Coronavirus a fashion supply chain disaster

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Virtually no sector is safe from the supply chain disruption emanating from China and the outbreak of the coronavirus. In the case of the apparel and clothing vertical, there is a double whammy – not only is China the largest garment producer in the world, it is also one of the most important material sourcing locations, and both channels are likely to see substantial production delays, reports Quartz. “China is the world’s largest garment producer, and fashion companies around the world rely on it to make a substantial share of their clothes. But even companies doing their cutting and sewing elsewhere often depend on China for fabrics and trims such as the cords, appliques, and more needed to finish products before they’re ready to sell. Factories around China have closed due to the virus, however, creating production delays likely to have effects even after the epidemic has subsided and stores there welcome shoppers again.”