While international fashion might not seem to go hand in hand with logistics, it is perhaps one of the most important unseen cogs in the wheel, ensuring designers and retailers are able to manage their supply chain challenges without a hitch.
Indeed, without a reliable logistics partner, the season’s latest designs set to be showcased at the numerous fashion weeks around the world would not be able to take the center stage they justly deserve.
Overcoming challenges
When handling high-end, high-value fashion and retail products, transportation and logistics providers are faced with a unique set of challenges. These can vary from ensuring the security of garments to supply chain disruptions due to weather or geopolitical crises. Regardless of the obstacle or challenge at hand, global logistics providers must consistently keep their finger on the pulse to ensure that goods get to their final destination with minimal disruption and that inventory is managed both efficiently and effectively.
Due to the time-sensitive nature of fashion weeks, seasonal collections and product launches, flexibility and reliable delivery timelines to meet the demanding schedules of fashion retailers and designers are paramount. Furthermore, irrespective of however robust a logistics solution is, ongoing geopolitical issues, natural disasters, labor strikes and economic uncertainties – which are becoming more commonplace on a global scale – can have a devastating impact.
This is fundamentally where experienced global logistics providers are worth their weight in gold, as having an intrinsic and real-time understanding of current issues is crucial to ensuring the flow of goods is maintained. To mitigate the fallout from such incidents, logistics companies would typically offer contingency planning, and look at alternative routing options to ensure continuity of operations and minimize disruptions to the flow of goods.
Security is essential
With a rise in theft currently plaguing high-fashion brands, the need to increase security measures within the supply chain has become a high priority during fashion months.
Recognizing and providing solutions to combat key security concerns facing the fashion industry today, especially during such events where high-value garments become prime targets for theft, is becoming increasingly essential.
Last year during Paris Fashion Week, a delivery van containing around 50 designs due to be included in the Balmain line-up was targeted by thieves and stolen 10 days prior to the show. Incidents such as this highlight the importance of employing advanced security measures, such as real-time tracking and monitoring systems, to safeguard shipments and prevent unauthorized access.
In line with the increased security risk posed to high-end garments, fashion brands now demand real-time visibility in their supply chain to track inventory levels and monitor shipments and provide an extra layer to the security protocols already in place.
Handling too also forms a big part of safeguarding garments. Traditionally, couture will require specialized handling and care during transportation that offers both customized packaging and handling solutions to ensure the integrity of their products.
Indeed, in some cases, for example when transporting leather goods or cosmetics, a temperature or climate-controlled offering might have to be introduced to prevent damage or deterioration. The number of nuances to consider on behalf of the client in developing a bespoke solution is extensive to meet a customer’s specific requirements.
Sustainable focus
And it doesn’t stop there. Fashion brands are increasingly under the microscope with regards to sustainability. Indeed, Fashion Week events across the globe have taken strategic steps to promote sustainable practices and drive forward awareness around the impact fashion has on both society and the environment.
The choice of packaging and how their products are transported are factors which are increasingly top of mind for fashion brands as they look to drive down their carbon footprint.
With the climate crisis high on the global agenda, the fashion industry as a whole has recognized the importance of embracing sustainable practices and reducing its impact on the environment. This now translates across the entire breadth of the industry’s supply chain from how materials are sourced to its choice of logistics partner.
At Aramex, we have aimed to prioritize sustainability initiatives over recent years by implementing eco-friendly practices, optimizing routes for fuel efficiency and investing in green technologies to minimize our environmental footprint. With increasing consumer awareness of and regulatory pressure on sustainability issues, transportation and logistics companies must tailor solutions to help the fashion sector address environmental concerns related to emissions and improve its carbon footprint.