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Sourcing Journal
Maersk CEO: Red Sea-Driven Capacity Challenges Will Persist into Q3
Expect the disruptions to container shipping in the Red Sea to linger into the third quarter, according to Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc.SC Ports Cut Deal With ILA to Reopen Leatherman Terminal The ocean freight giant is still diverting its container vessels away from the Red Sea and the neighboring Gulf of Aden, instead rerouting them around southern Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, to avoid the ongoing drone and missile attacks perpetrated by Houthi militants in Yemen. The onslaught on commercial shipping has persisted since November, forcing Maersk and chief competitors like Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), CMA CGM, Cosco Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd to...
Bob’s Stores to Close; Eastern Mountain Sports’ Future Unclear
The third go-around in Chapter 11, the so-called Chapter 33, is never a good thing.Delta Apparel Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Salt Life Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers said on Monday they are managing going-out-of-business (GOB) sales across all 21 Bob’s Stores locations. The future of retail sibling Eastern Mountain Sports remains unclear. Mountain Sports LLC filed a Chapter 11 petition in a Delaware bankruptcy court on June 18. Versa Capital Management acquired Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) in 2012, and placed the operation in its Vestis Retail Group, which included Bob’s Stores and Sport Chalet. Vestis filed its Chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy...
Denim Brands Target Traveling Consumers
Summer vacation season is in full swing. Post-pandemic wanderlust continues as 48 percent of Americans plan to take a trip this summer, according to a survey conducted by Deloitte.Advance Denim Delivers 'Targeted Stretch' with Launch of LYCRA FitSense® Technology Denim brands are making efforts to be part of that experience by launching products and promotions geared toward traveling. Frame continues to grow its Jetset franchise of “ideal travel-day jeans.” The premium lifestyle brand launched the stretch jeans in 2022, touting them as a comfort-focused solution for frequent travelers. Known for their high-stretch denim fabrics and for coming in three sizes (0-3) that...
PET Recycler Indorama Secures $200M Funding Windfall
Global sustainable chemical company Indorama Ventures has secured a $200-million loan from the International Finance Corporation to fund sustainability initiatives in India, Indonesia and Thailand. The funding will help Indorama reach its goal of promoting a circular economy as a leader in global polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling, the group said.Constructor Raises $25 Million for AI-Powered Search and Discovery IFC, which is a member of the World Bank Group focused on private-sector development in emerging markets, approved the seven-year loan to allow Indorama to boost a number of sustainability programs aimed at PET recycling. Bangkok-based Indorama will use the funds to enhance...
SC Ports Cut Deal With ILA to Reopen Leatherman Terminal
The Port of Charleston’s newest terminal finally expects to welcome container vessels three years after the carriers began avoiding the gateway due to a major labor dispute.US Ports, Terminals Call on USTR Tai to Reconsider 25% Tariffs on China-Made Cranes The South Carolina Ports Authority has reached an agreement with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) that will make way for the full reopening of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal. The ports’ board of directors voted unanimously in support of the agreement. “SC Ports and ILA proudly announce that after productive and collaborative conversations, we have mutually developed and agreed to the framework...
Boohoo Unveils Influencer-Centric Shopping Initiative with LoudCrowd
Boohoo is elevating its social commerce strategy with a new initiative that leverages the power of influencers.Boohoo Caused 'Significant Harm' to Investors Amid Sweatshop Scandal, Lawsuit Claims Yesterday, the British fast-fashion juggernaut announced the Boohoo Collective, an initiative designed to “redefine social commerce” by integrating thousands of creators into the shopping experience on its website. Created in partnership with software development company LoudCrowd, the program will allow creators to create personal pages on Boohoo.com to curate their favorite products and feature their shoppable TikTok and Instagram content for their followers, Boohoo noted. Once creators build their page, they can share it—along with discount...
Texworld NYC’s International Pavilions Highlight Global Textiles and Manufacturing Capabilities
Texworld NYC and Apparel Sourcing NYC might be held in New York City, but the co-located global shows will be bringing attendees the world.Rohit Aggarwal to Take Over as Lenzing CEO To help attendees navigate the one-stop-shop’s global sourcing focus on July 14-16, 2024, Texworld NYC and Apparel Sourcing NYC have created numerous international pavilions, organized and manned by each country’s respective trade association. These destination areas on the show floor will present multi-exhibitor high-level overviews of each country’s heritage and artisanal skills (often dating back centuries or more), as well more modern design and manufacturing capabilities. For many of the...
Guess Inc. Secures 100 Million Euro Expansion of Credit Facility
Guess Inc. has expanded its borrowing capacity under its existing European revolving credit facility by 100 million euros.Belk Said In Talks With KKR For Financing Package The facility has now been expanded to 350 million euros ($376.2 million) from 250 million euros ($268.7 million). Guess said the interest rate for the facility is subject to an annual adjustment based on the achievement of specific sustainability goals connected to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the increased use of both sustainably-sourced materials and the company’s Guess Eco products. Guess Eco is a capsule collection that was introduced in Spring 2019....
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America Supports Military With High-Tech Textiles
Military personnel often face some of the harshest conditions on earth, from blistering desert heat to frigid mountain cold, and the clothing and gear they wear must stand up to, and protect them from, those extreme environments. Congressionally Funded Program Aims to Boost Footwear Innovation for US Troops That reality is the driving force behind a partnership between Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), which centers on harnessing technological innovation to produce better protective gear. One of the first of these advancements, the Cold Temperature Arctic Protection System, incorporates multiple layers designed to keep the...
IAF President Cem Altan Speaks to Structural Issues Within Fashion Supply Chain
Now in his second term as president of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), which has members from more than 40 countries indirectly representing more than 100,000 companies and 20 million employees across the supply chain, Cem Altan is examining the concerns being felt across the supply chain in 2024. In a conversation with Sourcing Journal, he spoke about the deepening structural problems within fashion value chains and the industry’s reinvigorated focus on solutions. Report: 90% of Global Companies Miss Mark on Human Rights, Ethical Conduct Sourcing Journal: Manufacturers are continuing to face a unique—and daunting—set of challenges in 2024. Are solutions emerging? Is your agreement with...
Analyst: Levi’s Loose Fits Could Impact Athletic Apparel Retailers
Growth in the athletic apparel market is plateauing, and it could be further impacted by a trend toward looser denim fits.Nike Cuts Guidance for 2025 Following 'Challenges' in Q4 Athletic apparel retailers such as Lululemon and Nike could be in the crosshairs, while brands like Levi Strauss & Co. could see the upsides, according to Jefferies analyst Randal J. Konik, who labeled the looser fit trend as an “under-appreciated risk” to athletic apparel retailers. Interest in wide-leg pants has grown over the past several years—so much so that Levi’s management on the company’s second-quarter earnings call named the winning trend outright. “We...
Report: 90% of Global Companies Miss Mark on Human Rights, Ethical Conduct
The vast majority of corporations are failing when it comes to ensuring human rights, ethical conduct and decent work across their operations and supply chains. Chain Reaction: Courtney Folk of Renewal Logistics on the Downsides of DIY Fulfillment In fact, 90 percent of the world’s 2,000 most influential companies are completely missing the mark on these three objectives, according to the World Benchmarking Alliance’s (WBA) first social benchmark study. The group assessed brands across the apparel, footwear, food, energy, technology and supply chain space that are responsible for 45 percent of the world’s GDP, employing 95 million people directly and hundreds of...
US Ports, Terminals Call on USTR Tai to Reconsider 25% Tariffs on China-Made Cranes
U.S. ports and terminal operators are now pushing back on the 25-percent tariff the Biden administration proposed on ship-to-shore cranes manufactured in China, citing the added cost pressures the gateways would incur that could exceed $130 million.SC Ports Cut Deal With ILA to Reopen Leatherman Terminal Ports across Houston, South Carolina, Georgia, Tampa, Virginia and New York, as well as terminals in Long Beach, Los Angeles and New Jersey, are among the parties urging U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai to reconsider the tariffs. The ship-to-shore (STS) cranes have come under scrutiny over the past year as ongoing geopolitical tensions between the...
Uyghur Rights Advocates Win Appeal, Forcing UK Crime Watchdog to Investigate China Cotton Imports
The U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA) is being compelled to revisit its decision not to open an investigation into Chinese cotton imports suspected to have been produced with forced labor.Amazon to Launch Discount Marketplace in Latest Ploy Against Shein, Temu A London court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and the Global Action Network (GLAN), late last week, deciding that NCA’s refusal to conduct a probe into Xinjiang cotton being imported into the country was unlawful. The decision comes a year after WUC and GLAN’s unsuccessful bid to have the issue investigated. Three appeals court judges overturned...
Chain Reaction: Courtney Folk of Renewal Logistics on the Downsides of DIY Fulfillment
Chain Reaction is Sourcing Journal’s discussion series with industry executives to get their take on today’s logistics challenges and learn about ways their company is working to keep the flow of goods moving. Here, Courtney Folk, founder of Renewal Logistics, discusses how the logistics company’s warehousing and fulfillment services for fashion brands help them sell more, prevent chargebacks and de-risk their businesses.IAF President Cem Altan Speaks to Structural Issues Within Fashion Supply Chain Name: Courtney FolkTitle: Founder Company: Renewal Logistics What industries do you primarily serve? We support the fashion industry, including apparel, footwear, beauty and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. Our expertise in...
Canadian Rail Workers Vote to Reauthorize Strike
After weeks of waiting, Canadian rail workers are undeterred in their desire to initiate a work stoppage.Amazon Labor Union Cements Teamsters Alliance More than 9,300 union members at Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railways voted to reauthorize strikes at both companies Friday if negotiated settlements cannot be reached. Members of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) previously voted in favor of strike action on May 1, but the 60-day time limit on the vote expired. While the initial authorization vote put forward plans for the rail workers to strike on May 22, no such action has been taken as...
Iconic 90’s Denim Moments That Still Influence the Fashion World Today
The year is 2024, but we’re still living for ’90s denim.Shuffle Board: Kering Names Brand Officer, Mango Bolsters Home Line Still fresh in the minds of millennials, the decade was full of pop cultural moments and entertainers that continue to influence fashion choices. Consumers tuned into sitcoms and music videos, picking up style cues along the way. The casualization of the workplace made it to the White House and runway models became supersized media personalities. From the normcore aesthetic unknowingly coined by standup comedians and world leaders to the hip hop artists’ big and baggy fits, here’s a look at the...
Edwin Taps Into the Beyoncé-Approved Cowboy Trend
Newly relaunched Edwin USA dropped a limited collection of women’s jeans and tops inspired by cowgirl culture and California’s ranch lifestyle.Denim Brands Get Into the Olympic Spirit “The Western Capsule embodies the sophisticated grittiness of the West—it’s sexy, beautiful, and authentic, just like the pioneering cowgirls who lead the charge,” said Suzanne Shpall, Edwin’s new brand director. The collection includes the Lark Ankle Boot Cut Jean, a mid-rise bootcut available in a soft eggshell colorway; the Elin Slim Straight Jean, a mid-rise, straight leg style that is cropped at the ankle; and the Cai Short, a relaxed, vintage-inspired cutoff style. All pieces...
Australia’s Seamless Scheme, Taxing Fast Fashion, Takes Effect
Australians, on average, purchase 56 new garments a year, with each piece selling for an average of $13 Australian dollars ($8.65), per a recent report from the independent think tank Australia Institute. That’s less than $500 spent a year despite grabbing a new frock roughly once a week, give or take. And those less-than-$10 outfits are only worn about seven times before being discarded.Members of Congress Launch Slow Fashion Caucus, Highlighting Circularity Considering Australians are the biggest clothing consumers in the world per capita, the Land Down Under has got a 300,000-ton mountain of textile waste problem mounting. That’s why the federal...
ESG Outlook: Thomasine Dolan of Material Innovation Initiative on Next-Gen Materials
ESG Outlook is Sourcing Journal’s discussion series with industry executives to get their take on their company’s latest environmental, social and governance initiatives and their own personal efforts toward sustainability. Here, Thomasine Dolan, director of material innovation + design, Material Innovation Initiative, discusses why it’s so important to support next-gen materials and influence brands to adopt them. Material World: Circ's Partners Program, AMSilk's Biofibers Beat Silk Name: Thomasine DolanTitle: Director of material innovation + designCompany: Material Innovation Initiative What do you consider your company’s best ESG-related achievement over the last 5 years? MII is a female-founded non-profit, barely 5 years old! From the beginning our mission has...
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