Why U.S. Import Taxes Threaten the Future of Small, Ethical Fashion Brands Like Ours
At Funky Chef, we’ve always done things a little differently. We design and produce fitted, flattering, and fun chef’s jackets exclusively for women—because the professional kitchen shouldn’t mean compromising on fit, style, or identity.
Our jackets are handmade in Cape Town, South Africa, by an all-female team of seamstresses, led by an incredible female manufacturer. This isn’t just about making clothes—it’s personal. Cape Town is where I’m originally from, and choosing to produce there was a conscious decision to support the regeneration of the local textile industry, which has suffered from decades of underinvestment and global outsourcing. For us, every stitch represents something bigger: craftsmanship, opportunity, and pride.
But recently, a new challenge has landed on our doorstep, one that threatens everything we’ve worked so hard to build: rising U.S. import taxes.
The Hidden Cost Behind the Hems
Until recently, we paid a 14% import duty to bring each Funky Chef jacket into the U.S. As a small startup, that was already a significant cost—especially considering we produce in small batches, pay living wages, and prioritize quality over cutting corners. But with proposed import tax changes for 2025, we’re looking at duties that could climb as high as 25%.
Let’s be clear: that’s not a small increase. For a business like ours, built on heart, integrity, and ethical sourcing, it’s a potentially devastating blow.
And we’re not alone.
Small-Scale, Big Impact
All over Africa, Europe, and beyond, small garment manufacturers form the backbone of the slow fashion movement. From co-ops in Ghana to family-run workshops in Portugal, these makers prioritize quality over quantity, sustainability over speed, and dignity over exploitation. These are not sweatshops. These are spaces of skill, empowerment, and human connection.
U.S. import taxes disproportionately affect these kinds of suppliers. As it becomes more expensive to bring ethically made products into the States, it threatens the very existence of the independent brands working to make fashion more responsible.
We’re seeing this now more than ever.
Why This Hits Especially Hard for Us
At Funky Chef, our mission is to serve the women who are changing the face of kitchens around the world—from restaurant chefs and yacht crew to bakers and culinary students. Our jackets are designed to fit and flatter, but they’re also built to empower.
We chose to manufacture in South Africa not just because of my personal ties, but because we believe in investing in local talent, supporting women in the workforce, and bringing dignity back to garment-making. Our team of seamstresses isn’t just producing clothing—they’re rebuilding a vital part of Cape Town’s economy.
But rising import taxes put all of this at risk. As costs rise, we face impossible choices: do we increase our prices and risk becoming unaffordable to our customers? Do we slash our margins and hope we can weather the financial hit? Or do we absorb the cost entirely and gamble on our survival?
None of these are easy answers. But we want you to know—we’re doing everything we can to hold the line.
We’re Fighting to Keep Our Prices the Same
We know our customers choose Funky Chef because they believe in quality and value. They believe in better alternatives to baggy, unisex uniforms that never fit right. And we believe in honoring that trust by keeping our prices fair and stable—despite rising import taxes that make that increasingly difficult.
Behind the scenes, we’re working tirelessly to manage these costs without passing them on to you. That means streamlining our operations, negotiating smarter shipping rates, exploring U.S.-based warehousing solutions, and even considering hybrid production models that still honor our core values.
We haven’t raised our prices yet—but the pressure is real. And we want to be transparent with you about what’s happening behind the scenes.
This Isn’t Just About Funky Chef
What’s happening with U.S. import taxes isn’t just a Funky Chef problem—it’s an issue that affects every small, values-driven fashion brand importing from overseas. These taxes are built into our costs before we even put a product on the shelf. And unlike big corporations, we can’t absorb those costs without serious strain.
Many of us—especially brands committed to ethical sourcing—don’t have offshore factories or huge production runs to dilute expenses. We’re small, we’re specialized, and we’re intentional. We’re trying to make fashion that’s better for people and planet.
But when trade policies don’t distinguish between mass-market goods and purpose-driven production, the little guys suffer. And that hurts everyone: the makers, the customers, and the communities we serve.
What Needs to Change
We’re not giving up. In fact, we’re doubling down.
Here’s what we’re doing:
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Leaning into community: We’re connecting more directly with you—our customers—to share the true story behind every jacket. When you understand where your clothes come from and how they’re made, you understand their value beyond the price tag.
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Exploring U.S.-based options: We’re researching ways to reduce import taxes by establishing fulfillment partnerships or hybrid manufacturing models. But these things take time, and we want to do it without compromising what makes Funky Chef special.
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Speaking up: Small brands need a seat at the trade policy table. Import taxes shouldn’t penalize ethical sourcing. Policymakers must recognize the difference between exploitative factories and small-scale producers who are lifting up their communities.
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Pushing for policy renewal: Programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which currently allows some African-made goods to enter the U.S. duty-free, are under threat. Renewing and expanding these programs is critical for brands like ours and the women who make our garments.
What You Can Do
If you believe in fashion with a conscience, now is the time to stand with brands like Funky Chef. Here’s how:
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Support small businesses: Every time you shop with us, you’re supporting not just a jacket, but a movement.
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Ask where your clothes are made: Transparency matters. So does impact.
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Share our story: Help us make noise. The more people understand the effects of import taxes on ethical fashion, the more pressure we can apply to demand change.
In Closing: We’re Not Going Anywhere
Funky Chef isn’t just about chef’s jackets—it’s about redefining what a chef looks like and celebrating the women who are changing the culinary world, one kitchen at a time.
We don’t have investors or billion-dollar backers. What we do have is a dream, a team of extraordinary women in Cape Town, and a growing community of customers who believe that fashion—and food—can be done differently.
If we want a future where ethical fashion can thrive, then we need trade policies that support the people trying to do things right.
Thank you for being part of this journey. For wearing your values. For cheering us on. We’ll keep doing everything we can to keep our jackets affordable, our makers supported, and our mission alive—no matter what challenges come our way.