Kornit UK Live 2023
Making sustainability your brand –
A digital supply chain for agility and growth
Asos veteran Simon Platts discusses how decorators can eliminate inefficiencies in production ahead of the expert-packed Kornit UK Live event later this month
As the former responsible sourcing and commercial ESG (environmental, social and governance) director for British retail powerhouse Asos, Simon Platts understands the growing call for more responsible apparel.
Now an industry consultant who supports retailers, educators and the fashion industry at large, he knows that meeting that imperative requires not introducing more costly materials and restrictions on traditional production processes, but rather eliminating inefficiencies and waste that have long been accepted. In other words, if you leverage state-of-the-art digital supply chains to address the limitations of forecast-based production and offshore fulfilment models, the eco benefits are a natural by-product of those efforts.
“The apparel industry can be very inefficient,” says Simon. “Up to 60% of the cost price of a garment can be the fabric alone, but it doesn’t matter what you’re paying if nobody is buying it. We need to be smarter at the front end to be more profitable at the back end.”
A more conscientious legacy
According to Simon, it’s critical for brands to acknowledge that consumers want the latest styles while also knowing they’re not contributing to ecological harm globally – they are increasingly choosing to build a more conscientious legacy for future generations.
Part of this commitment involves recognising that far-flung supply chains are no longer suited to the needs of this moment. Overseas transport and large-scale inventory warehousing aren’t cheap, while today’s web-based, highly-personalised commerce experiences demand a reactivity, speed, and agility that only digital on-demand fulfilment models can satisfy.
“We have massive shopping malls, but people want boutique-type products and service,” he says, addressing the public’s growing appetite for more tailored customer experiences and product possibilities. “Digital print gives manufacturers a reactivity that’s necessary when everything’s getting quicker, and pairing that capability with nearshore operations helps them stay relevant.”
Opportunities for growth
While relevance is certainly key to surviving the so-called ‘retail apocalypse’ wrought by ecommerce, Simon sees digital on-demand production as not merely enabling resilience, but unlocking opportunities for growth, as well.
“If the industry wasn’t under so much financial pressure right now, it would see this is the way to thrive,” he says. “With technologies like Kornit, you’re increasing efficiency and thus net profit. When you can personalise, you’re seeing fewer returns. You don’t need to store unsold merchandise in a warehouse, and you’re not worried about markdowns.”
Between public sentiment and the increasing presence of environmental regulations asserting the turn to sustainability – initiatives marked by digital passports, ESG guidelines, blockchain, and other developments – Simon believes the window for manufacturers and retailers to understand, act and leverage true moves towards being more sustainable will open brands up to a competitive advantage. “Now is the time to make sustainability part of your brand’s DNA, before the industry emerges in a better place, with laggards inevitably being weeded out,” he advises.
Kornit UK Live
As the world’s leading developer of digital solutions for sustainable on-demand fashion and textile fulfilment, Kornit Digital is empowering this industry with the end-to-end production capabilities, business strategies, and accountability to meet these challenges and thrive in the face of economic uncertainty and disruption.
Kornit invites you to Kornit UK Live 2023 on Wednesday 21 June to learn how businesses like yours can remove excess inventory from your supply chain.
Simon Platts brings his perspectives on sustainable nearshore and onshore production strategies, Kornit’s Scott Walton and Phil Oakley will discuss capitalising on new market and cultural trends with transformational digital experiences, and Adam Golder and Simon Calvert from T-Shirt & Sons will share their real-world experiences of building an efficient, agile and resilient fulfilment operation with Kornit’s versatile production capabilities.
Network with industry peers, learn about winning production models from those who’ve done it, get hands-on with Kornit systems and apparel samples, and have your questions answered by the professionals and visionaries enabling businesses like yours to capitalise on the possibilities of a digital supply chain.
