1. Katie Brumfield
Writing Assignment I
4/21/15
I am proposing that we expand our private brands to include a higher end
accessories line of “eco-friendly” primarily cotton hats, gloves, and scarves. In order to
communicate to consumers that we value sustainability, we would choose to market
and source from places who are currently environmentally sustainable or who have the
potential to be. Cotton is a natural fiber, so we would not be harming the environment
through the use of harsh chemicals in synthetic fibers. However, the environment is only
one of three parts to “the spheres of sustainability.” The other two are social and
economic responsibility which we would take into consideration when planning the
supply chain (Kunz & Garner, 2011).
Taking into consideration consumer perception, political conditions, economic
activity, and various other factors, the best place to manufacture our high end
accessories will be Italy. Beginning with sourcing raw materials and textiles, India will be
the best choice for cotton. India is the world’s top organic cotton producer (Kunz &
Garner, 2011). Organic cotton will play a major part in developing eco-friendly
accessories. India also has a democratic government which would be easier for the
U.S. to work with. As far as manufacturing the products, Italy has a reputation for high
end products in consumer’s minds, so having “Made in Italy” on the tag would boost
sales. Italy is considered a developed country with relatively lower wages than other
countries in the EU. Since Italy is a developed country, social sustainability will be more

2. welcome and required such as reasonable wages, community involvement, and safety
and health. Italy is a major supporter of ending human trafficking and fair human rights
which contribute to a sustainable environment for retailers to thrive in (U.S. Relations to
Italy). The next step in the supply chain is distribution. The infrastructure in Italy is
developed and decent, so getting products from one place to the next will not be difficult
and lowers shipping costs (Encyclopedia of the Nations). Since Italy is on the coast,
shipping products on boats will be the primary method of transportation to get products
back to the U.S. There is over 1, 500 miles of waterways used for commercial purposes
in Italy, so shipping products via boats just makes sense. However, to ensure
environmentally safe shipping, we would only contract with ships that vow not to dump
in the ocean. The U.S. does not have a free trade agreement with the E.U., which Italy
is a member of, and as the accessories are shipped in, they will be taxed (U.S.
Relations to Italy). This will be reflected in the price of the product. From there, the
accessories will be shipped to retailers to sell to customers.

3. References
Encyclopedia of the Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2015, from
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Italy-I
NFRASTRUCTURE-POWER-AND-COMMUNICATIONS.html
Kunz, G., & Garner, M. (2011). Going global: The textile and apparel industry (2nd ed.).
New York: Fairchild Books.
U.S. Relations With Italy. (2015, April 15). Retrieved April 22, 2015, from
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4033.htm