Textile Insight

TEXTILE TALK | EMILY WALZER handful of newsy tidbits to chew on while you page through this issue of Textile Insight: • Macy's has hired a "brand experience officer" for the department store chain. • Chico's SVP supply chain operation believes we are moving towards a world of production runs of one. • A leader in wearable tech advocates "fibers as devices, and functional fabrics as delivering a service." • Angie Lau, CEO of mega-manufacturer Clover Group International, credits her success as an innovator to a "digi-forward" approach. • The most creative new job in fashion is the Sustainability Director. The point is that these days how goods get made, sold and worn requires new thinking. The tried-and-true is not going to cut it anymore. Faster, smarter, eco-driven development dependent on digital tech is reducing lead times and collapsing supply chains that speed to market products consumers want to wear on everyday adventures to share on Instagram. If that sentence doesn't get your attention, it sure got mine when I heard it repeated in various iterations while working on stories for this issue of the magazine. Success is increasingly dependent on a mindset that favors collaboration. That word is used a lot lately, but today's culture of collaboration is giving way to true partnerships built on trust, empathy and transparency. Going it alone is not a pathway to going forward. Execs now say the route to success is better together. This new togetherness extends from fiber development to the end consumer. We provide Trend Insight Consumer surveys with feedback conducted on MESH1's Insight Platform. The results are fascinating. Having been in this industry for a long time I have a pretty good take on the active/outdoor marketplace. Yet understanding of what makes consumers tick, is a reality check about what shoppers actually do value when it comes to fabrics and the role textiles play in purchasing decisions. Turn to page 28 to learn more. The Macy hire and Clover business outlook are not reported on in this issue (though important to my research) and serve as excellent examples of growth strategies. So, a word on these topics: Macy's acquired New York-based concept shop Story, a favorite of mine for its fun, innovative merchandising concept -- every six weeks the shop completely revamps product selection to "tell a new story." By curating rotating shopping experiences with the hire of Story's founder, Rachel Schechtman, Macy looks to grow via new business models and brand partnerships that excite consumer engagement. Angie Lau knows how to engage that's for sure. She had the crowd's full attention at the recent AAFA conference where she explained how her "digi-forward" outlook fosters innovation in both process and product. The bra- specialist provides customers one-day turnaround that results in rapid delivery to clients in 72 hours instead of the normal 31 days. She says, "Customers are knocking on our doors looking for innovation." And she welcomes them, because not only is that good business, but says Lau, "Innovation, it keeps us looking young." O Cheers, Emily The Path Forward Is Paved with Partnerships These days how goods get made, sold and worn requires new thinking. The tried-and-true is not going to cut it anymore. A 4 • Textile Insight ~ May/June 2018 textileinsight.com CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARY T e x t i l e - B a s e d P r o d u c t S o l u t i o n s TEXTILE INNOVATION MEANS GLOBAL INVOLVEMENT Based in the U.S., Concept III partners with leading textile labs and innovators located all across the globe. Today, just as we have done for the past four decades, we source, develop, and produce the best fabric-based solutions for tomorrow. www.conceptiii.com

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