China Country Analysis - Sourcing Evaluation
Full PESTS and SWOT analysis assessing China’s viability as a manufacturing partner for U.S. apparel brands in 2025
Client: Toby Jackson - Senior Executive, Renaissance Youth Center, Former SVP/GMM, Express Men’s
Presented live to faculty and invited industry leadership
Team: Aydie Abdulrahim, Jaylen Clark, Joe DellaCorte, Lauryn Giddings, Katherine Kraft
Role: Sourcing

BACKGROUND

China is one of the most dominant apparel suppliers in the world, supported by scale, infrastructure, and technical capability. However, geopolitical tension, tariffs, labor concerns, and shifting brand strategies have made sourcing from China increasingly complex.

The assignment required turning highly detailed global sourcing research into a clear, actionable recommendation for a sourcing executive evaluating new manufacturing partners.

THE ASK

Deliver a 15-minute PESTS and SWOT analysis recommending whether China should be considered a viable sourcing country for U.S. apparel brands.

BUT WHY

Help a sourcing executive understand whether China is still worth the risk. The goal was clarity: evaluate every factor that affects cost, speed, ethics, and long-term stability.

PROCESS

Analyzed U.S.–China relations, tariffs, political stability, labor policy, and compliance risk.
Evaluated China’s economic conditions: wages, inflation, GDP, unemployment, FX stability, domestic market.
Researched social factors including demographics, literacy, religion, ethnic breakdown, and worker rights.
Assessed technological infrastructure: power reliability, communications, automation, transportation, IP protection.
Researched sustainability factors including port access, water scarcity, vertical capabilities, disaster risk.
Profiled two verified factories using public data, client lists, machinery, capacity, and shipping logistics.
Synthesized findings into a full SWOT analysis with risk mitigation suggestions.

SKILLS UTILIZED

Global sourcing evaluation
Political and economic research
Risk analysis
Professional presentation delivery
Cross-functional collaboration
Slide development and narrative structure

OUTCOME

Our final recommendation to the sourcing executive was clear:
China’s production capabilities are unmatched, but its geopolitical risk, compliance concerns, tariff exposure, and forced-labor associations make it an unstable sourcing choice for U.S. brands at this time.

The project strengthened my ability to analyze global risk, interpret complex trade data, and communicate sourcing decisions in a straightforward, executive-ready format.

Check out the full presentation here

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