Stressing Sourcing Benefits at MAGIC

LAS VEGAS — As the global supply chain expands to various corners of the world, manufacturers at Sourcing at MAGIC said they were discovering that it’s advantageous to target niche markets by promoting features such as duty-free trade, artisanal craftsmanship, slow fashion and Made in USA production. Against a backdrop of challenges affecting European retail and U.S. denim sales, companies that exhibited at Sourcing last month at the Las Vegas Convention Center were pursuing a slew of new opportunities. Many of them were realizing that globalization doesn’t automatically call for production runs that are bigger and cheaper, like those usually associated with factories in China. “We can create specific products based on specific needs,” said Patricia Medina, a director at Mexico’s Aztex Trading. Besides benefiting from duty-free trade with the U.S. under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Aztex can also accept a minimum order of 600 pieces for novelty jeans wholesaling for $9 to $22 apiece. For instance, one customer from Hawaii requested jogger pants made of denim that can wick moisture. For Guatemala’s Nova Creation, a full-package manufacturer that has produced tops for brands like Guess and Smithson Clothing, being duty-free under the Central American Free Trade Agreement is only the start.

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