Han Bekke has been involved with the IAF since its inception in 1972
The International Apparel Federation is reaching the end of an era, with one of its longest-serving champions stepping down later this year. Here, outgoing president Han Bekke explains why the IAF s mission to unite stakeholders across the apparel supply chain is more important now than ever before.
It s hard to overstate Bekke s impact at the IAF, where he has been a driving force since its inception in 1972. Most recently he s served as its secretary general (2006), its treasurer (2014) and has been president since 2016, with his tenure extended by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Must we keep on making the same old mistakes? Last year during the pandemic, I wrote extensively about the issue of purchasing practices and their impact on garment supply chains and their workers. The pandemic, as we found out, proved a fertile ground for some retailers (some but by no means all) to ride roughshod over the issue of purchasing practices. This included refusing to pay for complete and in-progress orders, extending their payment terms (often to 90 days or more) and demanding huge discounts on orders.
As suppliers, we were and continue to be very much dependent on the goodwill of brands when it comes to payment. Some brands stepped up to the plate and looked out for their suppliers, but far too many others took advantage of a weak regulatory environment in which the penalties for reneging on contracts are essentially non-existent.
Global suppliers band together to improve purchasing practices
ADVERTORIAL
12 Feb 2021
Industry Associations from Turkey, Indonesia and Morocco join Asian Associations in IAF and STAR Network Initiative on Manufacturers Payment and Delivery Terms
Four major industry associations, the Indonesian Textile Association (API), the Turkish Clothing Manufacturers Association (TCMA), the Istanbul Ready-Made Garments Exporters Association (IHKIB) and the Moroccan Association of Textile & Clothing Industries (AMITH) are joining the new initiative by Asian manufacturer associations to drive better purchasing practices in the textile and garment industry. The initiative, started by the STAR Network, supported by GIZ FABRIC, the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and the Better Buying Institute, presented their plans at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector on February 3rd, 2021. This marks a joint global effort led by manufacturers to establish a common pos