Opening Keynote - The New Geography of Textile & Apparel Sourcing

The global textile and apparel sourcing map is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades.

Geopolitical uncertainty, supply-chain disruptions, shifting trade relationships, changing tariff structures, sustainability requirements and rapidly evolving buyer expectations are challenging sourcing models that were built around cost, scale and globally dispersed production.

Today, brands, retailers and manufacturers are looking beyond cost alone. Speed, resilience, flexibility, compliance, traceability, proximity to market and security of supply are increasingly influencing where products are sourced and manufactured.

As a result, new sourcing relationships are emerging, production networks are becoming more regionalized, and strategically positioned manufacturing ecosystems are gaining greater importance.

Against this changing global landscape, Africa and the Mediterranean are entering a new era of opportunity. Their proximity to major consumer markets, expanding manufacturing capabilities and potential for deeper regional integration are creating the foundations for a new sourcing architecture connecting Africa, Europe and North America.