Upscale legacy brands have a challenge when it comes to technology. How do you blend future-facing digital strategy with the timelessness of luxury? How do you balance exclusivity with digital-first accessibility? And how do you integrate omnichannel innovation into personalization, as well as the in-store experience? Here, Lauren Parker, director …

The political will toward sustainability is constantly shifting, and with the official exit from the Paris Agreement and a ‘drill, baby drill’ fossil fuel mentality, things are moving in another direction. This has created a climate of uncertainty for eco-minded businesses seeking support from government sustainability requirements. That said, the …

What if you could find a system that maximized luck and generated outsized returns? A method based on decision science that led you to make better choices - in both your business and personal life. That’s exactly what Daniel Kang did. He learned how to use asymmetric bets to win scholarships that paid for his education, as well as to raise millions…

Lately, tariffs have become the most powerful word in the world. They are moving stock markets, upending longstanding international trade agreements, and evoking lots of confusion—and emotion—across industries. Sourcing Journal recently released its annual State of the Industry Sourcing Report, and one thing is clear: tariff turmoil has gripped the…

Roughly half the world’s zippers and fasteners come from YKK, totaling an astounding 10 billion zippers in 2024 alone. And at such scale, these little parts have big impacts. That’s why YKK has doubled down on sustainability, from recycled materials and zipper slides that can carry data-carrying digital product passports (DPPs) to new material inno…

In the mere year and a half since it launched, Reju has already made substantial progress on its path toward scaling recycled polyester production. Last October, the textile-to-textile regeneration firm opened its first operational plant that will start deliveries this year, and it is not stopping there. With textile industry experts at the helm—in…

Change, obstacles and opportunity sum up the state of supply chains in 2025. And while logistics are tumultuous under the best of circumstances—let alone during fiery geopolitics and a new president determined to remake the trade landscape—there's plenty of optimism and energy on many fronts. Sourcing Journal just released its 2025 Logistics Report…

2025 has gotten off to what might generously be described as an ‘uncertain start’. The one thing people want right now is clarity. Or at least some idea of what might be the next impact on supply chains. One of the most consistent issues facing sourcing directors and supply chain managers has been logistics. After years of unprecedented disruptions…

Almost everyone in a senior leadership position these days feels the pressure of a business environment that has become increasingly uncertain. At the same time, the pressure to drive both growth and profitability has never been more intense. The pain is being felt by large-scale organizations, as well as start ups as the market becomes much less f…

Many brands are starting to wonder if China might no longer be the hot market for luxury brands that it used to be. After years of disappointing sales growth, some brands are turning their attention away from China and towards markets which they think might be the next big thing. While the China market has certainly faced challenges, the are still …

Listen to this podcast to discover what the fashion industry is up against in 2025 and how companies can effectively navigate an unpredictable supply chain landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sourcing Journal

Fast fashion has always been competitive but in recent years its become a speed-driven race to the bottom. No matter how low prices are today, some new player will enter the market - with even lower prices - and more styles! In the midst of this chaos, UK supermarkets have carved out a solid business selling budget priced fashion. Yes, fashion. Not…

Typically older generations complain that young people don’t work as hard as they did when they were that age. However that narrative does seem to carry some truth these days. Suddenly it seems that Gen Z and even younger Millennials are disengaged with the working world. From ‘Quiet Quitting’ to seemingly lacking ambition, what’s happened to the e…

How effectively can you verify your sustainability claims and results? This question is becoming more imperative as the industry is now being held to higher standards to report and communicate their environmental impact. To meet these demands, companies need data. In 2020, the U.S. Cotton TrustProtocol was developed to collect and share farm-level …

As a new administration takes office in the United States, the retail industry is watching what will happen with trade. While tariffs could hike the import price of finished goods, they would also have an impact on the cotton market. Any trade conflicts with China could disrupt a key export destination for U.S.-grown cotton if China pushes back wit…

Sourcing Journal turned 15 this year, so there was a lot to celebrate at its annual Fall Summit held in New York this November. The event tackled trade issues and industry turmoil, not to mention Trump's proposed tariffs, which were particularly top of mind as the event occurred just days after the election. In this episode, Lauren Parker, Director…

In a fast paced, complex business environment decision making has become increasingly difficult. We want to make good decisions. We’re told we need to make faster decisions. But often we end up in ‘analysis paralysis’. Caught between analyzing endless data, including inputs from a vast range of participants, and often trying to please too many mast…

ESPR is one of the most comprehensive sustainability regulations so far in the world. Min Zhu of testing, inspection and certification company SGS chats with Lauren Parker of SJ and Fairchild Studios to offer insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sourcing Journal

In this fireside chat, Andre Claudio, staff writer, strategic content at Sourcing Journal, chats with Kendall Becker, fashion and editorial strategy director at Trendalytics, about how the retail intelligence platform is leveraging this technology to help retailers make more profitable, data-driven decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

In this fireside chat, Lauren Parker, director of Sourcing Journal and Fairchild Studios, chats with Kelly West, manager of business development for North America of Trimco Group (based in the U.S.), and Claire Piccinno, sustainability advisor and ProductDNA team leader of Trimco Group (based in France) to get a global perspective on this evolving …

When people talk about PTSD we usually think of returning military veterans or survivors of catastrophic events. Yet many other people suffer from stress-related issues that are not unlike PTSD. Terry Earthwind Nichols, is a bestselling author and father of Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression, a methodology that helps people decrease anxiety, f…

In this podcast, Glenn Taylor, logistics editor at Sourcing Journal, and Cayce Roy, founder and CEO of Standvast, discuss how the company is shaping the future of order fulfillment through its innovative technology and services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sourcing Journal

Kate Nishimura of Sourcing Journal chats with Lauren Parker of Fairchild Studio about what Trump's next presidency could means for apparel, footwear, textiles and retail when it comes to tariffs, trade and taxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Sourcing Journal

Automation holds immense potential for the product development process. Moving rote tasks from humans to artificial intelligence allows teams to focus their energy on the creative aspects of the job. It also streamlines the workflow, reducing samples and iterations, which in turn boosts efficiency and reduces waste. “You’re… ultimately shifting tea…

Combatting climate change has become a top target for the fashion industry, but reaching carbon-cutting targets will require action across the entire supply chain. In September 2022, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was named the lead recipient of the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, receiving funding and recognition as part of the USDA’s Partnersh…

To see how the fashion industry is faring regarding sustainability, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studios, sat down with Peter Sadera, editor-in-chief, Sourcing Journal, to discuss the positives pushing things forward, as well as the obstacles blocking more progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

In this fireside chat for business hub Retail Rx, Tim Anderson, senior business leader and executive vice president, Hilco Valuation Services, explains to Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, how retailers and brands must evaluate their respective brick-and-mortar and digital channels—individually and collectively—to ensure overall omnichanne…

Everyone wants to build a brand. But few people actually know how. For most, a brand is a logo and a vague mission statement - and little more. And you can really blame them. Creating a unique brand identity - and articulating it so that others (ideally customers) understand what you stand for - is a lot bigger undertaking than it seems. I'm Jane S…

AI has become one of the most talked about technologies. A lot of the hype makes AI seem like a magic wand that can do anything or an evil demon that will leave massive numbers of people without jobs. While it's unlikely, at least for now, that these extreme cases are true, there is little doubt that AI is a technology we need to understand. For mo…

In this episode, Alex Harrell, Sourcing Journal staff reporter, discusses the gains and obstacles in the exciting world of alt materials. Download the Material Innovation Report to learn: What’s next for Renewcell, rebranded Circulose under its new private equity owner How Under Armour is pushing the envelope with its new Neolast fiber What Ganni’s…