Sustainable Fashion: A Handbook for Educators

This learning activity helps students collect, synthesize, and analyze information from a variety of sources to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of a country as a sourcing option for a particular company and product category. Students take on one or more decision-maker roles within the textile, apparel, and accessories industries to conduct the research and communicate their analysis.

Questions

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of sourcing from a particular country?
• What factors should be considered when making a sourcing decision?
• How can ethical and human resource concerns be addressed when sourcing from a particular country?

Answers

• The advantages of sourcing from a particular country can include:
• Low labor costs
• Access to a skilled workforce
• A favorable regulatory environment
• A strong infrastructure
• The disadvantages of sourcing from a particular country can include:
• High transportation costs
• Political instability
• Currency fluctuations
• Ethical and human resource concerns
• When making a sourcing decision, it is important to consider all of these factors. It is also important to work with a reputable supplier who can ensure that the products are produced in an ethical and sustainable manner.