Materials Sourcing: The Complex Balancing Act that's Challenging Many Brands

It’s difficult to talk about apparel without also talking about materials.And that quickly leads to conversations about sustainability.  Not so much about the need to use more sustainable materials. - most people are pretty clear on that.  The challenge is how to check all of the boxes - and there are a lot! - that brands need to check these days.I’m Jane Singer, and welcome to A Seat at The Table.The question so many brands struggle with is “how to meet requests for better performance, better hand feel, visual appeal and, of course, sustainability?”So I reached out to Veronica Pagani, a leading expert on materials sourcing to find out how she manages that complex equation.Veronica was Vice President of raw materials sourcing at Ralph Lauren for 15 years, before leaving last year to start her own consulting business Studio VP.She’s worked with suppliers around the world and has been challenged to meet the stringent standards that are part of working for a major brand that faces constant pressure to be more sustainable, meet strict compliance standards, work on tight lead times, while also being innovative in terms of performance and design.Speaking of materials, before we get started, if you’re looking for  a well-edited selection of top quality products that are filled with creativity, Then Spinexpo is the place to go.  It’s  the primary exhibition for yarns and knitwear.   It’s also the top resource for precise trend information that cannot be found anywhere else.  Learn more about SPINEXPO:  www.spinexpo.comLearn more about Studio VP:  www.studiovp.ioThe Current Situation in Sourcing:   https://bit.ly/current_situtationVisit a Seat at The Table's website where you'll find all of our podcast episodes, more show notes plus other useful information.  Go to www.seat.fmSEND US A MESSAGEVisit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm