Supply Chain news and archive

South Asian textiles: End of a competitive advantage? A critical review of the French Treasury's quarterly letter

The quarterly letter published by the French Treasury offers a detailed diagnosis. The textile and apparel industry remains the industrial and social core of the economies of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As a pillar of exports, a mass employer and a key driver of female employment, the sector has long relied on a simple competitive...

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Future Snoops: “AI can become one of the most powerful sustainability tools we have”

“The future isn’t predetermined. The impact of AI depends entirely on how we choose to use it. If we’re intentional, if we design responsibly and act with purpose, AI can become one of the most powerful drivers of sustainability in the decade ahead,” said Emma Grace Bailey, director of sustainability at Future Snoops (FS), during the trend...

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Report: Trade barriers are accelerating Chinese enterprise globalization

Efforts to reduce dependence on China are instead accelerating the global expansion of Chinese companies, according to the Global Supply Chain Report 2025 released by the HKUST Li & Fung Supply Chain Institute. The report finds Chinese firms are rapidly building production, R&D and logistics hubs across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the...

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GFA sets out to establish textile waste management systems in Türkiye

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), the organiser behind the annual Global Fashion Summit, has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at backing the development of textile waste systems in Türkiye. Türkiye becomes the fourth manufacturing region to implement this programme, following the path of Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Akin to...

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Agreement reached on weakened EU supply chain law

The EU is set to weaken its European supply chain law, designed to protect human rights, even before its implementation. Negotiators from EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed in Brussels that the regulations will now apply to a much smaller number of large companies, as announced by both parties. The amendment still requires...

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How resilient supply chains will define fashion’s winners in 2026

For years, fashion and apparel brands have measured supply-chain performance by two metrics: speed and cost. But as we head into 2026, the brands that outperform won’t be the fastest or the cheapest. They’ll be the ones built to absorb whatever comes next. As one of my favorite quotes from Rocky Balboa puts it: “It’s not about how hard you hit....

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Fashion SVP returns to London under new leadership

UK sourcing fair Fashion SVP returned to Olympia London this week, marking its 18th edition, this time under new ownership. Its revival was driven by Ark Expos Ltd, a British exhibition and events firm founded in 2025 that promised an enhanced iteration of the fair with an emphasis on international reach. Spanning November 18 to 19, the event...

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Marks & Spencer launches renewable energy programme across supply chain

British department store Marks & Spencer has launched a new programme aimed at accelerating the adoption of renewable electricity across its fashion supply chain. Dubbed Re:Spark, the scheme, developed in partnership with Schneider Electric, builds on a wider mission of the retailer to achieve net-zero emissions throughout its value chain by...

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Alibaba to transform B2B sourcing with agentic AI

E-commerce giant Alibaba has announced the integration of agentic AI capabilities into the user journey of its business-to-business (B2B) marketplace. Launched under the 'AI mode' feature, this technological innovation aims to transform the processes by which professionals discover, evaluate and interact with suppliers. Even more impressive than...

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EU parliament majority votes for weaker supply chain law

A majority of the European Parliament has voted in favour of a significant weakening of the EU supply chain directive. The proposal was passed with 382 votes in favour, 249 against, and 13 abstentions. Among other changes, the regulations will now only apply to a select number of very large companies, and there will be no obligation to develop...

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New report finds Leicester garment exploitation claims overstated

A new review presented to UK Parliament has found that allegations of worker exploitation and modern slavery in Leicester’s garment sector were not supported by evidence from formal investigations. The report, ‘Lessons Learned from Operation Tacit’, published in November 2025 by the director of labour market enforcement, Margaret Beels, suggests...

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The Lycra Company opens second production facility in China

US fibre manufacturer The Lycra Company opened its largest spandex factory in the world in the Chinese city of Yinchuan on Friday. “This milestone underscores the company's continued investment in the Chinese market and highlights its strong commitment to building localised supply and distribution networks, as well as promoting advancements in...