Industry News | 2/5/25
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | AATCC, SEAMS To Hold Joint Annual Conference, ‘Fabricating the Future,’ in Savannah
AATCC and SEAMS, two leading associations in the textile industry, have joined forces to organize a joint event, Fabricating the Future 2025 Annual Conference. This inaugural event, to take place October 5-7 at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Savannah, Ga., promises exceptional content, valuable networking and engaging activities from morning to evening.
Textiles, Tariffs, and Trade (Oh My?!)
Everywhere, Everyone | February 5, 2025
Blink and you could miss an update on where things stand in regards to President Trump wielding tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China (and for a brief stint, Colombia). Given the extensive coverage, we’re sharing a list of the articles we felt were most relevant to our industry readers:
What the Tariffs Mean For Fashion And Retail (Sourcing Journal)
U.S. Apparel Manufacturers Brace for the Trump Era (ModernRetail)
U.S. Manufacturing Rebounds, Tariffs Could Derail Tentative Recovery (Reuters)
Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico Paused Until March 4 (ST&R Trade)
China Announces Retaliatory Measures in Response to New Tariffs (ST&R Trade)
Fashion’s New Trade Crisis: How Brands Are Scrambling to Navigate Trump’s Tariffs (Glossy)
Trump’s Tariffs, Explained in 4 Charts (Business of Fashion)
Disaggregated Analysis of U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Apparel Exports (Fibre2Fashion)
US Fashion Sector Reels as Trump Tariffs Spark Key Partner Nation Trade War (Just Style)
Want an in-depth analysis on trade policy? Come to Texprocess Americas in May! During the Texprocess Americas 2025 symposium, Nicole Bivens Collinson, who leads the international trade and government relations practice of Washington, D.C.-based ST&R Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., will provide an update on the latest trade policy developments in the Americas and share insights on the potential impact of proposed and enacted tariffs, as well as how companies can best prepare for or fight against trade barriers impacting their business.
For updates on the evolving tariff situation, we suggest you subscribe to the ST&R Trade Report.
Unifi Expects Up to 250 Job Cuts as It Winds Down Manufacturing in Madison
Triad Business Journal | February 5, 2025
A UNIFI Inc. production plant in Rockingham County is set to close after more than 30 years. Unifi expects to close the plant by the end of September, resulting in the loss of 250 jobs.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 with Adapted Hall Layout and New Product Areas
Press Release | February 3, 2025
Taking place April 21-24, 2026, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 are focusing on a restructured hall layout, additional product areas and the extension of content formats. The early-booking offer for exhibitors is available until March 12, 2025.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | BlueCherry Wins 2024 Just Style Excellence Award: Helping Fashion Brands Overcome Supply Chain Complexities
Press Release | January 28, 2025
Inditex Grows for&from Initiative with New Mexico Store
Fibre2Fashion | February 3, 2025
Inditex has opened its first for&from store in Mexico, its 16th globally, promoting workplace inclusion for people with disabilities. Managed by non-profits, these stores sell prior-season products at discounts, funding charitable projects. The new Mexico City store, run by CONFE, employs nine people with disabilities.
DeSL, Browzwear Partner To Streamline Digital Product Development in PLM
Apparel Resources | February 1, 2025
Customers of DeSL will have access to Browzwear’s digital product development and creation tools within the PLM environment as a result of this relationship. Teams will be able to experiment with colour and material choices in a virtual environment thanks to this connection, which will reduce the need for physical samples. By utilising DeSL’s Digital Planning Boards, it also makes it easier to assemble product lines and collections more quickly.
Fashion Outlook 2025: What To Expect in the Year Ahead
Fashion Dive | January 31, 2025
As the industry shifts toward a more sustainable future, it’s also facing creative and C-suite changes, legal hurdles and challenges in the luxury sector.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Canadian Apparel Federation and BlueCherry Partner To Drive Digital Transformation in the Canadian Apparel Industry
Press Release | January 30, 2025
The Canadian Apparel Federation (CAF) and CGS’s BlueCherry today announced a strategic partnership to help accelerate the digital transformation of the Canadian apparel sector. CAF is the national association of the Canadian apparel industry, providing members with advice on national and global competitive issues. BlueCherry is the award-winning, end-to-end supply chain management solution built expressly for high-growth organizations in fashion, apparel, consumer lifestyle products, home goods, and retail.
Youngone Eyes New Destinations for Fashion Supply Chain Success
Just Style | January 31, 2025
The founder of global fashion manufacturer Youngone Corporation tells Just Style he will be investing in four new fashion sourcing hotspots over the next five years — eyeing Uzbekistan, India, Kenya and Guatemala — but he remains concerned about the world's fragmented fashion supply chain.
How Will Geopolitics Impact the Global Fashion Supply Chain in 2025?
Just Style | January 30, 2025
From ongoing regional conflicts to Trump's latest tariff threats, Just Style speaks to global and regional fashion industry experts — from SPESA, AAFA, and Dr. Sheng Lu from the University of Delaware — to uncover how geopolitics will impact the sector in 2025 and how the wider supply chain can create opportunities out of the challenges that lie ahead.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Aptean Enters into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Logility
Press Release | January 24, 2025
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Logility provides AI-powered, advanced supply chain planning solutions designed to optimize inventory, improve demand forecasting, and streamline production planning. Logility delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions including demand planning, inventory and supply optimization, manufacturing operations, network design, and vendor and sourcing management. Logility’s solutions are used by over 500 clients in more than 80 countries, spanning the consumer durable goods, apparel/accessories, food and beverage, industrial manufacturing, fast moving consumer goods, wholesale distribution, and chemicals verticals.
Supplier Hubs in SE, S Asia Remained Popular Globally in 2024: QIMA
Fibre2Fashion | January 30, 2025
Supplier hubs in Southeast and South Asia were popular with buyers globally during 2024, and performed strongly despite multiple disruptions, according to testing, inspection, certification, and compliance company QIMA. Vietnam remained one of the key beneficiaries of the ongoing sourcing shifts from China. The anticipated higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods may place Vietnam at an even greater advantage this year.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Loomia and AFFOA Collaborate: Introducing the Gentoo Textile Heater-Reliable Performance for Ultra-Cold Environments
Press Release | January 28, 2025
LOOMIA, a developer of electronic textiles and flexible electronics, and Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a non-profit Manufacturing USA Institute driving fabric-based innovation in the United States, are proud to introduce the Gentoo Heater. Engineered to perform in ultra-cold environments, the Gentoo Flexible Heater is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based resistive heater that maintains optimal performance even at temperatures as low as -60°C. Designed for seamless integration into textiles, this heater combines comfort, breathability, and stretchability with reliability in extreme conditions. When laminated to a textile, this heating element makes a robust heating fabric.
Can Brazil Be a New Hub for Denim Production?
Rivet | January 29, 2025
“Brazil is poised to become a major player in the global denim industry,” said Denim Première Vision director Fabio Adami Dalla Val. “With a population of over 200 million people, a youthful demographic, and a strategic position within powerful economic blocs like Mercosur and BRICS, the country offers tremendous growth potential.”
VF Returns to Growth After 2 Years of Declines
Fashion Dive | January 29, 2025
VF Corp. reported $2.8 billion in revenue for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year, a 2% rise from last year. VF attributed the increase to stronger DTC sales and an “outsized wholesale performance” due to additional reorders and lower cancellations. VF saw growth at The North Face and Timberland, with 5% and 11% revenue increases, respectively. Vans, which has been a drag on the company’s earnings and is a key part of its transformation plan, saw revenue fall 9%. Dickies revenue dropped 10%.
Turkey’s Rising Minimum Wage Puts Pressure on Apparel Manufacturers
Sourcing Journal | January 28, 2025
Türkiye’s minimum wage is now 22,104 Turkish lira, or about $621.22 per month. The 2024 minimum wage was 17,002 Turkish liras (around $477.83), already putting Turkey at the higher end of wages compared with other sourcing countries. Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka typically pay workers $200 or less per month.
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