Apparel brands and retailers weigh the relative merits of diversifying production countries as suppliers establish new business models that cross borders.

Whether the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are here to stay remains to be seen but it’s become evident that their impact is already making a permanent impression on the apparel supply chain.

The need for speed is only accelerating in today’s fraught environment, making regions with vertical operations the new go-to and long-standing partnerships more valuable than ever.