Skip to main content
BoF Logo

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

The Business of Fashion
Global Markets

How Fashion Is Shaking Up Its Global Sourcing Strategies

Rising costs, evolving trade policies and shifting political winds are pushing brands to diversify their sourcing in Asia and laying the foundations for more manufacturing closer to home, as detailed in the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2025.
Cover of Trade Reconfigured
Shipping costs have drastically increased across Asia-to-US shipping routes. (Golero/Getty Images)
By

Key insights

  • Trade barriers and supply disruptions have increased 5x since 2015, with around 3,000 trade restrictions imposed in 2023.
  • US apparel and textile imports are diversifying away from China at the fastest rate since 2010, falling 6 percentage points from 2019 to 2023.
  • Foreign direct investment into apparel manufacturing in nearshoring regions for the US and Europe has grown significantly in the past five years.

The Daily Digest Newsletter

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.
Plus, access one complimentary BoF Professional article of your choice, each month.

Our newsletters may include 3rd-party advertising, by subscribing you agree to the Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.

Please log in to ensure you can read our agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice. Or get in touch at support@businessoffashion.com if you experience difficulties.

Up until the early 2020s, global trade revolved around the relationship between the US and China. In recent years, geopolitical tensions and market shifts, coupled with a change in sourcing economics, have caused a shift in this dynamic, resulting in a “multi-polar” structure where more countries participate in global trade.

Further Reading

The State of Fashion 2025: Challenges at Every Turn

The ninth annual State of Fashion report by McKinsey & Company and BoF Insights, The Business of Fashion’s data and advisory team, reveals that economic and geopolitical challenges, combined with shifts in customer values, will define a turbulent year ahead. Download the full report to understand the 10 themes that will shape the industry and the opportunities for growth in 2025.

© 2025 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from Global Markets
A guide to unlocking opportunity in emerging and frontier fashion markets.

Can Korean Fashion Be as Big as K-Beauty, or K-Pop?

K-fashion made significant inroads in becoming a part of a global fashion conversation in 2025, with brands like Post Archive Faction and Gentle Monster grabbing attention. But scaling the category to become as big as other cultural exports remains challenging.

view more
Latest News & Analysis
Unrivalled, world class journalism across fashion, luxury and beauty industries.

Anderson Apotheosis: JW Remodels His Own Brand

Days after his debut for Dior, the designer speaks exclusively to Tim Blanks about rebooting the JW Anderson label with a supremely idiosyncratic cabinet of curiosities, from coffee cups to garden tools to diamonds.

VIEW MORE

The Daily Digest Newsletter

The essential daily round-up of fashion news, analysis, and breaking news alerts.
Plus, access one complimentary BoF Professional article of your choice, each month.

Our newsletters may include 3rd-party advertising, by subscribing you agree to the Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

About Us

Contact Us

Our Products

CONNECT WITH US ON
© 2025 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Accessibility Statement.