Apparel imports from Vietnam and China grew fastest in the first three months of 2013, giving these countries significant share gains in the US apparel market. Bangladesh and Pakistan also saw their exports to the US grow, though their increases were smaller. Total apparel import growth slowed in March, resulting in a 3% dollar value increase for the first three months of 2013 compared to the … [Read more...]
Uniqlo Plans 20 New U.S. Stores, Skips the Midwest For Now
May 7, 2013 by
Japanese retail giant Uniqlo is accelerating its U.S expansion—in 2012, the retailer projected 10-20 new stores in two years; now, Uniqlo says they will open 20 or more stores in 2014. Uniqlo currently operates three stores in Manhattan, one in San Francisco, and three inside of malls on the outskirts of New York City. The company has previously rejected retail destinations like Los Angeles, … [Read more...]
Casual American Workplace is Good For Women’s Wear
April 30, 2013 by
Women’s U.S. apparel sales grew over 3% in 2012, while menswear sales grew a comparatively meager 1.4%. This indicates a serious gender reversal in recent trends—in 2011, for example, menswear sales gained 4.2% in the U.S., and women’s sales gained only 1.5%. According to the latest stats, the increasingly casual American workplace may be the culprit. Jeans accounted for the lion’s … [Read more...]
“Growing” Population is Harder to Size, Say UK and U.S. Retailers
April 30, 2013 by
By 2025, 40% of the U.S. and 35% of the UK is likely to be obese—a startling statistic that will affect not only our health, but the size of our clothes. The fashion industry has struggled to ensure sizing consistency since the 1940s, when tailored clothing was largely replaced by ready-to-wear, but the rapidly growing size of the population has thrown yet another wrench in the works. Ed … [Read more...]
Wal-Mart to Spend $50 Billion On American-Made Products And Hire 100,000 Military Veterans
April 30, 2013 by
In a private sector version of a stimulus package, Wal-Mart stores CEO Bill Simon announced a plan to buy $50 billion worth of American-made goods over the next 10 years. Among the products to bought from domestic sources are basic apparel and sporting goods. The world's biggest retailer will also hire 100,000 U.S. military veterans over the next five years, said Simon. "Veterans have a … [Read more...]
Offshoring, Onshoring, and Near-Sourcing: Western Markets Scale Back in China
April 22, 2013 by
After China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, foreign companies clamored to outsource production and labor to Chinese factories, and the nation’s manufacturing industry surged. Now, a trend toward “onshoring” indicates that the surge has subsided, but experts predict that China will remain a key player in foreign production—at least for now. The practice of onshore … [Read more...]
Cold Weather, Cautious Shoppers Depress March Retail Sales
April 14, 2013 by
Retail sales growth slowed in March, and department stores suffered another nasty fall, according to just-released U.S. Department of Commerce data. Total retail sales rose by 3.8% on a 12-month smoothed basis, down from February’s 5.3%. Many stores reported slower traffic due to unseasonably cold weather, which put the damper on sales of new Spring merchandise. Easter’s appearance on March … [Read more...]
AAFA Updates Restricted Substances List
April 4, 2013 by
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has released an updated version of its Restricted Substances List that reflects new EU chemicals regulations, among other international and state changes. The list helps firms manufacturing footwear, apparel, travel goods, home textiles, and other fashion accessories manage the chemicals they use by providing them with information about … [Read more...]
Guest Editorial: Tommy Horton. Volatility May Be Theme Of 2013 Cotton Crop
April 4, 2013 by
Guest editorials are a new feature at Sourcing Journal. We hope they bring you valuable information and an interesting reading experience. If you are interested in writing a guest editorial, or if you wish to contact the author, please email us. Tommy Horton is the editor of Cotton Farming Magazine. He has edited the magazine for 14 years, and he also worked in the communications department of … [Read more...]
H&M to Enter New U.S. Territory, Over 40 New Stores in 2013
April 3, 2013 by
Expect an “aggressive push” from H&M in 2013. Riding high on the success of its 269 U.S. stores, the Swedish fast fashion retailer will open more than 40 new stores in the states, revamp current U.S. locations, enhance its online shopping platform, and send catalogues to millions of potential customers. Unlike some of its European peers, the chain won’t be confining its new stores to … [Read more...]
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