AAFA & IAF sign MoU to deal with global supply chain issues

The MoU covers the IAF’s 38^th World Fashion Convention to be held in the US this year for the first time in more than two decades. This Convention will be held together with the Sewn Products Equipment Suppliers Association of the Americas (SPESA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from October 22-25 this year. The Convention offers a unique opportunity for AAFA members to discuss and connect with garment and textile suppliers from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. AAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar will speak at the IAF Convention.

Throughout 2023, AAFA and IAF will work together on projects that require global alignment across the industry, the two entities said in a media statement.

The MoU was signed on March 1, 2023, by Lamar and IAF secretary general Matthijs Crietee at the AAFA’s Executive Summit in Washington D.C. The presence of a delegation of major Turkish apparel manufacturers at the Summit was an example of the type of connections across the supply chain the signatories strive to create.

“This year’s Executive Summit was focused on the ability to adapt, align, and act. This is exactly what this MoU allows our respective members to do in a time where the production landscape is changing and partnerships are necessary for supply chain resiliency,” said Lamar.

“Traceability, sustainability, creativity, materials sourcing, innovation and information technology, and cooperation across the supply chain are just a few areas that this partnership will focus on,” said Crietee.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)