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!

As a material supplier, you know the growing importance of digitizing your inventory. Our recent industry survey shows that 49% of suppliers and 45% of buyers each spend more than €10,000 per year on physical samples. The need for digitalization as a cost-saving measure is clear. What’s more, the vast majority of brands value 3D material visuals, meaning 3D visuals are a great way to differentiate yourself as a supplier in this increasingly digital landscape.

Check out our latest blog post and learn how to determine the right digital format to convert your physical materials into digital versions!

Sourcing footwear and apparel materials has historically been time-, travel-, and resource-heavy; the time has come to streamline the material sourcing value chain with technology.

Traditionally a belly-to-belly transaction, the process of sourcing and then managing materials has been analog-based and relied on multiple, separate systems. This has resulted in a slow and complex go-to-market journey; our recent survey (source: Digital Sourcing Report) shows it can take up to 40 weeks – nearly a year! – to source materials and get a product to market.

Ecommerce and the digital economy have leveled the business landscape as audiences, including buyers and end-customers, now expect efficient digitalization and comprehensive product information. As a result, these expectations have reached apparel and footwear material sourcing which has changed the game for suppliers. Suppliers face business challenges today that did not exist just a few years ago. The good news is there are also new opportunities to reach buyers that were not possible previously.

Earlier this week, the Apparel Impact Institute and World Resources Institute jointly published a Roadmap to Net Zero report for the apparel sector. This report offers a tangible estimate of apparel sector emissions as well as recommendations to reduce that impact. Learn more about these findings in our latest blog post – and how Material Exchange has a solution.