The holiday bustle is here, and with it, our sustainability team is taking the opportunity to reflect on where they draw their inspiration. This season, inspiration is coming from what is perhaps an unexpected place – and one which encourages us to allow the playfulness of childhood to influence what we do.
Consumers who purchase a carton of eggs at the grocery store are given clear options about their options with labels like “free-range” and “caged.” The clothing industry has no such labels, meaning it’s up to the consumer to do their own research. Perhaps it’s time for the fashion industry to take a page from the food industry.
Is the sourcing we’re doing today smart enough? Is keeping up to date with sourcing strategies, landed costs, duty rates, global trade regulations, and economic conditions sufficient? Does staying in the know of all your sourcing data, analytics, time and action charts, vendor contract details, efficiency, and lead times make you better? Has all this smart sourcing caused anything that isn’t smart?
Circularity can be applied to a number of industries, but the clothing industry – worth USD 1.3 trillion – may be one of those most in need of this change. Read more on circularity and fashion, and why it’s up to all of us to make some changes.
Trend forecaster, jean expert, and mastermind behind Denim Dudes: Amy Leverton knows what she’s talking about when it comes to denim and all that’s happening in the world of indigo. In a recent chat with Leverton, we got a glimpse of where the industry is today, and where it’s going from here. Click here for our insightful conversation.
The material supply chain is a long and convoluted labyrinth with little information available around each step and what’s come before it. On this Earth Day 2022, the theme of which is Investing In Our Planet, we’re diving into the supply chain transparency issues that surround material sourcing – and what’s being done to change them.
Water and the apparel industry have been deeply intertwined since the production of apparel first began. For thousands of years, water has been used to dye handmade materials. Now, as a tribute to the value of water on this World Water Day, we thought we’d take a look at the latest when it comes to apparel, footwear, and H2O.
Over these last couple years of the Covid pandemic, we have seen trends scale from “work from home” to professionals / practitioners who can “work from anywhere“. In line with this new norm, we’ve seen an increase in demand for intuitive athleisure and comfort wear that meets all consumer needs. Learn more about the latest fashion trends in our latest blog post by thought leader Andrew Thompson here on Material Exchange!
As consumers of today become more aware of the processes behind what they’re wearing, there is a growing need for industry players to consider sustainable alternatives to leather. Whether you’re on the supplier or the brand side, you’ll want to check out thought leader Andrew Thompson’s latest blog post here on Material Exchange covering the latest leather and leather alternative happenings!
If you haven’t already started digitizing your materials and components, 2022 is the year to make it happen. The industry is increasingly moving toward the digital realm, and now is the time to join the movement. Find out why this transition is so important, and how you can easily digitize your own materials!