Episode 91
Brands Want to Leave Asia — But the Western Supply Chain Isn’t Ready
Why Tariffs, Lost Manufacturing Expertise, and Missing Yarn Capacity are Making Nearshoring Harder Than Brands Expected.
About This Episode
Trade policy is reshaping the global apparel supply chain, but the Western Hemisphere may not be ready for the shift.
In this episode, Graham Page — Senior Vice President of Synthetic Textiles at Color & Touch, part of HANSE Worldwide — explains how tariffs, the closure of the de minimis loophole, and rising Asian costs are forcing brands to reconsider where they manufacture.
The conversation explores the realities of nearshoring apparel production, including missing yarn capacity in the region, the loss of technical expertise inside brands, and why the math behind landed cost is often misunderstood.
Key Discussion Takeaways & Themes
- ✓Leaving Asia vs Western Readiness: The structural gaps in domestic dyeing, finishing, and specialized weaving that slow down complete reshoring.
- ✓Specialty Synthetic Engineering: Competing on extreme technical specifications (fire retardancy, high tensile strength) rather than price per yard.
- ✓Tariff Impacts on Raw Materials: Navigating volatile input costs when polymer and yarn components still originate overseas.
- ✓Contract Structuring for Long Cycles: Protecting factory margins with indexed raw-material escalation clauses in commercial supply agreements.
Featured Guest
Graham Page
Senior Vice President · Synthetic Textiles
Recorded Mar 11 2026
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