Supply chain

The functions played by those who manage the industry were thoroughly discussed in Maria Malone's talk. Despite having a background in fashion, this lecture made me more aware of the many supply chain phases and processes. Despite the fact that they perform behind-the-scenes work, buyers and merchandisers play equally vital roles to designers. Additionally, I was able to see how crucial each job is to the efficient operation of a system and how technological improvements have sped up the production process.

From a very rigid system where directors had the ultimate authority to designers having monopoly and input in line assortment, the industry has come a very long way. The supply chain has undergone significant technical developments, from the creation of samples to the measuring of the garment to the virtual monitoring of the manufacturing. Softwares like 3D designing have been incredibly resourceful in reducing errors, which has resulted in cost savings. Additionally, because of globalisation, clothing companies are now able to produce their products at lower costs using labour from various parts of the world. But this has also led to exploitation and negative impacts on both people and the environment.

Even so, there is increasing discussion on how to make the supply chain transparent due to emerging technologies like block chains, local production and sourcing, and movements like who created your clothes. However, there is still a long way to go and room for development in the fashion industry before a full reform can be achieved. There is an increased expectation on the senior management to consider both internal and external stakeholders to ensure the smooth operation of the business.