Supply Chains

The UK garment manufacturing sector has long been positioned as a responsible alternative to offshore production—faster, closer, and more accountable. A new study challenges that framing. It finds that the same brands promoting domestic sourcing are routinely transferring financial risk onto the factories that make their products—through pricing practices, cancellations, and contract terms that consistently favour the buyer.

Water use and wastewater discharge from global apparel supply chains are escalating environmental and social risks. A new study highlights Bangladesh’s garment sector as a critical case, showing how targeted investments could deliver measurable gains in sustainability and operational performance across production systems. It outlines investment approaches that could help suppliers implement water-saving technologies and strengthen long-term resilience across the garment industry.

The denim industry’s sustainability discussions often exclude those closest to production, from farmers to mills, allowing misinformation and greenwashing to thrive. Fear keeps suppliers silent, while brands avoid confronting hard data. In this candid exchange with texfash.com, Andrew Olah, Co-Founder of Transformers Foundation unpacks the systemic silencing of suppliers and the urgent need for honest, inclusive dialogue.

US fashion companies are restructuring sourcing strategies as 2025 tariffs trigger cost spikes, disrupted supply chains and declining margins. The latest USFIA Benchmarking Study has tracked these shifts, revealing a turbulent sourcing landscape and limited reshoring despite government pressure. Companies are bracing up for sustained uncertainty by expanding supplier networks, scaling back investment, and reassessing risk exposure across global operations.

Inditex and Next have come under fire for rejecting a global agreement to improve wages and conditions for Cambodian garment workers. Developed over years with unions and brands, the Cambodia Agreements offer the first collective bargaining template in the industry. Critics say the refusal exposes a gap between public commitments and real action on workers’ rights.

The UK Fashion and Textile Association has released a comprehensive Code of Conduct template for members, designed to help fashion and textile businesses establish ethical, social and environmental standards. This exclusive resource provides structured guidance for companies to develop tailored codes that reflect their values and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

Fashion's global supply chains face unprecedented scrutiny as business conduct risks expose brands to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and financial losses. From forced labour controversies to environmental violations, the industry's complex sourcing networks are increasingly under fire from regulators, investors, and consumers demanding greater transparency and accountability.

A new investigation has uncovered the hidden realities of Pakistan’s garment industry, exposing wage theft, forced overtime, and widespread informality across eight factories supplying European brands. Based on 126 worker interviews, the report challenges the effectiveness of social audits and highlights systemic exploitation in one of South Asia’s largest textile and apparel export hubs.

A new 2025 analysis of fashion industry climate strategies has found that leading brands like Adidas, H&M Group, and Shein continue to fall short of meaningful action. The report by NewClimate Institute  cited weak electrification plans, overreliance on fossil gas and biomass, and a refusal to move away from the fast fashion model.

Supply chains today face unprecedented risks—from cyberattacks and geopolitical tensions to supplier insolvency and logistics disruptions. Insights from the Supply Chain Risk and Resilience Summit reveal why businesses must embrace proactive planning, invest in risk assessments, and prioritise supplier collaboration to navigate the shifting dynamics of global trade and resilience.