In today’s dynamic and often unpredictable global market, fashion sourcing is no longer a simple cost exercise—it’s a strategic decision that shapes a brand’s growth, sustainability, and resilience.
In a recent webinar hosted by the Singapore Fashion Council, sourcing expert Jacqui Gray—with over 20 years’ experience leading production for brands like Tesco and Very—offered a roadmap for fashion brands looking to scale smartly across Asia.
Key Takeaways from the Singapore Fashion Council Webinar
As fashion brands grapple with increasing global volatility, sourcing has evolved far beyond simply finding the lowest-cost supplier. Today, successful sourcing strategies must align with a brand’s products, pricing architecture, values, and long-term supplier relationships. In this latest session of the Insight Circuit webinar series, Jacqui provided clear, practical guidance tailored especially to emerging and scaling fashion brands.
A central theme in Jacqui’s presentation was the importance of clarity at the outset. Brands must begin with a well-defined product vision: What are you making? Who is it for? At what price point? And what values—such as sustainability or craftsmanship—must it embody? According to Jacqui, the more precise the blueprint, the easier it becomes to identify and align with the right manufacturing partners.
She walked through the sourcing landscape across key Asian hubs. China remains a powerhouse, thanks to its efficiency, flexibility and access to raw materials. Bangladesh is the go-to for denim and volume orders, offering strong transparency and vertically integrated factories. Myanmar is increasingly competitive, particularly via Chinese-owned operations. India shines for embellished and artisan garments, while Vietnam and Indonesia cater well to tailored or faster-turnaround styles.
Relationships are at the heart of successful sourcing strategies. “Suppliers aren’t just service providers—they’re your partners,” Jacqui emphasized. Building these partnerships requires more than placing orders; it demands time, trust, and active engagement. Fashion brands must stay hands-on—communicating regularly, visiting factories when possible, and aligning on shared goals. Industry trade fairs such as Intertextile (Shanghai, Shenzhen) and the Canton Fair remain essential for identifying capabilities, vetting manufacturers, and establishing meaningful connections. In contrast, relying solely on online sourcing platforms often falls short—offering convenience at the expense of reliability, relationship-building, and long-term strategic alignment.
Automation is rapidly reshaping manufacturing. In China, factories are adopting machinery that reduces reliance on manual sewing labour, boosting speed, consistency and quality. Meanwhile, AI tools are beginning to impact the design side—generating faster concept development and predicting trend directions. While some quality control and sourcing platforms are starting to integrate AI, Jacqui noted that adoption remains limited across most production environments.
In today’s fluid trade climate, agility is key. With U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods under constant revision—including a critical 90-day reprieve ending in July—brands must stay flexible. Jacqui recommends modelling different pricing scenarios, negotiating with suppliers, and exploring partial relocation to other markets such as Vietnam or Bangladesh where it makes strategic sense.
Here’s what she suggests for new or scaling fashion brands:
Looking ahead, compliance with EU regulations—such as the upcoming Digital Product Passport—will require deeper transparency. Bangladesh is well-positioned for this due to its integrated supply chains and post-Rana Plaza reforms. China offers scale and sophistication but often requires more in-person oversight to gain full visibility into sub-suppliers and processing facilities.
In closing, Jacqui emphasized that sourcing goes beyond operations—it is a critical strategic function. The success and resilience of your brand hinge on cultivating partnerships grounded in trust and mutual understanding, which ultimately determine whether your business thrives or faces challenges scaling.
