Posts

June 23rd, 2025

  The new anti-greenwashing provisions in Canada's Competition Act, which came into effect on June 20, 2024, require businesses to ensure that environmental claims are not false or misleading and are backed by adequate and proper testing or substantiated using internationally recognized methodologies. ' The Competition Bureau has issued final guidelines to assist businesses in complying with these new rules. Their guidance document is located here: https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/how-we-foster-competition/education-and-outreach/guide-june-2024-amendments-competition-act We encourage all firms to review how these guidelines would impact your marketing. …

June 9th, 2025

On June 4, 2025, CAF hosted a very informative webinar featuring supply chain technology suppliers: Supply Trace and ImportYeti. These platforms offer invaluable insights into supply chain dynamics, enabling companies to identify risks (forced labour etc.), discover reliable suppliers, and make informed sourcing decisions.  The webinar was a free-flowing discussion and a great demonstration of the two platforms.  The recording of the webinar is hosted in the CAF Webinar archive.  This is the first of a planned series of supply …

June 3rd, 2025

  Agreeing with President Donald Trump’s recent comments that US tariff policy is not focused on driving the domestic footwear and apparel industry, five apparel industry associations recently wrote to the President, arguing that it is simply not feasible to scale up domestic footwear and apparel manufacturing right now due to significant supply chain, labor and cost constraints. “Tariff policy cannot overcome these obstacles, especially when it is imposing new costs on existing manufacturers in our industry,” they said in a letter …

May 30th, 2025

Canadian Apparel Monthly Digest June 2025Canadian Apparel Insights Retail Apparel Update Canadian apparel e-commerce sales in 2024 increased 1.9% to C$7,373 million according to Trendex. Lululemon’s sales during Q1 2025 in only its 71 Canadian stores increased 3.8% and accounted for 12.3% of its parent company’s total sales. DSW Canada, operator of 175 shoe specialty stores, reported that its total sales in Q1 2025 decreased 2.9%, while its comparable sales declined 9.2% Reitmans (Canada) sales fell 4.1% in its Q1 …

May 22nd, 2025

Canadian Apparel Update Apparel specialty stores (69.5%), off-price retailers (10.9%), and discount stores (7.0%) were the largest channels of distribution for apparel in 2024 Winners in 2024 were Canada’s largest individual retailer (7.3%) followed by Walmart (5.5%), lululemon (5.3%) and Marks (3.6%). The ten largest apparel retailers during 2024 accounted for 36.3% of apparel sales. Aritzia's total Canadian sales in 2024 increased 4.6% to C$1.2 billion. Columbia Sportswear Canada's sales decreased 6.1% in the first quarter of 2025. Children’s Place …

May 21st, 2025

  Webinar: Understanding the True Cost of Returns Date: Wednesday May 27,  2025   1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. EDT       Why your return policy isn’t the problem—shoppers’ uncertainty about fit is. Returns cost more than logistics — they quietly erode shopper confidence and long-term brand trust. Learn how eliminating fit confusion can dramatically reduce returns and strengthen your bottom line. Join the very first Avease x CAF webinar and uncover what most brands are not doing to solve this persistent problem—and why that’s …

April 29th, 2025

On April 22 and 23, 2025, Première Vision Montréal made its Canadian debut at the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal, drawing nearly 2,150 professionals and students from across the fashion and textile sectors. With over 100 domestic and international exhibitors and 24 expert-led conferences, the event proved to be a major success, highlighting Montréal’s growing role as a hub for creative and industrial innovation. Organized in partnership with the mmode Cluster and supported by Tourisme Montréal and the Ministry …

April 7th, 2025

  Industry Copes with Tariff Tsunami Last week’s US Tariff announcement continues to reverberate through the industry.  On April 2, 2025, invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs against hundreds of countries.  The announcement, in conjunction with other Executive Orders, simultaneously impacted Canadian exporters, small Canadian e-commerce merchants and large volume importers into the US.... [More Info] OTHER NEWS   Update on Least Developed Country Tariff - April …

April 7th, 2025

  Last week’s US Tariff announcement continues to reverberate through the industry.  On April 2, 2025, invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA), President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs against hundreds of countries.  The announcement, in conjunction with other Executive Orders, simultaneously impacted Canadian exporters, small Canadian e-commerce merchants and large volume importers into the US.   The US has instituted "reciprocal tariffs" on virtually all trade, with certain exclusions for Canada and Mexico.  While …

April 3rd, 2025

  CBSA has finally updated the form used by importers to facilitate imports from Least Developed Countries (LDC).  The B255 form is required for LDCT customs clearance, but the version available online from CBSA has been outdated - and did not reflect changes to the LDCT rules of origin which came into effect January 1, 2025. We have been aware of this issue since mid-December 2024 and have brought this to the attention of CBSA and the Department of Finance …