology to simplify tasks and cut costs.
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Indian Apparel Exporters Hope for Expedited Trade Deal with EU
Sourcing Journal | October 14, 2025
India and the European Union are taking steps toward a trade agreement, which Indian apparel exporters hope will offer an outlet for merchandise now heavily tariffed by the United States. The European Commission shared that India and the EU will continue to meet with the goal of solidifying a free-trade deal by the end of the year.
According to the Times of India, both sides are seeking to narrow trade gaps, with the EU looking for lower tariffs on automobiles, medical devices, wine and spirits, and agricultural goods.
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Reju Leads Call for EU Investment in Textile-to-Textile Recycling
Just Style | October 14, 2025
A new European Circular Textile Coalition, led by material regeneration company Reju, has launched a manifesto urging the EU to invest in circular systems that transform post-consumer textile waste into economic and environmental opportunity.
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Why Ending the De Minimis Rule Could Cost Consumers
Bloomberg | October 12, 2025
The Trump Administration’s removal of the “de minimis” tariff exemption — which let shipments under $800 enter the U.S. duty-free — is creating new costs and confusion. What was designed to curb cheap imports from China is creating chaos for international shipping, and catching small entrepreneurs and consumers in its wake.
According to UPS, changes to the U.S. import regulations have resulted in a backlog of packages. A report from NBC News late last week said the pileup of packages in UPS warehouses has forced the company to dispose of shipments in the wake of the heavy customs bottlenecks.
You can find additional coverage here and here.
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How Costco Quietly Built a Multibillion-Dollar Clothing Empire
CNBC | October 10, 2025
Costco has become one of the world’s biggest clothing retailers. From 2019 to 2024, Costco grew its annual apparel segment sales from $7 billion to $9.7 billion, a nearly 40% increase, according to estimates by GlobalData. Comparatively, its competitors BJ’s and Sam’s Club grew their apparel businesses by about 28% and 21%, respectively.
Costco’s procurement methods vary, but it primarily works directly with manufacturers and secures licensing partnerships with major brands like Columbia and Gap. Additionally, the company will make “opportunistic” purchases, which helps to create that treasure hunt-like shopping experience when a special one-off product is for sale, said Telsey Advisory Group senior managing director Joe Feldman.
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Expo Producción Mexico 2025 Concludes with Strong Industry Turnout
Fibre2Fashion | October 10, 2025
Expo Producción Mexico 2025, which was co-located with FESPA Mexico 2025, attracted over 14,000 industry professionals eager to explore the latest trends, products, and innovations shaping the future of textile and apparel manufacturing. The collaboration with FESPA Mexico 2025 demonstrated the growing convergence between apparel production and advanced print technologies.
Despite Mexico’s modest economic outlook — with GDP growth projected between 0.1 and 1.2 percent for 2025, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Bank of Mexico — the textile and apparel sector continues to demonstrate resilience. Employing nearly 1.2 million workers, the industry remains a key pillar of the nation’s social and economic fabric.
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Global Resale Market Set to Grow to $360 Billion by 2030, Says BCG
Sourcing Journal | October 9, 2025
“With resale now growing three times faster than firsthand fashion and luxury, the market has gone from experimental to essential,” said BCG managing director and partner Felix Krueger. “Many brands now see it as a key channel for attracting new customers. With Gen Z and other resale-native consumers leading the shift, momentum is only growing.”
Pakistan’s Catastrophic Flooding Could Provoke ‘Dangerous Downward Spiral’ for Cotton Farmers
Sourcing Journal | October 7, 2025
Pakistani cotton, which buttresses the country’s nearly $20 billion textile industry, itself responsible for more than 60 percent of exports, stands at a crossroad. Officials had expected a cotton harvest of 10 million bales, amounting to 1.7 million metric tons, this year. Now, Pakistan will have to import as many as 7 million bales to bridge the shortfall, according to the Karachi Cotton Brokers Forum. This could cost the country up to $3 billion, or double what it spent last year to haul in enough cotton from Africa, Australia, Brazil and the United States to keep its spinning machines whirring.
In a note last month, the Economic Policy and Business Development, a think tank in Islamabad, predicted that Pakistan’s gross domestic product growth will slow by 3.2 percent. The trade deficit, too, could expand by an additional $1.9 billion.
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BGMEA Unveils AI-Enabled Digital Factory Passport for RMG Sector
Just Style | October 7, 2025
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers Exporters Association (BGMEA) is developing an AI-enabled Digital Factory Passport to streamline factory-level data management and reporting across the region's Ready-Made Garment industry.
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Outdoor Retailer Has a Fresh Mindset — and New Location in Minneapolis
WWD’s Footwear News | October 3, 2025
Outdoor Retailer is moving again, this time to Minneapolis as it looks to rebuild its presence in the trade show circuit. The new show will also include investments for other initiatives, including the launch of a Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Scholarship supporting specialty retailers, complimentary exhibit space for leading Minnesota-based and mission-driven nonprofits, and the revival of the Outdoor Industry Innovation Awards.
Read More...
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Workforce Development and Training Evolve to Meet Manufacturing Demands
Manufacturing Dive | October 3, 2025
Emerging programs are increasingly going beyond simple vocational training by targeting students early or in underserved communities, offering direct pathways to employment and exposing trainees to advanced tech skills. These workforce development programs are a response to the industry labor gap. According to a report from Deloitte, up to 1.9 million jobs could remain vacant if current labor trends continue.
One example of these efforts comes from Ohio with the recently launched comprehensive statewide strategy — The Ohio’s Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint — designed to secure the state’s place as a modern manufacturing powerhouse and meet the rapidly growing workforce needs.
Did you know? SPESA’s 2026 Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference will take place in Columbus, Ohio next spring. Local and regional workforce development efforts will be central to our conversations during the event.
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How Uniqlo Is Mapping Out the ‘Next Era of Clothing’ Through Circularity
Sourcing Journal | October 3, 2025
Across the fashion industry, circular strategies are multiplying — global SPAs are strengthening garment collection schemes, while European luxury houses are elevating biodiversity as a strategic pillar. Uniqlo’s approach stands out by pairing donation-led cultural sensitivity with advanced recycling technologies developed in collaboration with Toray, and by linking corporate management directly with design.
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Machine Makers Bet Big on Innovation and Bharat Story
Apparel Resources | October 2, 2025
From AI-enabled sewing machines that adjust themselves to fabric in real time, to advanced embroidery systems with multi-functional attachments and eco-friendly washers, Indian machinery manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of technology to give the country’s textile industry a competitive edge.
Read More...
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ICYMI | Techtextil And Texprocess Innovation Awards: Submit Ideas Now and Increase International Visibility
Press Release | October 1, 2025
The countdown for submissions has begun. Until December 15, 2025, companies can enter their developments for the Techtextil Innovation Award and the Texprocess Innovation Award. Those selected by the distinguished juries benefit from international visibility as well as from the reputation and reach of the two leading trade fairs. From April 21-24, 2026, Techtextil and Texprocess bring together the global industries in Frankfurt. The presentation of the Innovation Awards and the showcasing of the winning ideas is among the most prominent highlights.
