36th IAF World Fashion Convention Kicks Off in Less Than Two Weeks!
The 36th IAF World Fashion Convention will kick off in less than two weeks at the Antwerp Hilton Old Town in Belgium. The IAF Convention, on Monday November 8, will feature renowned speakers including Guy Ryder, the director general of the ILO; David Sävman, Head of Global Supply Chain of H&M; Miran Ali, managing director of Bitopi Group and vice president of BGMEA and Mehmet Kaya, CEO of TYH. On Tuesday November 9, EURATEX’s 9th European Textile & Apparel Convention will take place at the same venue as both conventions are organized back-to-back.
The theme of the IAF Convention, ‘Transition of the Global Fashion System’ will be approached through the perspective of collaboration in the global supply chain. Sessions focusing on new business models, digitalization, supply chain resilience and transparency will all highlight the necessity of buyers and their suppliers working together to create the transition the apparel industry needs. The composition of the Convention’s delegates, from across the world and spanning the supply chain with a strong representation of (SME) brands and manufacturers further highlights the Convention’s core message: Buying brands, retailers and supplying manufacturers rely on each other equally to create supply chains that are resilient enough to withstand the rough ride of the apparel industry’s transition.
For example, one of the sessions on new business models, named ‘E-Fashion in Manufacturing’ and led by analyst and adviser John Thorbeck, brings together a US manufacturing brand, a European fashion tech company and an innovative Asian manufacturer. Brad Ballentine of Fox River Mills, Gonçalo Cruz of PlatformE and Stanley Szeto of Lever Style will be interviewed by John Thorbeck on the way their businesses reflect the industry’s transition and how risk shared across the supply chain and the quest for zero waste are key elements of that quest.
The Convention will be a physical event, with the organizers noting a nearly full house. To facilitate those delegates who are not able to be physically present, both the IAF and the EURATEX Conventions will be live streamed and recorded. For viewing the live stream and the recordings, online tickets are available at reduced prices for IAF members. For purchasing online tickets, please visit https://conventionantwerp.com/registration-entry-tickets/.
