Textile and Apparel Industries

Stitch By Stitch: Addressing the Barriers to Apparel and Textile Reshoring in the United States

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the ways apparel and textile firms might think innovatively to address the cost and scarcity of a skilled, domestic workforce in order to facilitate the reshoring of their operations in the United States. In depth interviews were conducted with 24 individuals with knowledge of or experience in reshoring from a production or policy perspective. Three themes were identified: Direct Investments, Indirect Solutions, and Differentiating to Meet Demand.  Data were interpreted through the lens of innovation theory. Results extend previous literature on the topic by highlighting the ways that industry stakeholders think firms can overcome the barriers to reshoring and make a successful return to domestic production.

Keywords: Innovation, Apparel, Domestic Production, Reshoring

How to Cite:

Hodges, N. J., Williams, A. & Hembree, M., (2020) “Stitch By Stitch: Addressing the Barriers to Apparel and Textile Reshoring in the United States”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12041