Industry News | 7/3/24
Updated: Jul 25
This $12.98 Walmart T-shirt Could Change the Fashion Industry
Fast Company | July 3, 2024
Happy (almost) 4th of July, everyone! Here's a great story to kick off your Independence Day celebrations. Walmart has partnered with American Giant to bring U.S.-made apparel to millions. The collaboration will launch by offering a 100% American-made t-shirt for the 4th of July holiday for $12.98. "This partnership with Walmart is pivotal, proving that we can produce high-quality American-made goods at competitive prices and inspire others to follow suit,” said Bayard Winthrop, founder and CEO of American Giant in an interview. A combination of patriotic duty, economic pragmatism, and a deep belief in the potential of American workers drives Winthrop’s advocacy for U.S. apparel manufacturing. American Giant’s efforts aim to create sustainable, high-quality jobs and demonstrate that domestic manufacturing can compete on a global scale. Check out additional coverage here and here.
Event Announcement: N.C. State Wilson College of Textiles To Host 2024 AI in the Textile and Fashion Industries
Announcement | July 3, 2024
Following Techtextil North America 2024 (August 20-22, 2024 in Raleigh, N.C.), the N.C. State Wilson College of Textiles will be hosting a one-day conference titled: 2024 AI in the Textile and Fashion Industries. The event will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions, offering attendees invaluable insights into the ways AI is driving efficiency, fostering business growth, promoting sustainability, and enhancing consumer engagement. Register here.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Attendees Give SEAMS Spring Networking Conference High Marks
eTextileCommunications | July 3, 2024
Shout out to one of our favorite industry associations out there! In addition to hosting a successful Spring Networking Conference, SEAMS will also be hosting its 2024 Annual Networking Conference, September 11-13, 2024 in Mobile, Alabama. You can learn more about that event here.
California Advances Landmark Textile Recycling Bill
Fibre2Fashion | July 3, 2024
Senate Bill 707 (SB 707), a pioneering textile-recycling bill introduced by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), has successfully passed the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee with a 9-3 vote. Known as the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, this legislation establishes a comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program that will require producers to implement and fund initiatives aimed at facilitating the reuse, repair, and recycling of clothing and textile fibers. Here you can read the official announcement from Senator Newman's office regarding the bill's recent passage.
Euratex President Outlines Aims for ‘World-Leading’ European Textile Sector
Just Style | July 3, 2024
Just Style catches up with new Euratex president Mario Jorge Machado who is quite clear on his ambitions for the European textile industry under his leadership: to level the playing field and make it more competitive globally. Click the link below (and subscribe to Just Style!) to see the full interview.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | What Does Porsche Have in Common with Furniture Manufacturers? A Need for Speed
Furniture Today | July 3, 2024
Earlier this summer, Lectra invited a group of furniture manufacturers and representatives from Porsche to its company headquarters for an invitation-only event designed to showcase Lectra's Valia Furniture digital platform. The event offered in-depth information about Valia and the platform’s capacity to increase customization production speed to market. The unique automotive-meets-furniture approach supported Lectra’s strategy of helping manufacturers grow through technological advances and culminated with a ride in a Porsche at evening’s end.
Switzerland, China Sign MoU To Start Negotiations on Upgrading FTA
Fibre2Fashion | July 3, 2024
Switzerland and China recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to officially start negotiations for upgrading the Sino-Swiss Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as soon as possible, the latter’s commerce ministry said. China is Switzerland's third-largest trading partner, while the latter is the former’s sixth-largest in Europe.
Traceability Platform TrusTrace Upgrades Forced Labor Screening
Supply Chain Dive | July 2, 2024
The tool uses AI to create a chain of custody and document collection, and collects primary data from suppliers about facilities, products and materials. This drives speed, accuracy and cost savings and reduces “the likelihood of human error” in manual processes, TrusTrace said.
IAF President Cem Altan Speaks to Structural Issues Within Fashion Supply Chain
Sourcing Journal | July 2, 2024
Now in his second term as president of the International Apparel Federation (IAF), 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.
K3 Enhances Microsoft D365 for Fashion and Apparel Brands
Fibre2Fashion | July 2, 2024
We always like keeping up with the cool things Kimberly Morgan and her team at K3 are doing. Check out how generative AI in fashion is advancing with K3 and Microsoft Dynamics 365 — integrating AI tools like Microsoft Copilot — to revolutionize product management and operations. K3's AI-enabled product description generator, embedded in Dynamics 365, automates the creation of detailed, multilingual product descriptions, enhancing efficiency for fashion brands.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | SourceAmerica Celebrates 50 Years of Empowering Individuals with Disabilities Through Employment Opportunities
Press Release | June 26, 2024
"SourceAmerica has played a vital role over the past five decades in helping employ America's most underutilized workforce, people with disabilities, and we are committed to continuing our work to create meaningful, well-paying jobs through our national network of AbilityOne providers," said Richard Belden, president and CEO of SourceAmerica. "We celebrate this milestone while looking forward to the day when there is a level playing field where anyone with a disability who wants to work has the opportunity to do so."
Report: 90% of Global Companies Miss Mark on Human Rights, Ethical Conduct
Sourcing Journal | July 2, 2024
According to the World Benchmarking Alliance’s (WBA) first social benchmark study, 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. “These are systemic issues,” WBA social transformation lead Namit Agarwal told Sourcing Journal. Only about 10 percent of companies that were assessed performed decently in the group’s measurement areas. “When we look at issues at a systems level, there’s a role for policy, for civil society organizations, for investors and businesses to come together and address this,” he explained.
Explainer: First U.S. Presidency Debate Adds to Apparel Sector Uncertainty
Just Style | July 1, 2024
Following current president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump's first televised presidential candidate debate, apparel experts tell Just Style exclusively what a win for either candidate would mean for the apparel sector moving forward. You can also check out more analysis from Sourcing Journal here.
Delta Apparel Files for Bankruptcy, Inks Deal To Sell Salt Life
Wall Street Journal | July 1, 2024
Delta Apparel has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy with a deal to sell certain assets related to its Salt Life branded products for about $28 million to FCM Saltwater Holdings, which will act as the stalking-horse bidder.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Merrow Manufacturing Introduces Pioneering Large Format Soft Good Manufacturing
Press Release | June 21, 2024
Merrow Manufacturing recently announced the launch of its large format soft good manufacturing services, designed specifically for Department of Defense, Oil & Gas, and Industrial programs. “At Merrow Manufacturing, we continually strive to push the boundaries of what is possible in technical soft good production,” said Owen Merrow, President of Merrow Manufacturing. “Our new large format manufacturing services are designed to meet the growing demand for large-scale, high-quality textile products, providing our clients with unmatched precision and efficiency.” Merrow Sewing Machine Company is a member of SPESA.
Artistic Milliners Is Scaling 3D Assets and Renewably Energy
Rivet | June 28, 2024
The Karachi, Pakistan-based vertically integrated denim manufacturer teamed with Vizoo, a German provider of material scanning and digitization solutions, to speed up sample production and to improve the quality of its 3D assets. Artistic Milliners implemented Vizoo’s material digitization technologies at its Pakistani headquarters in 2022. Using a combination of Vizoo’s xTex A4 scanner for visual properties and physX Platform for fabric drape properties, the manufacturer is creating accurate digital twins that are compatible with Browzwear’s apparel CAD software, VStitcher, and CLO’s 3D fashion design software.
Pingree Leads First-Ever Congressional Effort To Rein In Fast Fashion with Launch of Slow Fashion Caucus
Press Release | June 27, 2024
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), ranking member of the House Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee, alongside Reps. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), announced the first-ever Congressional Slow Fashion Caucus to curb fast fashion pollution through climate-smart policies. The Members were joined by sustainable fashion industry leaders and stakeholders, including Patagonia, thredUp, the Garment Worker Center, and more for the launch event and press conference on Capitol Hill. (Humble brag: we had the pleasure of hearing from the Garment Worker Center during SPESA's 2024 Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference back in April. You can read more about that event here).
Ikea Could Move More Production to the Americas Amid Red Sea Disruptions
Sourcing Journal | June 21, 2024
Ikea is contemplating moving more of its production closer to the U.S. amid disruptions to global trade, namely the ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Moving goods production continues to be a priority for more businesses as brands remain concerned about the geopolitical landscape, and more recently, customs violations. According to Qima’s 2024 Sourcing Survey, 54 percent of businesses in the U.S. and 50 percent in the E.U. say nearshoring and reshoring are a part of their 2024 supply chain strategy. Check out additional coverage from the Financial Times here.
Pleneri Opens Innovation Center at the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover
Press Release | June 21, 2024
Pleneri’s CEO, Matt Padberg, expressed his enthusiasm for the move, stating, “We are thrilled to establish our Innovation Center at the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover. This move not only aligns with our strategic goals but also places us in a prime geographic location within the US textiles industry. The resources and support available at MSC will undoubtedly accelerate our innovation and growth.”
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