For Origin and Mount Vernon Mills, winning business for U.S. apparel production means offering speed, specialized products and flexible operations while navigating tariff uncertainty.
At Sourcing Journal’s Fall Summit in New York on Sept. 29, Origin founder and CEO Peter Roberts and Mount Vernon Mills president and CEO Bill Rogers described the opportunities for domestic manufacturing, along with the gaps that make growth difficult. Angela Velasquez, executive editor of SJ Denim, moderated the discussion.
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For Mount Vernon, tariffs have not automatically translated into stronger demand. Rogers said importers brought in goods ahead of tariff increases, leaving additional inventory in the market. Political uncertainty has also made customers more cautious about the duration of their investments, he said.
“I will say the commitment window has narrowed, but commitment is still there,” Rogers said.
His argument for domestic production starts with how buyers calculate cost. Comparing the initial price of a product can overlook the value of shorter supply chains and manufacturers’ ability to respond quickly. Rogers urged brands to assess costs across the supply chain and consider what U.S. suppliers can deliver.
“Because if you are looking for quick turns, this is the place to make it,” he said.
Mount Vernon has also changed how it competes . Rogers said the company shifted from a strategy centered on mass production and low cost toward specialty markets, broader product lines and greater flexibility.
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