As part of the Oberalp Summit on May 10 in Igls/Innsbruck and the Oberalp Virtual Convention - online from May 12 under this LINK – we as the Oberalp house of brands sought answers to these burning questions. And not just among our own six mountain sports brands. In a four-part video documentary, we asked suppliers, industry associations, NGOs, and well-known competitors for their evaluation of the opportunities, challenges, and risks of supply chains in our industry. The idea is to explore common solutions. After all, the outdoor industry can only really be successful if it pursues a common ethical and sustainable business model.
Made in Asia or Made in Europe?
Oberalp Summit and Oberalp Virtual Convention Spring Summer 2023
The growing demand for technical clothing, footwear and equipment is encountering globally sensitive supply chains that are increasingly fragile. If it wasn’t clear already, the pandemic has demonstrated that we are all in this together. From suppliers to customers in stores, we’ve all experienced how conflicts and crises can bring normally trouble-free supply chains to a grinding halt. Climate change also poses major challenges for the outdoor industry – how do the boom and sustainable action fit together? How can global companies live up to their local social responsibility? And why is so much high-quality apparel and technical equipment produced elsewhere in the world in the first place?
Outdoor industry supply chains in uncertain times
Anyone who motivates people to move outdoors in nature, must also be committed to conserving nature
Christoph Engl
CEO Oberalp Group
See what the outdoor industry has to say. The four episodes of the documentary series “Made in Europe - Made in Asia” critically examine the following questions:
Episode 1: Which is the best manufacturing location?
Mountain boots from Romania, jackets from China, T-shirts from Bangladesh, and knitwear from Italy – the first episode in the series looks at why products are manufactured in certain countries. It shows how the technical skills and experience of the people involved are more important than the costs. Click HERE to watch the first episode.
Episode 2: Why invest in the quality of manufacturing locations?
Being committed to Corporate Social Responsibility is more than just a cost factor. Investing in sustainable behavior and fair working conditions is a sign of quality and guarantees high-quality products. In the outdoor industry in particular, there are increasingly effective alliances to pursue this goal together. Individual brands and companies are working on common initiatives, aside from the competition, to achieve major objectives.
The second episode in the series investigates how powerful cooperation improves conditions at all levels of the supply chain, shows successful projects and looks at the important next steps. Click HERE to watch the second episode.
Episode 3: Why do goods never seem to arrive on time?
You can only sell what you have in stock. Retailers in particular have had a tough time with recurring supply shortages over the last two years. And the punctuality of ordered goods was an issue and a challenge even before. In the third part of this documentary series, product managers, designers and producers have their say and provide an insight into the complex processes behind bringing a new outdoor collection to market – right the way through to the individual points of sale. What are the factors involved in developing and manufacturing a new product? Why does the process take so long? And what are the traps and pitfalls? Click HERE to watch the third episode.
Episode 4: What can we expect in years to come?
These days, it’s no longer about making products and collections and moving them to the market as quickly as possible. Instead, it’s important to be able to identify the long-term trends and new customer requirements at an early stage. Acting sustainably means, above all, designing longer-lasting products, researching, and developing better materials and more intelligent sourcing. To do this, we need to explore completely different approaches, says Ruth Oberrauch, Executive Board Member of the Oberalp Group, outlining a clear direction: “Innovations that are not sustainable, are not innovations.” Click HERE to watch the fourth episode.
We never run out of good stories
Because we live them, day by day, and so do our athletes and friends.