2 February 2026

The Real Cost of “Cheaper” in Fashion

After decades in this industry—walking factory floors, negotiating prices, and visiting countless production sites—I’ve learned one thing: “Can you do it cheaper?” is never an innocent question.

I’ve seen what happens when brands push suppliers too far. On paper, the numbers look better. In reality, quality slips. Deadlines stretch. Communication weakens. Suddenly, the factory that once answered every call becomes distant. Not because they don’t care—but because they’re trying to survive.

When you force a producer below a fair margin, they don’t lose money quietly. They recover it somewhere else. In fabric. In stitching. In quality control. In time. The product still ships, but something invisible is already broken.

I’ve also seen the opposite. Brands that treat factories as partners, not enemies. They ask smarter questions. How can we reduce waste? How can we simplify construction? How can we plan better? And the results show—in consistency, reliability, and trust.

In retail, every delay, every defect, every return has a cost. And most of it starts with one careless question.

A healthy supply chain is not an expense.
It is your foundation.

Protect it, and it will protect your brand.