Dalfsen: 'IAF will launch action plan on global responsibility'

International Apparel Federation (IAF) President Harry van Dalfsen has announced that they will launch an action plan on global responsibility. While speaking at the opening session of the Fashion Retail Summit in Mumbai celebrating the 50th

anniversary of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), Dalfsen emphasized that the IAF is a truly global association representing both buyers and manufacturers and small and large companies. And it is well positioned to take a leading role in the industry’s challenge to further improve its performance and image in the field of working conditions. This issue has been brought to the fore by the recent factory collapse incident in Bangladesh, Dalfsen said. He also stressed the importance of an internationally coordinated action on this, which IAF will initiate.

Dalfsen also emphasized the importance of education for the clothing industry, especially as a way to keep improving the industry’s social and environmental performance. In the IAF’s Board Meeting that preceded the Fashion Retail Summit it was decided that the IAF and the International Federation of Fashion Technology Institutes, in effect the world’s top fashion business schools, will formally and structurally work together. Dalfsen also commented on the economic situation in the fashion market worldwide. Where growth is seen in Asia and Latin America and the US is catching up. However, the market conditions in Europe are still very tough. He indicated though that there are signs of small growth on the horizon in Europe. The contrast with the retail situation in India, which is seeing continuous growth, is large. Nevertheless, starting a retail business in India is not easy, as a panel consisting of top executives of Marks & Spencer India, Bestseller India and Shoppers Stop explained, adding that a window of five to seven years to reach a 100 million (Rs 5,435 million) turnover for a global fashion brand or retailer is realistic. The IAF will hold its own World Fashion Convention this year in Shanghai from September 23-27, 2013.

“As a world’s leading organization in apparels we must stand for something. What happened now in Bangladesh was very unfortunate. But you cannot change it in one day. You have to talk to the government,” adds van Dalfsen. He also insisted that both the government, trade unions as well as the apparel industry i.e the brands and retailers must collaborate and work towards building a favorable eco-system to help a country like Bangladesh to build a law system and invest in fair trade practices. The companies sourcing from Bangladesh must take the responsibility and ensure their partners in that country follow the rules and abide by the law of the land.

He said the Dutch Minister of State had invited him to go on a fact finding mission in Bangladesh and find a solution in an international way. “IAF as a platform suits the best for this task as we have the strength of bringing together all the international partners. And that is what I am going to do in the next few months. The Dutch government is working together with various organizations in the retail industry and for their manufacturers to find an action plan, where it has been decided that I will go to the Bangladesh government and say that we have to organize a round table, and set standards and penalties for people who don’t follow the rules.”

Dalfsen is confident that through collaboration of all parties involved the industry can make a difference, however it is a task which needs time and immense support from the industry world over.