The current administration’s constantly shifting tariffs have thrown a wrench in business as usual and companies’ bottom lines, particularly for brands and retailers reliant on imported merchandise. For New York-based luxury label Lafayette 148— which makes the majority of its goods in China at a vertically owned factory and predominantly sells to U.S. shoppers—the added duties introduced this year have tacked on millions in added costs and forced it to make challenging choices. In a one-on-one chat at our Fall Summit, the brand’s co-founder and CEO Deirdre Quinn will share how the company is navigating and strategizing for unpredictability.

Amid global trade fluctuations, companies are carefully considering their sourcing strategies for each supply chain tier to maximize potential savings and guard against risk. As nearshoring has been thrust into the spotlight, the focus has largely been on moving manufacturing nearby, but choosing raw materials produced closer to home can also have operational and global commerce benefits. In this one-on-one conversation, Cotton Incorporated’s senior economist Jon Devine will dive into how the economic environment—including consumer demand—is shaping the raw material market.  

Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest buzzwords in the business technology space, but not all AI solutions are created equal. As companies pump more funds into automation, machine learning and more, they want to ensure they are getting the biggest bang for their buck—particularly in today’s uncertain market. While they may not be as flashy as robots in a warehouse or personified chatbots, backend use cases of AI often do heavy lifting in improving efficiency and providing cost savings. This panel will look at how digitalization is shaping supply chains amid sourcing disruption, how to tailor solutions to solve specific problems and how companies are evaluating their technology spend.

Since its start 20 years ago, Veja has not been afraid to go against the grain. The shoe brand’s strategy has centered on slow and steady growth rather than rapid expansion, which has enabled it to better weather whatever storms the market throws at the fashion industry. On the sourcing front, the philosophy is all about supplier partnership, as Veja chooses to work directly with raw material producers and build relationships rather than rely on certifications. This chat with two of the brand’s executives will dive into how Veja thinks differently, what impact that has had on the company during challenging times and how it is thinking about responsibility throughout the full life cycle of its footwear.

The past few months have been dominated by an unrelenting cycle of trade policy changes, as tariff rates were announced, postponed and negotiated. Companies have also had to scramble as the de minimis provision closed, ending a long-running duty exception for direct-from-factory shipments. At the same time, scrutiny over transshipments and rule of origin is making the U.S. importation process more complex. Adding uncertainty, key trade deals in Africa and Haiti are nearing their expiration dates. With everything in flux, there is copious confusion over what the new trade landscape means in practice. This panel will break down what you need to know about trade and outline possible scenarios for the near future.