Shapewear has typically been associated with synthetic fibers, but a recent launch from Spanx is proving natural materials have a place in the category.Based on consumer feedback, Spanx set out to create shaping garments using natural fibers, and it landed on long-staple Supima cotton as the base material. The SpanxShape Invisible Supima Cotton collection combines Supima’s natural inherent benefits with targeted stretch and hold from Lycra FitSense. The result is lightweight, breathable, moistur...
May 31, 2025•13 min
Big Business is rapidly embracing technology, but at what cost? Can robots and AI can make the fashion industry smarter, faster, better—without sacrificing humanity? Sourcing Journal's business reporter/tech editor Meghan Hall chats with Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, about the symbiotic relationship between man and machine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28, 2025•13 min
Diversification has quickly turned from “nice to have” to “need to have” as an escalating trade war between the U.S. and China has made the industry’s number one manufacturing destination a more expensive choice. In a challenging climate, brands are also becoming more risk averse, and a broader sourcing map that goes beyond the “China plus one” strategy helps to hedge against headwinds. “The importance of diversification—and not just to one other area plus China, but to many other geographical l...
May 09, 2025•12 min
Talk about tariffs has been filling newspapers, websites, airwaves, boardrooms, factory floors and dinner tables for a while, but reality is just starting to sink in now. What are the true costs of tariffs, and who is going to be paying for them? Ian Fredericks, president and CEO of Hilco Consumer-Retail, chats with Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, about how tariff worries — real and perceived — are affecting shopping behavior, inventory and pricing, and what companies can do to prepar...
May 01, 2025•37 min
Geopolitical upheaval. Tariffs and trade wars. Inflation. Sustainability concerns. Changing buying patterns. As the list of disruptions and demands that the industry must consider when sourcing goods keeps growing, one strategy has become a top priority: diversification. “The retailers and the brands are looking for multiple countries of origin and mitigating their risk by making sure that their productions are spread across different regions,” said Masooma Zaidi, vice president sales and mercha...
May 01, 2025•18 min
Upscale legacy brands have a challenge when it comes to technology. How do you blend future-facing digital strategy with the timelessness of luxury? How do you balance exclusivity with digital-first accessibility? And how do you integrate omnichannel innovation into personalization, as well as the in-store experience? Here, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, chats with Yang Lu, the chief information officer at Tapestry, to learn how Tapestry is approaching luxury in this digital age. L...
Apr 10, 2025•22 min
The political will toward sustainability is constantly shifting, and with the official exit from the Paris Agreement and a ‘drill, baby drill’ fossil fuel mentality, things are moving in another direction. This has created a climate of uncertainty for eco-minded businesses seeking support from government sustainability requirements. That said, the underlying drivers of a sustainable future—innovation, tapping into cost-efficient renewable energy, and consumer demand for ethical practices—remain ...
Mar 31, 2025•21 min
Lately, tariffs have become the most powerful word in the world. They are moving stock markets, upending longstanding international trade agreements, and evoking lots of confusion—and emotion—across industries. Sourcing Journal recently released its annual State of the Industry Sourcing Report, and one thing is clear: tariff turmoil has gripped the fashion sector. In this episode, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, chats with Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal’s features editor and resid...
Mar 18, 2025•17 min
Roughly half the world’s zippers and fasteners come from YKK, totaling an astounding 10 billion zippers in 2024 alone. And at such scale, these little parts have big impacts. That’s why YKK has doubled down on sustainability, from recycled materials and zipper slides that can carry data-carrying digital product passports (DPPs) to new material innovations that allow for circularity. In this episode, Lauren Parker, director, SJ and Fairchild Studios, chats with Brian La Plante, senior manager, su...
Mar 17, 2025•16 min
In the mere year and a half since it launched, Reju has already made substantial progress on its path toward scaling recycled polyester production. Last October, the textile-to-textile regeneration firm opened its first operational plant that will start deliveries this year, and it is not stopping there. With textile industry experts at the helm—including former Under Armour chief executive Patrik Frisk as CEO—and IBM-developed technology underpinning its chemistry, Reju is on a mission to fully...
Mar 06, 2025•11 min
Change, obstacles and opportunity sum up the state of supply chains in 2025. And while logistics are tumultuous under the best of circumstances—let alone during fiery geopolitics and a new president determined to remake the trade landscape—there's plenty of optimism and energy on many fronts. Sourcing Journal just released its 2025 Logistics Report, which brings you the latest logistics news, from automation to mergers and acquisitions. In this episode, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studi...
Feb 19, 2025•19 min
Listen to this podcast to discover what the fashion industry is up against in 2025 and how companies can effectively navigate an unpredictable supply chain landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2025•17 min
How effectively can you verify your sustainability claims and results? This question is becoming more imperative as the industry is now being held to higher standards to report and communicate their environmental impact. To meet these demands, companies need data. In 2020, the U.S. Cotton TrustProtocol was developed to collect and share farm-level data on six key metrics, providing participating brands and retailers with more insights into the profile of their cotton. “Those metrics are the over...
Dec 19, 2024•12 min
As a new administration takes office in the United States, the retail industry is watching what will happen with trade. While tariffs could hike the import price of finished goods, they would also have an impact on the cotton market. Any trade conflicts with China could disrupt a key export destination for U.S.-grown cotton if China pushes back with its own tariffs, as it did in 2018. “China just didn't take our increases…sitting down,” said Jon Devine, senior economist at Cotton Incorporated. “...
Dec 18, 2024•10 min
Sourcing Journal turned 15 this year, so there was a lot to celebrate at its annual Fall Summit held in New York this November. The event tackled trade issues and industry turmoil, not to mention Trump's proposed tariffs, which were particularly top of mind as the event occurred just days after the election. In this episode, Lauren Parker, Director of SJ and Fairchild Studios chats with Peter Sadera, Sourcing Journal's editor in chief, about event highlights and its accompanying Companion Report...
Dec 09, 2024•15 min
ESPR is one of the most comprehensive sustainability regulations so far in the world. Min Zhu of testing, inspection and certification company SGS chats with Lauren Parker of SJ and Fairchild Studios to offer insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2024•14 min
In this fireside chat, Andre Claudio, staff writer, strategic content at Sourcing Journal, chats with Kendall Becker, fashion and editorial strategy director at Trendalytics, about how the retail intelligence platform is leveraging this technology to help retailers make more profitable, data-driven decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2024•15 min
In this fireside chat, Lauren Parker, director of Sourcing Journal and Fairchild Studios, chats with Kelly West, manager of business development for North America of Trimco Group (based in the U.S.), and Claire Piccinno, sustainability advisor and ProductDNA team leader of Trimco Group (based in France) to get a global perspective on this evolving issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2024•18 min
In this podcast, Glenn Taylor, logistics editor at Sourcing Journal, and Cayce Roy, founder and CEO of Standvast, discuss how the company is shaping the future of order fulfillment through its innovative technology and services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2024•11 min
Kate Nishimura of Sourcing Journal chats with Lauren Parker of Fairchild Studio about what Trump's next presidency could means for apparel, footwear, textiles and retail when it comes to tariffs, trade and taxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 07, 2024•19 min
Automation holds immense potential for the product development process. Moving rote tasks from humans to artificial intelligence allows teams to focus their energy on the creative aspects of the job. It also streamlines the workflow, reducing samples and iterations, which in turn boosts efficiency and reduces waste. “You’re… ultimately shifting teams from firefighting to adding value and helping businesses become more agile [and] creative while still being sustainable,” said Kristen Ohlsson, hea...
Nov 07, 2024•15 min
Combatting climate change has become a top target for the fashion industry, but reaching carbon-cutting targets will require action across the entire supply chain. In September 2022, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was named the lead recipient of the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, receiving funding and recognition as part of the USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities pilot projects to support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help brands and retailers report against Sco...
Oct 30, 2024•12 min
To see how the fashion industry is faring regarding sustainability, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studios, sat down with Peter Sadera, editor-in-chief, Sourcing Journal, to discuss the positives pushing things forward, as well as the obstacles blocking more progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 03, 2024•19 min
In this fireside chat for business hub Retail Rx, Tim Anderson, senior business leader and executive vice president, Hilco Valuation Services, explains to Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, how retailers and brands must evaluate their respective brick-and-mortar and digital channels—individually and collectively—to ensure overall omnichannel success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19, 2024•25 min
In this episode, Alex Harrell, Sourcing Journal staff reporter, discusses the gains and obstacles in the exciting world of alt materials. Download the Material Innovation Report to learn: What’s next for Renewcell, rebranded Circulose under its new private equity owner How Under Armour is pushing the envelope with its new Neolast fiber What Ganni’s playbook, “How to Get Started Creating a Sustainable Business,” can teach startups and existing businesses alike How textile-to-textile recycler Ambe...
Aug 13, 2024•14 min
In this episode, Lizzie Kroeze, director of product development and marketing for the EU and UK at AGI Denim, chats with Angela Velasquez, executive editor at Rivet about its upgraded operations. The vertically integrated B Corp manages the entire production process, from yarn spinning and fabric weaving to garment sewing and finishing. In addition, earlier this year AGI Denim launched The Agency, an in-house creative service offering a range of tools to clients, including trend decks, fit catal...
Aug 08, 2024•11 min
Far from some distant sci-fi fantasy, artificial intelligence has made its way into all aspects of our lives, and the fashion industry is no exception. In this podcast, Sourcing Journal business reporter and tech editor Meghan Hall joins Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, to discuss the SJ x WWD Tech Report: The Artificial Intelligence Issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2024•18 min
Since synthetic materials came on the scene almost a century ago, they have grown to become the most popular choice for apparel. But the prevalence of polyester and other polymer-based fibers has come with a tiny yet pervasive problem: microplastics. Textiles are a key contributor to microplastic pollution, as tiny plastic particles break off and enter the air and water, posing harms to humans and other living things. Polyester and other synthetics are also persistent in the environment, since m...
Jul 11, 2024•13 min
In this special “Chat Box” episode, part of a series of executive spotlights for RetailRx community hub, Danielle Schmelkin, chief information officer of J.Crew Group joins Fairchild Studio Director Lauren Parker. Schmelkin discusses the shifting role of the CIO, J.Crew and Madewell’s digital transformation strategies, and sheds light on how retailers should use AI and other technologies to set themselves up for digital success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2024•25 min
In 2021, Pakistan-based manufacturer Interloop had a vision: to expand beyond the hosiery category and become a “full-family” producer. As the company grew its verticals, it established separate teams for each product type, and cross-category customers had multiple points of contact. Over the last six months, Interloop has undergone a transformation to restructure its teams by job function instead of business units. This has improved collaboration in areas like product development and boosted cu...
Jul 05, 2024•13 min
