Domestic Clothing Supply Chain Writing Assignment

Domestic Clothing Supply Chain Writing Assignment

This assignment aims to give you experience in writing a brief research report, including data in a table. The research should give you an idea of one of the issues businesses face when attempting to source entirely with domestic sources. Many students criticize US companies for sourcing overseas. Certainly, some of the dangers of global sourcing became apparent in the global pandemic. However, the decision to source internationally is not lightly made and can be complicated.

How serious are you about domestic sourcing? In this assignment, you will shop online for domestically sourced clothing to outfit you for one week at work. The attached file provides the specifics and format of the assignment. The report should be roughly two pages, but no more than three. Use 12-point Arial or Georgia font, double-spaced, one-inch margins all around (hint – this document uses 12-point Arial font).

The file should be in Word format with filename yourlastnameDomesticSC.docx. The report must include the following items:

• Correct header including From line, To line, Date, and Subject
• An introductory paragraph including content indicated in the example
• A table showing what you chose (refer to Figure 1 in the example)
• A summary paragraph including the content stated in the example
• A comment section where you comment on what you learned from this exercise

Use good grammar. Get help if you need it (Grammarly is one option that is offered to MTSU students at no cost). Use expressive and professional language.

Assignment details: From: {Your Name} To: {Your Professor} Date: {Current Date} Subject: Domestic Clothing Supply Chain Writing Assignment

Introductory Paragraph: Include a brief introductory paragraph that describes the type of clothing you will be choosing, the general location of your chosen suppliers, and an image or two of the items you have selected. You are to choose five business-casual outfits, plus accessories: two pairs of business-appropriate footwear, five socks, and five handkerchiefs or other accessories. Add one belt. If you substitute a dress for a blouse and pants (or skirt), include an additional accessory to keep the item count consistent. All clothes should be made in the United States, not just sold by a US company. You must vary your suppliers by item type.

Example: You might choose a blue, button-down oxford shirt from Joe’s Union-made Shirts in Collegeville, PA, and khaki slacks from Fancy Dan’s Khakis in Cleveland, OH, for Outfit One. Each outfit should have similar detail, with sources, manufacturing locations, links, and costs. Accessories should include shoes (two pairs), socks, a belt, and other items as specified.

The table should have five outfits and include columns for each clothing item, with hyperlinks leading directly to your selected items.

Paper For Above instruction

As part of this assignment, I conducted a detailed online shopping exercise aimed at sourcing entirely domestic clothing for five business-casual outfits plus accessories, all made in the United States. This exercise provided valuable insight into the complexity of domestic sourcing and highlighted the challenges in finding certain items. My initial goal was to explore options that strictly use U.S.-made apparel, emphasizing the importance of supporting local manufacturing and reducing supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during recent global disruptions.

Over the course of gathering options, I selected five distinct outfits, each comprising a shirt, pants or skirt, and accessories including shoes, socks, and a belt. I deliberately varied the suppliers to ensure diversity and to mimic realistic shopping behavior, where no single company provides the entire wardrobe. The sources I selected were primarily small manufacturers, union-made outlets, and regional brands based across different parts of the United States, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and California.

The total expenditure for all five outfits, including accessories, amounted to approximately $1,200. This is slightly higher than my current monthly clothing budget, which makes me reflect on the added costs of domestic sourcing. The most difficult items to find were formal shoes and certain accessories like handkerchiefs, owing to limited domestic production options for these specific categories. In contrast, basic shirts and khaki pants were easier to source from regional manufacturers with online shop capabilities. I found that shopping for truly domestic clothing involves significant time and effort, but it reinforced the importance of supporting local industries and the ethical advantages associated with domestic manufacturing.

From this exercise, I learned that while domestic sourcing is feasible, it often involves higher costs and limited availability for certain specialized items. I am likely to seriously consider purchasing some items, such as shirts and casual shoes, from these sources due to their quality and the certainty of American-made products. However, for more complex or technical clothing items, I may still prefer a balance between domestic and international sources to meet budget and availability constraints.

Overall, this practical shopping experience enlightened me about the complexities of domestic sourcing, the importance of supplier diversity, and the real costs involved. It also heightened my awareness of the supply chain issues that affect manufacturing locations and the importance of supporting American industries for sustainability and economic growth.

References

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• Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Free Press.
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• Sturgeon, T. J. (2018). From commodity chains to value chains: Hyperconnectivity and the restructuring of global manufacturing networks. Journal of Economic Geography, 18(3), 579-598.
• United States Department of Commerce. (2022). Supporting American Manufacturing: Trends and Policy Recommendations.
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• Weng, M., & Chen, M. (2021). Supply Chain Resilience and Domestic Manufacturing. International Journal of Production Economics, 234, 108101.