Page 4 - The Katten Kattwalk - Fall 2025 - Issue 30

World Textile Information

Network Sits Down With

Karen Artz Ash

Following President Donald Trump’s global tariff wars,
World Textile Information Network (WTiN) sat down with

Intellectual Property Partner Karen Artz Ash, National
Co-Chair of Katten’s Trademark/Copyright/Privacy Group.

Karen, who has practiced in the trademarks, fashion
and beauty industries now for over 30 years, discussed

the recent impact of Trump’s tariffs on the US fashion
industry at large and her observations in law.

WTiN: Since President Donald Trump’s reciprocal how and where companies devote their budgets,
tariff wars and the elimination of the duty-free retail resources and advertising as well.
de minimis exemption, what concerns are you seeing WTiN: Some argue that this increase in
from US fashion brands, manufacturers and supply protectionism — the practice of shielding a country’s
chain bodies?
domestic industries from foreign competition by
Karen: Without a doubt, there is greater caution in taxing imports heavily — will cut back at lengthy
committing to large orders or to placing orders with supply chains and reduce fast fashion reaching US
a single manufacturer that has factories in only one soil, thus improving sustainability. In what ways is
region. While, typically, there are economies of scale this protectionism benefiting and/or harming the US
in volume and using factories where their production fashion industry?
runs can save money by being large, there is a natural Karen: While the goal is laudable, namely in that
reluctance to commit to anything in large quantities
and without backup. it supports local jobs and resources, this is not an
overnight process. It takes years to locate, build
Overall, companies are trying to provide themselves and set up a domestic manufacturing facility that
with as much cushion as possible by diversifying their can support a substantial business. It takes just as
reliance on different factories in different locations. long to hire and train workers, and the cost of those
workers will be high because of the high cost of living
Planning with retailers is also more difficult. Both
retailers and brand owners want to minimize the anywhere in the US.
need for passing along substantial price increases to Over the years, the US pivoted from being a
consumers. The potential for reciprocal tariffs that manufacturing country to a more service-oriented
impose higher costs on selling products in other economy. This has fueled the growth of certain types
countries also has a significant planning impact on of work, requiring different education, skills and

4 katten.com/fashionlaw