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The 29th IAF at Shanghai sets the agenda for future

By FashionUnited

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Fashion

The 29th IAF World Fashion Convention kicked off in Shanghai-Kunshan yesterday. In his opening speech to some 200 delegates from nearly 20 countries IAF President Harry van Dalfsen commented on the economic situation in the fashion sector

worldwide. “Unfortunately, many of the consumers in the world are not feeling well. They are confused, they are dealing with uncertainty”, Harry van Dalfsen said. He urged the fashion industry to think in chances and not in threats, to break out of this cycle of negative sentiment. It was the reason for IAF and co-organiser CCCT (Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles and Apparel) to focus on how to add value to the international fashion supply chain. Also on the agenda was the general assembly where IAF President Harry van Dalfsen announced that the federation is working intensively on a global framework for sustainability.


Sustainability the focus

He
said, the framework should be connected to the UN’s Ruggie guiding principles. It is firmly supporting global cooperation and nowhere is this clearer than in Bangladesh. He further added that the IAF is helping to build a bridge between the European Accord and the US Alliance for Bangladesh, which is steered by IAF’s global responsibility committee.

With national apparel and textile associations and individual companies in more than 40 countries as member IAF is representing more than 250.000 apparel companies. Through the IAF, companies and the national associations that represent them have a clear voice in such international coalitions as the SAC and The Accord in Bangladesh.

The assembly also accepted a new program of IAF’s education committee including the IAF student award. This is expected to to build bridges between business and education. The program foresees a closer cooperation between IAF and IFFTI (International Federation of Fashion Technology Institutes). A member benefit program for the IAF members was also launched starting with a concept to reduce logistic costs in the fashion supply chain.

India’s Rahul Mehta, Chairman of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) was elected vice-president of IAF. Carlos Botero, Director of Inexmoda (Colombia) was nominated as member of the IAF’s executive committee. And Medellin (Colombia) was chosen as venue for the 30th IAF World Fashion Convention (September 29-October 1, 2014).

IAF