Russian Federation

Sample approval remains one of the more settled moments in a cross-border apparel order, yet fabric, trims, labels and pack configuration can shift between sign-off and shipment. A short sample version receipt is proposed to name every difference, assign a single owner and end with one of three deliberate release decisions before quantity is committed.

The corporate retreat from Russia that followed the 2022 invasion of Ukraine was never as clean or swift as the initial wave of announcements suggested. Four years on, many companies are still completing exits they declared in the first weeks of the conflict. Trussardi, the Milan-based fashion house, finalised its Russian withdrawal in early April 2026, closing the last of its business units after a phased wind-down that exposed how structurally difficult departure from Russia had become.

The BRICS + Fashion Summit held in Moscow early last month saw business transactions to the tune of $2.7 million.

An unpredictable future has forced Swedish giant H&M to pause all sales in Russia with steps being initiated to begin the process of winding up business in the country, promising also "support to all colleagues concerned" over the coming months.