New York — The current COVID-19 pandemic crisis which has focused attention on accessibility for personal protection equipment and the need to make it domestically is likely to be a driver for a better overall American textiles supply chain.
In a webinar panel, “What’s Next for Made in the USA,” hosted by Home Textiles Today and sponsored by Supima, the need for a more U.S.-based robust manufacturing base for textiles products of all kinds was a consensus opinion. While the urgent need for products like face masks and surgical gowns has been in the forefront during the emergency, it has raised the whole idea of domestic producers being better able to handle demand for many products, including home textiles.
“We need that long-term commitment to make products in the USA,” said Gary Heiman, president and CEO of Standard Textile, which produces both domestically and overseas. Describing how Standard was able to pivot its U.S. facilities to make PPE supplies for the pandemic, he said “the consumer gets so much more with a U.S.-based just-in-time supply chain” that is able to move quickly in situations like this.
Heiman said an American textiles industry that could make reusable PPE products, instead of disposable single-use products was critical for the country.
The focus on better products is the right direction for American manufacturers, agreed David Sasso, vice president of international sales for Buhler Quality Yarns, which spins only premium fibers. “Don’t make cheap products in the U.S., period,” he said, in saying this was the way for domestic producers to stay competitive in a global marketplace. “Let’s be the leaders in innovation, not followers. When we lead it becomes easier for us to have a supply chain in the U.S.”
That said, Sasso added the process will take time. “The industry has a lot to learn about manufacturing here.”
The third panelist, Buxton Midyette, vice president of marketing and promotions for Supima, agreed that the way for American companies to compete globally was to emphasize the premium market, which is where Supima focuses. “There’s a real opportunity for a robust supply chain focused on quality products.” He said that during the pandemic, consumers became accustomed to looking for Made in the USA labels for PPE health products, believing them to be better and more sustainable and that the trend would spread to other products including bed and bath home textiles. “We hope that people get spoiled with better quality,” he said, “and that they get used to better quality products for their homes.”
All three panelists pointed to the emerging direct-to-consumer bedding and bath sellers who have focused on quality, often calling attention to the fact that their products are domestically made. “Those smaller digital players have shown quality works and the larger sellers will need to get on board with that,” said Heiman.
Added Midyette, “The larger players ignore this trend at their own peril.”
The HTT webinar was recorded and can be accessed at https://www.hometextilestoday.com/video-galleries/home-textiles-education-network/
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