Altering apparel supply chains?

Made in the USA

Many American consumers favor Made in the USA products and are willing to pay a premium for them, according to a survey by Consumer Reports, but apparel insiders see high prices, limitations in fabric options, and a shortage of skilled labor as disadvantages to domestic sourcing. On the other hand, some industry and technology developments could militate in favor of more on-shore or near-shore sourcing options. Those include demands for speedy procurements and deliveries, the drive to reduce inventories by producing smaller batches, and the application of hi-tech solutions to apparel manufacturing.

“Smaller batches lower inventory levels and total cost,” said Harry Moser, president of the Reshoring Initiative. “Increased flexibility offers mass customization, easier style changes, and speed to market for faster fashion.”

Buck Mason, a 2013 menswear startup, chose to manufacture shirts and jeans in Los Angeles, completing their first batch of t-shirts for what it would have cost to travel overseas to research offshore options. According to Moser, the company “determined that close proximity made production easier to manage.”