Cloth and Coin

There’s a particular kind of silence that settles when factory gates don’t open. In Lesotho, a country once known as the Denim Capital of Africa , that silence is growing louder. Every morning, crowds of women—many of them single mothers—wait at the entrance of shuttered garment factories in the hopes that someone, anyone , will call their name for a shift. But the gates don’t open. And the jobs… they’re disappearing. Professionally, I’m still catching up on the full impact of what’s unfolding. But here’s what we know: According to a July 20, 2025 NPR report , back in April, the U.S. announced a 50% tariff on goods imported from Lesotho, citing trade imbalances. While those tariffs have been technically “paused,” the damage has already begun. Orders have dried up. Production has stopped. And factories that once supplied brands like Levi’s and Walmart are folding—fast. The story hits hard. Not just because of the scale of job loss (over 12,000 garment workers , with ripple effects for t...

The 2025 escalation in U.S. tariffs—combined with changes like the de minimis rule —have significantly disrupted fashion e‑commerce, squeezing margins and reshaping sourcing strategies for small apparel brands. According to a Reuter’s article, as of June 2025, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports have risen to 55%.  The end of the $800 de minimis parcel exemption in May has dismantled the duty‑free route that ultra‑fast fashion platforms relied on—Temu and Shein’s U.S. daily active users dropped sharply, by 52% and 25% respectively ( cnbc ). Tariffs on apparel from traditional outsourcing countries like Vietnam (currently at 20% with a 40% penalty on goods suspected of transhipment), Bangladesh (currently 9-10%, but has a proposed increase to 37% on the table that has not yet been implemented), Cambodia (49% imposed early 2025) and Indonesia (32% set to take effect July 8, 2025) now double import duties, pushing landed costs up by 10–25% in recent months.  --- What It Means for...

If you’ve been trying to stay in the know on global supply chain shifts—especially as a small fashion brand—you’ve likely heard some rumblings. Over the weekend, things got louder. On August 1, 2025, the United States will impose a 30% tariff on all imports from both the European Union and Mexico . For many of us who’ve been working hard to pivot production away from China, this feels like a whiplash moment. And if I’m being honest… it’s a moment of reckoning. Why This Matters For context, the European Union includes countries like France, Italy, Germany, and Spain—nations many small fashion labels source specialty fabrics or trims from. Maybe your brand doesn’t produce in Paris, but do you rely on Parisian silks or Italian denim? Those costs are now subject to steep hikes. The reasoning? Ongoing trade tensions and breakdowns in negotiations. The U.S. government is taking a hardline stance, and in response, both the EU and Mexico are preparing to retaliate with their own tariffs on U...

If you’re preparing for your first season as an exhibitor at Fall Fashion Markets, it’s completely normal to feel a bit off-balance. These shows mark a high-stakes period in the sales calendar — especially for emerging brands. Your ability to execute now has direct implications for how your next two seasons will perform. With the aftershocks of tariff disruptions still lingering in some sectors — particularly in raw materials and shipping lead times — it’s essential to build contingency into your calendar. Delays in sample delivery, broken production timelines, and last-minute pivots are common. This is where a detailed Time and Action (T&A) calendar becomes more than a planning tool — it’s your operational backbone. To support your success, we’ve created a streamlined prep guide to help you stay organized and retail-ready: Key Deadlines: Fashion Market Prep Timeline 6–9 Months Prior Research potential markets and target shows aligned with your customer profile. C...

  We don’t just show a product. We tell a story. We guide the buyer’s eye. We build trust. That’s what a line sheet does. It’s not fluff. It’s not extra. It’s essential. The line sheet is your silent partner at the table— The document that speaks when you don’t. The structure that brings order to your creativity.It connects your vision to a buyer’s need.And when done right, it converts curiosity into commerce. Below, we outline the essential components of a well-built line sheet. Not just what to include—but why it matters. What to Include in Your Line Sheet Your brand name Your branding is more than visual—it’s a language. A consistent use of logos, colors, and fonts across your materials builds recognition. Make your brand memorable. Make it cohesive. Make it matter.  Let them see you before they see the product. One voice. One message. One memory. Collection name (if applicable) Buyers need to reference your work clearly. Naming a collection allows them to differenti...