Sourcing From the Americas: Our Position

At the AAPN, we believe that doing business in the USA and the Americas is easier, faster, safer, and just plain better. Sure, if you want to source huge quantities; and you know what will sell way in advance; and you are not worried about flexibility; and you just want cheap; then there are plenty of mega-factories in the world that will take your orders. But if you are looking for a more flexible sourcing model, one that better aligns with today’s fickle, hyper-connected, want-it-my-way-consumer, then you need to look to the Americas. Here’s why:

EASIER 

We know some people like 16 hour flights and late night conference calls. You will have to give those up to work in the Americas. Most factories in the Americas have at least a 6 hour time zone overlap with your office. ‘American’ English is spoken and easily understood. Face-to-face meetings are quick to arrange, fast to reach and simple to understand. Industries are so tightly integrated in the Americas that one full package AAPN member with a US denim mill and regional jeans factory maintains an office in the fashion jeans center of L.A.

FASTER

The Americas are not just faster because of proximity, although ocean transit times of under a week are nice. The Americas are faster because its easier to collaborate, and the better you collaborate the faster you get. The Americas are faster because the factories are smaller and they can react more quickly. Our members built an activewear supply chain city, producing yarn, fabric, factory and trim all within minutes of one another, giving you access to some of the fastest market speeds possible.

SAFER

When it comes to sustainability, worker safety, environmental stewardship, factory compliance and social responsibility, many members of the AAPN have a significant competitive advantage. One factory’s social programs cut turnover, training costs and absenteeism meaning better skills, more
flexibility, consistent quality and faster cycle times.

BETTER

At the AAPN we believe that easier, faster and safer adds up to better. Better because you can get more sell through when you can order closer to the demand and do fewer blind buys. Better when you can get duty free imports without risking your company’s reputation in countries with poor compliance history. Better because you can spend less time on the plane and more time doing your job.

Make us prove it…

Sure, you can’t make everything you need in the Americas, but we can give you the names of great suppliers making tops/bottoms, knits/wovens, fashion/basics, yarns/fabrics, trims/services and everything in between. Call, click, write, visit, attend our meetings and let us be your guide to the
Americas. We will also share very well thought out metrics you can use to score yourself and your suppliers. We are the Americas Apparel Producers’ Network and that is what we do.

Rediscover the Americas.