The 2026 USFIA Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study finds tariffs remain the fashion industry’s top business challenge, with companies continuing to diversify sourcing while increasing investment in AI, compliance and sustainability. The report, in conjunction with Dr. Sheng Lu, Professor in the University of Delaware’s Department of Fashion & Apparel Studies, and Emilie Delaye, Graduate Instructor at Udel, also shows hiring expectations remain strong despite ongoing trade uncertainty.