On January 19th 2024, SGS Hong Kong organized their Global Softlines Forum, Embracing Supply Chain Revival – Steering Towards Resilience and Growth, aimed to explore the future of the sector, exploring topics from production, technology and trade aspects. This session brought together more than 100 representatives, including industry experts, global lead brands and retailers, textile manufacturers and academia.
Yvonne Tse, Vice President of SGS Global Softlines, opened the forum and expressed the company’s commitment to supporting business partners on their journey toward sustainability and technological advancements.
The session consisted of industry experts sharing their knowledge and panel discussions. In addition to SGS experts, along with guest speakers from universities, fashion brands shared their views, best practices, experiences and expectations regarding the revival of the entire supply chain.
Ruth Hon, Global Technical Head of SGS Softlines, provided insights on the Development Aspect in the Upcoming Wave of Technological Environment, focusing on new materials, new processes, and bringing out value through verification. She also discussed consumer unexplored needs and different aspects of comfort in clothing.
Dr. Min Zhu, Senior Director of Technical Services and Operations at SGS US & Canada Softlines, discussed the Control Aspect of the supply chain, including regulation updates, legal and governance principles, due diligence of brands and retailers, data integrity and digitalization, claim verification, and the role of technological advancements in revitalizing brand value.
The forum also focused on Sustainability and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. Dr. Eric Wang, Global Technical Deputy Head of SGS Softlines, led the discussion on the ESG aspect under the UN SDG framework, covering environmental, social and governance factors. The discussion emphasized the importance of Process Sustainability, Product Sustainability, Chemical Sustainability and Customer Experience Sustainability.
YKK, a leader in the industry, shared their commitment to the “CYCLE OF GOODNESS®” philosophy, emphasizing the importance of benefiting others in order to prosper while Pacific Century introduced Nu Dye®, a sustainable alternative for garment dyeing which can achieve 99% resemblance to garment dye appearance with 75% energy and 58% water savings compared to traditional processes.
Overall, the Global Softlines Forum served as an excellent platform for industry leaders to share knowledge and facilitate in-depth exchanges of innovative ideas and experiences. Participants expressed positive attitudes toward collaboration and promoting a more sustainable and responsible future in the fashion industry, eagerly anticipating future events.