December 6 , 2006
The International Apparel Federation Moves to Amsterdam (Zeist) and Adopts New Set of Rules
Zeist - The International Apparel Federation (IAF) has decided to move its headquarters from London to Amsterdam (Zeist) in The Netherlands. The move is part of an overall restructuring program, which included a review of the Federation’s Charter and Articles of Association. The IAF is the prestigious international association of national associations of apparel and textiles that was founded in 1972 at Williamsburg, USA by the trade federations of Europe, the US and Japan. IAF’s membership includes apparel associations from 33 countries representing over 150,000 apparel companies and over 5 million employees.
Under the new rules, which were unanimously approved at the meeting on November 30th in Zeist, the IAF will accept as corporate members with full voting rights individual companies, whose core business is the manufacturing and/or marketing of apparel or other sewn products. The new charter reflects the changes in the apparel business during the past decades and is expected to help the IAF grow further and work towards its mission to develop business contacts which foster dialogue and knowledge exchange between individuals active in the world apparel value chain for the betterment of business practices, the promotion of the international image of the apparel business, the advancement of technology and the promotion of its use, the encouragement of innovation and new ways of thinking the growth world-wide of apparel trade, the improvement of social, health and safety, and environmental conditions relating to the apparel chain world-wide, and for the advancement of apparel related education and training.
The members meeting appointed the first Executive Committee that will lead the Federation for the next two years. The committee includes the President Mr. Vassilis Masselos (Hellenic Clothing Association, Greece), two Vice Presidents: Mr. Roland Tsai, (TTF, Taiwan) and Mr. Harry van Dalfsen, (MODINT, Netherlands), Mr Kevin Burke (AAFA, USA) who will continue to serve as Treasurer and four members: Mr. Alejandro Faes, as IAF Past President (CNIV-Mexico), Mr. William Lakin (Euratex-Belgium), Mr. Hasan Arat (TCMA-Turkey), Mr. Fred Jackson (American & Efird, USA) and Dr. Mike Fralix ([TC]², USA).
At the same meeting the IAF announced a new “IAF student award” that will be presented to a student in fashion design and or technology with an extraordinary academic record and course work. The award will include a six-month internship in an IAF member company. The Dutch Trade Association for Fashion and Interior Textiles MODINT will be hosting the IAF and its Director General, Mr. Han Bekke, will serve as IAF Secretary General (SG) in the interim until a new SG is appointed to manage the IAF secretariat. The 2007 – 23rd IAF Annual World Apparel Convention will be held in Taipei (Taiwan) followed by a study tour in Cambodia and Vietnam. Dates for the convention are October 24-26 and for the Study tour October 27th-30.
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