Silk fabric is a textile woven or knitted from silk, a natural protein fibre spun by silkworm larvae to build their cocoons. Most commercial silk fabric comes from the domesticated mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. Above all, it is valued for its lustre, smooth hand, light weight, and strength, but it…
Duty drawback is a US customs refund of up to 99% of the duties, taxes, and certain fees paid on imported goods that are later exported or destroyed under customs supervision. For an apparel brand, duty paid on a shipment of sweaters can come back if some of those sweaters…
Cupro fabric is a regenerated cellulose textile made from cotton linter, the short fuzz left on cotton seeds after ginning. Chemically, it is a cousin of viscose, modal, and lyocell. In practice, cupro fabric is prized for a silk-like drape, a cool and smooth hand, and good breathability, which is…
An HTS code is the 10-digit number that identifies a product in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. For clothing, the HTS code sets the base duty rate, the quota and statistics category, and often which extra tariffs apply. As a result, two garments that look the same…
Linen fabric is a woven or knitted textile made from flax, a bast fibre taken from the stem of the Linum usitatissimum plant. In practice, linen fabric is cool, strong, and absorbent, but it creases easily and can shrink several percent if it is not pre-washed. That combination makes it…
The inventory turnover ratio measures how many times a business sells and replaces its stock in a year. You calculate it by dividing cost of goods sold by average inventory at cost. For apparel, a higher inventory turnover ratio usually means fresher product, fewer markdowns, and less cash tied up…
An FOB price is the price of goods delivered on board the ship at the port of export. In apparel, an FOB price usually covers the finished, packed garment plus everything needed to get it onto the vessel: materials, making, factory overhead and profit, inland transport to the port, and…
Wholesale pricing is the price a brand charges retailers, distributors, or other businesses that buy its products to resell them. In apparel, a good wholesale price has to do two jobs at once. First, it must cover the brand’s landed cost with enough margin. Second, it must leave the retailer…
Modal fabric is made from a regenerated cellulose fibre, usually spun from beech or other hardwood pulp, that keeps much more of its strength when wet than ordinary viscose. As a result, modal fabric feels soft and smooth like viscose but holds its shape better in the wash. Consequently, it…
Lyocell fabric starts as wood cellulose, which producers dissolve directly in a recyclable organic solvent and spin into fibre. As a result, it shares the softness and breathability of viscose but is stronger, especially when wet, and shrinks less. For apparel brands, lyocell fabric is now a mainstream option for…
