Oritain Launches The Future of Traceability Report at Sourcing Journal Fall Summit

Oritain took center stage at the recent Sourcing Journal Fall Summit to support the release of the new Future of Fashion Traceability report, co-produced between Oritain and Sourcing Journal.

The annual Fall Summit was held at the Tribeca Rooftop in New York and welcomed industry professionals from across fashion, footwear, manufacturing, retail, compliance, supply chain, and sustainability.

This year’s event took Countering Chaos as its theme, reflecting the complex and fast-evolving nature of global fashion and retail today. The series of panel discussions focused on current hot topics of tariffs, shipping disruptions, sustainability demands, and the increasing role of technology. Attendees shared a common concern around the challenging business situation and uncertainty around what the near future will bring.

It was in this environment of “global turbulence” that Oritain launched their new bespoke market research report, The Future of Fashion Traceability: Sustainability and Supply Chains in 2026 and Beyond.

 

Tariffs and traceability tackled on Oritain panel

Oritain’s Ben Tomkins, VP of Retail Sales, took the stage as part of a panel discussion titled, ‘The Future of Traceability: Partnerships, Proof, and the Path Forward’.

Moderated by Lauren Parker from Sourcing Journal, the panel also featured Björn Bengtsson, Chief Product and Supply Chain Officer at UNTUCKit and Robert Antoshak, Vice President Global Strategic Sourcing & Development at Grey Matter Concepts.

Panelists discussed the ongoing impact of the UFLPA as well as other potential regulations affecting cotton. Ben commented that, “The UFLPA was a pivotal moment in shifting the need for traceability from a nice to have to a business necessity. But other pressing regulations are all contributing to the critical need to invest in traceability. Regulations like the EUDR, Transparency in Supply Chains Act, Digital Product Passports, and the potential Buying American Cotton Act.”

Highlights from Oritain’s traceability report were shown on the venue’s large presentation screen, including the finding that 61% believe traceability will be extremely/very important in 3–5 years, but only 44% are verifying current data. The panel addressed the importance of having a robust traceability program and the consequences that businesses risk through not having this.

“With the scrutiny businesses have today from regulators, consumers, media and other stakeholders, the cost of trading noncompliant or unethical products will be far greater than the cost of a traceability program,” said Ben. “That’s why everyone I speak with are nervous that they might find themselves on the front page of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal for being associated with forced labor.”

The report also revealed that a quarter of respondents saw recent tariff changes and trade restrictions as increasing the urgency for traceability. Ben summed up the sentiment of many when he said, “Geopolitical factors like these, and the potential additional 40% tariff on items coming from countries where upstream production has occurred in China, will only increase the importance for businesses of substantiating their product origin claims.”

Panelists also looked ahead to what the future holds for the industry, observing that the report showed 56% of respondents planning to increase traceability investment in the next 2 years, of which 17% plan to increase significantly.

“Between 2023 and 2024, there was a 25% increase in the number of shipments detained, and a 33% increase in apparel, footwear and textile detentions, so the risk is real,” stated Ben. “In this environment, not having a traceability program in place will likely leave your business exposed to significant supply chain risks, as well as brand reputation exposure and product detentions.”

A full copy of the report is available for download here: The Future of Fashion Traceability: Sustainability and Supply Chains in 2026 and Beyond.