Sourcing Journal Radio

When it comes to who is on the hook for environmental and ethical garment production, consumers are quick to hold brands’ feet to the fire. But every design’s sustainability profile begins at the fiber level. Now, mills and spinners are under increased pressure not only to use fibers that were grown or sourced responsibly, but to prove their compliance through certifications. What’s more, eco-friendly yarns and fabrications must stand up to traditional alternatives when it comes to quality and functionality. In this fireside chat, Sourcing Journal features editor Kate Nishimura sits down with Ruth Farrell, general manager, textiles of Eastman, to talk how the company’s growing Naia™ fiber portfolio is gaining the trust of consumers, not to mention more than 50 partner brands. Watch the fireside chat to learn: ·How consumer attitudes toward sustainability have changed in the five years since Naia™ was introduced. ·The role certifications play in building trust around circularity, biodegradability, end of life, etc. and why Naia™ has partnered with TextileGenesis. ·Why sustainable fashion doesn’t have to come with compromise, and the style versatility of Naia™ in textiles. ·How brands are committing to science-based goals to push back against consumers’ greenwashing fears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virtual design has been a gamechanger in the fashion industry in streamlining sampling and speeding product creation. However, there is still room to optimize and standardize these digital tools to ensure that the image created on screen matches the eventual physical product. Taking inspiration from industries like aerospace and automotive, Clothing Tech LLC has created parametric CAD technology that enables designers to tweak garment proportions using parameters, or measurements. Clothing Tech's president Bill Wilcox spoke with Sourcing Journal features editor Kate Nishimura about what makes its Garment Digital Twin different and how standardization could evolve digital design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite how ubiquitous the term “sustainability” has become, the definition remains vague and open to individual interpretation. As consumers are seeking out lower impact products, this lack of standardization or clarity can lead to confusion. “In today’s world, sustainability means so many different things to brands and consumers,” said Marc Lewkowitz, president and CEO of Supima, the promotional organization for American pima cotton. “The consumers’ choice to go and find sustainability or what they think means sustainability is still challenging, other than generic claims. It’s hard to identify and it’s almost impossible for a consumer to know exactly what sustainability looks like in a product.” Listen to this fireside chat between Lewkowitz and Sourcing Journal founder Edward Hertzman to hear why paying for sustainability comes down to the consumer and how laws will raise the bar and onus for backing up claims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maintaining quality standards is a rudimentary business goal, but the actions taken to protect product value can have wider implications across a company. One best practice for improving quality is stronger supplier knowledge and collaboration, according to Rick Horwitch, chief of supply chain & sustainability strategy, global retail leadat Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services. Going past tier 1 and knowing every link in the chain allows companies to not only shore up standards, but also navigate disruptions. “There’s a lot of conversation now in regards to supply chain mapping as it relates to traceability,” Horwitch said. “But I would argue that is not just a traceability issue; this is now a business and sustainability issue.” Listen to this chat between Horwitch and Sarah Jones, senior editor, strategic content at Sourcing Journal, to discover the role of quality in consumer sentiment and satisfaction and why sustainability and quality go hand-in-hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to digitizing the complex apparel supply chain, the fashion industry has been slow to adapt, often because of hard-to-break manual habits. But the benefits of end-to-end digitization hits many touchpoints, including design and development, cost optimization, production planning, fabric control and shop floor execution. In this fireside chat, Lauren Parker, branded content manager of Sourcing Journal, sits down with Akash Shah, managing director of solutions provider COATS Digital to discuss this “connected technology software arm” of Coats Group, and why the fashion supply chain urgently needs a digital transformation of the fashion supply chain. Watch the fireside chat to learn: ·Why COATS Digital more recently acquired technology companies FastReact, GSD and ThreadSol and how the new “connected whole” is greater than the sum of the parts. ·How COATS Digital integrates production planning, method time-cost benchmarks and fabric optimization. ·How digitization and a connected supply chain boosts sustainability and mitigates product waste ·What is holding the fashion industry back from truly digitizing and how to reverse old-fashioned mindsets ·Why end-to-end digitization is challenges along complex supply chains, and what to focus on first Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Modern consumers demand a lot from their footwear, and that means going beyond stylish design and a comfortable construction. Shoes must perform, whether they’re made for sport and recreation or casual use, and shoppers value lightweight silhouettes that are durable and retain their shape through wear and tear. On top of all these specs, consumers also want to see brands deliver footwear that is made more sustainably. It's a tall order, and BASF chemical company has put considerable R&D into these challenges, especially for the hyper-competitive athletic footwear market where performance is a crucial and defining characteristic. Watch the fireside chat to learn: ·How BASF’s new material technologies enhance various types of footwear ·How BASF materials material complement supercritical foam technology (SFC) and how BASF was a leader in studying the technology for footwear. ·How BASF’s two proprietary materials—Elastopan and Elastollan—differ from other PU (polyurethane) or TPU (thermoplastic urethane) products in the footwear industry ·How BASF materials offer freedom of design within increasingly important 3D printing and injection molding techniques. ·How shoes made with Elastopan and Elastollan are more sustainably created and sustainable in their end of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trimco Group is a trims, labels, packaging and store decorations solutions specialist, and as a stakeholder of the brands’ supply chain, they are directly concerned by the evolution of the regulations. Trimco has developed expertise in this field and designed an industry-specific solution for global brand clients to track and trace their supply chains. With the new Product DNA digital platform and in-house compliance team, Trimco accompanies brands in their sustainability journey. Trimco's tagline “Together, We Act” underscores that commitment. Lauren Parker, branded content manager of Sourcing Journal, sat down with Camilla Mjelde, compliance and sustainability director of Trimco Group, to discuss the myriad challenges of knowing what you need to know. Watch the Fireside Chat to learn: ·How, and why, a trims, labels, and packaging company got involved with tracking and tracing, and how Trimco is in a unique position to help companies push out their messages. ·How Trimco’s three-tiered Product DNA supports brands to unlock their supply chain traceability and visibility value. ·How global brands can navigate the labyrinth of global regulations that sometimes conflict from country to country. ·The legal and social consequences of non-compliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fashion industry has increasingly embraced 3D design and digital “virtual twins” to speed up the manufacturing process, replace physical samples and save money. But the technology hasn’t always delivered when it comes to solving the industry’s biggest pain points. One serial entrepreneur who’s been reducing manufacturing costs in the automotive, aerospace and electronics industries for 40 years recently applied his expertise to the fashion industry. The resulting company is Clothing Tech LLC, and its patented product is called the Garment Digital Twin™. In this Fireside Chat, Bill Wilcox, president and founder of Clothing Tech LLC, sits down with Kate Nishimura, features editor of Sourcing Journal, to discuss the software and its many advantages, namely speed and precision. Watch the fireside chat to learn: ·The difference between designing in 3D and visualizing in 3D and why it matters ·How Clothing Tech’s Garment Digital Twin™ creates a digital definition that is instantly readable by a computer ·How more precision design significantly reduces the return rate for garments ordered via e-commerce ·How Clothing Tech’s Garment Digital Twin™ embeds the tech pack right into the pattern Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enhanced performance textiles cool you down when you’re hot, and help keep you warm when you’re cold. They also help you sleep better, perform better athletically, and stay cool and collected when it counts. Such thermoregulatory properties might sound like science fiction, but Cocona Labs developed its proprietary 37.5 Technology directly from nature. The company’s creator found he could withstand the high levels of heat in Japan’s volcanic sand baths due to a mineral that balanced heat gain and heat loss through moisture management. Fast forward to today, where the company has harnessed this technology and embedded it into textiles for apparel, footwear, bedding, home goods and more. In this Fireside Chat, Edward Hertzman, founder of Sourcing Journal, sits down with Scott Whipps, EVP global apparel, and Beth Amason, VP of fabric innovation, at Cocona Labs, the makers of 37.5 Technology. They explain how their natural mineral technology works to enhance the textiles of their brand partners, and how it also creates a more sustainable product. Watch the Fireside Chat to learn: · What the number 37.5 specifically represents in thermoregulation and how its technology can be applied to textiles · How this technology has been proven to increase athletic performance and endurance, both for professional athletes and the sports enthusiast · How 37.5 Technology is different from wicking or phase-change technology · How Cocona Labs partners with its brand partners to help them explain the technology to their consumers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of all the takeaways from the pandemic period, one of the most crucial is the value of strong partnerships. Fabric sourcing firm Concept III saw firsthand how the trials of Covid-19—from freight issues to factory closures— strengthened the working relationships along the supply chain. In its own operations, the U.S-based company was a trusted source of on-the-ground information for both brands and mills as travel slowed down. Amid factory furloughs and changing personnel, the sourcing agency also provided consistency and industry knowledge to its partners. “Because of our long-term relationships and our partners, we are able to give real, truthful, factual information that is allowing the brands to continue to evolve and do their business,” said Chris Parkes, managing partner at Concept III. In this chat with Sourcing Journal founder Edward Hertzman, Parkes explained how his company worked with brands to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and why working with an agent is smoother than dealing directly with manufacturers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices