Make your closet great again? Shop made-in-America fashion to dodge tariff prices, shipping delays

Buckle your boots, tuck in your trousers, and brace for the wardrobe wars.The time to tariff-proof your closet is here.

Over the weekend, President Trump issued executive orders under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), imposing a 10% additional tariff on China — one of the United States’ largest trade partners.Mexico and Canada were also subject to the new tightened trade policy, but tariffs have been delayed for a month after the leaders of each country announced plans to increase security at their borders — even though it has been recently mentioned that Canada did commit to this same plan in mid-December.However, the tariffs on China are already underway, and Bejing has already retaliated with tariffs of its own on select American imports, which could lead to a price hike on some products manufactured abroad.Shipping delays are also expected, notably from ‘fast fashion’ and apparel brands like Shein and Temu.Trump’s new order also shuts down the ‘de minimis’ exception, a loophole that Chinese e-commerce companies use to expedite duty-free shipments worth less than $800.

Closing a loophole exploited by China may sound good on the surface, but now, those giant apparel brands will have to go through U.S.customs, which likely means much higher costs and double the shipping time.“At the end of the day, there will be delays and extra cost, and the $2 dress could wind up being $4 and take an extra week to get to you,” James Thompson, e-commerce expert at Equity Value Advisors, told The Post on Monday.Essentially, fast fashion may slow down and become pricier.

Fashion experts suspect that the new policy’s ramifications could trickle down to domestic buying habits.Some Americans may be steered towards a tax-free trend, which would mean purchasing more goods made in America.The Post spoke with three leading professional stylists — Samantha Brown, Samantha Dawn, and Kin Moy for more insights into American-made brands and q...