Tariffs on Chinese imports have impacted a broad array of consumer goods — from T-shirts and toys to patio furniture and baby strollers. But few sectors illustrate the pressure on small businesses more clearly than the bridal and formalwear industry, which sits squarely in the middle of the global supply chain.
Much of this business flows through thousands of independent retailers across the U.S. that sell wedding gowns, tuxedos, prom dresses, and other formalwear. These shops serve clients with strict timelines, limited budgets, and high expectations, often coordinating custom orders that take weeks or even months to fulfill.
That makes them particularly sensitive to tariff-related disruptions. Roughly 90% of all wedding dresses sold in the U.S. are made in China, according to the National Bridal Retailers Association (NBRA), though some companies have started moving production to countries like Vietnam and Myanmar. The NBRA represents around 6,000 shops nationwide.
David’s Bridal, one of the industry’s largest players, has accelerated its exit from China to avoid escalating tariffs. The company says that by July, it expects to shift all production to other countries such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
Due to its heavy reliance on Chinese manufacturing, the bridal industry has joined other sectors in lobbying for relief. Over the past two weeks, the NBRA has rolled out a letter-writing campaign, urging members of Congress and the White House to exempt wedding apparel from the latest round of duties. The industry is already paying a tariff first introduced during Trump’s earlier administration, on top of an additional levy.
Some of the industry’s most established names are sounding the alarm. Stephen Lang, CEO and founder of Mon Cheri, a bridal and formalwear brand based in Trenton, New Jersey, helped launch a petition against the tariffs.
Lang says the duties are keeping him up at night. He fears the added costs could force his 120-person business — launched in 1991 — to close, along with many of the small boutiques that carry his designs.
“These shops are already barely hanging on,” he said, noting that many are struggling just to make rent and payroll. He also pointed to a growing trend of “try-before-you-click” customers — people who visit boutiques to test-fit dresses, only to buy a cheaper version online later.
“That’s hard enough,” he said. “Now you add tariffs, and it’s a breaking point for a lot of stores.”
