Industry News | 8/7/25
- SPESA
- Aug 7
- 10 min read
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Join Us for the First-Ever Alphabet Soup Networking Bash at the AATCC/SEAMS Conference
Member Announcement | August 6, 2025
Building on the success of the Alphabet Soup initiative, AATCC and SEAMS are excited to announce the first-ever Alphabet Soup Networking Bash held in conjunction with a conference. This special event will take place during the upcoming AATCC/SEAMS “Fabricating the Future” Conference, happening October 5–7, 2025, at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Savannah, GA.
Click the link below to learn about the co-hosted event and how Collective member companies can receive discounted registration on the conference.
Remembering Fabio Festa
A Message from Morgan Tecnica | August 5, 2025
SPESA member Morgan Tecnica recently lost a cherished friend and colleague Fabio Festa. Fabio was just 32 years old and had been with Morgan Tecnica for over a decade. He joined the company as a young man and led warehouse operations at the “Morgan 2” facility in Via Zocco, Adro (BS).
“His loss has deeply touched all of us. We’ll remember him as a kind and humble soul, always polite and respectful, and as a hardworking, dedicated, and thoughtful professional.”
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Janice and Jason Wang Are Creating the AI RetailTech Future
The Robin Report | August 5, 2025
The Robin Report profiles SPESA member Alvanon: Alvanon, a Hong Kong-based fashion tech firm co-founded by siblings Janice and Jason Wang, has strived to harness data and leverage technology over the past 25 years. As forerunners, they have led the way to maximize the impact of innovation while minimizing the friction and constraints across solutions that impact every stage of the fashion supply chain.
EU Delays Countermeasures to U.S. Tariffs by 6 months
Supply Chain Dive | August 5, 2025
The European Union will delay the implementation of its countermeasures to U.S. tariffs — that were meant to go into effect this Thursday — by six months.
Last month, the commission approved a regulation that would have installed levies of up to 30% on a swath of U.S. goods on August 7. The measure passed days before European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland for trade negotiations. Those discussions led to a framework deal in which the U.S. agreed to lower planned tariffs on imports from the bloc from 30% to 15%. Under the pact, the bloc agreed to purchase $750 billion in U.S. energy exports and make a $600 billion investment in the country.
Trade Show Organizers Discuss Impact of Tariffs and Importance of Connecting Face-to-Face
Sourcing Journal | August 4, 2025
Trade show directors, whose job is to facilitate business between retailers and manufacturers, are seeing the impact of tariffs on their events. Here’s Christina Henderson, event director for The Running Event and Switchback: “There are so many variables in terms of product blends, manufacturing countries of origin and a company’s financial ability to weather an extended period of economic uncertainty, not to mention the almost daily change in the tariff situation,” she said.
Week in Review: Who Wins and Loses from Trump’s New Tariffs?
Just Style | August 4, 2025
President Trump's tariffs have not given any one country a true standout advantage but some regions have fared better than others.
Mexico Hikes Duties on Low-Value Goods, Dealing Another Hurdle for Shein, Temu
Sourcing Journal | August 4, 2025
The country has raised its duties for low-value shipments inbound from most countries. The new duty, which sits at 33.5% — as compared with the previous rate of 19% — applies to shipments valued at $2,500 or less, per Mexico News Now.
Items inbound to Mexico from the U.S. will be subject to a 17% duty, if the cost of the shipment sits between $50 and $117. Items worth less than $50 will stay duty free and items above $117 will be subject to the 19% duty.
A reform detailing the change posted to the Mexican government website said the change will take effect August 15.
California Retail Bodies To Form Anti-Landfill Org
AIM Group | August 2, 2025
The California Retailers Association, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, and the National Retail Federation announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly establish an independent producer responsibility organization (PRO) to collect, repair, reuse, and recycle materials after use, in compliance with Californian law.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Zund America Appoints New Managing Director
Sign of the Times | August 1, 2025
Zund America (Oak Creek, WI ) announces the appointment of Julian Bösch as new managing director at Zünd’s Milwaukee-based North American headquarters. With a strong, international background in finance, operations and strategic leadership, Bösch brings varied and valuable experience to his new role at Zund America, according to a press release.
Are Pakistan and Mexico Becoming Denim’s Top Sourcing Destinations?
SJ Denim | August 1, 2025
With tariffs shifting unpredictably and trade relationships in flux, mills are being forced to rethink sourcing and production strategies from the ground up, often without a clear sense of when, where or how steeply new duties will hit. Adding fuel to the fire, this climate of uncertainty has left suppliers scrambling to contain rising costs, manage logistical disruptions and maintain confidence in long-term planning.
Trump Revokes De Minimis Privilege for Global E-Commerce Imports
Freight Waves | July 31, 2025
The low-cost shipments were previously excluded from tariffs. Trump said suspending the trade privilege for individual parcel shipments was necessary to prevent people from using the system to evade tariffs systematically being imposed on all nations.
Ethiopia’s Garment Sector Sees 70% Surge in Women Leaders
Just Style | July 28, 2025
The Women Leadership Development Programme (WLDP), an initiative of Better Work, equips these workers with essential skills and mentorship. Better Work is a collaboration between the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Initiated in 2021, the WLDP employs a multifaceted training approach that includes classroom instruction, practical exercises, and consistent mentorship.
Browzwear Acquires AI Fashion Model Firm Lalaland
Just Style | July 28, 2025
Browzwear recently announced that it has acquired Lalaland.ai, an Amsterdam-based company specializing in AI-generated fashion models.
Levi Strauss & Co entered into a collaboration with LaLaLand.ai in 2023 to pilot its technology as a means to augment its use of human models. The initiative aims to expand the quantity and variety of models representing its products in a sustainable manner.
Veshin Factory Taps LA’s Lalaland To Scale Made-in-USA Production for Bio-Based Bags
Sourcing Journal | July 25, 2025
And now to a different Lalaland! Veshin Factory has tapped Lalaland — one of Los Angeles’ preeminent leather goods manufacturers — to provide U.S. brands with an onshore option to produce handbags and accessories.
According to Veshin Factory founder Joey Pringle, the strategic partnership represents a piece of a puzzle that has thus far been missing. Veshin’s existing client base and partners — including both brands and next-generation material innovators — have been seeking to round out an America-based supply chain.
Walmart Bets Big on AI with ‘Super Agent’ Strategy
Retail Dive | July 25, 2025
The mass retailer has quickly built AI agents across the business and is now implementing a streamlined approach, where several agents will support a larger super agent to minimize user confusion. The four super agents include: the customer-facing Sparky agent that launched in June; the partner agent Marty for suppliers, advertisers and sellers; a store-centric associate agent; and an agent for company tech developers.
Puma Inventory Headache Highlights U.S. Tariff Dilemma for Retailers
Reuters | July 25, 2025
The conflicting pressures reflect a broader challenge for retailers trying to make sure U.S. shelves are stocked for the crucial back-to-school and holiday seasons and looking to hike prices even as demand is softening.
Apparel Impact Institute Report Shows Global Fashion Emissions on the Rise
Sourcing Journal | July 24, 2025
According to new data from the Apparel Impact Institute (AII), global emissions for the apparel sector increased by 7.5% over the previous year to 944 million metric tons, or roughly 1.78% percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Textile processing remains the largest culprit, accounting for 55% of emissions, followed by material production at 22%.
You can find additional coverage here.
Denim Mills Say Clients Are Taking a More Measured Approach to Seasonal Sourcing
SJ Denim | July 24, 2025
Ongoing tariff negotiations, combined with weakening global economies and broader political disruptions, have added complexity to the traditional process of developing a new product season. As a result, mills say clients are approaching their orders with caution, prioritizing pricing clarity, supply chain stability, and value-driven sourcing.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Aptean Launches GenAI Query in AppCentral
Press Release | July 23, 2025
Aptean, a global provider of enterprise software, today announced the launch of GenAI Query, a mobile-enabled conversational intelligence feature within AppCentral, its AI-powered platform. Purpose-built to deliver real-time insights from complex business data, GenAI Query eliminates the need for dashboards, technical expertise, or delays.
Fashion Sector Fears China’s Yarn Trains Will Boost Xinjiang Cotton
Just Style | July 23, 2025
China is introducing a cotton yarn train in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to cut logistics costs for Xinjiang cotton, however fashion industry experts warn this could incentivize Chinese mills to use more Xinjiang cotton, which is allegedly made from forced labor.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | CGS Announces Corporate Restructuring; Forms Four Independent Companies to Accelerate Growth
Press Release | July 22, 2025
Computer Generated Solutions, Inc. (CGS), a global provider of software applications, enterprise learning, customer experience and business process outsourcing services, today announced that the company has restructured into four new legal entities, each designed to sharpen focus, accelerate growth, and better serve their respective markets. The newly established companies are:
Computer Generated Solutions, Inc., a technology company encompassing CGS’s applications software development arm and its market-leading BlueCherry® supply chain management platform for fashion brands, retailers, and manufacturers;
CGS Global Immersive Inc., a technology company offering artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR) and other advanced technology products that power next-gen workforce upskilling and collaboration;
CGS Global Learning Inc., a business transformation company delivering strategic consultation, programs, content, and delivery, supporting enterprise-grade corporate learning and development (L&D); and
CGS Global Technology Services Inc., encompassing CGS’s business process outsourcing teams across the globe, including the U.S., Romania, Israel; India, Chile, and Columbia. This company delivers a comprehensive array of front-, middle-, and back-office solutions that empower clients across industries to focus on their own growth-driving key competencies.
Here’s How an Intellectual Property-Focused AI Bill Could Affect Brands and Retailers
Sourcing Journal | July 22, 2025
Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Monday proposed the AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act, which could change the way Big Tech companies developing large language models (LLMs) are allowed to train their tools.
The bill aims to prohibit AI companies from using copyrighted works to train models without the owner’s consent; mandates transparency about how consumer data will be handled and more.
Non-Luxury Brands Lead Fashion Market in 2025 Amid Uncertainty
Just Style | July 21, 2025
The Retviews study by industry 4.0 solutions provider and SPESA member Lectra indicates non-luxury brands will lead the market in 2025 for the first time in over a decade.
Many Canadian Exports Can Avoid Trump Tariffs If CUSMA-Compliant. Here's What That Means
CBC | July 21, 2025
Canadian exporters across a wide range of industries have a way to escape U.S. President Donald Trump's blanket tariffs.
That escape hatch is compliance with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the three-way free trade deal signed by Trump back in 2018. Trade policy experts say the vast majority of Canadian exports can qualify for this exemption, and that's leading to a stampede of companies rushing to do the paperwork to get their products deemed compliant.
Nearshoring, Labor Among Key Manufacturing Trends To Watch
Supply Chain Dive | July 21, 2025
As tariffs and labor constraints shape the economic landscape, manufacturers are exploring process streamlining, domestic hiring, and nearshoring as key strategies for the rest of 2025.
For manufacturers unclear on the best way forward, experts recommend a long-term perspective — especially since such investments will carry costs beyond the year’s end.
Circularity in Fashion Is ‘Mainstream’ but Progress Slowing: Report
Fashion Dive | July 21, 2025
Circularity in fashion has made improvements over the past few years, but year-over-year progress is slowing, according to the 2025 Circular Fashion Index from Kearney. The annual report, now in its fifth year, analyzed 246 brands in 18 countries and five categories: fashion, footwear, sports, outdoor and underwear and lingerie.
Study Explores Gen AI’s Potential in Fashion Design, Trend Forecasting
Just Style | July 21, 2025
A new study conducted by researchers at Pusan National University, South Korea, has explored how generative AI models such as ChatGPT and DALL-E 3 can be used to enhance the efficiency of fashion design processes and identify both emerging and prevailing trends in the industry.
Tejidos Royo Aims To Optimize Costs with New Investment
SJ Denim | July 21, 2025
The strategic plan includes a significant investment in upgrading the company’s industrial infrastructure. Tejidos Royo is investing 13 million euros to renovate and build new industrial facilities for weaving, dyeing and finishing. The facilities will sit alongside the company’s historic spinning plant.
José Royo, president of Tejidos Royo, said the move to centralize its production is part of a cost-cutting plan to keep the 122-year-old company alive. The denim market never fully recovered from the pandemic. Additionally, Royo said “profound change” in consumer behavior and the financial landscape has made it challenging to maintain continuity and competitiveness.
'We Are on Our Knees': U.S. Tariffs Devastate Lesotho's Garment Workers
NPR | July 20, 2025
If the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) isn’t renewed in September, the entire garment industry could cease to exist, the government has said. It doesn’t help that U.S. foreign aid cuts have “crippled industries that previously sustained thousands of jobs,” as Prime Minister Samuel Matekane said on TV last month.
You can find additional coverage on the industry in Lesotho here. News about the tariff impact for Cambodian garment workers can be found here.
Li & Fung Acquires U.K.-based Orrsum, Leader in Hosiery, Loungewear and Underwear
Sourcing Journal | July 18, 2025
“This acquisition marks a significant step in accelerating our growth strategy,” said Destan Bezmen, president of LF Europe. “By combining Orrsum’s category leadership and product development capabilities with Li & Fung’s digital infrastructure and global reach, we are scaling high-demand categories, broadening our customer offering, and driving faster, more flexible execution across markets.”
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