When we wrote our 2026 predictions at the start of the year, we figured apparel teams would be focused on one thing: building systems to handle the new rules and regulations settling in across the global apparel industry.
Now we're half a year in, and that's mostly what's happened. But one major curveball hit in 2026 that no one saw coming:
The Gulf shipping crisis.
Here's where things stand now and what we expect for the rest of the year.
Two big regulatory shifts are landing on schedule this year.
The EU's ban on destroying unsold goods starts July 19 for large companies. Since the Commission locked in the details back in February, brands now know what counts as destruction and the few cases where it's still allowed. Large companies that make shoes, accessories, and clothing are some of the first affected, with medium-size apparel companies following in 2030.
PFAS bans have launched, too. As of January 1, France now prohibits manufacture/imports/sale of PFAS-containing clothing textiles and footwear (although there are exemptions like some PPE and recycled-content products). However, enforcement has been slower than anticipated. Denmark's PFAS ban launches on July 1, with a grace period to sell off existing stock through the end of the year.
The Digital Product Passport framework is still being developed. Most apparel brands should use 2026 and 2027 to clean data and phase-in their solutions ahead of the expected introduction of textile-specific Digital Product Passport requirements later in the implementation timetable.
While those bans are shaking up the industry, a few expected rules are running late.
Delegated Acts, like the ones covering durability, repair, and recyclability, were supposed to wrap up earlier this year. Now it looks like they won't go live until 2027. The detailed design rules tied to the EU destruction ban are taking longer than expected too.
These delays give you a little breathing room, but 2027 is only six months out. Keep an eye on what's coming so you don't get caught off guard.
Apparel teams have had to deal with a global crisis no one could have predicted: the closing of the Strait of Hormuz at the end of February.
Within weeks, the major container lines pulled out, ship traffic fell by around 97 percent, and more than a hundred vessels were stuck waiting. One report focused on apparel called it the worst supply chain shock for clothing and textiles since COVID.
Ships that used to cut straight through have been routing all the way around Africa, adding a week or two to a lot of lanes, plus higher fuel and freight costs.
A ceasefire was signed officially on June 19, but the impacts of the closure are still being felt by apparel teams. Lead times are still long and shipping costs are still climbing — in fact, container rates hit a 22-month high on June 25 of this year.
Between the shipping crisis and the regulatory changes, there's a good case for investing in solid, lasting systems.
Apparel teams are asking questions that get a lot easier to answer when they’ve got good systems in place.
Which orders are stuck?
Should we move shipping to a different plant?
What product lines or clients are getting left behind?
What's most affected by compliance changes now and down the road?
With a good system, you won’t have to wait hours on the phone or dig through dozens of spreadsheets. You’ll be able to head to a single source of truth you know you can rely on to strategize, respond, and prepare.
Having more than one place to make and ship from improves resiliency, too. A brand with manufacturing and fulfillment spread across the Americas, Europe, and Asia has somewhere to turn when one route jams up. That kind of footprint takes time to build, so it has to be in place before a crisis hits.
Our team is full of people who work on making these problems, questions, and opportunities easier to handle. With a range of product solutions and factories around the world, we're set up to help your apparel team respond and get ready for what's coming.
If you want to talk through how any of this affects your labels, packaging, or sourcing plans, the team at Charming is glad to help you stay ahead of what's next.