The apparel sector may have moved on from the pandemic but uncertainty remains in the air with recession and concerns over pay throughout the supply chain all bubbling beneath the surface.

It’s now over three years since the Covid pandemic swept across the world causing disruption like we’ve never seen before. But despite the fact life looks completely back to normal and ‘rosy’ on the surface, the state of the apparel sector right now indicates the world and the supply chain still hasn’t found its ‘new normal’.

US apparel imports hit a new low due to the weakened economy in the first two months of 2023, according to Professor Sheng Lu’s analysis of the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) data. And despite China completely reopening its doors earlier this year, concerns over forced labour and the risks of being too overly reliant on one sourcing destination means US fashion companies are still shifting the types of products they import from China. 

Apparel continues to be grappled by uncertainty

To put it frankly, the global supply chain as we know it is still sitting on shaky ground with even port workers in the US withholding their labour.

You know there’s a big problem when the National Retail Federation along with 238 states, local and federal trade associations have to write to the US President urging to help the negotiating parties in LA, Long Beach reach a new agreement quickly.

And retail stores need these apparel goods to arrive now more now than ever to ensure there is a big enough choice to spark the interest of their customers who are plagued with higher bills and rising inflation.

It’s not just the US that is struggling, in the UK most public services are disrupted on a monthly, weekly and sometimes daily basis due to concerns over pay and working hours – this includes transport, which is vital to get customers into apparel retail stores.

It’s got to the point where strikes have become the norm but we cannot forget these issues over pay mean the apparel sector can’t be surprised when their faithful customers choose not to spend their hard earned pennies on a new outfit or pair of shoes.

In fact, apparel retailer Superdry had to admit defeat last week and revise its annual profit outlook for FY23 after its sales in February and March missed expectations. The company blamed it on the cost of living crisis and poor weather driving down demand.

Revising a financial outlook is one thing, but that doesn’t deal with the bigger problem. Is it now time for all global apparel companies and everyone working within the supply chain to consider what really needs to change to get the sector and indeed the entire world moving again?

By Just Style