Articles by Simone Preuss
Simone Preuss is a freelance journalist specialising in apparel production, sustainability and social responsibility. She has been working with FashionUnited since 2012, gaining valuable insights into an ever-changing industry.
DPP readiness: The designer's pivotal role
Much has been written about the digital product passport (DPP), the digital twin which needs to be linked to the physical product from mid 2029 onward. At least for anyone wanting to place textile products on the European market. However, information about the DPP usually focuses on data compliance and technical preparations. But the fact is...
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Sourcing at the gateway to South America: Colombia’s textile nearshoring advantage
Colombia’s textile and garment sector is a critical pillar of its industrial economy. Combining over a century of manufacturing heritage with modern technical capabilities, the country has carved out a distinct niche in value-added fashion and specialty apparel. Its strategic proximity to North America and favourable trade mechanisms make...
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Closer to home: How nearshoring is transforming apparel supply chains
Nearshoring in the garment industry has evolved from a defensive reaction and temporary safety net to shipping crises into a permanent, data-driven core strategy. With sweeping US tariff pressures in 2026 and stringent European eco-regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Digital Product Passport (DPP),...
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European textiles and clothing: a balancing act between structural evolution and robust market defence
The European textile and clothing industry is at a a pivotal moment and continues to serve as an economic pillar with 166 billion euros in annual turnover according to Euratex’s Facts & Figures 2026 report. Despite sustaining nearly 200,000 companies and 1.2 million jobs, the sector is grappling with contraction. Structural macroeconomic...
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BCI supports push to strengthen cotton standards in Uzbekistan
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has partnered with Uzbekistan's Agency for Technical Regulation (Uzstandard) through a new memorandum of understanding to modernise the country’s agricultural standards. By lending its expertise as a global sustainability standard, BCI will support national technical discussions, help integrate its principles...
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Bangladesh's evolving aparel sector: beyond low-cost manufacturing
A new sourcing report argues that the way brands are buying from Bangladesh has not kept up with the country they are buying from. “The Sourcing Times: Bangladesh” written by Forbes sustainability contributor Brooke Roberts-Islam and commissioned by trims manufacturer Harnest Label Industries argues that buyers are still judging the world's...
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The volume shift: How Asian online retailers move from individual parcels to bulk inventory
The landscape of international trade and e-commerce logistics across Europe has undergone a fundamental structural realignment. For years, the European Union’s long-standing low-value customs duty exemption—the de minimis threshold—allowed billions of individual parcels valued under 150 euros to flood into member states from Asian manufacturing...
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US fashion industry poised for sourcing consolidation and AI integration, study finds
The US fashion industry is facing another year of uncertainty. From the IEEPA tariffs that were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court to the expiring Section 122 tariffs that took their place to the new 301 and 232 tariffs – tariffs remain a top concern for US fashion businesses from brands and retailers to importers. The United States...
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How the new ILO Convention 193 benefits digital platform workers within the fashion industry
Millions of workers worldwide are employed by the digital platform economy, that is economic and social activities conducted on online platforms that connect directly with consumers. According to research by the Harvard Kennedy School, this could be between 154 million and 435 million people, depending on how broadly gig work, ride-hailing,...
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What the proposed 50 percent tariff means for the Canadian garment & textile industry
The North American textile and garment ecosystem is reeling following Washington's announcement to invoke Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, slapping a maximum 50 percent ad valorem (according to value) duty on a vast array of Canadian imports effective 19th August 2026. While initial political headlines focused heavily on disputes involving...
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