All articles by Robert Antoshak

US President Trump will redefine global, national apparel strategies

The economic costs are daunting. If Trump enacts his proposed trade and fiscal policies, clothing will become more expensive in…
US apparel sector prepares farewell to de minimis loophole

The de minimis rule is on its way out and good riddance. The rule, which permits goods valued at $800…
Impact of increasing labour costs on apparel supply chains

The traditional model of global sourcing is predicated on low input costs. Indeed, to obtain the lowest possible production costs,…
Cotton’s struggle: Navigating market uncertainty, rise of synthetics

The apparel industry has long been a battleground for various fibres, each vying for dominance in a market driven by…
Is nearshoring the future for all apparel brands?

Once upon a time US clothing brands owned their manufacturing. Today, that's a rarity. In the 1970s, clothing companies saw…

China reclaims US apparel market share amid global price wars

Comparing the first four months of 2023 to the same period of 2024, US apparel imports from China jumped by…
How to walk fashion’s sustainability versus profits tightrope

As a consultant, clients ask me two questions more than any other: How do we become more environmentally sustainable, and…
What can the apparel sector learn from the Renewcell bankruptcy?

The angst among environmental advocates was palpable after Renewcell shared its bankruptcy woes with the apparel sector. Then, the finger-pointing…
New year brings old concerns for fashion industry

There are encouraging signs the market may have bottomed out last year and that we may experience some recovery from…
What the crystal ball tells us about cotton in 2024

Common sense suggests that cotton demand would pick up when prices are down, except in 2023 and potentially 2024 demand…