Finding Stability

One year ago, cotton prices were soaring and the apparel industry feared consumers would react by curtailing spending. Although prices on cotton apparel did increase, shoppers have continued or increased…

Banking on ‘Green’

Images of blazing wildfires, cracked dry farmland or satellite shots of melting ice may get people thinking about the environment, but they have not become full-fledged activists as a result. …

The “Jeaneology” of a Wardrobe Favorite

Denim, how do we love thee?  Let us count the Google hits: 214 million+. May 20 marked 139 years since Levi Strauss affixed copper rivets to “waist overalls,” creating the…

When Jobs Come Marching Home Again

One of the major factors in the country’s stubborn unemployment numbers is the loss of manufacturing jobs — 5.6 million in the last decade. All the off-shoring paired with the…

Turning Back to the Real Thing

Cotton prices have returned to historical averages, and that is good news for both the apparel industry and consumers. When cotton prices spiked in March 2011, some retailers and manufacturers…

Force of Impact

The subject of outsourcing usually has to do with U.S. jobs that have been lost to overseas companies.  But when the apparel industry outsourced its manufacturing, it also sent production…

Resilient Amidst Ups And Downs

American consumers are good at handling roller coaster rides – be it a national presidential election, a powerfully destructive hurricane, or a potentially damaging fiscal cliff.  Since early fall, U.S.…

CHINESE COTTON POLICY: DECISIONS AND EFFECTS

As the world’s largest cotton grower, consumer, and importer, China has long been at the center of the global cotton market.  Since the spike in fiber prices that occurred during…

Making Green the New Black

Corporate social responsibility is not about minding one’s manners on Facebook and Twitter, but about embracing sustainability models. Gucci has adopted a “Sustainable Value” philosophy, and says a supply chain…

June 2013 Executive Cotton Update

Macroeconomic Overview: Despite some evidence of weakness in the manufacturing sector, recent indicators suggest that the U.S. economy continues to expand. Rising home prices and record stock values have lifted…