LAS VEGAS ISSUE 02.22
COVER: SHREE IMPEX
GETTING BACK TO
BUSINESS S
upply chain issues were thrown into the spotlight during the pandemic, and we have never appreciated our suppliers, manufacturers, and tech providers more than we do right now. It has been a time for strengthening relationships with business partners to ensure the timely, economical flow of goods, and this season’s SOURCING at MAGIC saw a best-in-class gathering of global sourcing talent that is ripe and ready for longterm commitment. The event also featured practical, educational workshops on fashion production, as well as engaging panels on supply chain dynamics, trade politics, and near-shoring. In addition to the live event in Las Vegas, SOURCING at MAGIC Online is the digital destination for sourcing professionals to discover global manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. Save the date for the next live event in Las Vegas August 7-10, 2022; and Online
August 1-September 30, 2022. As one of your business partners, SOURCING at MAGIC continued to recognize the industry’s growing concerns and interest in sustainability by expanding its partnership with Hey Social Good to offer guidance and analysis for visitors and exhibitors alike. As the company’s CEO and Co-founder, Dr. Cindy J. Lin puts it, “We all know we need to do it, but what does that mean?” We are incredibly pleased to share some of the stories of exhibitors that offer sustainability practices here and are already looking forward to the practice having an even larger footprint on the event floor next season. In this issue, we give an in-depth look at sustainable alternatives, highlight expert insights from our on-site education sessions, give a view into our special events and community highlights, and more. REGISTER NOW
IN FOCUS:
PIONEERS OF SUSTAINABILITY
“
ONE OF THE EASIEST PLACES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF SUSTAINABILITY IS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN.” —DR. CINDY LIN,
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER OF HEY SOCIAL GOOD
SOURCING at MAGIC is busting our corozo buttons with pride at hosting some of the industry’s sustainability pioneers at this season’s event. We’ve been pleased to welcome brands that focus on everything from using renewable materials, to incorporating social good into their Human Resources practices, to running more efficient factories and facilities. “As the leading event for sourcing professionals, we recognized that we not only needed to be sure that exhibitors that embraced sustainability were prominently featured,” says Andreu David, Vice President of SOURCING at MAGIC, “but that we would also provide guidance to our guests who are still trying to determine exactly what sustainability means to them. We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Hey Social Good, to help further guide and shape that dialogue.” The path to sustainability is long, with unexpected twists and turns. Although there
are many companies and agencies that offer guidance and validation, few can offer a comprehensive look at the range of practices available. To that end, SOURCING at MAGIC has partnered with the team at Hey Social Good to provide both validation and education. “One of the easiest places to address the problem of sustainability is in the supply chain,” says Dr. Cindy Lin, CEO and Co-founder of Hey Social Good. “But we need to educate manufacturers about what’s important. How do we assess, verify, and guide businesses on their sustainability and social good practices? We are a social impact data analytics company, using data capture to create a framework around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We provide a ranking, recognizing that sustainability is a journey of many, many years.” We caught up with just a few of these companies who are making a real difference for the future of our planet.
DIRECT TO SOURCE Direct to Source, with U.S. offices in Colorado, and a factory in Guatemala, is a custom apparel manufacturing company. As business partner Holli Gibson puts it, “I’ve been in this business for 33 years, and have manufactured all over the world. I became interested in sustainability about 15 years ago and decided that I wanted to spend the rest of my career being part of the solution, not part of the problem. My partner and I take a holistic approach: It’s not just about what the fabric is made from or if the dye water is being recycled properly, it’s about the people who actually make the clothing. What happens to them when they go home at night? We decided to build a place where we could be good stewards of the planet and honor the people who sit down and make our clothing every day.”
CINCOR MARROQUINERA Cincor Marroquinera produces small leather goods, using vegetable tannins — safer for the environment as well as the workers who handle them — and uses environmentally friendly glues, recycled polyester materials for linings, and recycled leather whenever possible, even recycling leather scraps for smaller accessories. “Sustainability is not just about the raw materials,” says the Commercial Manager Alejandra López, “but also what goes on in the inside of the company:” The brand makes a point of hiring women who are the main means of support for their families.
VASI GROUP COMPANIES VASI Group Companies exports and makes socks in Turkey. Beyond using sustainable materials where possible, the company is focused on using electricity from solar and wind energy sources. According to CEO Mediha Hamitoğlu, “Our new factory in Esenyurt has solar panels on the roof to produce our own electricity. We also have water tanks which we are using for the facility’s toilets and to water the gardens which surround the facility.” VASI also focuses on using biodegradable fibers, including cutting edge materials made from fish scales, a byproduct of the fishing industry, and another made from coffee grounds.
EVERYWHERE APPAREL Everywhere Apparel produces T-shirt and sweatshirt blanks that other companies adorn with their own graphics and messaging, and is the first 100% recycled, closed loop maker in the category. According to Matt Boelk, VP of Sales & Revenue, the brand is using 100% recycled cotton (notoriously difficult to work with), which already makes it “the most sustainable blank in the industry, saving 1,200 gallons of water to produce the material. Beyond that, each T-shirt includes a tag with a QR code that the consumer can scan. We then provide a self-addressed stamped envelope large enough for six T-shirts that the consumer can return for recycling.”
AZTEX TRADING Aztex Trading based in Mexico, maintains a supply of denim or twill jeans and jackets for its clients. Brands purchase untreated pieces, which can then be washed or otherwise embellished just days before shipping, allowing for rapid response to trend, and little opportunity for waste. Best of all the company uses sustainable textiles, chemicals, and dyes in its processes whenever possible.
EDUCATION PLAY -BACK Industry experts share insights on top-of-mind topics like supply chain challenges, reshoring, and more on the SOURCING at MAGIC Las Vegas education stage.
“
“Where do you source next year? I can only tell you companies are setting up war rooms and they’re taking a diverse portfolio. If you’re a public company and you get called by the analysts and they say, ‘Where are you sourcing?’ and you say, ‘Well, we’re 80% in China,’ That doesn’t go over very well so you have to learn to diversify. You have to start looking aggressively at Central American, made in the U.S.A., and you have to start thinking about India and places you haven’t done business in before or you will get hammered.”
Rick Helfenbein, Retail & Fashion Industry Consultant, American Apparel & Footwear Association
“
Most countries have apparel associations ranging from Sri Lanka to Colombia like we do in the U.S. and they’re usually a pretty good resource [ for diversifying sourcing]. Now is the time for companies to rediscover them. What they need to start doing is coming to shows like this and meeting people. While the big brands don’t have a problem finding new sources of supply, so much of this industry is small and medium sized companies that will be big brands five years from now and that’s where there’s a big problem.”
Ron Sorini, Co-Founder and Principal of Sorini, Samet & Associates (SSA)
SESSION 1: The Politics of Trade
“
SESSION 2: Made in USA/Re-shoring
Who are the folks that are buying today? Over 50 percent of the folks are youth. You need to understand what is important to them such as sustainability, local for local, and quality. If you’re a manufacturer, you might ask, ‘Why is that important since I’m just producing for a brand?’ Well, you need to understand who your customer is better than the brand you are producing for because that is what they’re looking for from their manufacturers today.”
Will Duncan, Executive Director, SEAMS
“
The ‘Made in U.S.A.’ label can be a very valuable part of your product. ...If we could find a few of you that succeed at that, then that’s the message we can get out to the whole industry. And then, as people see the value of ‘Made in U.S.A.’ and consumers can find places to purchase those products, it’ll be great for all of us.”
Harry Moser, Founder & President, Reshoring Initiative
“ “
SESSION 3: Navigating an Uncertain Supply Chain
While there’s a part of the market that wants a new outfit on Instagram every single day and will buy something on Shein for $6, there’s also a big growing audience that cares about the sustainability and quality of the garment, as well as where it’s made.”
Edward Hertzman, Founder and President, Sourcing Journal
If you look at inflation, we’re at a 40 year high, if we look at consumer sentiment, we’re at a 10 year low. You put those two things together and you would think the well is going to dry up. You would think that when people start taking their masks off and going out more and more to restaurants and start going on vacations, they’ll spend less on the line and, you know, there will be less orders... but it hasn’t happened yet.”
Rick Helfenbein, Retail & Fashion Industry Consultant, American Apparel & Footwear Association
“
In 2021 all of our customers that were 100% dependent on L.A. Long Beach started certain allocation into Vancouver, certain into the Bay Area, and even some directly into Mexico. The reason they did that is so they could kind of funnel in and out each one of those ports of entry in case L.A. got too bad or Oakland got too bad. So I’ll tell you this: you should have a Plan B. I would start allocation to either Oakland or Tacoma or Seattle just to have a backup...”
Vincent Iacopella, EVP Growth and Strategy, Alba Wheels Up
SPECIAL EVENTS
&
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
The season kicked off live in Las Vegas with a floor full of energy and excitement, featuring on-site events, activations and show initiatives to inspire and connect exhibitors and attendees. Check out the highlights here.
01
COLOR TREND RETROSPECTIVE POWERED BY PANTONE Everyone loves a photo moment, and the Pantone exhibit this season covered all the “colors of the year” starting in the year 2000. Check out pages 15-20 for your inside look at this retrospective.
02
WHAT IN THE WORLD?! Our What in the World?! Installation highlights our global community.
02
WHAT IN THE WORLD?!
We are proud to feature exhibitors from across the globe. This season’s event featured exhibitors from over 20 countries and regions including: Bangladesh Canada China Colombia Egypt Germany Guatemala Honduras Hong Kong, China India Indonesia Japan Mauritius
Mexico Nepal Pakistan Peru Portugal Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA Vietnam
03
04
05
SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVES GALLERY
THE BIG GAME
FASHION TECHNOLOGY
We partnered with Hey Social Good again this season to verify and medal rank exhibitors for sustainable and social good practices. Here’s a sampling of SGA verified sustainable exhibitors:
Who were you rooting for? We were live streaming the game with drinks and snacks right on the show floor.
Cincor Marroquinera
Our fashion technology exhibitors provide innovative technologies in manufacturing, transportation, and retail with the ambition to improve how we produce and consume fashion. Fashion Technology introduces state-of-the-art tools such as the use of AI in fashion design, body scanners, textile alternatives, 3D printers, augmented reality, VR, and much more.
Continuum Buying Agency PVT Ltd.
Exhibitors Included:
Direct To Source,
Agency Couture
Everest Textile Co., Ltd.
CommentSold
Everywhere Apparel
ReturnQueen
HI-TEX CO., LTD.
Route
Lucky Textile Mills Pvt. Ltd.
Zetwerk
Ameeva Fabrics Pvt Ltd Aztex Trading
Scarabaeus Sacer Vasi Inr. Ith.Ve Tekstil San Tic Ltd.
06 SOURCING AT MAGIC HYBRID
Our live and digital events provide the opportunity for sourcing professionals to source digitally from global manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. Stay tuned for next season’s live and digital events. Globalists Limited HK Keen Light Industries Ltd. Prostandard Co., Ltd. SHAOXING BAIJIE IMPORT AND EXPORT CO.,LTD SHAOXING GUANGFU IMPORT & EXPORT CO LTD SHAOXING SHIHUI APPAREL CO.,LTD Shaoxing Miles Import&Export Co.,Ltd Shaoxing Qiyue Pinzhen Import & Export Co.,LTD SHAOXING SHINING IMPORT&EXPORT CO.,LTD Shaoxing Keen Dragon Imp&Exp Co., Ltd. SHAOXING NEWTEX IMP.&EXP.CO.,LTD. SHAOXING SAMPSON TRADING CO.,LTD SHAOXING NEWLEAF FOREIGN TRADE CO.,LTD Shaoxing Newco Import And Export Co,.Ltd SHAOXING WEILI TEXTILE CO.,LTD. Shaoxing Yunchen Textile Co.,Ltd SHAOXING LANSHENG TRADING CO.,LTD SHAOXING SINOFASHION TEXTILES CO.,LTD. SHAOXING YUANTIAO IMP.&EXP. CO.,LTD SHAOXING TIANYUN GARMENT-MAKING CO.,LTD SHAOXING JINZHOU TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD WEIHAI BONO GARMENT CO.,LTD ZHEJIANG ORIENT HOLYA I/E CO., LTD.
Color of the year
2000
COLOR TREND RETROSPECTIVE POWERED BY
SOURCING at MAGIC played host to Pantone’s Color of the Year Predictions from 2000 to present day. Life-size color cards were displayed at the show’s entrance and guests were invited to take a walk down memory lane, reminiscing over Pantone’s predictions from the past 20 years, and taking Instagram-worthy photos sure to be treasured for the next 20. *All Copy and Imagery Courtesy of Pantone.
Cerulean
Pantone chose Cerulean for its first ever Color of the Year. The hue was referred to as the “Color of the Millennium” because it reflected a sense of peace, fulfillment and a look forward to the future. Pantone went on to select varying shades of blue for many of its Colors of the Year going forward.
Blue Iris
The hue combines the calming nature of blue and the spiritual and mystical qualities of purple, according to Pantone. The color was meant to hint at a year of mystery and excitement, likely referencing that year’s presidential election.
Mimosa
Turquoise
Pantone’s 2010 color combined the serenity of blue with the invigorating aspects of green, according to the institute. The soothing color is believed to be a protective talisman in some cultures and has a deeper meaning of compassion and healing. The color also relates to a tropical paradise and evokes images of escape and relaxation.
2011
2009
The bright yellow color reflects the warmth and nurturing qualities of the sun. The color was meant to evoke a sense of hope and optimism following a time of economic uncertainty.
Eiseman described Honeysuckle as a “captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going.” She also stated the color “derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”
Honeysuckle
Tangerine Tango
2012
The neutral color was a stark contrast from the bright hues that came before and after it. The color was chosen as a reflection of the nation’s concern about the economy.
The pink hue is said to be reinvigorating and uplifting.
2010
Sand Dollar
Chili Pepper
2008
Pantone’s 2004 color takes inspiration from the Tigerlily flower.
2006
Tigerlily
Blue Turquoise
2007
Aqua Sky
2004
The vivid red color is said to represent power, love and passion.
2002
True Red
The light blue shade was chosen for its similarity to the sky and its serene quality.
2005
Fuchsia Rose
2003
2001
The bright pink color was chosen to counterbalance the previous year’s softer color.
Pantone looked to the sea for its color of 2005. Blue Turquoise was meant to be a gentler and cooler hue than Turquoise, which was the Color of the Year in 2010.
The fiery red color is bold, eye-catching and enticing. The color was chosen because Pantone predicted people were going to express themselves more as technology and social media platforms were gaining in prominence. “Whether expressing danger, celebration, love or passion, red will not be ignored,” said Leatrice Eiseman, the Pantone Color Institute’s executive director. “Chili Pepper is a reflection of exotic tastes both on the tongue and to the eye. Nothing reflects the spirit of adventure more than the color red.”
The red-orange color is meant to symbolize a burst of energy and a recharge moving forward. The color is said to be reminiscent of a sunset, with the “adrenaline rush of red” and the “friendliness and warmth of yellow.”
The blue-purple hue is said to represent originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking. The color has long reigned in pop culture thanks to musical icons like Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix.
Classic Blue
2021
Classic Blue was chosen for the collective desire for a dependable and stable foundation going into the new decade. The hue is rooted in nature and relates to the sky at dusk.
Pantone chose two colors for 2021, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray, which synchronously symbolize unity, stability and hope following the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s aspirational. We’re not there yet, but we’re aiming for that,” Eiseman said. “We’re trying to get there. When the gray clouds disperse, we see the sunshine.”
Illuminating & Ultimate Gray
Very Peri
2022
Ultra Violet
Living Coral
2020
Pantone chose two colors for 2016. The combination of the warm rose tone and cool blue tone reflect “connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” according to Pantone. The two colors were also meant to show a gender blur to coincide with increasing social movements toward gender equality and fluidity.
Greenery
2018
Rose Quartz & Serenity
Greenery symbolized new beginnings following the tumultuous 2016 presidential election. It is said to represent restoration and renewal and relate to the first days of spring.
2019
Marsala
2016
Radiant Orchid is warm and confident. Its blend of warm and cool tones makes it versatile and modern. The color is supposed to instill confidence, joy, love and health.
2014
Radiant Orchid
The earthy red wine hue, as Pantone refers to it, is said to “enrich minds, bodies and souls.” The color has a universal appeal and can translate to fashion, beauty, home décor and interiors.
2017
Emerald
2015
2013
The vivid green color relates to the gemstone in that it’s luxurious and sophisticated. The color also represents growth, renewal, prosperity and unity.
The bright color symbolizes “our innate need for optimism and joyful, lighthearted pursuits,” according to Pantone. The color was meant to counteract the ubiquity of technology and social media by encouraging immersive experience, connection and intimacy through its warmth and comforting nature.
Very Peri is described as a “dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet red undertone,” which blends “the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red.”
2022 EVENT CALENDAR Source live and digitally at one of our upcoming events. SOURCING AT MAGIC LAS VEGAS AUGUST 7-10, 2022 SOURCING AT MAGIC ONLINE AUGUST 1, 2022-SEPTEMBER 30, 2022 REGISTER NOW Follow us on social for more content by SOURCING AT MAGIC
#SOURCINGATMAGIC BACK COVER: SHREE IMPEX