Latest news with #Oiselle
Zawya
08-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Clothing retailers delay orders, freeze hiring as tariffs hit
Clothing and accessories retailers across the United States are delaying orders and freezing hiring ahead of tariff hikes that take effect Wednesday on products imported from Vietnam and China. These businesses, much like Nike and Lululemon , face an impossible choice: offset the cost of tariffs by raising prices by some 40% - potentially cratering sales - or absorb the cost increase and further strain already-thin profit margins. Unlike their bigger rivals, however, the smaller clothing and shoemakers lack vast supply chains, making them highly dependent on Vietnam and China. Ian Rosenberger, CEO of Day Owl, a six-year-old New York company that makes backpacks in Vietnam, has paused future orders. Unless there's a deal to significantly lower Vietnamese tariffs, Rosenberger estimates Day Owl has 30 days before it folds. But with a production cycle of about 100 days, waiting much longer risks missing the crucial back-to-school shopping season. "The damage is already significant enough to be an existential threat," he said, adding that his seven employees have been asking if they should prepare to be out of a job. Rosenberger said tariffs would increase his duty to $22 from from $5, prompting him to increase the price of his top-end bag to $212 from from $155. Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America - whose members include Nike, Walmart, Skechers, and Deckers - calculated that a $155 running shoe made in Vietnam would have to be marked up to $220 in U.S. stores to offset the 46% tariff. VIETNAM VITAL Vietnam has developed specialised factories producing everything from high-tech running shoes to track suits. It's the second-biggest source of clothes and shoes imported to the U.S. after China, and a key manufacturing hub for Nike, Adidas and others. Vietnam has asked for a 45-day delay in the imposition of U.S. tariffs, and said it would buy more American goods, after Trump and Vietnamese leader To Lam agreed on Friday to discuss a deal to remove the levies. Nike shares have dropped 14% since markets closed on April 2, the day Trump announced tariffs, while Adidas shares lost 16%, Puma shares are down 18%, and North Face-owner VF Corp shares fell 31%. These big companies work with factories around the world, providing them with some negotiating clout to split tariff costs with suppliers. VF Corp is "well diversified across our supply chain to manage tariffs," a spokesman said. Small businesses, such as Seattle, Washington-based women's running brand Oiselle, have less capacity to absorb the cost, and fewer resources to plan alternatives. Arielle Knutson, CEO of Oiselle, has asked her 14 full-time employees to work on two or three tariff contingency plans, on top of their usual jobs. Oiselle, which sources leggings, sports bras and running tops from Vietnam, has delayed spring 2026 orders that would ordinarily be going out now. Ordering the right amount of product - and not being stuck with too much cash tied up in inventory - is key. "It's an almost impossible needle to thread," Knutson said. Ketchum, Idaho-based outerwear brand Wild Rye sources ski jackets and mountain biking pants from suppliers in China, which will be subject to an additional 34% tariff starting Wednesday. "This is going to create a huge amount of strain on the business," said founder Cassie Abel. She has frozen hiring and any raises for her 11 employees, and said the business would have to absorb part of the tariff increase to avoid hiking prices by 40%. Day Owl, Oiselle, and Wild Rye said they had previously tried to produce domestically but quality was poor, so moving production to the U.S. isn't practical. (Reporting by Helen Reid in London and Nicholas Brown in New York; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Clothing retailers delay orders, freeze hiring as tariffs hit
LONDON/NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - Clothing and accessories retailers across the United States are delaying orders and freezing hiring ahead of tariff hikes that take effect Wednesday on products imported from Vietnam and China. These businesses, much like Nike (NKE.N), opens new tab and Lululemon (LULU.O), opens new tab, face an impossible choice: offset the cost of tariffs by raising prices by some 40% - potentially cratering sales - or absorb the cost increase and further strain already-thin profit margins. Unlike their bigger rivals, however, the smaller clothing and shoemakers lack vast supply chains, making them highly dependent on Vietnam and China. Ian Rosenberger, CEO of Day Owl, a six-year-old New York company that makes backpacks in Vietnam, has paused future orders. Unless there's a deal to significantly lower Vietnamese tariffs, Rosenberger estimates Day Owl has 30 days before it folds. But with a production cycle of about 100 days, waiting much longer risks missing the crucial back-to-school shopping season. "The damage is already significant enough to be an existential threat," he said, adding that his seven employees have been asking if they should prepare to be out of a job. Rosenberger said tariffs would increase his duty to $22 from from $5, prompting him to increase the price of his top-end bag to $212 from from $155. Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America - whose members include Nike, Walmart, Skechers, and Deckers - calculated that a $155 running shoe made in Vietnam would have to be marked up to $220 in U.S. stores to offset the 46% tariff. VIETNAM VITAL Vietnam has developed specialised factories producing everything from high-tech running shoes to track suits. It's the second-biggest source of clothes and shoes imported to the U.S. after China, and a key manufacturing hub for Nike, Adidas ( opens new tab and others. Vietnam has asked for a 45-day delay in the imposition of U.S. tariffs, and said it would buy more American goods, after Trump and Vietnamese leader To Lam agreed on Friday to discuss a deal to remove the levies. Nike shares have dropped 14% since markets closed on April 2, the day Trump announced tariffs, while Adidas shares lost 16%, Puma shares are down 18%, and North Face-owner VF Corp (VFC.N), opens new tab shares fell 31%. These big companies work with factories around the world, providing them with some negotiating clout to split tariff costs with suppliers. VF Corp is "well diversified across our supply chain to manage tariffs," a spokesman said. Small businesses, such as Seattle, Washington-based women's running brand Oiselle, have less capacity to absorb the cost, and fewer resources to plan alternatives. Arielle Knutson, CEO of Oiselle, has asked her 14 full-time employees to work on two or three tariff contingency plans, on top of their usual jobs. Oiselle, which sources leggings, sports bras and running tops from Vietnam, has delayed spring 2026 orders that would ordinarily be going out now. Ordering the right amount of product - and not being stuck with too much cash tied up in inventory - is key. "It's an almost impossible needle to thread," Knutson said. Ketchum, Idaho-based outerwear brand Wild Rye sources ski jackets and mountain biking pants from suppliers in China, which will be subject to an additional 34% tariff starting Wednesday. "This is going to create a huge amount of strain on the business," said founder Cassie Abel. She has frozen hiring and any raises for her 11 employees, and said the business would have to absorb part of the tariff increase to avoid hiking prices by 40%. Day Owl, Oiselle, and Wild Rye said they had previously tried to produce domestically but quality was poor, so moving production to the U.S. isn't practical.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Clothing retailers delay orders, freeze hiring as tariffs hit
By Helen Reid and Nicholas P. Brown LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Clothing and accessories retailers across the United States are delaying orders and freezing hiring ahead of tariff hikes that take effect Wednesday on products imported from Vietnam and China. These businesses, much like Nike and Lululemon, face an impossible choice: offset the cost of tariffs by raising prices by some 40% - potentially cratering sales - or absorb the cost increase and further strain already-thin profit margins. Unlike their bigger rivals, however, the smaller clothing and shoemakers lack vast supply chains, making them highly dependent on Vietnam and China. Ian Rosenberger, CEO of Day Owl, a six-year-old New York company that makes backpacks in Vietnam, has paused future orders. Unless there's a deal to significantly lower Vietnamese tariffs, Rosenberger estimates Day Owl has 30 days before it folds. But with a production cycle of about 100 days, waiting much longer risks missing the crucial back-to-school shopping season. "The damage is already significant enough to be an existential threat," he said, adding that his seven employees have been asking if they should prepare to be out of a job. Rosenberger said tariffs would increase his duty to $22 from from $5, prompting him to increase the price of his top-end bag to $212 from from $155. Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America - whose members include Nike, Walmart, Skechers, and Deckers - calculated that a $155 running shoe made in Vietnam would have to be marked up to $220 in U.S. stores to offset the 46% tariff. VIETNAM VITAL Vietnam has developed specialised factories producing everything from high-tech running shoes to track suits. It's the second-biggest source of clothes and shoes imported to the U.S. after China, and a key manufacturing hub for Nike, Adidas and others. Vietnam has asked for a 45-day delay in the imposition of U.S. tariffs, and said it would buy more American goods, after Trump and Vietnamese leader To Lam agreed on Friday to discuss a deal to remove the levies. Nike shares have dropped 14% since markets closed on April 2, the day Trump announced tariffs, while Adidas shares lost 16%, Puma shares are down 18%, and North Face-owner VF Corp shares fell 31%. These big companies work with factories around the world, providing them with some negotiating clout to split tariff costs with suppliers. VF Corp is "well diversified across our supply chain to manage tariffs," a spokesman said. Small businesses, such as Seattle, Washington-based women's running brand Oiselle, have less capacity to absorb the cost, and fewer resources to plan alternatives. Arielle Knutson, CEO of Oiselle, has asked her 14 full-time employees to work on two or three tariff contingency plans, on top of their usual jobs. Oiselle, which sources leggings, sports bras and running tops from Vietnam, has delayed spring 2026 orders that would ordinarily be going out now. Ordering the right amount of product - and not being stuck with too much cash tied up in inventory - is key. "It's an almost impossible needle to thread," Knutson said. Ketchum, Idaho-based outerwear brand Wild Rye sources ski jackets and mountain biking pants from suppliers in China, which will be subject to an additional 34% tariff starting Wednesday. "This is going to create a huge amount of strain on the business," said founder Cassie Abel. She has frozen hiring and any raises for her 11 employees, and said the business would have to absorb part of the tariff increase to avoid hiking prices by 40%. Day Owl, Oiselle, and Wild Rye said they had previously tried to produce domestically but quality was poor, so moving production to the U.S. isn't practical.
WIRED
24-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- WIRED
The Best Running Shorts for Racing, Training, and Adventures
As a woman runner, I come across the same conundrums as my colleagues, but with the additional problem that shorts tend to ruck up or down around my differently shaped waist and hips. One way of getting around that is with tight shorts, but my favorite are Oiselle's Roga (running-yoga) shorts, which are running shorts with a wide, soft yoga-style waistband. It's semi-fitted, so it's not too revealing, and the 4-inch inseam is modest enough on my 5'2" self. The wide, soft waistband has a zip pocket that's big enough to hold my iPhone 16 immobile against the small of my back while running. There's a liner, so you can wear these commando (although I usually do not) with an interior drawstring to adjust the fit. I particularly like Oiselle's Roga fabric, which is a blend of bluesign-approved polyester and Spandex that's simultaneously light while having enough weight to it to hang properly and not get crinkled up in between your legs. I've worn these for about a year and they've held up—I put them in the washing machine, but I also hang them to air dry. My only caveat is that these are medium-weight shorts and they're worn high, so they're a little heavy for summer weather or racing. —Adrienne So Tracksmith Session Speed Shorts I'm not a huge fan of running with my upper thighs on show. But when I want to feel completely free and super light for all-out efforts, I'll sometimes reach for the shortest of short shorts, and when I do, these racy Session Speed Shorts are my go-to. A speedier—and shorter version—of Tracksmith's excellent Session Shorts, these 3-inch inseam speedsters strip everything back to the almost-bare basics, so you can drive forward, unencumbered in total comfort. (Editor Adrienne So runs in the women's version of these as well.) The high-stretch Italian knit outer is light, loose, and incredibly soft and luxurious. The retro overlapped side splits add a touch of classic style while boosting your range of movement. The comfortable brief-style liners aren't as supportive as you'll get from a two-in-one short, and everything can feel a little bit 'naked.' But your dignity is well protected. I've run scores of track sessions in these without fretting over potential wardrobe malfunctions. Those inner briefs also pack Polygiene antimicrobial powers to ward off unwanted stinks. I'm also impressed with the storage, which is pretty good for short shorts, too. There's a hidden zippered pocket on the right hip and another small fuel pocket in the liner. It's all a bit unstructured, and anything too heavy tends to bounce around, but if you really need to stash small essentials, it's good to have the option.
