This time last year, we looked at the Fashion Revolution movement and its clarion call for transparency across fashion supply chains. Since then, the movement has gained even more momentum; 2017 numbers reflect greater participation on social media with more consumers asking #whomademyclothes, and more workers posting photos of themselves replying, #imadeyourclothes. 

Crucially, more brands are responding to the demand for transparency. 2017’s Fashion Revolution Week had over 1,000 mainstream clothing brands respond to #whomademyclothes, up from around 400 the previous year. It’s a safe bet that this form of engagement will keep growing in the coming years. So the real question becomes, what’s next?

Eight out of 10 consumers expect to receive regular updates about the status of their orders, according to a new survey from YouGov and the Infor GT Nexus Commerce Network. In this episode of Supply Chain Radio, Matt Gunn and Greg Kefer dive into the data and discuss why supply chain visibility is more important than ever.

Even successful suppliers, who have some of the world’s leading brands as clients, face challenges in having enough working capital to cover the cost of their operations. Unico Global Inc. is a major outdoor apparel producer that had to navigate the tricky business of accepting its buyers’ extended payment terms while also maintaining enough working capital to operate effectively.

It used to be there were just two seasons in the fashion calendar. Then it was four. And now, well, some brands seem to introduce a new collection each week.

Why? Because consumers are highly connected, draw inspiration from a world of influencers and media, and are hungry for new products, more variety, greater customization, and the ability to make purchases whenever and wherever they want. It’s placed the fashion industry under constant pressure to produce fresh, original, and distinctive products – quickly, and at often at the lowest possible price.

But the supply chain isn’t short, and planning, sourcing, and production take time. Yet many brands still rely on decades-old software to get the job done. These legacy systems were built for on premises installation, are often highly customized, and lack the connectivity or scalability brands need to quickly adapt to the latest trends and get their suppliers and factories up to speed along the way.

What are three things brands should look for in their core planning software?

In a fast-paced fashion environment, the biggest asset fashion manufacturers have is the ability to get new ideas to consumers quickly.

While spreadsheets have served the industry well for many years, in today's data-driven world, their limited functionality results in time lags, data inaccuracies, linear sequential processes, and a lack of integration to data libraries. Unlike product lifecycle management (PLM) tools, spreadsheets simply don't have the functionality to handle the new demands of a modern fashion business.