# AI and Automation Could Unlock U.S. Onshoring

> AI and automation might solve fashion brands' onshoring challenges by cutting lead times and scaling production without cheap labor.
- Title: AI and Automation Could Unlock U.S. Onshoring · Yahoo Finance
- Summary: AI and automation might solve fashion brands' onshoring challenges by cutting lead times and scaling production without cheap labor. AI-driven automation can…
- Keywords: automation, onshoring, fashion, fashion tech, create me technologies, black swan textiles, lalaland production, 3d knitting, textiles, cotton, polyester, Unlock
- Source: Yahoo Finance — https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ai-automation-key-onshoring-132643000.html
- Published: 2026-09-16T13:26:43+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai, automation, onshoring, fashion, fashion tech, create me technologies, black swan textiles, lalaland production, 3d knitting, textiles, cotton, polyester
## Onshoring Stalls
Fashion brands avoid U.S. production due to long lead times and disjointed supply chains.

> We have 19-month lead times, we're forecasting in advance.
## AI Fixes Lead Times
AI helps brands predict demand and produce smaller batches to reduce waste.

> We can identify products people will want based on data using AI agents.
## U.S. Supply Chain Gaps
The U.S. lacks fabric makers and dye houses needed for large-scale fashion production.

> We export 75 to 80 percent of U.S. cotton offshore.
## Luxury Onshoring Works
Luxury brands can onshore high-quality products without mass production.

> If you are in the luxury market, you can onshore.
## Mass Market Needs Automation
Mass market onshoring requires automation to overcome labor costs and scale production.

> We have to leapfrog to the future with automation.
## 3D Knitting Saves Time
3D knitting automates shoe production, cutting the time-consuming upper part.

> Use 3D knitted with technical knit full sock upper to eliminate the biggest bottleneck.
## U.S. Shoe Demand
The U.S. imports 2.3 billion pairs of shoes yearly, but domestic production is impossible without automation.

> We are importing 2.3 billion pairs of shoes annually in the United States.
## Automation for Scale
Automated production can handle 10-20% of U.S. shoe market at scale without cheap labor.

> We can capture 10 to 20 percent of the market if we accept capital intensity.
## The Future of Onshoring
AI and automation enable onshoring for fashion brands without relying on cheap labor.

> We have to see the parameters and work within them.
## Key takeaway

AI-driven automation can enable faster, smaller-batch production for U.S. fashion brands without relying on cheap labor.