The International Apparel Federation has launched a strategic collaboration with Infor to enhance traceability, ESG compliance, and digital innovation in the global apparel and footwear supply chains, targeting multi-tier manufacturers and promoting sustainable growth.
The International Apparel Federation (IAF) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Infor, a global leader in business cloud software, to advance traceability, environmental, social, and governance...
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(ESG) compliance, and digital transformation within the global apparel and footwear industry. The partnership is designed particularly to aid multi-tier suppliers, who are represented by IAF’s extensive network of national association members and encompass over 100,000 manufacturers worldwide.
At the core of this collaboration is the deployment of Infor Nexus, a multi-enterprise business network platform, alongside NexTrace, Infor Nexus’ dedicated traceability solution engineered for managing the complexities of multi-tier supply chains. This technology partnership aims to equip manufacturers with the tools to navigate increasing regulatory requirements and buyer-driven sustainability demands with enhanced confidence, efficiency, and actionable insights.
Matthijs Crietee, Secretary General of the IAF, highlighted the synergy between the two organisations, stating that the collaboration leverages IAF’s expansive global network combined with Infor Nexus’ expertise and platform scale in supply chain traceability and intelligence. He emphasized that the goal is to reduce the compliance burden on manufacturers while fostering innovation that benefits the entire industry.
From the perspective of Infor, Heidi Benko, Vice President of Product Management & Strategy at Infor Nexus, remarked that the partnership is an opportunity to deliver meaningful solutions to a significant segment of the global apparel and footwear manufacturing base. She underlined the potential to unlock scalable traceability and compliance, driving new efficiencies and business value, particularly for manufacturers who have traditionally operated without clear visibility within complex global supply chains.
This collaboration between IAF and Infor aligns with a broader industry movement towards sustainability, transparency, and digital innovation. Notably, the IAF recently signed a framework agreement with major apparel group Inditex, focusing on transformation efforts around circularity, traceability, and worker wellbeing. According to the announcement, this agreement supports initiatives aimed at improving working conditions, environmental protection, and supply chain transparency.
In addition to these partnerships, the IAF is actively involved in exploring business innovation models to enhance supply chain profitability. Collaborating with the International Trade Centre (ITC), the IAF is researching approaches such as smart flexibility, which enables delaying garment production closer to demand, thus reducing risk and improving profitability. This research was presented at the upcoming 38th IAF World Fashion Convention, reflecting the federation’s commitment to fostering sustainable business practices alongside technological advancement.
Beyond individual company and technology collaborations, the IAF continues to build strategic relationships across the apparel sector to address systemic supply chain challenges. For instance, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has formalised cooperation with the IAF through a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate stronger collaboration across the supply chain, demonstrating a concerted effort to unify industry players around shared sustainability and innovation goals.
Together, these initiatives position the IAF at the forefront of driving transformative change in the apparel and footwear industry. By combining innovative digital solutions like Infor Nexus and NexTrace with strategic partnerships and research-led business innovation, the IAF seeks to enable manufacturers and brands to meet increasing sustainability standards while enhancing operational efficiencies and transparency in their global supply chains.
Source: Noah Wire Services
