Los Angeles—Cotton Heritage and Apliiq Inc. announced a strategic partnership to enable rapid, U.S.–based print-on-demand (POD) fulfillment for apparel brands. As the United States suspends the long-standing de minimis exemption for low-value imports, the collaboration offers merchants a timely, dependable alternative: domestic production with fast turnarounds, transparent landed costs, and nationwide delivery.
Under the partnership, Apliiq’s technology-driven POD platform and bi-coastal production network will integrate with Cotton Heritage’s premium, in-stock blanks, consolidating procurement, decoration, quality control, and shipping within the U.S. The result is a resilient, end-to-end supply chain that helps brands avoid new tariffs, customs backlogs, and international shipping disruptions — while maintaining brand-worthy quality.
“With de minimis ending, brands need a U.S.-first fulfillment strategy they can count on,” said Ian Gruber, CEO of Apliiq Inc. “By pairing Cotton Heritage’s quality garments with Apliiq’s on-demand manufacturing and nationwide logistics, we’re giving merchants speed, predictability, and control over their margins.”
“Cotton Heritage has always focused on quality and availability,” added Nik Sachdeva, Head of Internal Strategy for Cotton Heritage. “Together with Apliiq, we’re making it simple for growing brands to produce closer to their customers and ship quickly — without customs surprises.”
What the Partnership Delivers for Merchants
- Rapid U.S. Fulfillment: On-demand decoration and shipping from Apliiq’s bi-coastal footprint (Los Angeles and Philadelphia) ensures fast, nationwide delivery.
- Tariff-Proof Operations: Domestic production minimizes exposure to new duties and border delays tied to the end of de minimis.
- Premium Blanks, Always on Hand: Cotton Heritage’s deep inventory and nationwide distribution ensures consistent quality and reliable stock across core styles and colors.
- Brand-Worthy Customization: Retail-grade on-demand decoration (embroidery, DTG, DTF, patches, woven/printed labels, and more) backed by robust QA.
- Seamless Scale: Apliiq’s Shopify and WooCommerce integrations with workflow automation streamline order ingestion, routing, and tracking as sales grow.
