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How Vendor

WWhen we think about fashion designers today, Vendor diversity is not a new concept. In fashion and manufacturing, it is a well-accepted practice that has been in place for decades. The newer challenge is, how does vendor diversity compete with other objectives, such as cost reduction or lowering risk? Fortunately, when the right vendor partner or global supplier runs a lean business, or leverages the latest technologies and has an experienced team, companies can kill two birds, well actually several, with one stone.

here there is change, there is also opportunity. This statement is true for the lingerie industry, which, like almost every other industry, has been impacted by the global pandemic. Even during pre-pandemic times, however, intimate apparel trends and areas for growth were emerging, as women in every shape, size and color have been demanding greater selections. Messages of empowerment and body acceptance have been coming to the forefront of the lingerie marketplace for the past several years.

The good news is that 2023 presents an environment to truly experience the benefits of vendor diversity that will drive meaningful progress, without perceived compromises.

Cost Savings and Efficiencies

So has the need to be more sustainable, both as a company and the ability to offer earth-friendly solutions to clients. Working from home further fueled the need for comfort, and the nearing end of the pandemic is driving greater interest in refreshed bra styles for when we leave our homes. As we begin the new normal, we believe that the following areas are key for lingerie market opportunities.

Diversity & Acceptance

Let’s start with cost savings since that seems to be one of the strongest arguments for eliminating vendors and going directly to the source. In most cases related to the fashion industry, this would mean that a brand goes directly to the manufacturer. By eliminating the fees related to working with the vendor, there is the perception that money is being saved.

In the current age of diversity, the lingerie industry has seen a significant shift over the past few years. What we once considered the color “nude” has gone from one color to many shades, acknowledging and accepting women from around the world. Nude does not cover one skin tone; it needs to cover many. As more brands focus on inclusivity, a new precedent is being set that is likely to see continued growth — particularly when celebrities and influencers, from Rihanna to Kim Kardashian West, are promoting awareness and products to consumers.

More Inclusive Sizing

Anecdotally, it takes less than a year for a brand to add up the costly mistakes and realize that there were actually no cost savings at all. This is due to several reasons. First, the vendor partner has relationships with several manufacturers. They know which ones offer the best manufacturing practices, have good working conditions for employees, have the latest technologies and the best workflows. The vendor has relationships where they can call in favors on the brand’s behalf, and because the vendor has multiple brands in their wheelhouse, they are able to negotiate a highly competitive rate.

As a global sourcing company from concept to completion, it has always been our main goal to focus on bras for every woman. According to the International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, the average American woman wears a size 16-18. Retailers have been investing in sizes small and medium, which