Supply Chain Research

The apparel sector may be lagging the broader recovery in consumer discretionary imports with U.S. seaborne shipments which fell by 13.2% year over year in August. Reduced spending on school and work clothes in the wake of COVID-19 has likely been a major factor in retailers’ decisions to trim shipments, with footwear down by 22.8% year over year in August after a 30.3% slide in July. Genesco, owner of the Journeys and Schuh chains, has stated that the back-to-school “selling season will be prolonged” into September while the firm’s older customers have “fewer reasons to buy” according t...