The apparel and footwear industry is fueled by consumers who expect instant gratification. On top of these high demands, the new administration, dramatic changes to shipping and logistics, and shifts in sourcing practices have thrown the industry a curve ball. Although it goes without being said, the apparel and footwear industry has evolved into a complex and rapidly changing environment.

Luckily, technology has been simultaneously evolving to meet and serve the needs of the industry in all its complexities. Those who are looking ahead, understand that collaboration is a critical component to minimize risk and ensure a smooth operating supply chain. They have chosen to harness global trade management solutions to alleviate the stress of their supply chains and optimize their sourcing operations in order to meet their customer’s demands through rapid speed to market and therefore secure loyalty.

It’s obvious to many that global trade enforcement is topping the list of “To Do” tasks for the new U.S. administration. However, many do not realize that this is widespread all around the world and feels a lot like a protectionist measures. President Trump is no longer just talking about aggressive action- his budget plans, formation of new task forces, and cabinet picks all echo his vow to crack down on unfair trade practices by prioritizing trade enforcement functions. In Europe, the 2017 elections could yield more of the same attitude.

In recent years, the apparel and footwear industry has shifted its global sourcing away from China to other emerging markets due to increased labor, transportation, tariffs, and other supply chain costs.

Africa has emerged as a particularly attractive manufacturing option because of the preferential treatment granted under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for eligible countries.

Every year, millions of dollars are channeled to armed rebels and insurgents and the source of these funds comes from the trade of minerals that are used in consumer goods of every type. Now known as conflict minerals, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (the 3TGs), are mined mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding nations. The eventual sale and use of minerals originating from these countries frequently helps finance the violence and prolong the illicit working economy where civilians endure harsh conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses.

When it comes to software designed to streamline supply chains, there’s old global trade management, and then there’s the new.The old school global trade management (GTM) systems automate processes that begin when shipments are ready to go, moving them from Point A to Point B in a timely manner at the lowest possible cost while ensuring complete and accurate import/export documentation for shipments. The new GTM automates processes way upstream, even at the product design and component sourcing stages, focusing on risk and quality management, while facilitating compliance with various product regulations.

A few weeks ago, we held a lively webinar with Megan Coale from Vera Bradley and Cheryl Layne from our customer success team.  We talked about the implementation of Amber Road’s solutions used by the teams at Vera Bradley to produce their iconic products.  Vera Bradley is a manufacturer of stylish quilted cotton luggage, handbags and accessories. With small-town roots in Indiana, the brand has grown to $500 million in annual sales, serving customers all around the globe.  Known for its distinctive and colorful fabrics and trims, some of the core company values that originated at Vera Bradley’s birth 20 years ago still exist – high quality products, produced by suppliers in a timely fashion, and of course, those recognizable, trend-setting fabrics.  These are the expectations of customers today, and Vera Bradley has it in the bag.

Vera Bradley is a leading designer of women's handbags, luggage and travel items, fashion and home accessories and unique gifts. Founded in 1982, the brand's innovative designs, iconic patterns and brilliant colors inspire and connect women unlike any other brand in the global marketplace. To ensure high quality products that continue to exceed customers' expectations, Vera Bradley leverages Amber Road’s Supply Chain Collaboration solutions.

An unusual rainy start didn’t stop the lively discussions and informative sessions on trade issues, compliance challenges, and customs solutions at FDRA’s Footwear Trade and Distribution Conference (FTDC) last week in Huntington Beach. Nearly 200 of the industry’s top footwear executives, traffic and distribution specialists, customs experts, and service providers joined the longest running U.S. footwear conference on October 16-19. Companies on stage and in the audience included Caleres, Deer Stags, Amer Sports, KEEN, NIKE, Kohl’s, and others.

Despite the increasing number of unexpected supply chain vulnerabilities and disruptions, many companies are failing to address these challenges. With many brand organizations and retailers relying on outsourced manufacturing, these complexities have become more evident, and in many cases, hinder companies’ ability to build quality products quickly and deliver them to their consumer base efficiently. So how do you overcome these complexities? The answer lies in interconnecting product lifecycle management (PLM) and supply chain teams.

Today’s consumers expect accurate and detailed product information at the point of sale to ensure that apparel, footwear, food, and other products meet their social and ethical standards. As companies recognize this growing consumer demand, many are advancing their traceability efforts to provide consistent and complete sourcing, social, and ethical product background information.