Investigation
How GAP scams small businesses.
Gap used it to dump millions of unwanted plus size garments, then tightened the contract to bury the paper trail. Gap disputes it all.
By Daniel Reyes · September 14, 2026
Retail
Plus Size Assortments Are Shrinking Again
Extended sizing fell sharply at Target and Old Navy over the past year, and Torrid is closing roughly 180 stores.
By Rachel Kim
Supply chain
Tariffs Are Squeezing Apparel Margins
A Supreme Court ruling eased tariff stacking in 2026, but landed costs are still elevated and most retailers are absorbing the hit.
By David Okafor
Retail
Retailers Brace for a Shorter, More Price Sensitive Holiday Season
Overall spending looks resilient, but the planning window is one of the tightest in years.
By Maria Chen
Supply chain
Nearshoring Gets the Headlines. The Numbers Still Favor Asia.
Mexico and Central America remain useful for speed, but apparel sourcing value has kept shifting toward South Asia, not the Americas.
By Priya Nair
Retail
Return Fraud Is Now a Hundred Billion Dollar Problem
Roughly 15 percent of returns are fraudulent or abusive, and retailers are quietly rewriting return policies to fight back.
By James Whitfield
Retail
Private Label Keeps Taking Share From National Brands
Store brands hit a record unit share in 2026, and most shoppers now say the quality gap with national brands has closed.
By Elena Torres