Sourcing Journal Radio

Change, obstacles and opportunity sum up the state of supply chains in 2025. And while logistics are tumultuous under the best of circumstances—let alone during fiery geopolitics and a new president determined to remake the trade landscape—there's plenty of optimism and energy on many fronts.   Sourcing Journal just released its 2025 Logistics Report, which brings you the latest logistics news, fr...

Listen to this podcast to discover what the fashion industry is up against in 2025 and how companies can effectively navigate an unpredictable supply chain landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How effectively can you verify your sustainability claims and results? This question is becoming more imperative as the industry is now being held to higher standards to report and communicate their environmental impact. To meet these demands, companies need data. In 2020, the U.S. Cotton TrustProtocol was developed to collect and share farm-level data on six key metrics, providing participating b...

As a new administration takes office in the United States, the retail industry is watching what will happen with trade. While tariffs could hike the import price of finished goods, they would also have an impact on the cotton market. Any trade conflicts with China could disrupt a key export destination for U.S.-grown cotton if China pushes back with its own tariffs, as it did in 2018. “China just...

Sourcing Journal turned 15 this year, so there was a lot to celebrate at its annual Fall Summit held in New York this November. The event tackled trade issues and industry turmoil, not to mention Trump's proposed tariffs, which were particularly top of mind as the event occurred just days after the election. In this episode, Lauren Parker, Director of SJ and Fairchild Studios chats with Peter Sade...

ESPR is one of the most comprehensive sustainability regulations so far in the world. Min Zhu of testing, inspection and certification company SGS chats with Lauren Parker of SJ and Fairchild Studios to offer insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this fireside chat, Andre Claudio, staff writer, strategic content at Sourcing Journal, chats with Kendall Becker, fashion and editorial strategy director at Trendalytics, about how the retail intelligence platform is leveraging this technology to help retailers make more profitable, data-driven decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this fireside chat, Lauren Parker, director of Sourcing Journal and Fairchild Studios, chats with Kelly West, manager of business development for North America of Trimco Group (based in the U.S.), and Claire Piccinno, sustainability advisor and ProductDNA team leader of Trimco Group (based in France) to get a global perspective on this evolving issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

In this podcast, Glenn Taylor, logistics editor at Sourcing Journal, and Cayce Roy, founder and CEO of Standvast, discuss how the company is shaping the future of order fulfillment through its innovative technology and services. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Nishimura of Sourcing Journal chats with Lauren Parker of Fairchild Studio about what Trump's next presidency could means for apparel, footwear, textiles and retail when it comes to tariffs, trade and taxes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Automation holds immense potential for the product development process. Moving rote tasks from humans to artificial intelligence allows teams to focus their energy on the creative aspects of the job. It also streamlines the workflow, reducing samples and iterations, which in turn boosts efficiency and reduces waste. “You’re… ultimately shifting teams from firefighting to adding value and helping b...

Combatting climate change has become a top target for the fashion industry, but reaching carbon-cutting targets will require action across the entire supply chain. In September 2022, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was named the lead recipient of the U.S. Climate Smart Cotton Program, receiving funding and recognition as part of the USDA’s Partnership for Climate Smart Commodities pilot projects to...

To see how the fashion industry is faring regarding sustainability, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studios, sat down with Peter Sadera, editor-in-chief, Sourcing Journal, to discuss the positives pushing things forward, as well as the obstacles blocking more progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this fireside chat for business hub Retail Rx, Tim Anderson, senior business leader and executive vice president, Hilco Valuation Services, explains to Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, how retailers and brands must evaluate their respective brick-and-mortar and digital channels—individually and collectively—to ensure overall omnichannel success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

In this episode, Alex Harrell, Sourcing Journal staff reporter, discusses the gains and obstacles in the exciting world of alt materials. Download the Material Innovation Report to learn: What’s next for Renewcell, rebranded Circulose under its new private equity owner How Under Armour is pushing the envelope with its new Neolast fiber What Ganni’s playbook, “How to Get Started Creating a Sustaina...

In this episode, Lizzie Kroeze, director of product development and marketing for the EU and UK at AGI Denim, chats with Angela Velasquez, executive editor at Rivet about its upgraded operations. The vertically integrated B Corp manages the entire production process, from yarn spinning and fabric weaving to garment sewing and finishing. In addition, earlier this year AGI Denim launched The Agency,...

Far from some distant sci-fi fantasy, artificial intelligence has made its way into all aspects of our lives, and the fashion industry is no exception. In this podcast, Sourcing Journal business reporter and tech editor Meghan Hall joins Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, to discuss the SJ x WWD Tech Report: The Artificial Intelligence Issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Since synthetic materials came on the scene almost a century ago, they have grown to become the most popular choice for apparel. But the prevalence of polyester and other polymer-based fibers has come with a tiny yet pervasive problem: microplastics. Textiles are a key contributor to microplastic pollution, as tiny plastic particles break off and enter the air and water, posing harms to humans and...

In this special “Chat Box” episode, part of a series of executive spotlights for RetailRx community hub, Danielle Schmelkin, chief information officer of J.Crew Group joins Fairchild Studio Director Lauren Parker. Schmelkin discusses the shifting role of the CIO, J.Crew and Madewell’s digital transformation strategies, and sheds light on how retailers should use AI and other technologies to set th...

In 2021, Pakistan-based manufacturer Interloop had a vision: to expand beyond the hosiery category and become a “full-family” producer. As the company grew its verticals, it established separate teams for each product type, and cross-category customers had multiple points of contact. Over the last six months, Interloop has undergone a transformation to restructure its teams by job function instead...

In real estate, the mantra is often location, location, location. But when it comes to truly effective real estate asset management, there is so much more to it, like knowing when to play the long game, when to make a quick decision and why "time kills deals" In this Sku View fireside chat for Retail Rx, Laren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, interviews two seasoned real estate experts, Alan...

Coach remains one of the world's most recognizable brands, which is no small feat after 80 plus years. It's not easy for legacy brands to stay relevant, yet reinvention with the younger consumer can be even harder. Coach has done both by realizing that product-centric isn’t enough; handbags and other fashion items can also be a stand in for self-expression and purpose. In this fireside chat, Laure...

Despite some bright spots, retail has had a bumpy road lately, with shifts from malls to online, store closings, bankruptcies, restructurings, liquidations and the like. Yet as Tolstoy might have put it, “Successful retailers are all alike; each distressed retailer is distressed in its own way.” In this fireside chat, Rob Gorin, managing director at Getzler Henrich & Associates, interviews Max Fru...

It seems as if tech is one of the biggest recurring stories that touches many facets—economies, societies and businesses. In this episode we will discuss why retailers should care about AI and what makes a successful tech-rich organizational environment. In this fireside chat, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice, Getzler Henrich & Associates, sits down with José P. Chan, a...

Well-trained, committed frontline workers are key to a retailer’s success, but that’s proving more and more elusive. With a worker attrition rate of about 60 percent, retailers are essentially replacing more than half their staff every year. That’s a lot of churn. In this fireside chat, Christine Tutssel, co-founder of Axonify, Michael Appel, managing director and head of retail practice, Getzler...