Page 101 - Inbound Logistics | April 2017 | Digital Issue

Stepping Out in Style

Apparel Logistics:

Brand owners

and retailers try
refashioned supply

chains on for size.

By Merrill Douglas

eset in 2016 by global turmoil and economic
uncertainty, the $2.4- trillion global fashion indus-
B try looks ready to recover in 2017, according to a
McKinsey and Company report.
In 2016, the apparel market suffered from tremors such as the
terrorist attacks in France, the vote for Brexit in the UK, and the ups
and downs of the Chinese stock market, says The State of Fashion 2017.
At the same time, fashion companies raced to keep up with an ever-more
demanding customer base, and with technology that continuously remakes
the way we shop.
Some apparel industry trends, such as “fast fashion” and the market for “ath-
leisure wear,” have been developing for several years. Other movements that are
making an impact include customized apparel, e-commerce consignment, merging
e-commerce with brick-and-mortar showrooms, and a push for more environmentally
sustainable business models.
Each trend brings its own supply chain challenges. How are brand owners and fashion retail-
ers responding? Let’s have a look.

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