Textile Insight

Seeking Stronger Bonds with Fewer, Select Supply Chain Partners. By Emily Walzer aving endured delays and disruption constantly over the past two years, ranging from rising material costs to slowdowns in produc- tion along with a roster of other issues, textile businesses are increasingly looking to gain control of their supply chains. And unlike years past, when staying the course sourcing goods meant "follow the needle," i.e., go where labor is cheap and sewing plentiful, nowadays price is not necessarily the lead driver when navigat- ing successful sourcing. According to textile execs, trust and partnership are key factors in supply chain decision-making. The trend now is to have fewer, but deeper relation- ships with supply chain partners. This approach, say industry pros, builds stronger bonds between parties that are less likely to fray when things break down due to unforeseen forces, which has lately become something of the norm. While price continues to play a sig- nificant role, and likely always will, companies are rethinking their sourcing vision to be more values-driven. Reliability of high-quality product is now often asso- ciated with firms investing in sustainable practices and social responsibility, which often results in more efficient, as well as less wasteful, manufacturing. Some also believe the sourcing land- scape is ripe for a regional reboot, with growing momentum around supporting localized supply chains. Nearshoring in the U.S. is part of this conversation, but greater emphasis is directed at areas farther afield. Outdoor Industry Influence Textile execs report that areas where factories have invested in leveling up environmental protocols are increas- ingly attractive, as these vendors have not only kept pace with current compli- ances, but are positioned to stay ahead of the curve with new regulations due in 2025 and 2030. Partnering with eco-minded, forward thinking suppliers is prov- ing to be beneficial, textile execs add. "Factories aligned with outdoor industry values will gain strength because these firms are putting money into sustainability and environmental compli- ance. These aspects make companies more attrac- tive when making sourcing decisions," states Chris Parkes, president, Concept III who mentions partners DryTex and Kingwhale as prime examples. DryTex is continuing to work better than most, within Chinese restrictions, because of having to raise the bar to meet outdoor industry standards. The same thing applies to Kingwhale, based in Taiwan. Being bluesign approved and up-to-date with eco standards, in addition to financing efficient dyeing machines and installing solar energy to the extent that DryTex and Kingwhale have, are all positives. "DryTex and Kingwhale tick all boxes of things that the outdoor indus- try has influenced, and are flourishing because of it," Parkes comments. Taking this a step further, Parkes and others agree that Taiwan textile companies in general have prospered as they've aligned with the outdoor com- munity values and are viewed favorably because of it. Textile industry veteran Peter Lucier confirms that the outdoor industry was instrumental in ushering in eco-com- pliance such as bluesign. "The world is going this way. I think that those mills will be a step ahead as brands look for new suppliers. They are established as eco-certified, and using less energy, fewer chemicals, have a smaller carbon footprint and are environmentally and socially aware," explains Lucier, founder of Reliable Textile Solutions, represent- ing WidePlus International, Pro-Stretch Ltd, bluesign technologies ltd and MMI Textiles. WidePlus is based in Taiwan, offers a range of synthetic wovens, lami- nates and coated fabric, has been bluesign approved since 2012 and is GRS 4.0 and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified; Pro- Stretch specializes in stretch trim options and MMI provides a range of fabrics and trim for the US market. "There is no question that brands in recent years are pairing down their vendor list. And forming more signifi- cant relationships with these select vendors," states Lucier, adding that the trust factor is important, but price is still important, too. Lucier has been in textiles for 40 years and says he has never seen a situation like today. "Covid exposed cracks, making things difficult for everyone in the supply chain. Brands want to work with partners that know how to get the job done." Sustainability Factors In Mike Simko, Hyosung's global market- ing director, highlights sustainability as a factor that has changed the supply SUPPLY CHAIN | SOURCING SOLUTIONS A Values-Driven Vision 28 • Textile Insight ~ March/April 2022 textileinsight.com "Factories aligned with outdoor industry values will gain strength because these firms are putting money into sustainability and environmental compliance. These aspects make companies more attractive when making sourcing decisions." CHRIS PARKES President, Concept III

• Cover