The New Sourcing Reality: Why Fashion Brands Need Visibility, Not Just New Suppliers
Lately, I’ve been speaking with brands across different markets and segments, and I keep hearing the same thing.
It’s not pricing that keeps them up at night..it’s uncertainty.
Trade policies shift weekly.
Supplier costs are changing with zero notice.
And the supply chain? It’s in motion, but no one can confidently say where it’s heading next.
The industry is in a moment of transformation, and for many brands, it’s no longer just about who you source from or where it’s about how you build resilience into the very core of your sourcing strategy.
📉 Let’s Look at the Numbers: A Shift Away from China
For years, China was the default answer to sourcing. Skilled labor, established infrastructure, and competitive pricing made it the obvious choice. But that’s no longer the case.
In 2018, China accounted for 49% of U.S. apparel imports.
By 2023, that number had dropped to 33%.
So, what changed?
- Tariffs and rising import duties
- Labor shortages and wage inflation
- Factory closures and pandemic-driven disruptions
- A growing desire to mitigate geopolitical and financial risk
Brands have been forced to explore alternatives, whether that’s near-shoring to Mexico, friend-shoring to India or Vietnam, or considering onshoring in the U.S.
But moving away from China isn’t a quick switch.
China’s manufacturing expertise, vertical integration, and speed are still unmatched in many categories. Replacing it isn’t impossible, but it takes time, investment, and realignment.
⚠️ The New Trade Landscape = More Uncertainty
And just when you think you're adapting, the rules change again.
🧾 New tariffs on China? Back on the table.
🧾 Import duties on Mexico or Europe? Actively being discussed.
🧾 Stable long-term sourcing plans? Harder to create than ever.
This environment isn’t just volatile, it's unpredictable. And unpredictability is the one thing your sourcing strategy can’t afford.
💡 So What’s the Answer?
Chasing the cheapest production country is no longer a winning strategy.
The brands that thrive in this new landscape won’t be the ones who move the fastest to the next hotspot, they’ll be the ones who build flexible, tech-enabled supply chains that can respond in real time.
It’s not just about where you source anymore.
It’s about how quickly you can shift, how clearly you can see the risks, and how well you can adapt.
🧠 This Is Why We’re Building Justly
We built Justly for this exact moment.
✔️ To help brands gain visibility into their sourcing activity
✔️ To streamline supplier communications and organize quotes, lead times, and materials
✔️ To make smarter, faster sourcing decisions when disruptions hit
You can’t afford to waste time manually tracking supplier info or digging through your inbox during a crisis.
You need a platform that gives you the data, structure, and agility to move before things go wrong..not after.
That’s what smart sourcing looks like in 2025.
It’s resilient, data-driven, and AI-supported.
🚀 The Old Sourcing Playbook Is Dead
Let’s be honest: relying on spreadsheets, email threads, and gut feelings to manage global sourcing just doesn’t cut it anymore.
The future belongs to brands that:
- Use technology to see clearly
- Build agility into every supplier relationship
- Make decisions before disruption, not during it
At Justly, we’re here to help you do exactly that.
We’re not here to replace your sourcing team, we’re here to supercharge them with the tools they need to lead in uncertain times.
👉 Want to explore a smarter way to source? 📩 Click HERE to join the waiting list for our BETA
