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The fashion and beauty industries have always been fast-moving and dynamic, but in 2025, supply chain bottlenecks are threatening to slow down even the most agile brands.
A combination of geopolitical tensions, shifting trade policies, labour shortages, shipping constraints, and sustainability regulations is placing unprecedented pressure on supply chains.
Without strategic intervention, brands risk longer lead times, higher costs, excess inventory, and lost revenue.
For brands to future-proof their supply chains, they must understand the risks and implement resilience-building solutions. This article explores the key drivers of supply chain bottlenecks in 2025 and how brands can navigate them to ensure efficiency, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
The Key Causes of Supply Chain Bottlenecks in Fashion & Beauty
1. The Impact of Trade Tariffs and Geopolitical Uncertainty
The return of Donald Trump as U.S. President is reshaping global trade policies. Dozens of US trading partners have been hit with new tariffs while formalising recent deals with others, including the UK and EU. Individual country tariff rates have shifted significantly since the US president’s ‘liberation day’ on April 2, while the U.S. and China’s trade spats have moved beyond tariffs, with each side restricting the other’s access to critical resources.
The US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal is a non-binding memorandum of understanding which falls short of an actual trade agreement and does not offer exemption from the sweeping 10% tariff on imports the US imposed on all trading partners on ‘Liberation Day’.
In parallel, the long-awaited UK-India free trade agreement opens up new avenues for fashion and footwear supply chains. Tariffs on over 90% of UK exports to India, including clothing and footwear, will be phased out over a 10-year period. For Indian goods entering the UK, the deal eliminates nearly all levies, offering UK retailers access to competitive manufacturing without compromising quality.
These deals offer some relief but broader geopolitical risks remain, with specific implications for brands:
- Short-term cost reductions on goods moving between the US, China, and UK.
- Continued need for diversified sourcing strategies as long-term tariff policies remain uncertain.
- Supply chain delays as companies continue to reassess sourcing and logistics networks.
2. Global Shipping Disruptions & Rising Costs
Executive responsible for freight and logistics face compounding pressures from multiple directions.
56% of fashion executives identified supply chain disruptions as their top challenge, emphasising the need for more resilient and agile supply chain strategies:
•Shipping diversions from the Suez Canal and Red Sea have increased lead times by up to 30%, sending rerouted vessels around Africa, adding weeks to delivery schedules
•Labour shortages and disputes have surged, leading to a 42% increase in labour disruptions globally. Talent shortages, particularly in digital skills, continue with companies struggling to meet automation and resilience goals.
•Airfreight capacity and volatile fuel prices contribute to rising logistics costs
Implications for brands:
•Long times, affecting seasonal deliveries and just-in-time inventory models.
•Rising freight costs, increasing operational expenses and potentially impacting consumer pricing.
3. Climate Change & Unpredictable Seasonality
Climate unpredictability is complicating demand forecasting and inventory management:
•2024 saw record-high global temperatures, yet some European regions experienced the coldest summer in a decade, making seasonal planning nearly impossible
•Extreme weather affects cotton and other production, leading to shortages.
•Delayed seasonal transitions result in unsold stock and last-minute production shifts.
Implications for brands:
•Overstocking or stock shortages due to inaccurate seasonal forecasting.
•Higher markdown rates, reducing profitability.
•Increased pressure on just-in-time production, straining logistics further.
How Brands Can Overcome Supply Chain Bottlenecks
1. Near-shoring & Multi-DC Strategies
To combat long lead times and high freight costs, brands are bringing production closer to key markets:
•Near-shoring to Turkey, Mexico, and Eastern Europe allows for faster delivery cycles and reduced reliance on high-risk regions.
•Multi-distribution centre (DC) networks enable inventory to be stored regionally for quicker fulfilment.
Example: A leading European retailer reduced lead times by 40% by shifting production from Asia to a combination of European and Latin American suppliers.
2. AI-Driven Inventory Forecasting & Demand Planning
With seasonality and micro-trends becoming harder to predict, brands are turning to AI-powered forecasting models to reduce excess stock and prevent shortages:
•75% of fashion executives plan to adopt AI-based demand forecasting in 2025
•Brands using data-driven forecasting have reported 20% increased accuracy in demand
•In-season purchasing and “test and react” models help brands scale production only when required.
Example: ASOS is increasing “test and react” production to 10% of its own-brand items, reducing markdown risk.
3. Supplier Collaboration & End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility
Supply chain bottlenecks often occur due to poor supplier coordination and fragmented logistics processes. The solution lies in real-time collaboration:
•End-to-end supply chain integration (connecting merchandising, logistics, and sourcing) can yield 10-15% cost savings
•Supplier transparency tools, such as Digital Product Passports (DPPs), will become standard for EU compliant automated warehouse management systems can reduce processing time for inbound and outbound logistics.
Example: A global fashion brand reduced warehouse processing times by 30% using Noatum Logistics’ automated distribution technology.
Noatum Logistics: Optimising Fashion & Beauty Supply Chains for Growth
With supply chain bottlenecks threatening efficiency and profitability, brands need a trusted logistics partner to help them navigate complexity and build long-term resilience.
Noatum Logistics delivers:
- Near-shoring expertise & multi-DC solutions to reduce lead times and enhance supply chain agility.
- AI-driven demand forecasting to optimise inventory and mitigate overproduction risks.
- End-to-end supply chain integration for greater efficiency, transparency, and compliance.
- Advanced automation & warehousing solutions to streamline inbound, outbound, and reverse logistics.
Explore Noatum Logistics’ Solutions
Discover how Noatum Logistics can help you overcome supply chain bottlenecks.
Visit our solutions page to learn more.
Future-Proofing Fashion & Beauty Supply Chains
Elevating Performance and Securing Growth
– Geopolitical Conflicts & Economic Instability
– Environment & Sustainability Pressures
– Supply Chain Bottlenecks
– Fragmented Supply Chain Processes
– Lack of Inventory Visibility & Forecasting
– Inefficient Reverse Logistics
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