Trump's 90-day pause on the much higher tariff rates for fashion's leading sourcing majors bar China should be used to re-evaluate sourcing strategies and priorities for 2025.

Let’s be frank – US President Donald Trump has turned fashion sourcing in 2025 on its head. The whole world knew tariffs were coming, but 145% tariffs on China? Potentially 49% tariffs on the likes of Cambodia? These jaw-droppingly high rates surely weren’t on anyone’s crystal ball.

Things have calmed down slightly as Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs have taken effect. But let’s not forget even during this short window of reduced daily headlines, all of the major fashion exporters are still faced with Trump’s minimum 10% rate.

This so-called quiet period is a prime opportunity for fashion sourcing executives and fashion suppliers alike to consider how extra cost savings could be made across the supply chain moving forward.

Boosting resilience through diversification is a tool that has been popular since before the pandemic so that is bound to continue, but maintaining a dialogue and valuing those trusted brand-supplier partnerships is even more important during times of difficulty.

All sides of the supply chain need to be kept in the conversation and included in brainstorms on how to make some cost savings without jeopardising livelihoods and fashion’s long-term quest for sustainability.

Last week, the founder and CEO of invent.ai told Just Style now is the time to use AI to make fact-based decisions on what will or won’t work. Plus, software experts informed us that PLM has officially entered its intelligence era. This means leaning in on the technological functionalities you already have at your disposal could be priceless.

Ultimately, consumer prices will need to go up and even the likes of ultra-fast fashion brands Shein and Temu have told their loyal fans to expect price rises.

This will hopefully give other brands and retailers at every end of the price spectrum the confidence to admit to customers these extra costs will have to come from somewhere.

And yes, some savings might be found within the supply chain, but if your customers care about social responsibility and sustainability – they will need to be informed that paying the extra in duties is the only way to help responsible brands, retailers and suppliers keep their standards high. 

By Just Style