• Home
  • History
    • Role of a Sewing Machine Mechanic
    • Role of a Sewing Operator
    • Properties and Characteristics of Flax
    • Properties and Characteristics of Silk
    • Man-Made Fibers: A Synthetic Revolution
    • Different Properties and Uses of Cotton
    • Different Quality of Wool Fiber
    • Needle Data (From 1963)
    • Let's Talk Baseball(s)
    • An Undercover Invention
    • Mid-Century (1900-1910)
    • Cotton Picking Time
    • Making Dresses for Miss Europe
    • Bone Fragment Reveals
    • Coveralls for Paul Bunyan?
    • F.I.T. - College for Apparel Industry
    • Keighley Pioneer
    • 1949 Carrihim Machine
    • Jan Ernst Matzeliger’s Invention
    • 1845
    • Development of Production Methods
    • Early Sewing Machine Developments
    • Conclusion
    • WAAC Fitted for Uniforms
    • Now It's Fabric from Milk
    • Byrd Cloth Garments
    • First Sewing Machines Made In Africa
    • Union Special Headquarters
    • The Long and Short of Mattress Making
    • World's Largest Pillow Q&A
    • Sewing History Revisted
  • UpFront
    • UpFront with American Leather
    • UpFront with Mackey McDonald
    • UpFront with Hohenstein
    • UpFront with the Merrow Group
    • UpFront wih Consew
    • UpFront wih Jeanologia
    • UpFront wih Diamond Needle 2
    • UpFront wih Alpine Fit (Part 1)
    • UpFront wih Alpine Fit's Jen Loofbourrow
    • UpFront wih FABRIC, Part 1
    • UpFront with FABRIC, Part 2
    • UpFront wih Unionwear (Part 1)
    • UpFront wih Unionwear (Part 2)
    • UpFront wih Americas21st
    • UpFront wih Morgan Tecnica
    • Upfront with the Berzacks
    • Harry L. Berzack’s Sewing Machine Museum
    • Welcome Dr. Trevor Little
  • Industry Opinion
    • My Point of View
    • 90-Day Trade Truce
    • Domestic Reshoring in Motion
    • Reverse Mentorship
    • The Disappearing Art of Garment Mastery
    • ‘Made in the USA’ Isn’t a Premium
    • The Reshoring Initiative
    • The Silent Crisis in Garment Engineering
    • The Times They Are A-Changin'
    • Large Store Concept Threat
    • U.S. - A Concern for Bangladesh
    • Changing the Relationship
    • The Global Trade Equation
    • Forging the Future
    • Technologies Reshaping Sewn Goods
    • Don’t Worry, Humans Still Matter
    • GenAI Solutions and Benefits
    • Automated Manufacturing
    • Coalition to Close "De Minimis" Loophole
    • Promise and Pitfalls of Lean
    • Generative AI
    • Upcoming Trends Europe
    • Who is the Unknown Stranger?
    • Don’t Discount Value of Associations
    • Focus on Tech Suggests IAF President
    • Is Sewing a Dying Skill
    • Technology is Crucial to Manufacturing
    • Trade Policies that Work
    • Apparel May See Fewer Orders
    • Time to Close an Import Loophole
  • Industry News
    • Cotton Street Gallery
    • Levi Strauss Selling Dockers
    • Soho Apparel American Agenda
    • NCTO Elects Hall and Bircher Bruyn
    • AAFA Reacts to USTR
    • IAF Position on U.S. Tariffs
    • Karl Mayer Group Plans Reorientation
    • Milliken Fuels NC State Research
    • Avalo Hires Textile Veteran Tricia Carey
    • Jeanologia Celebrates 30th Anniversary
    • Bangladesh Takes Automation Route
    • Lectra Launches Valia Fashion
    • Cansew Celebrates 100 Years
    • A&E Expands Facility in Bangladesh
    • Avantex Appoints Carlos Botero
    • VDMA to Hold Joint Meeting
    • OECD Forum on Due Diligence
    • Kontoor Brands to Acquire Helly Hansen
    • NCTO Announces Katherine White
    • AAFA, FLA Delegation Visits BGMEA
    • DeSL-Browzwear Partnership
    • Mexico Ends Border-Skipping Loophole
    • EU and Mercosur Agreement
    • Cascale Assembles U.S. Policy Team
    • Zalando and ABOUT YOU Team Up
    • Lutai Group to Egypt
    • Dickies Relocating to California
    • Andritz Receives Engineering Order
    • SPESA Hosts Successful Conference
    • The Show Miami
    • Ecuador’s Textile Association Initiative
    • Atlanta Attachment Rebranded
    • Lectra Partnership With Six Atomic
    • NCTO Calls to Limit De Minimis
    • A Successful Techtextil North America
    • Apex Mills Launches New Fabrics
    • AATCC Journal of Research
    • MWI Welcomes Two New Representatives
    • Freudenberg Factory in Vietnam
    • USFIA Benchmarking Survey
    • Coloreel Group AB Files for Bankruptcy
    • CEMATEX Appoints Alex Zucchi
    • Mario Jorge Machado President of EURATEX
    • Coloreel Expands with Juki America
    • NCTO Welcomes Textile Enforcement Plan
    • Omron Selects Spartanburg County
    • Inspectorio Launches Platform
    • How Digitalization is Driving Growth
    • Santoni Completes Acquisition of Terrot
    • Zünd Helping Aerospace Take Wings
    • Fire at Former Singer Factory
    • Lectra Launches the Observatory
    • HanesBrands Expands Workplace with DXC
    • Turkey Clothing Makers Face Rising Costs
    • U.S. Government Must Act Now
    • California Garment Industry Requirements
    • US DoC Invests in Textile Manufacturing
    • Tukatech Partnership with EcoShot
    • Alpine Fit's Jen Loofbourrow Wins Award
    • AEC Appoints Jeff Crisco President
    • NC State - Textile Training in Honduras
    • A&E Unveils New Sustainables
    • TSGD Status Report
    • Tukatech and Inèdit Partner
    • Cone Denim Joins CIRCULOSE Network
    • Best of Bangladesh in Amsterdam
    • OECD Study: Latest Trends
    • Fire-Dex Takes Over Kitsbow Facility
    • Former Hickey Freeman Factory
    • Introducing The Bremen Cotton Exchange
    • VF Corp Names Bracken Darrell
    • Ocean State Innovations Acquires Cloud9
    • Nike's New Aerogami Technology
    • Texprocess Americas Innovation Awards
    • Career and Training Center at Texprocess
    • Seamless Transition at Dürkopp-Adler
    • Elevate Recapitalization-New Ownership
    • Dürkopp Adler Acquires Sonotronic
    • Freudenberg Certification
    • VDMA at ITMA
    • Hodges International and Tukatech
    • Lectra Brings Production Back In-House
    • Zünd-Texprocess Americas 202
    • CGS Issues 2023 Report
    • NC Textile Manufacturer to Invest $24mil
    • Inspectorio Rise Expands
    • Next Level Apparel Partners With Grupo M
    • AAFA Formalizes Partnership with IFAI
    • Outlook into Fashion Future
    • Turkish Manufacturers Resume
    • TGSD Fighting Quake Aftermath
    • Open Letter to International Apparel
    • OECD in Paris
    • Nazma Akter’s Opening Key Note
    • Methods Workshop Under New Management
    • APTMA Rejects Claims
    • Style3D Announces Acquisition of Assyst
    • APTMA, BGMEA to Enhance Cooperation
    • Zünd Establishes a New Subsidiary
    • Black Design Collective
    • Senate Passes Bill
    • Japanese Garment Giants Leave China
    • NC State and Under Armour Partnership
    • Rieter’s Financial Commitment
    • Classic Fashion
    • Garland Apparel Group
    • Amazon Shuts Online Store Fabric.com
    • Gas Supply Crunch Stifles Bangladesh
    • Stitch 3D and Hatch Join Forces
    • Sonobond Becomes Part of Inductotherm
    • M&S to Exit from Sourcing in Myanmar
    • A Global Brand Preserves Carolina Legacy
    • 3DLook
    • Dürkopp Adler Universal Sewing Drives
    • U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
    • BGMEA, Tonello to Partner
    • Canadian Defence Minister Announcement
    • Tukatech launches GP-800 High Ply Cutter
    • 3D Avatars in PLM
    • New York Governor Pledges 10 Million
    • Merrow Superior Acquires Goldberg Supply
    • OECD Nations Face Labor Shortages
    • New Management for Heimtextil, TT, TP
    • Clothing Textile Flammability Standard
    • EU Moves to Ban Forced Labor Products
    • Bangladesh Eyes 100 Billion USD Exports
    • U.S.-Honduras Education Partnership
    • Kraig Biocraft Laboratories
    • Juki-Mitsuishi-Meiryo Joint Venture
    • Cut-and-Sew Manufacturing Returns to NC
    • Due Diligence for Supply Chains
    • Sae-A Factory in Costa Rica
    • Valentino Garavani Turns 90
    • DuPont Joins Forces With Heriot-Watt
    • Datacolor Announces Partnerships
    • Reshoring Latin America
    • Lectra Recognized by Deloitte
    • LYCRA Company Browzwear Partnership
    • Frankfurt Tradeshow Trio
    • 2022 Innovation Awards by Messe Frankfur
    • The LYCRA Company
    • Meta Announces
    • US Textile and Apparel Exports Up
    • How to Hone Honduras’s Potential
    • Australian T-Shirt Producer Looking
    • Okabashi Brands Growing
    • Sri Lanka Defaults on Debt
    • Small Brands Are The Future
    • Zund America Announces Manuel Merkt
    • Lectra’s Chess Move
    • Eastman Machine Co. and ACG Nyström
    • Elevate Releases Sustainability Report
    • Standing With Ukraine
    • BELLA+CANVAS
    • Intradeco Holdings
    • Textile Industry Preparing
    • Lectra Equips Bespoke Manufacturing Co.
    • Eastman Appointed Airborne Partner
    • Software Tools for Automatic Cutting
    • Buy Local
    • i-SMART Globally Launched
    • Sewn Products Reshoring Award
    • Latin American Apparel Exports Growing
    • Increasing Exports
    • NextGenerationEU Package
    • Coloreel Hirsch Expand Partnership
    • Henderson and Optio Partnership
    • Q1 2022 Barometer
    • Needs to Bring Factories into Compliance
    • College Partnerships
    • EU-UK Trade Figures
    • US Textile and Apparel Exports Up
    • Vietnam Garment and Textiles
    • OEKO-TEX New Regulations 2022
    • Alvanon Launches Fit Studio in Milan
    • National Safety Apparel
    • Rising Star Amiri Opens in Miami
  • Industry Technologies
    • The Truth About Multi-Ply Cutting
    • Hohenstein Supports Textile Scheme
    • Robotics Living Lab Opens
    • Role of Attachments
    • Hohenstein and DuPont Assessment
    • YKK Unveils Innovative Zipper
    • Axiom Space, Prada Unveil Spacesuit
    • PatternFast Transforms Fashion
    • Tukatech-Tronog Join Forces
    • Kornit Digital Empowers Hybrid Digital
    • How AI Is Impacting Legal Issues
    • Brother Unveils State-of-the-Art Aveneer
    • Tech and Fashion
    • Weaving Recycling Knowledge
    • Debunking the Myths of CAD/CAM
    • SINBON and MAKALOT Partner
    • Shinwon Leads Innovation with AI
    • Plataine to Enhance Fabric Cutting
    • Hemmers Binders, Folders, Attachments
    • Fashion Goes Green Thanks to Technology
    • Navigating Production Planning
    • Slice and Dice: Art of Cut Planning
    • Walmart and unspun
    • High Ply Cutters
    • New NSF Center
    • Tukatech Launches Innovation Center
    • BASF and Inditex Recycling Breakthrough
    • Mechanics
    • Training Sewing Machine Mechanics
    • MTM
    • What’s Next for Smart Factories?
    • TextileGenesis Traces Material Origins
    • Seams and Stitches (Part 1)
    • Seams and Stitches (Part 2)
    • ITSCD Conference
    • ZCC Zünd Cut Center
    • Lectra Launches New Cutting Equipment
    • Exploring the Future
    • Leather Made from Beer
    • Sewng with Threads, Part 3
    • Smart Textiles Enable Communications
    • Sewng with Threads, Part 2
    • Sewng with Threads, Part 1
    • Kornit Rolls Out New Curing Technology
    • Researchers Separate Cotton From Poly
    • AI-based Business Planning and Forecast
    • What’s Happening in 3D CAD for Fashion
    • PFAFF Launches New Machine
    • JUKI Renews DDL-9000C Series
    • Automation Eases RMG Workload
    • Fabric Cutting Optimization (Part 3)
    • Technology Drives Luenthai
    • Brief History of the Sewing Needle
    • Today’s Sewing Needles
    • Industrial Sewing Thread Needle Sizes
    • Sewing Machine Needle Buyers Guide
    • US DoD Partners with OROS
    • Always in the Comfort Zone
    • YKK Develops AquaGuard NATULON
    • Bespoke Selects Zebra AMRs
    • Walmart Introduces Virtual Try-on Tech
    • Fabric Cutting Optimization (Part 1)
    • On-Demand Manufacturing
    • Coats Digital Launches FastReactFabric
    • Fashinza Apparel Manufacturing Platform
    • Fabric Spreading
    • Spreading Machine Buyers Guide
    • Embedding Fundamental 3D Transformation
    • China’s Tech Giants Test the Waters
    • S.W Specialty Papers
    • Stand-Alone vs. 2D-3D
    • Digital Cutting Software from Zünd
    • Cameras on Cutters
    • 3D: No Wonder Tool
    • Automation Gaining Ground
    • Jeanologia Introduces Colorbox
    • Part 3 - Artificial Intelligence
    • The Metaverse Is Just An Idea
    • Commerce Department Awards $54 Million
    • Part 2 - Artificial Intelligence
    • Speed PLUS Variety - Elastane Processing
    • Part 1 - Artificial Intelligence
    • Digital Thread & Yarn Dyeing System
    • Future of Textiles
    • Cutting
  • Intelligent Textiles
    • DTB & HSN Conference on Digitalization
    • Carrington & Noble Create Stealth
    • DPC Concepts
    • Brandix Sparks New Era with AI
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Light, Heat, Data: From Fiber to Appar 2
    • Airbag Jeans: Safe & Smart
  • Industry Leaders
    • Lew Feinberg Passes
    • Isak Andic Dies
    • Hank Little to Retire
    • In Memoriam: Dorothy Fullam
    • In Memoriam Harry van Dalfsen
    • Frank Henderson Receives SEAMS Award
  • Supply Chain
    • Impacts of "America First" Policies
    • Cross-Border Trades Against Standby LC
    • Balancing Automation and Employment
    • AGOA Time Running Out
    • American-Sewn: A Comeback
    • U.S. Reduces Garment Imports from China
    • Bangladesh, Vietnam Surge
    • Textile Imbalances
    • Hugo Boss Resumes European Manufacturing
    • Alpine Group Applies FibreTrace
    • Trillion-Dollar Problem for Retailers
    • Forced Labor in the Clothing Industry
    • EU Bans Products Made with Forced Labor
    • Understanding Nearshore Manufacturing
    • Stitching the Future of Apparel
    • Textile Execs's VA Concerns
    • H&M Begins Exit from Myanmar
    • Factory Strikes Flare Up in China
    • Uniqlo to Have Manufacturing in India
    • Sri Lanka Garment Manufacturing
    • Philippine Garments Industry
    • Sri Lankan Apparel Industry Crisis
    • Sourcing in Africa, Part 4
    • Sourcing in Africa, Part 5
    • Chinese ‘Fast Fashion’ Brands
    • Chinese Brands Mishandled Customer Data
    • Sourcing in Africa (Part 1)
    • Sourcing in Africa (Part 2)
    • Sourcing in Africa (Part 3)
    • Covid-19 Outbreaks
    • US Ports Face Empty Containers
    • Is Reshoring/Nearshoring Tide Turnin
    • Traceability
  • Sustainability
    • Wrangler x Jeans Launch
    • Hohenstein Sustainability Report
    • Global Standard Launched GOTS Handbook
    • New Low Microfiber Discharge Standard
    • Hugo Boss Launches Eightyards
    • eBay Expands Circular Fashion Fund
    • OEKO-TEX Reports 50,000+ Certifications
    • UNIFI Launch
    • Fashion Opens the Doors to ‘Econogy'
    • Debrand Opens U.S. Textile Sorting Plant
    • EU Commission Rules
    • Syre Launches Mission to Decarbonize
    • Carhartt Joins US Cotton Trust Protocol
    • Freudenberg Apparel: Next Step
    • Climate Tech Startup
    • Portugal's Textile Sector
    • Elevate Textiles Sustainability Report
    • Carrington Textiles’ Portuguese Factory
    • Modern Meadow - Earthletica Collaborateo
    • PTC, Made2Flow Partner
    • Keel Labs Unveils Seaweed-Based Kelsun
    • Crystal Elevates Sustainable Fashion
    • New Way to Tackle Clothing Waste
    • KlarTEXt Project
    • Lycra Initiative to Support FitSense
    • Messe Frankfurt’s Textile Trade Shows
    • Alpine Fit Joins 1% for the Planet
    • IAF Food for Thought
    • Sustainable Apparel Coalition Report
    • STTI Update: June 2023
    • Sustainable Cotton Hub
    • Vaude: PFAS-Free in All Apparel Fabrics
    • European Industry Associations
    • HanesBrands Sustainability Goas
    • Freudenberg Milestone
    • Freudenberg Mlestone Innovation
    • Gildan Publishes Climate Change Report
    • Renewcell New Textile Fiber Prep
    • Sustainable Apparel Coalition
    • Innovative Recycling Product by Ecoalf
    • How Sustainability is Improving Fashon
    • What Is Fast Fashion?
    • Sustainability Rating System Exposed
    • Apparel Company Pivots
    • Death of Fast Fashion
    • STTI Gains Two New Members
    • Eight Start-Ups
    • Game-Changing Legislations
    • Higg Partners with AII
    • Archroma and Jeanologia
  • World of Fashion
    • The Inditex Phenomena
    • The Influence of Technology on Fashion
    • Preparing Future Fashion Leaders
    • ISAIC Reveals 2025 Honors Winners
    • Streaming Meets Street Fashion
    • Morse Code Clothing Expands to the U.S.
    • Virtual Try-on with Anthropics
    • Tom Ford Secures Belgian Haider Ackerman
    • LVMH and Alibaba Expand Partnership
    • Calvin Klein Opens New Lifestyle Store
    • Rise of the Hemp Revolution
    • Tribute to Iris Apfel
    • Trending: Hallyu - The Korean wave
    • z-emotion, Setting off from Seoul
    • Axiom Space, Prada Join Forces
    • 95 Years of Film and Fashion History
    • South African Designer Sindiso Khumalo
    • Five Ways Technology is Aiding Fashion
    • Virtual Fitting Rooms
    • CORDURA - MYSTERY RANCH Collaboration
    • CORDURA and MYSTERY RANCH
    • Epson and Designer Yuima Nakazato Show
    • Outlook into Fashion Future
    • The Birkin Bag Case
    • McKinsey Outlook Pessimistic
    • Sales Price Hikes
    • LVMH Names Pietro Beccari
    • New Study Explores AI
    • Christie's Auctions Talley Collection
    • "Gucci Twinsburg" on the Milan Catwalk.
    • What to Wear on Mars?
    • Matching Elegance with Sophistication
  • Industry Events
    • TPA and TTNA 2025
    • Alphabet Soup Collective to Atlanta
    • SPESA Welcomes
    • IAF Extends Cem Altan’s Term
    • SEAMS Packs ’Em in
    • VDMA: Sales Still On Growth Track
    • IACDE International Convention 2023
    • 38th World Fashion Convention
    • FEDTEX 2023
    • Training Takes Time
    • New Micro Plant at FME
    • Micro Plant at FME
    • World Fashion Convention
    • ideation on the Road 2
    • ideation on the Road
    • Join IAF World Fashion Convention
    • Interior Trends 2003
    • The Fox Company
    • Snippets Around Texprocess
    • 37th IAF
    • Furniture Manufacturing Expo
    • Advancements in Manufacturing Tech
    • Texprocess / Techtextil (Atlanta)
    • Texprocess / Techtextil (Frankfurt) 2
    • Texprocess Americas 2022
    • Texprocess 2022 – Frankfurt
    • American & Efird
    • Atlanta Attachment Company
    • Brother International Corporation
    • DAP America
    • Eastman Machine Company
    • Juki America
    • Techtextil and Texprocess 2022
    • Kuris USA
    • MACPI Spa Pressing Division
    • Mitsubishi Electric Automation
    • Sewn Products Equipment Co.
    • RSG Automation
    • Tukatech
    • YIN USA
    • Zünd America
    • Texprocess Americas / Techtextil North A
    • Heimtextil Summer Special
    • NAUMD 2022
    • IAF-Euratex Photo Gallery
  • Associations
    • EURATEX Launches Horion Europe Project
    • IFAI Now Advanced Textiles Association
    • AAPN Confers Walter Wilhelm Award
  • Book Review
    • Under The Banyan Tree
    • American Flannel
    • World of Opportunity
    • Get It Made
    • Making It In America
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The NEEDLE'S EYE... Trends and Technologies Driving the Sewn Products Industry

The NEEDLE'S EYE!

June 2025
Archived Issues
February 2022 • March 2022 • April 2022 • May 2022 • June 22 • July 2022 • August 2022 • September 2022 • October 2022 • November 2022 • December 2022 • January 2023 • February 2023 • March 2023 • April 2023 • May 2023 • June 2023 • July 2023 • August 2023 • September 2023 • October 2023 • November 2023 • December 2023 • January 2024 • February 2024 • March 2024 • April 2024 • May 2024 • June 2024 • July 2024 • August 2024 • September 2024 • October 2024 • November 2024 • December 2024 • January 2025 • February 2025 • March 2025 • April 2025 • May 2025 •

Out of the Past

Needle’s Eye Front Cover — October-November 1971 — PEOPLE
  • In the modern, fast-paced needle trades industry, where every day brings changes, new concepts, and innovations, one thing remains the same—the skills and dedication of the hundreds of thousands of PEOPLE producing sewn goods in plants throughout the world.

  • As of the most recent data (2023), approximately 90,000 to 100,000 workers are employed in garment manufacturing in the United States. This includes those engaged in “cut and sew apparel manufacturing,” which is the core of garment production.

  • Broader textile and apparel manufacturing (including non-garment textiles) contributes more, totaling approximately 325,000–350,000 across the entire sector.

  • Employment in U.S. garment manufacturing has declined significantly over the past several decades due to offshoring and automation.

  • The last few covers of THE NEEDLE’S EYE have spotlighted these operators, mechanics, foreladies (female supervisors), and management personnel. It has been our way of saluting these individuals and expressing our pride in them within the dynamic needle trades industry.
Visit www.zund.com to discover the latest Zünd innovations in industrial digital cutting technology: specialized tooling for a perfect cut no matter what materials go into your sewn products, a full range of hardware and software options all geared toward easy, efficient workflow automation—Zünd has it all! What’s more…multifunctional cutting systems from Zünd are modular by design and easily adaptable as your cutting needs grow or change. Find the cutting solution perfectly tailored to your needs, present and future! Contact Zünd anytime for a personal demonstration or visit us in person at Furniture Manufacturers Expo, June 11-12 • CAMX, Orlando, FL – September 8-11 • Printing United, Orlando, FL – October 22-24.

My Point of View

Surviving Today’s Tariffs Climate
By Dave Gardner, Editor of The Needle’s Eye
I must admit that before participating in the May 2025 Atlanta Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North America editions, I was concerned about what the mood of exhibitors and attendees would be. What would I see and hear? How do they perceive the current state of our industry and its near- and long-term outlooks? Our textile-sewn products industry is currently facing a challenging operating backdrop, marked by supply chain disruptions reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic – but this time, with the added complexities of elevated import tariffs, increased shipping costs, delivery delays, labor shortages, inflation, and ongoing military conflicts. Read More >

Industry Opinions

The 90-Day Trade Truce: Déjà Vu or Do-Over?
By Joe Altieri, FIT Adjunct Professor, Mentor, Educator, and Trainer
Markets cheered the recent U.S.–China tariff truce, but for those in the apparel industry, the mood should be far less celebratory. This is not a breakthrough. It’s a rerun. We’ve been here before. Back in 2018, the first trade war “pause” looked like progress—until it wasn’t. Tariffs were eased, headlines were hopeful, and the markets bounced. But no structural change followed. No mass reshoring. No manufacturing renaissance. The global sourcing machine simply shifted gears, rerouting orders from China to Vietnam, Bangladesh, and elsewhere. The moment passed—and with it, the momentum. Now, in 2025, history is repeating itself. Once again, tariff rates are rolled back: from 145% to 30% on U.S. imports and from 125% to 10% on Chinese exports. A 90-day window. A political handshake. And once again, a wave of relief washed over an industry desperate for clarity. But here’s the hard truth: relief is not reform. A pause is not a plan. And this window won’t stay open forever. Read More >
Threads of Change – Domestic Reshoring in Motion
By Joe Altieri, FIT Adjunct Professor, Mentor, Educator, and Trainer
  • What’s Happening Now in U.S. Apparel Manufacturing? Why It Matters?
  • Current initiatives by Levi Strauss & Co., ABC Manufacturing, American Giant, Los Angeles Apparel, Parkdale Mills, Softwear Automation, and FIT: ReshoreReady Accelerator prove that reshoring is no longer hypothetical. It’s happening—though still in its infancy.

  • What’s needed next?
  • Broader brand commitment beyond capsule collections
  • Investment in skilled labor and training pipelines
  • Federal policy alignment on textile tariffs and automation tax credits
Call to Action: If you are building domestic capacity—or want to, contact The Needle’s Eye to be featured in future issues. Together, let’s map the new manufacturing frontier, one facility at a time. Do you have a strategy or success story for reshoring apparel? We want to hear from you. Descriptions of each initiative at Read More>.
Reverse Mentorship in Garment Engineering (Part 3)
By Dr. Pat Trautman, Global Expert & Educator in the Pre-Production Apparel Process, Highlighting TV & Film Character Costuming, Product Development, and Technical Design.
After the overwhelming response to Part 1 of this Opinion, we knew the conversation couldn’t end there. Part 2 continued the dialogue on the critical need for mentorship, hands-on experience, and cross-generational collaboration in the garment engineering field. Now for Part 3. “This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about survival.”If we let experience retire without passing it on, we lose more than knowledge. We lose leverage. We lose possibility. But if we truly commit to cross-generational collaboration, we don’t just preserve the industry. We elevate it. In an industry that is built on precision, legacy, and lineage, mentorship is sacred. We pass knowledge down like heirlooms: how fabric behaves under pressure, how fit is sculpted by millimeters, and how seam placement affects movement. Read More >

Industry News

Cotton Street Gallery Will Host 'Seed to Fashion'
By Staff Reports, The Andalusia Star News
Beginning September 4, the Cotton Street Gallery (Andalusia, Alabama) will host “Seed to Fashion: Then and Now,” an exhibition exploring the chronology of cotton, the role it has played in the South, and its special relevance to Covington County. Cotton is one of the largest crops grown in South Alabama, and Covington County’s rich history reflects its influence. The county has been home to major textile companies that employed many local people, such as Opp Cotton Mill, Micolas Cotton Mill, Alatex, and Andala.
The cotton exhibition is the brainchild of Rhett Johnson, director emeritus of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center. Johnson, retired judge and historian Frank “Trippy” McGuire, Covington County’s county extension director Charles “Chuck” Simon, Henderson Sewing Machine Co. CEO Frank Henderson, Red Land Cotton founder Mark Yeager, and Covington County farmer Tommy Thompson are among the experts who will help bring to life the story of cotton and its role in textile manufacturing in the South through narrated vignettes. Read More>
Henderson Sewing Machine Co, founded in 1968, is a global supplier of industrial sewing machines, sewing machine parts, and custom automated sewing machines for the SEWING PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. We have grown by offering customers the highest quality products at competitive prices with superior customer service. We also have a cutting-edge engineering team that designs custom automated systems to fill any need you may have.
Levi Strauss Selling Dockers to Authentic Brands
Authentic Brands Group and Levi Strauss & Co. have agreed to a nine-figure deal for Authentic Brands Group to acquire the Dockers brand. Authentic announced that it was purchasing the intellectual property of the well-known khaki and chinos brand created by Levi Strauss & Co. in the 1980s. Dockers will now join a portfolio that includes brands such as Reebok and Sperry. Read More>
CLICK HERE FOR JACK OF THE AMERICAS VIDEO
C and C Enterprise has teamed up with JACK, one of the world’s finest industrial sewing machine manufacturers, to form Jack of the Americas. Jack of the Americas distributes JACK machines throughout North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Basin. When you buy from Jack of The Americas, we don’t just ship you a box! We help you get set up and answer any questions you may have! With over 100 years of combined experience in the industrial sewn products industry, we are proud to say that we are one of the world’s leading industrial sewing products authorities and are here to serve you! Not sure if Jack is right for you? Click on the button below for a short video showing off some of our machines. Watch it and see what Jack can do for you!
The Pathfinder M-Series® range of automated cutting machines is known for precision, very high productivity, reliability, and lowest power consumption. All 16 models are easily configured to suit most cutting applications, and, thanks to clever design, Pathfinder cutters require very little maintenance to continually deliver exceptional cut quality over a long working life.
Click here for PATHFINDER M-SERIES VIDEO
Soho Apparel Group Rallies Behind Trump’s Made-In-America Agenda, Unveils Aggressive U.S. Manufacturing Expansion
Soho Apparel Group, a leading private-label apparel company and trusted supplier to major U.S. retailers, including Nordstrom, Tillys, Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, TJ Maxx, and Dillard’s, announced its alignment with President Donald J. Trump’s agenda to revitalize American manufacturing. Since its founding in 2002, Soho has grown into a cornerstone of the apparel industry, operating from a 300,000-square-foot facility in the City of Industry, California. In a strategic move to bolster domestic production and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, Soho Apparel Group is launching an ambitious expansion plan to increase its U.S.-based manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations by 300% by 2026. This initiative will create significant job opportunities for American workers and strengthen the nation’s industrial foundation. Read More>
Founded in 2002 in the heart of California, Soho Apparel Group began as a private label supplier for major apparel brands and has grown into a cornerstone of American fashion in their expansive 300,000-square-foot warehouse in City of Industry.
Diamond Needle Corp., Founded in 1951, is one of the world’s largest distributors of sewing machine needles. Our alliance with ORGAN NEEDLE CO. of Japan, as their exclusive North American distributor, gives us the backing of the world’s leading quality maker of sewing machine needles.
C and C Enterprise is the United States agency for Highlead sewing machines. These high-quality machines are available for your sewing needs and are sold only through local dealers and distributors. If you want more information on the Highlead brand, please feel free to contact us. www.candcenterprise.com
NCTO Elects Chuck Hall, President and CEO of Barnet, as Chairman; Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and Founder of MMI Textiles, as Vice Chair
The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber through finished sewn products, held its officer elections for fiscal year 2025 at its annual meeting on March 24-27. NCTO has elected Chuck Hall, President and CEO of Barnet (based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Barnet is a 125-year-old manufacturer of technical textiles), as Chairman and Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and Founder of MMI Textiles, Inc., as Vice Chair (based in Brooklyn, Ohio, MMI is a global supplier of industrial and custom fabrics and textile components, established in 1997). Read More>

Industry Technologies

The Truth About Multi-Ply Cutting — No Paper, No Plastic, No Problem
By Chris Gilmartin, Automated Cutting Technology Operations, Pathfinder
At the recent Texprocess Americas show (Atlanta), Pathfinder cut a breathable woven furniture fabric on our multi-ply system without punch paper, without sealing plastic, and even without enclosing the bed with side strips. Clean, consistent cuts. No vacuum issues. No hassle. It’s a great reminder that the problem isn’t multi-ply cutting — it’s poorly designed cutting systems.
A few facts sewn goods manufacturers should know:• A properly engineered vacuum system can hold even tricky fabrics without wasteful consumables. • Our reciprocating blade cuts notches without lifting, maintaining cutting speeds in line with those of single-ply systems.• While many single-ply belt-driven machines require belt replacements every 12–18 months, resulting in downtime and hefty costs, we have customers running the same bristle bed for over 10 years with minimal maintenance. Total cost of ownership matters. Uptime matters. Flexibility matters. If you’ve been told that multi-ply cutting means high consumable costs, excessive downtime, and slower performance, it’s time to see what’s possible. Read More>
Hohenstein Supports Global Textile Scheme Initiative for Structured Data Exchange
Global testing and research laboratory Hohenstein has acquired shares in Global Textile Scheme GmbH (GTS). The GTS initiative aims to create an international standard for handling structured product data in the textile and apparel industry. Hohenstein will support GTS in harmonizing and automating data exchange along the supply chain. As an internationally recognized knowledge partner, Hohenstein is expanding its expertise in data standardization and transparency in the textile sector. “The demand for reliable, structured, and machine-readable data along the textile value chain is rising rapidly,” explains Dr. Stefan Droste, CEO of Hohenstein. “We want to support our customers and are committed to close collaboration with GTS.” Read More>
The Merrow Group consists of three unique divisions, all designed to support and accelerate the growth of soft-goods manufacturing. One of these divisions is their Wholesale Group: Superior Sewing Machine & Supply. Superior, the largest wholesale supplier of more than 72,000 products to sewing factories across North, Central, and South America, plays a vital role in supporting the broader manufacturing ecosystem. In an industry where precision, speed, and reliability are crucial for maintaining competitive production, having access to in-stock items is not just convenient, it is essential. Superior operates a network of 1,600 resellers that support approximately 70,000 factories across North, Central, and South America. This extensive network enables Superior to swiftly introduce new technologies and products that can significantly enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of soft goods manufacturing.

World of Fashion

The Inditex Phenomena (Part 1)
Retail Best in Class: Creating the Future
by Yvonne Heinen-Foudeh, Senior International Correspondent
Spanish retail fashion giant Inditex, owner of the Zara fashion brands Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Uterqüe, then Lefties (nomen est omen), is the clear winner in the fast fashion space – globally. Acting smart and fast with a fully integrated business model from digital 2D/3D design/product development over manufacturing using state-of-the-art automation solutions and intelligent logistics to customer-centric distribution in a worldwide retail network of their own stores makes the backbone of that extraordinary success story. The real distinguishing features between Inditex and everything that falls under the heading of “Profit before People & Planet” lie elsewhere entirely. Read More>
Since 1898, Consew has designed and manufactured the most reliable machines in the sewing industry. Today, Consew has one of the largest varieties of sewing, cutting, and pressing equipment; as well as an extensive line of supplies related to the sewn products industry. From standard walking foot machines for upholstery to specialty 4 needle lockstitch machines for parachutes, from long-arm zig-zag (up to 30”) machines for boat sails to extra heavy-duty machines for webbing, Consew has it all. Our machines are well-designed for sewing leather, canvas, shoes, saddles, mattresses, tents, tarps, and sails, as well as jeans and other garments. With offices in New Jersey, Miami, and Los Angeles, as well as a distribution network throughout the world, Consew can quickly supply and service the machines you need.
Americas 21st offers comprehensive assistance in equipment, training, engineering, ergonomics, and workforce development. Notably, we proudly hold the distinction of being the sole government-accredited Sewing Mechanic Training Program in North America. Additionally, we stand out as the exclusive provider of the TSS lean sewing production system, accompanied by a distinctive line of ergonomic sewing accessories tailored to enhance efficiency and comfort in the sewing process.

Industry Events

Texprocess Americas and Techtextil North America 2025
From May 6 to 8, thousands of industry professionals gathered in Atlanta for Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas 2025, bringing momentum, global participation, and powerful conversations to the Georgia World Congress Center. With nearly 400 exhibitors from 28 countries, the co-located events delivered three energized days full of forward-thinking solutions, cross-sector connections, and the latest innovations.
More than just a trade show, this year’s edition was a launchpad for progress, featuring the acclaimed Symposium, engaging Tech Talks, the Innovation Awards, and much more. The exhibit halls buzzed with product debuts, technical demos, and the unmistakable sound of business being conducted. Read More >
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