Learn why brands switch to Deepwear: expert sourcing, factory audits, transparency, sustainability, and risk prevention for stronger supply chains.
The partner a brand chooses for sourcing and manufacturing doesn’t just influence costs — it defines quality, reputation, and long-term growth. Many labels begin with traditional agents or brokers, only to find that these outdated models can’t keep up with their ambitions. At Deepwear, we often meet brands that come to us after disappointing experiences elsewhere — and the reasons are strikingly similar.
According to Fashion Revolution, the average fashion brand scores just 26% on transparency, with only 52% disclosing their first-tier suppliers. This lack of openness creates pressure on brands to choose partners that prioritize clarity, accountability, and integrity. Here’s why many brands decide it’s time to switch to Deepwear.
In this blog, you’ll learn how Deepwear helps brands overcome:
- Weak agents and middlemen that add cost without value
- The transparency gap in global supply chains
- The need for flexibility and speed in fast-changing markets
- Sustainability challenges and meeting ethical production standards
- Risk prevention and security to safeguard intellectual property and reputation
1. Weak Agents vs. Strong Partners
One of the biggest frustrations brands report is being tied to weak agents who act as nothing more than middlemen — adding cost but not value. These agents often take a cut like a marketing employee for a factory, working on commissions that encourage corner-cutting rather than quality. They rarely visit production floors, dodge accountability when issues arise, and accept whatever terms factories dictate. The result? Higher prices, missed deadlines, and products that fall short of expectations.
Deepwear works differently. We’re not just “in the middle” — we’re before, during, and after production. Our team is present from the first sampling to the last shipment, giving real-time feedback to clients and ensuring factories deliver on promises. Because we speak the language of factories, we won’t be bullied into poor terms or overlooked details. If a factory can’t meet our standards, we have a global network of trusted alternatives — and we’ll move on without hesitation.
That strength is what protects our clients. A weak agent can trap a brand in dependency; Deepwear gives brands the freedom to scale, safe in the knowledge that their supply chain is backed by expertise, oversight, and an elite global team.
Stop losing time and money on weak agents. Partner with Deepwear, a trusted fashion sourcing partner, to gain strong factory relationships and hands-on quality control. Talk to our team today.
2. The Transparency Gap
Transparency is no longer optional. A decade ago, only a handful of brands published their first-tier supplier lists. Today, at least 118 brands do so, showing how far the industry has come under consumer and activist pressure. But with billions of garments still being produced each year, the gap between demand and actual accountability remains wide.
With 5.8 million people engaging annually with Fashion Revolution’s campaigns, brands that fail to provide transparency risk losing consumer trust.
At Deepwear, we approach transparency pragmatically. We work with carefully chosen manufacturers and, whenever clients need it, we request supply chain details, documentation, or certifications to the extent factories and suppliers are able to share them. Because we maintain close relationships and can conduct on-the-ground audits, we are often able to provide visibility that goes beyond what traditional agents offer. While not every factory will open its entire chain, our decades of experience help us identify when information is being withheld or misrepresented — and that protects both our clients and their reputations.
Don’t let hidden risks damage your reputation. Our experts ensure supplier compliance across multiple markets. Learn more about our auditing process.
3. The Need for Flexibility & Speed
Fashion moves fast. Collections change season by season, sometimes month by month — and brands that can’t adapt risk falling behind. Flexibility and speed aren’t about shortcuts; they’re about having the right infrastructure in place.
At Deepwear, that infrastructure is our 17 offices worldwide. Each one is fully embedded in its local market, staffed with experts across design, merchandising, marketing, sourcing, and production. Because we operate under one management structure, every office works in sync — meaning information flows quickly, projects stay aligned, and resources can be reallocated where they’re needed most.
Our 17 offices provide global supply chain consulting, helping brands pivot quickly, scale production, and maintain quality across markets. Unlike traditional agents who often operate in silos, Deepwear’s network acts as one team, fully looped into each project.
4. Sustainability as a Business Imperative
Sustainability isn’t just a trend — it’s a business reality that more consumers expect and that many markets are starting to regulate. For Deepwear, this doesn’t mean chasing resale platforms or untested trends. Instead, it means working with brands and supply partners in ways that can support long-term values and responsible growth.
Many of our clients are small to mid-size high-end labels. They don’t chase volume for the sake of scale. Instead, they focus on artistry, craftsmanship, and creating products their customers truly value. These collections can sell out quickly, not because they flood the market, but because they are unique, limited, and intentional.
Our spider position around the world can make it easier for these brands to build sustainable supply chains. We can source responsibly, we can ask factories and suppliers for transparent information when needed, and we can bring in experts across design, merchandising, and sourcing to support small-batch production with efficiency.
5. Risk Prevention & Security
In addition to transparency, flexibility, and sustainability, brands often switch to Deepwear because of hidden risks in their supply chains. From intellectual property theft to unverified subcontracting, a weak partner can expose a brand to financial loss, legal liability, and reputation damage.
Consider a scenario where a brand’s designs were copied by a supplier’s sub-contractor without their knowledge. The consequences were severe: delayed collections, lost revenue, and public criticism that eroded consumer trust. Brands that rely solely on middlemen or unvetted agents often discover these issues too late to act effectively.
Deepwear acts as a guardian for your brand. Our team conducts comprehensive audits and surprise inspections, providing expert risk management in fashion to safeguard intellectual property, ethical standards, and consumer trust. With decades of experience, we can identify red flags that others might overlook — from unsafe labor practices to hidden outsourcing — ensuring your production chain is both secure and reliable.
This proactive approach allows brands to launch collections with confidence, knowing that every partner, factory, and process has been thoroughly vetted. Beyond mitigating immediate risks, Deepwear helps brands future-proof their operations, safeguarding intellectual property, ethical standards, and consumer trust for the long term.
Protect your designs, reputation, and investment. Deepwear safeguards brands from hidden risks and factory misuse. Find out how we secure your supply chain.
What Are the Biggest Risks in Fashion Supply Chains in 2025?
In short, brands today face several major risks:
- Hidden subcontracting that bypasses quality and compliance checks
- Weak or unverified agents that inflate costs and avoid accountability
- Lack of regular audits and transparency, creating blind spots in the supply chain
- Intellectual property (IP) theft or unauthorized replication of designs
How Deepwear solves these issues:
- Our team can conduct thorough audits and surprise inspections of factories and suppliers
- Deepwear has long-term, trusted relationships across the global supply chain consulting network
- Deepwear can oversee activities beyond first-tier suppliers, helping brands gain insight into downstream production and maintain quality standards
- We offer scalable and transparent processes to prevent hidden risks
Future-Proof Your Brand
Brands don’t switch to Deepwear for a single reason — they switch because the fashion landscape is evolving. Weak agents, lack of transparency, rigid processes, and outdated approaches to sustainability are no longer viable.
Consumer expectations are higher than ever, regulations are tightening, and supply chain risks can have immediate financial and reputational consequences. By partnering with Deepwear, brands gain a trusted, hands-on partner that ensures their production chain is resilient, ethical, and compliant.
Switching to Deepwear isn’t just about solving today’s challenges — it’s about future-proofing your brand. Deepwear itself is constantly evolving, refining its processes, and adapting to new trends and regulations. By aligning with a partner that grows and innovates, brands avoid stagnation and gain the agility, insight, and expertise needed to scale confidently. With direct access to trusted manufacturers, rigorous factory audits, agile production models, and a focus on sustainable growth, brands can protect their reputation, products, and consumer trust while continuously evolving alongside the market.
Ready to secure your fashion supply chain in 2025? Book a strategy call with Deepwear’s global consultants or explore our sourcing and auditing solutions today.