CHARMING INSIGHTS

The global supply chain disruptions of 2024 left manufacturers and distributors scrambling to adapt. Extreme weather events and ongoing geopolitical conflicts impacted the availability and cost of materials and products worldwide. As the new year approaches, analyzing what sparked these disruptions and how they affected the trajectory of global supply chains going into 2025 can help mitigate future risks.  

After months of protest, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stepped down from her position and fled the country to India. She has served as Prime Minister for over two decades, and the impact of this event can be felt around the world. Here’s what happened — and how it might affect your organization.

Looking back at 2023, we saw a mix of exciting wins and unique challenges for apparel brands worldwide. Black Friday brought a nearly historical peak, with supply chain executives, “100% ecstatic with the results.” But beneath the surface of the retail rejoice, we saw a string of difficulties facing the global shipping industry — particularly concerning the Panama Canal. 

It’s no surprise the fashion industry is responsible for a significant portion of annual greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, it’s overwhelming when you consider that retail accounts for nearly 25% of the global GHG emissions. And to be clear: when the Charming team first published this article in 2022, that number was 8%.

CHARMING is very pleased to announce that we are further expanding our manufacturing presence in Mexico and Central America. Our customers have told us that they need to be closer to the needle to help them with response time, and freight, and we have listened.  Last year we established Charming Guatemala in Guatemala City, and this past month we took possession of our brand new factory building on July 15, 2022.

The fashion industry was hit hard by COVID-19 when the demand for garments worldwide plummeted. Accessories and all other “non-essential” items were either left to collect dust in the back of the closet or became casualties of shopping cart abandonment. 

If the global pandemic has taught businesses anything, it’s that supply chain resilience is critical to future-proofing brand and business operations. Global sourcing and manufacturing are increasingly critical to meeting evolving consumer demands and sustainability requirements. And at the epicenter of that evolution is nearshoring.