About Jennifer Pisula
Jennifer Pisula is a Fabric Sourcing Manager at QVC. Jennifer is also a member of the Cotton Board, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
Jennifer has over ten years of experience in the corporate retail industry, where she first started her career as a Buyer at Qurate for QVC, buying for brands such as Isaac Mizrahi, Liz Claiborne, and C. Wonder. Given her love for Product Development and Production, Jennifer shifted her career to Sourcing at QVC where she traveled to China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam for factory and mill visits. Jennifer left QVC to be the Sourcing lead for URBN’s Anthropologie Plus line and the lead for Free People Movement Pre-Production and Production. In 2020, Jennifer returned to Qurate to lead the Fabric Sourcing team for QVC, where she manages sourcing & R&D for over 20 brands, working on both celebrity and core private label brands. Jennifer also works part-time as an Adjunct Professor at Immaculata University, where she teaches Textiles and Fashion Portfolio Development. In addition to her professional positions,
Jennifer Pisula graduated from the Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design M.S. program from the University of Rhode Island & earned a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising from Mercyhurst University.
The interview was conducted by Leah Marsh, a graduate student in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies at the University of Delaware. Leah’s research focused on exploring EU retailers’ sourcing strategies for clothing made from recycled textile materials and fashion companies’ supply chain and sourcing strategies.
The interview is part of the 2023 Cotton in the Curriculum program, supported by Cotton Incorporated, to develop open educational resources (OER) for global apparel sourcing classes.
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 
It was very interesting to hear from Jennifer Pisula because, as a Sourcing Manager at QVC, she really emphasized a lot of the concepts that we’ve talked about so much in class. For starters, it was great to hear that her second priority when selecting a fabric mill, after cost, is ethics and compliance. We’ve really discussed the role of fashion brands in solving issues related to social responsibility and Jennifer proved that she is doing her part to ensure that she only works with mills that are following regulations. Additionally, it was interesting to hear her take on China as a sourcing destination and how companies are trying to get out. She did, however, mention that China is a great location for novelty fabrics whereas Central America is more relevant when it comes to basic fabrics in large volumes. I remember discussing how one of the reasons for CAFTA-DR’s plateau in success could be related to their lack of variety in product offerings, and Pisula’s response definitely supported this idea. Even though US companies can source from the region while enjoying duty-free benefits, they will still have to look to countries like China and India for more advanced goods.
After watching this interview, one comment Jennifer made that stood out to me related to vendor relationships. As we have learned in class, fostering strong global relationships is critical when negotiating fair deals, quality, quantity, etc. Jennifer stated that when looking for new fabrics, product offering, and price are two important considerations. Thus, being able to lean on the vendor and easily communicate these desires, I’m sure, makes the sourcing process much more seamless. Another takeaway I had relates to Jennifer’s mention of new sustainability tactics within the fabric realm. Prior to this video, I had never heard of “regenerative agriculture” or even considered how the health of soil might alter the durability and texture of fabrics. This circular nature reinforces how sustainability and transparency are such vital components of any sourcing strategy and should be prioritized, especially when communicating with vendors. Similarly, when taking a global perspective, Jennifer talked about Asia and how many of the fabric mills are family-owned, specialized, and small. In particular, China and India are countries that are great for novelty fabrics. This concept of specializing in something more “novel” reminds me of the factor-proportion theory – countries (or even fabric mills in this case) that are more developed and capital intensive have the ability to broaden their product offerings. Given the magnitude of the fashion industry, basic fabrics are becoming more and more common however, it is those novelty fabrics that are unique and might be more in demand. Overall, understanding that different countries have different specializations and manufacturing capacities can help with narrowing down sourcing something like fabric.
Great thought! I also find Jennifer’s comments enlightening. It seems the gap in fabric manufacturing capabilities between Asia and the rest of the world continue to widen, making it less attractive to diversify fabric sourcing economically.
As Jennifer mentioned in the interview, fabric sourcing is quite a niche area of the industry, so I enjoyed getting a glimpse into her world as a sourcing manager. I had never considered how important R&D is in this role and how critical it is for fabric mills to be involved in it. With innovation being one of Jennifer’s top factors influencing fabric mill selection, my question is: what role do brands like QVC play in fabric mill investments? Do brands contribute to the capabilities of fabric mills, or are governments the entities relied on for investments in innovation? Or perhaps a push from brands for innovation is what motivates governments to establish R&D capabilities in fabric mills? This curiosity stems from our in-class discussions on the stages of development and the economic status of countries. The level of a fabric mill’s innovation may be dependent on these two things, so I’m wondering if QVC works with mills to help grow their R&D potential, or if they skip out on those that do not already have developments in this area?
In my opinion, I think brands should assist in these investments in order to strengthen the fabric manufacturing industry in other parts of the world besides Asia. As mentioned in the interview, Asia is the leader in novelty fabrics, while other regions specialize more so in basics. This is due to a lack of resources to expand and compete with Asia. If brands helped other regions with their fabric R&D capabilities, brands like QVC would have more sourcing options and closer relationships with vendors. Additionally, this may result in lower prices (especially if using FTAs + nearshoring) as this is the top priority for QVC when sourcing fabrics.
Great thought! In 2018, we surveyed about 35 U.S. fashion companies. About 88% said they utilized vendors’ resources to select fabrics. In comparison, the “cut, make and trim” model was much less popular (I.e., fashion companies purchased fabrics first and then delivered them to garment factories. The result was understandable given fashion companies want to free their capitals. That being said, fashion companies do care about fabric sourcing as it matters to supply chain transparency and operational efficiency. Yes, it remains rare that brands and retailers invest in fabric manufacturing capabilities directly. This is not how the retail business model works. It is hopeful though that through new digital technologies like the PLM system, fashion companies can build closer relationships with their fabric vendors.
This was such a fascinating interview to watch! Jennifer made a lot of profound points that stood out to me. I never knew that fabric makes up of half of the garment cost and how much it drives consumers to buy/wear/keep their apparel. It made me reflect and realize that I am incredibly selective when it comes to what fabrics I prefer to wear and what lasts long in my wardrobe, so it was very interesting to hear her say how much that plays into her job role. The most interesting point she made to me was the relationship she fosters with her vendors and how selective she is in considering what mills she chooses to work with because she wants to ensure that the communication between the mills and her vendors is strong so she does not have to step in. The comment she made about cutting relations with mills in China that had connections with forced labor/unethical practices connects back to the reading for our second case study, but it is interesting to hear someone’s perspective who had to deal with this themselves! One comment that stuck with me in particular was when she said “the more I learn about fabrics, I realize the less I know about fabrics”. I thought it was particularly interesting and insightful for her to realize that the relationship they foster with vendors (specifically the ones in Asia that she mentioned in the video) is imperative because of how intricate and complex the production of fabrics is. The last comment I have about this video is I appreciate how she was able to talk about the business side of her role and the fashion side of her role because as a marketing major who wants to work for a fashion company, it is so interesting to hear how these two lanes merge in real people’s job experiences!
The interview with Jennifer Pisula was very educational on fabric sourcing. I personally did not realize what went into the job until I watched the interview. One aspect of this interview I though was interesting was how important the fabric is to a garment. In the interview Pisula stated how the fabric makes up most of the cost of a garment. She also mentioned how the fabric is the main factor to consumers when choosing whether they like a garment or not. Especially with QVC’s business model, it is important to provide consumers with good fabric for a good price in order to convince consumers they need these garments. These aspects of Pisula’s job shows how important fabric sourcing is. It is a niche part of the sourcing world, but one of the most important parts to making a garment. This is why choosing fabric mills is so important. A lot of the times mills will focus on bigger companies because they tend to be important customers. Pisula said that it is important to find mills that can focus more on your company because of how important fabric is to a garment. I never knew how important fabric sourcing was until I watched this interview. I did not realize that even myself as a consumer focuses on fabric when buying garments. For example I will not buy a wool sweater because I find them too itchy. It may not be on the forefront of many consumers minds, but at the end of the day fabric is one of the most important parts to a garment. This makes fabric sourcing an important part of the sourcing world.
I was fascinated with this interview with Jennifer! As a design major, I could relate to and understand several topics she spoke on, specifically the importance of sourcing fabric and factors like cost. I’ve always understood the importance of fabric in a garment, as it is an important deciding factor for consumers as they are purchasing their product. It’s important for me as a designer to understand how to source and choose the right fabrics for my garments, keeping the consumer needs in mind. This interview gave me a new appreciation for fabric sourcing, and I’m intrigued to learn more about it.
I thought this interview with Jennifer Pisula was very interesting! Regarding fabric sourcing, the conversation with Jennifer Pisula was really instructive. Until I saw the interview, I was unaware of the amount of work involved in the position. The significance of cloth in a garment caught my attention during this interview. Pisula mentioned in the interview that a garment’s fabric accounts for the majority of its cost. She also discussed how the primary determinant of a consumer’s like for a garment is its fabric. It’s critical to supply customers high-quality fabric at competitive prices, particularly with QVC’s business strategy, to persuade them that they need these clothes. These facets of Pisula’s work demonstrate the significance of fabric sourcing. Although it is a small portion of the sourcing industry, it is crucial to the garment-making process. This is the reason selecting fabric mills is crucial. Larger businesses are frequently the target of mills since they are typically significant clients. Given the significance of fabric to a garment, Pisula stated that it is critical to choose mills that can devote more of their attention to your business. I was unaware of the significance of cloth sourcing until I saw this interview. I had no idea that, as a customer, even I pay attention to fabric while purchasing clothing.
I thought it was really interesting to hear what Jennifer Pisula had to say about fabric sourcing. I am not familiar with this part of the industry (other than what we discuss in class) so I found it interesting to hear from someone who has such a great amount of experience and who is actively working in this position! Fabric sourcing is crucial to the fashion industry as a whole. I thought it was really interesting how she mentioned that companies are paying more attention to the quality of the soil as well (especially when it comes to sustainability). This is something that I never though of, and I am interested to see how the soil quality would ultimately impact the quality of a textile!
This was a very interesting and informative interview!! I oftentimes think that fabric sourcing is the unsung hero of the fashion industry. It isn’t considered one of the more bright and flashy aspects of our industry but is so vital to ensuring our clothes get made with the materials they need to be and produced where it will create the best value for the company. I will admit, I didn’t really think about sourcing at all until halfway through my freshman year when a professor spotlighted it as the important step in producing garments that it is. I did know that fabric is the most pricey aspect of producing a piece of clothing which is why choosing the right textile mill is such an important task. Hearing from someone who actually works in this particular career and knows the ins and outs is lovely to hear.
Glad you found the interview informative and relevant. Indeed, as the industry continues to evolve, especially with the growing interest in carrying “sustainable apparel,” fabric sourcing and management will play a more crucial role. There are many exciting career opportunities in this area too.