About SAFSA

Opportunity through Partnership

The Source ASEAN Full Service Alliance (SAFSA) is the ASEAN textile & apparel industry’s solution to enhancing its competitiveness through regional integration.

With the support of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) VALUE Project, the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) is working to integrate the sector through activities that improve efficiency, reliability and service along its regional value chains.

The key activity, the Source ASEAN Full Service Alliance (SAFSA), forges virtual vertical factory (VVF) partnerships between independent ASEAN-based textile mills and garment factories.

Through membership of SAFSA, these mills and factories are then offered the opportunity to meet and form strategic alliances with global brand-name apparel buyers.

SAFSA has been hailed as a model for the integration of ASEAN’s priority sectors by the ASEAN Economic Ministers.

Quality Assurance in a Changing World

SAFSA is based on the premise that, in the post-quota era, garment factories must offer global fashion brand importers and retailers greater value.

A source market offering a full package of services—such as fabric sourcing, pattern making, sampling, quality control and logistics—in addition to the manufacture and delivery of garments, is the preferred option for international apparel brands today.

The end of the quota era and the global economic crisis has necessitated new ways of doing business.

Mr. Van Sou Ieng, Chairman, AFTEX

The main challenge for SAFSA was in gaining acceptance among buyers as a legitimate alternative to competitor source countries and regions, such as China and South Asia.

At its inaugural meeting, the SAFSA Executive Committee adopted SAFSA Quality Service Standards (QSS). The standards are the world’s first for textile & garment industry services, and they inspire the confidence of increasingly demanding apparel buyers.

Compliance with these standards is the primary prerequisite for membership of SAFSA.

SGS, one of the world’s leading standards, verification, and certification firms, rigorously audits each new SAFSA member against the QSS.

From Concept to Reality

Two years of development of the SAFSA concept culminated in Singapore, June 2010, at the inaugural SAFSA Global Forum.

During the business-to-business meeting sessions, 14 SAFSA VVFs signed 23 MOUs with eight international apparel brands. The eight brands collectively account for some US$32 billion in worldwide apparel sales.

SAFSA is confident that many of the MOUs will develop into lucrative long-term partnerships. Indeed SAFSA members are already reporting new orders.

My VVF partner and I are confident we can fulfill buyers’ expectations and become long-term stakeholders in their future.

Mr. Chris Koh, Director, SL Ponie Pte Ltd

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