As one of the world’s largest industries, the apparel sector has a little ability to influence the outcome of these geopolitical developments. As in previous crises, our role as an industry federation is to articulate how the industry should respond and adapt in order to maintain stability and resilience.

We believe that the best way to deal with external shocks is to build the strongest possible foundations for our industry, to improve productivity and to reduce unnecessary waste of capital, material and human resources. Achieving this requires sustained investments in supply chain processes and deeper collaboration, supported by a framework of responsible purchasing practises.

Experience from previous crises shows that, when faced with external shocks, the first reflex for many buyers is to push costs and risks upstream into the supply chain. Yet, the ability of manufacturers to absorb rising costs is not limitless. While transferring all risks and costs upstream may generate short term benefits for buyers, depriving manufacturers of the capacity to invest, or even to meet existing operational costs, will weaken the industry and create long term loss for all.

Through our Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI), the IAF actively works to build the infrastructure needed for manufacturers and buyers to operate within a more balanced and resilient system that delivers stronger outcomes for all.

Set, as it is, in the world’s biggest oil and gas producing region, this particular crisis starkly illustrates the industry’s continued dependence on fossil fuels. The days that a shift to an energy mix with more renewable energy sources was viewed only as environmental concern are now behind us. Investments in renewable energy are a shared strategic priority for apparel brands, retailers, apparel and textile manufacturers and governments alike.

Apparel and textile manufacturing countries play a leading role here, as do federations and associations. Through the Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI), launched in 2025, IAF and ITMF have joined forces to bring together these groups to determine the most effective pathways to drive strategic transformation of the industry with respect to energy, water and wider environmental impacts. With its clear and vital emphasis on energy security for the industry, the IAF will be sharing updates from ATTI pilot chapters in Bangladesh and Türkiye in the coming months.

In times of global uncertainty, strengthening the resilience, fairness and sustainability of apparel supply chains is an economic necessity.

Het bericht IAF Statement On Current External Shocks verscheen eerst op IAF.

The conference program was met with great enthusiasm and featured a diverse range of high- level discussions on topics shaping the future of the global industry — including technology adoption, evolving legislation, fibre innovation, audit fatigue reduction, decarbonisation, AI applications, and the transformation of the Indonesian textile and apparel sector. The event also showcased innovation, sustainability, and collaboration through inspiring presentations by the winners of the ITMF Awards.

Beyond the conference sessions, ITMF and IAF continued their tradition of hosting memorable and culturally rich social events. Delegates were welcomed by the Sultan of Yogyakarta at a distinguished opening dinner, while the Gala Dinner held in front of the iconic Prambanan Temple provided a spectacular setting for networking and celebration. This special evening also marked the beginning of the tenures of ITMF President Juan Parés and IAF President Stefano Festa Marzotto.

The convention program also included company visits showcasing Indonesia’s dynamic textile and apparel ecosystem. Delegates visited PT Dan Liris, PT Pan Brothers, PT Ambassador Garmindo, Gallery Batik Jawa, PT Golden Tekstil Indonesia (GTI), and PT Ungaran Sari Garment, gaining firsthand insights into the country’s manufacturing excellence, innovation capacity, and commitment to sustainability.

The success of the 2025 convention was made possible through the strong support of the Indonesian Textile Association (API) as well as PT Dan Liris and PT Pan Brothers, both ITMF and IAF member companies. Together, they showcased Indonesia’s vibrant and forward-looking textile and apparel industry — projecting a positive and ambitious image of the country as a premier location for both textile and garment production.

Het bericht Press Release: ITMF and IAF Conclude Successful Joint Convention 2025 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia verscheen eerst op IAF.

Infor and the IAF are partnering to empower apparel and footwear manufacturers—especially multi-tier suppliers represented by IAF’s national association members, reaching over 100,000 manufacturers worldwide—to navigate the growing complexity of regulatory and buyer-driven sustainability demands with confidence, eFiciency, and actionable insights. At the center of the partnership is the Infor Nexus multi-enterprise business network platform and NexTrace Infor Nexus’ powerful traceability solution, purpose-built for complex, multi-tier supply chains.

“This collaboration brings together IAF’s powerful global network and Infor Nexus’ platform scale and expertise in supply chain traceability and intelligence,” said Matthijs Crietee, Secretary General of the IAF. “Together, we aim to ease the compliance burden on manufacturers and promote practical innovation that benefits the entire industry.”

“Collaborating with IAF allows us to deliver meaningful solutions to a vast segment of the global apparel and footwear manufacturing base,” said Heidi Benko, VP of Product Management & Strategy at Infor Nexus. “Together, we can unlock scalable traceability and compliance, while driving new eEiciencies and business value.”

“IAF’s mission aligns closely with our commitment at Infor Nexus to support manufacturers through scalable, digital-first solutions,” said Heidi Benko, VP of Product Management & Strategy at Infor Nexus. “This partnership creates a powerful platform to turn regulatory pressure into opportunity—especially for those manufacturers who have long operated in the blind spots of complex global supply chains.”

Het bericht Press Release: The International Apparel Federation (IAF) Announces Strategic Collaboration with Infor to Drive Traceability, Compliance, and Supply Chain Innovation verscheen eerst op IAF.

LONDON, UK — June 26, 2025 — Apparel and textile manufacturers today launched the Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI) — a bold, manufacturer-led programme designed to drive sustainability and modernisation across the global apparel and textile sector. The initiative was launched at a panel event in the UK capital during London Climate Action Week.

Led jointly by the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), ATTI is designed to deliver concrete environmental transformation across global supply chains by placing manufacturers at the centre of the process.

“The launch of ATTI marks a new era in our eff orts to transform the industry,” said Matthijs Crietee, Secretary General of IAF. “Manufacturers are not just participants—they are leaders in developing the practical solutions our sector urgently needs.”

ATTI introduces a structured framework for national implementation, supported by governance at a global level. Through the establishment of ATTI Country Chapters, national industry associations take the lead in developing an Apparel and Textile Transformation Plan tailored to their local context. The initiative is overseen by the ATTI Global Council, which provides strategic guidance and support to Country Chapters, facilitates peer learning, and ensures alignment across geographies. Action will be coordinated globally, but grounded locally, across all production tiers bringing together manufacturers, brands, fi nancial institutions, policymakers, and civil society actors to co-design practical, country-specifi c solutions that are scalable and aligned with international goals.

“This initiative supports real transformation at the national level across all tiers, while ensuring lessons and innovations are shared globally,” added Christian Schindler, Director General of ITMF.

The initiative has an open scope, covering sustainability challenges including emissions, water consumption and discharge, chemicals and waste. The nationally grounded structure enables the highest priority challenges in each country to be tackled on a case by case basis, for greater impact and more measurable progress.
ATTI seeks to complement, rather than add to, existing sustainability programmes and initiatives by taking a holistic, needs-best approach comprising three key phases:

• Phase 1; a comprehensive Needs Assessment to identify activities, successes, gaps and challenges in each country:
• Phase 2; a collaborative Solutions Design phase involving relevant industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, brands, government, fi nancial institutions, technical experts and industry initiatives;
• Phase 3; a structured implementation stage that may, according to the Solutions Design, activate targeted investments, enhance technical assistance, clean technology deployment, or enable policy frameworks.

Pilot Country Chapters have already begun in Bangladesh and Türkiye with the instigation of a national needs assessment in each country. These are being led by local industry associations and include input from brands sourcing from each region, existing industry initiatives, regional expertise and government representatives.

In Türkiye, progress has already been made on the fi rst phase with a meeting held last week in Istanbul convening Turkish manufacturers, international brands, and government stakeholders to review the fi ndings of the initial needs assessment and defi ne priority areas for joint action, including technology upgrades, access to fi nance, and regulatory engagement.
Olivia Windham Stewart, a key advisor to the initiative, comments: “Manufacturers are expert innovators and bring fi rst-hand knowledge of their own operating environments to deliver this transformation. They also understand the importance of designing solutions that refl ect their local context.”

She adds: “We’re already attracting strong support from leading industry stakeholders who recognise the vital role that manufacturers and national associations play in shaping the future of the sector. We welcome all stakeholders committed to accelerating industry transformation to join us.”

For further information please contact:

• Matthijs Crietee, Secretary General, IAF – crietee@iafnet.com
• Christian Schindler, Director General, ITMF – christian.schindler@itmf.org
• Olivia Windham Stewart – Senior Advisor to IAF / ITMF and ATTI Lead – olivia@oliviawindhamstewart.org

Het bericht London Climate Action Week: Manufacturers launch new initiative to transform sustainability across the global apparel and textile industry verscheen eerst op IAF.

On May 22, 2025, the International Apparel Federation (IAF), in partnership with ATP – Associação Têxtil e Vestuário de Portugal, hosted its annual Spring Meeting Conference in Porto. With a packed room of industry leaders, the afternoon featured powerful keynote insights, global panel discussions, and dynamic exchanges focused on the apparel industry’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.

Keynote Presentations: Innovation at the Core

The conference opened with a series of thought-provoking presentations:

Cem Altan, President of IAF, addressed the global impact of the US tariff crisis on the apparel industry, emphasizing the harm caused by trade uncertainty and calling for stronger, long-term buyer-supplier partnerships. He highlighted IAF’s initiatives like STTI and a new manufacturer-led decarbonization program, urging the industry to shift away from cost-driven practices toward value creation and resilience.

Mário Jorge Machado, President of EURATEX, celebrated Portugal’s leadership in innovation, showcasing national strengths in sustainable and technologically advanced manufacturing.

Lutz Walter, Secretary General of Textile ETP, delivered a deep dive into digital and manufacturing technology innovation, emphasizing the urgent need for the textile and apparel industry to embrace transformation in order to stay competitive. He highlighted key challenges such as regulatory demands, digitalization gaps, and workforce shortages, while showcasing opportunities through AI, robotics, virtual design, and integrated data-driven supply chains.

Global Trade Panel: US Tariffs and the Great Disruption of the Global Trading Order

 A high-level panel moderated by IAF Secretary General Matthijs Crietee explored the global implications of U.S. tariffs and the disruption of the international trade order, with insights from leaders representing Türkiye, Belgium, India, China, Brazil, and Chinese Taipei. The discussion emphasized the urgent need for a unified industry voice and stronger global policy dialogue to safeguard the interests of apparel manufacturers in an increasingly volatile trade environment.

Panelists:

Cem Altan IAF President, TCMA Vice President, Türkiye

Dirk Vantyghem Director General Euratex, Belgium

Sanjay Jain Group CEO PDS Ltd, India

Cao Jiachang IAF Vice President, President of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles, China

Fernando Pimentel IAF Vice President, President of Abit, Brazil

Justin Huang President Taiwan Textile Federation, Chinese Taipei

Smarter Collaboration, Stronger Business

The second panel addressed the critical question: Can brands and manufacturers truly thrive together? With candid insights from Brad Ballentine (MAS ACME) , Laura Koedijk (Studio Anneloes) and Hélder Rosendo, the session emphasized the importance of transparency, trust, and shared incentives in fostering resilient, long-term partnerships

On May 23, the second day featured IAF Board and committee meetings, concluding with an exclusive factory visit to Riopele, one of Portugal’s leading textile manufacturers. Participants witnessed how innovation, sustainability, and local production can thrive together in a competitive global market.

A heartfelt thank you to all speakers, panelists, and participants for making the IAF Spring Conference another meaningful step forward for our global apparel community.

Het bericht Highlights from the IAF Spring Meeting Conference in Porto verscheen eerst op IAF.

The punitive tariffs introduced by the US administration on April 2nd, with the highest rates reserved for countries heavily reliant on garment exports to the U.S., represent a direct and unprovoked threat to entire industries. These measures risk destabilizing economies and jeopardizing the livelihoods of countless employees and entrepreneurs in the apparel industry globally, including in the U.S. itself.

The IAF welcomes the decision to pause a significant portion of these punishing tariffs. However, the continued application of punitive tariffs on imports from China—one of the world’s largest apparel exporters—remains deeply concerning and underscores the real and ongoing risk of tariff escalation for other nations. We implore that future trade negotiations have reasonable goals and that punishingly high tariffs on apparel do not return. Many apparel-exporting countries lack the domestic purchasing power to significantly boost imports from the U.S., making it unrealistic and unreasonable to demand steep trade balance corrections. Likewise, high tariffs will not realistically result in the large-scale return of apparel production to the U.S.

For IAF members, what has not been paused is the harm inflicted by the creation of a climate of tariff uncertainty (and, in the case of China a punitive reality). With global supply chains still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Red Sea crisis, and weakened consumer confidence, the unpredictability of trade policy discourages investment and further undermines market stability and consumer confidence. Preventing the return of these harmful tariffs must be a top priority—followed by restoring a stable, predictable trade environment. Only then can we begin the critical work of re-evaluating global supply chains.

To be clear, no supply chain resilience strategy can withstand a tariff tornado of this scale. Nevertheless, going forward, our industry must reduce its vulnerability to sudden policy shifts. This requires expanding the foundation of competitiveness beyond cost alone. The IAF advocates for stronger, smarter, and more sustainable supply chains—anchored more in long-term partnerships, business sense, and mutual interdependence and less dependant on trade political decisions.

This has been the IAF’s core message in all of its publications and events for the past decade. In line with this, IAF will intensify its global initiatives to empower manufacturers and their associations to act as strategic partners in the industry transition that we need—investing in people, processes, and technology. Resilient supply chains are built together. Weathering this tariff crisis also requires a joint effort. We therefore urge brands and retailers to work collaboratively with manufacturers by honoring sourcing commitments, maintaining standards, and avoiding cost shifts that threaten supply chain viability.

The apparel industry is and always will be a global industry, with trade as an integral and indispensable part of it. IAF stands with the global manufacturing community, committed to unity and collective strength to be able to weather this storm and then to move to a stronger position together. Through collaborative approaches and strategic partnerships, we can build a more resilient and sustainable future for the global apparel industry—one that benefits all stakeholders across the value chain and ensures long-term prosperity despite policy turbulence.

Het bericht IAF Position on tariffs verscheen eerst op IAF.

This groundbreaking report introduces the “Shared Risk/Reward” approach to create economic value via process and data innovation. By focus on fashion risk and capital and enhancing supply chain flexibility, this business model improves social, environmental, and business outcomes in all tiers of the supply chain. IAF and ITC believe that apparel manufacturers are uniquely positioned to lead initiatives to generate significant value from upstream operations, practices and metrics that accelerate a more sustainable future for fashion.

‘Under the Banyan Tree’ presents six real-world case studies across product and market segments and their impacts. It emphasizes the link between sustainability and financial productivity with the key insight: ‘Over-production is the obstacle to greater capital investment for sustainability.’

Click here if you want to download the report

Replay the webinar here

Het bericht The Launch of Under the Banyan Tree verscheen eerst op IAF.

The discussions on decarbonization, digitalization, and sustainability regulations were not only insightful but carried a shared sense of urgency to drive meaningful change. The atmosphere throughout reaffirmed the importance of collective action and how much stronger we are when we address these challenges together.

One of the presentations that stood out to me came from Karim Shafei from Gherzi, who presented “A Textile Giant in the Making?” report based on how Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a new global leader in textiles, while addressing key challenges like product diversification, logistics, and sustainability, which need to be overcome to secure its place in the international textile landscape.

Povilas Sugintas from Euromonitor delivered another standout presentation on “ AI in the Industry in 2024 and Beyond”.He emphasized how AI is transforming everything from customer experience to supply chain optimization and waste reduction. His message on the importance of critically evaluating our processes to stay competitive in a fast-changing market really resonated with me.

Climate change and its impact on the apparel industry were one of the central themes. Both brands and manufacturers shared powerful statistics, underscoring the urgent need for collaboration across the entire supply chain. It was encouraging to see both sides of the industry agree that working together is key to tackling these challenges. Akila Fernando from Epic Group presented on climate change -heat waves and their statistical connection to the industry made it clear that decarbonization is not just necessary—it’s urgent.

Felix Poza Peña from Inditex also shared important statistics on the fashion industry’s environmental impact and explained a framework agreement between our federation -International Apparel Federation and Inditex. This partnership focuses on promoting sustainability, with decarbonization at the forefront, driven by manufacturers organised in national industry chapters through the national apparel industry associations.

During the company visits, it was fascinating to see the capacity of the Uzbekistan industry but also we experienced once again firsthand just how labor-intensive apparel manufacturing is, especially the crucial role women play in production. Seeing the processes up close was a powerful reminder of the human effort behind every piece of clothing we wear.

The ITMF Award sessions were another highlight, showcasing startups and innovations around sustainability. It was inspiring to see the future of our industry being shaped by new technology fibers and eco-friendly solutions.

Throughout the event, discussions on fast fashion’s environmental impact, the costs of recycling, and the need for digitalization stayed with me. The call for cost-sharing across the supply chain, including consumers, was a recurring theme that highlighted the shared responsibility we all have.

The conference concluded with a post-event tour of Bukhara, which added a rich cultural experience to an already memorable event. I walked away from this experience not only inspired but proud to have played a part in bringing this event together. The connections and insights gained here will stay with me as we continue to navigate the future of our industries hand in hand.

Looking forward to our next joint convention with ITMF on October 23-25, 2025, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia!

Raziye Sahin Taneroglu – IAF

Het bericht Reflections on the IAF 39th World Fashion Convention & ITMF Annual Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan verscheen eerst op IAF.

Uzbekistan was chosen as the host of this year’s convention due to its rapidly growing role in the global textile and apparel industries. With a strong tradition in cotton production, recent strong export growth of textiles and garments and ambitious plans for sustainable growth, Uzbekistan is evolving into a key player in the textile value chain.

The event attracted over 350 leaders from more than 30 countries from the entire fibre, textile and apparel value chain, highlighting also the broad awareness that, in the words of IAF President Cem Altan: “Apparel and textile manufacturers hold the keys to meaningful, positive change. Initiatives such as decarbonization, reducing overproduction, enhancing transparency, and driving digitalization are critical—and they rely heavily on the efforts and investments of manufacturers.”

Mr. K. V. Srinivasan, ITMF President, pointed out: “The textile and apparel industry is going through a perfect storm of high input costs and low demand squeezing profit margins and leaving more and more capacities idle. Nevertheless, the winners of the ITMF Awards 2024 in the categories ‘Start-up’, ‘Sustainability & Innovation’ and “International Cooperation’ highlighted the capability of the industry to innovate and work together.”

Furthermore, the increasing regulatory pressures on the industry around the world were highlighted, with a call for shared responsibility. Cem Altan: “We are all aware that the apparel and textile industries are increasingly subject to regulation. As meeting these sustainability standards can be costly, it is crucial that the financial burden is shared equitably among all supply chain partners, from raw material to end consumer.”

“It is important that industry leaders and experts from the entire value chain meet in-person to discuss and analyse the short- and long-term challenges and opportunities of the industry going forward like sustainability, compliance, digitalization, or AI”, Mr. Srinivasan added.

As the convention closes, ITMF and IAF are confident that the partnerships and insights emerging from this historic event will drive lasting, positive change across the apparel and textile industries.

Photo (from left to right): 1. Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Mister Davron Vakhabov, 2. Governer of Samarkand Region Mister Erkinjon Turdimov 3. ⁠Cem Altan, IAF President, 4. ⁠Deputy Prime Minister Mister Jamshid Khodjaev, 5.President ITMF, K.V. Srinivasan 6. ⁠Chairman UZTS, Mirmuhsin Sultanov.

Het bericht IAF and ITMF Unite Global Fashion and Textile Leaders verscheen eerst op IAF.

This event is unique because it brings together the digital practitioners from leading brands, the leading tech suppliers, the global industry federation and two major educational institutes. All brought together in two exciting days in Amsterdam that cannot be missed by anyone who, like the organizers, believes that the fashion industry needs 3D digital to take us to the next level.

3D digital must touch the entire supply chain at scale for it to live up to expectations. Investments must involve and improve full supply chain processes, from raw material to consumer. Digital fabric libraries must offer enough choice and quality for designers to create digital designs leading to digital samples that are trusted by product developers to lead to excellent products. The heart of the matter is that we need to reach critical digital mass across the supply chain. This event will explore what barriers there are to be broken down in order to reach this critical mass quicker.

Perfect for brands and retailers at any stage of their process in DPC and 3D journeys, speakers will provide a candid overview of the common topics, challenges and solutions in DPC such as AI, end to end sourcing, digital product development and sales. Delegates will hear digital insights from Adidas, Eurojersey, Otto Group, Scott and leading technology providers. More speakers from major companies have confirmed and will be announced soon.

For more information, please go to:
3D Next LVL 3.0 Event

Het bericht SAVE THE DATE: 3D NEXT LVL 3.0 EVENT IN NOVEMBER 2024 verscheen eerst op IAF.