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Up Close: In Conversation With Gaia Dynamics CEO Emil Stefanutti
Sarah Jones
6 min read
Up Close is Sourcing Journal’s regular check-in with industry executives to get their take on topics ranging from their company’s latest moves to personal style.In this Q&A, Emil Stefanutti, co-founder and CEO of artificial intelligence-powered trade compliance platform Gaia Dynamics, shares what fashion could borrow from automakers’ playbooks to produce more sustainably and how his company is helping firms plan for different tariff scenarios.
Name: Emil Stefanutti Title: Co-founder and CEO Company: Gaia Dynamics
Which other industry has the best handle on the supply chain? What can apparel learn?
The automotive industry has mastered supply chain management with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), automation and predictive analytics. Automakers use just-in-time manufacturing, real-time tracking and advanced demand forecasting to optimize production, minimize waste and mitigate disruptions.
The fashion industry, in contrast, often struggles with overproduction, supply chain inefficiencies and unexpected delays. By taking inspiration from the automotive sector, apparel brands can adopt AI-driven forecasting to better predict demand, reducing excess inventory and preventing stockouts. Real-time tracking of materials and shipments can enhance visibility, making it easier to anticipate delays and adjust accordingly. Additionally, diversifying suppliers and using predictive analytics can help companies navigate trade disruptions and tariff fluctuations, creating a more resilient sourcing strategy.
Embracing these data-driven approaches would not only improve efficiency and lower costs but also move the fashion industry toward a more sustainable future.
What should be the apparel industry’s top priority right now?
In an era of increasing trade regulations, tariff complexities and global disruptions, the apparel industry must prioritize supply chain resilience and compliance automation. AI-driven solutions offer a way forward, helping brands streamline operations and mitigate risk.
Automating trade compliance can significantly reduce costs by ensuring accurate product classification and real-time regulatory monitoring, minimizing the risk of misclassification penalties. At the same time, predictive analytics can enhance supply chain visibility, allowing companies to anticipate disruptions and optimize sourcing strategies. Beyond efficiency, sustainability and ethical sourcing have become essential, requiring brands to comply with environmental and labor regulations while improving transparency.
By focusing on agility, efficiency and compliance, apparel companies can navigate an increasingly complex landscape while maintaining a competitive edge.
What innovation or development holds the greatest potential to improve operations in the apparel and textile industries?
There are a few very interesting technologies with great potential to transform the apparel and textile industries, including AI, automation and sustainability-focused innovations. AI-powered demand forecasting helps brands predict trends more accurately, reducing overproduction and optimizing inventory. Meanwhile, robotic sewing and AI-driven patternmaking streamline production, lowering costs and enabling on-demand manufacturing that minimizes waste.
Supply chain resilience and compliance automation are also key. AI-driven tools help brands navigate complex regulations, ensuring accurate product classification and tariff calculations while reducing inefficiencies. Real-time tracking and predictive analytics improve sourcing strategies, while innovations in recycled textiles and sustainable materials support ethical production and waste reduction.
Digital transformation is reshaping consumer engagement, with virtual prototyping and AI-driven e-commerce enhancing efficiency and personalization. As these technologies evolve, companies that embrace them will improve operations, reduce costs and gain a competitive edge in a rapidly shifting market.
Tell us about your company’s latest product introduction:
At Gaia Dynamics, our new AI tools are streamlining trade compliance with 92 percent accurate product classification, minimizing costly misclassifications. Also, our real-time monitoring ensures regulatory compliance, flagging risks and providing actionable insights—so critical in today’s chaotic environment. By automating these processes, Gaia cuts compliance time per shipment from 10 hours to under two and assigns HTS codes in just 18 seconds instead of hours manually.
How would you describe your corporate culture?
As a team, we’ve agreed on a set of 10 culture rules that we live by and revise a few times a year to make sure they still make sense as we evolve. The general spirit of our culture revolves around caring about keeping a drama-, BS- and jerk-free environment as well as the freedom to be conscientiously bold, aggressive and radically honest.
What’s the best decision your company has made in the last year?
I’d say [it] was to accelerate the launch of our AI-powered tariff analysis tools in advance of the many regulatory changes by the new administration. We saw a critical need in the industry—customs brokers, consultants and brands struggling to analyze the impact of new tariff changes with outdated, manual processes—and we trusted our AI could change the game.
We knew the tariff landscape would get messy but couldn’t predict the magnitude of the chaos. Today, our customers can run multiple tariff scenarios—including current, upcoming and even rumored tariffs—in just a couple of seconds.
Where do you look for personal style inspiration?
As a designer, I admire timeless, functional design—whether in fashion, technology or architecture. I lean toward minimalist, well-constructed pieces that prioritize quality over trend cycles.
How do you shop for clothing? How would you describe yourself as a fashion consumer?
Being very tall, I can’t just walk into a store and grab whatever I like, so I appreciate brands that offer tall sizes and size 15 shoes online. That’s how I do most of my shopping. I’m a practical consumer—once I find a brand, model and colors I like, I stock up and keep things simple. Every few months, I repeat the cycle. It may not be the most exciting approach, but it’s efficient and fits my fast-paced lifestyle perfectly.
What are the top three product attributes that you factor into your purchasing decisions?
In terms of apparel and footwear, I just focus on whether a product fits my body, my closet and my wallet. Other than size, I try to keep a decluttered and practical wardrobe, especially when traveling. I tend to prioritize experiences over clothing, so I keep my purchases minimal and functional.
What is a retail experience that stands out to you?
To me, Apple’s retail experience is a gold standard. The seamless integration between online and in-store, the knowledgeable staff and the frictionless checkout process all contribute to a customer-first experience. Apparel brands could benefit from this level of personalization and efficiency in both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar.
What keeps you up at night?
These days, my brain is in overdrive thinking about how to design the best possible experience for our customers to navigate the increasing chaos of global trade. It’s great though—it’s not like losing sleep out of concern, but just the constant flow of creative juices.
What makes you most optimistic?
I’m very optimistic about the incredible moment of profound technological innovation we’re living in right now. We’re seeing breakthroughs in AI, healthcare, sustainability and countless other fields that have the potential to dramatically improve people’s lives. The pace of change is accelerating, and with it comes an unprecedented opportunity to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to global health disparities. The combination of human creativity, technological advancements and a growing focus on impact gives me great hope for the future.
