“YKK has a long history here in Singapore,” said YKK Asia President Kosuke Miimi. “Fifty years ago, our manufacturing operations were established in Singapore, and over the years, we have successfully expanded across the region.” While YKK’s Singapore manufacturing operations have now closed, YKK Holding Asia was established in Singapore as the regional headquarters and is now YKK’s most important regional arm.

“One of our key business principles is ‘localization’ and Singapore is at the heart of YKK Asia,” said Miimi.

“Our success is based on our ability to recognize the needs of the local markets in which we operate, and Singapore plays a key role in our success as a company and the economic development of its Asian neighbors. Additionally, many of our key clients in the fashion industry are strategically located in the Asia region, which makes it easier to maintain our strong relationships.”

There are currently two research and development centers, and four development divisions within YKK Asia to ensure the group remains at the cutting edge of technology.

“Our industry changes rapidly and we seek to provide added-value to customers and local communities with our products and solutions,” concluded Miimi.

“We are driven by our desire to deliver quality products and innovative design — values we believe will benefit society for years to come.”

www.ykkasia.com

 

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“It is our responsibility to lead by example,” said Fan. “We have invested heavily in research and development and have collaborated with world-class global brands in both supply chain and environmental initiatives. For the Oceans is a program that recycles ocean-found plastic bottles to produce sportswear and fashion items. We collaborated with Coca-Cola to develop the world’s first 100 percent Bio-PET bottle launched at Expo Milano 2015 and also unveiled the first 100 percent Bio-PET polyester shirt.”

Japan is FENC’s second-largest foreign market for PET products. As a country passionate about environmental awareness and sustainability, the demand for recycled products in Japan has grown substantially over the past decade.

In April 2013, FENC entered into a joint-venture partnership with Ishizuka Glass Co., Ltd. to establish the Far Eastern Ishizuka Green PET Corporation (FIGP). The company, based in Japan, produces and distributes recycled PET products.

“We expect FIGP’s current production capacity of 35,000 metric tons of recycled PET to double within two years,” said Fan. “Almost 85 percent of consumer waste is recycled in Japan and the Japanese understand the importance of sustainability, just as we do. Looking forward, our mission is to continue innovating and investing in the development of high-quality recyclables and bio-based materials for the betterment of environments in Taiwan, Japan and around the world.”

www.fenc.com

With a focus on international quality standards, innovation, on-time delivery and customer satisfaction, Busana retains its leading position and ability to compete on the global stage. The company’s most recently built factory, designed to be more energy efficient, is in line for a LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Powered by the skilled hands of over 28,000 employees (90 percent of whom are women), the company has become a one-stop, integrated apparel manufacturer and provider for many brands, including PVH, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Eileen Fisher, J.Jill, Ann Taylor, Uniqlo, GU, Spyder, Lululemon, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, Perry Ellis, DKNY and Wrangler.

“We aspire to be our customers’ preferred supplier and are constantly working in partnership with our clients to better understand their needs and produce new collections each season,” said Chairman and CEO M. Maniwanen.

Export markets include North America, Europe, Australia, South America, Japan and other Asian countries.

As a socially-responsible company, Kingwhale is committed to reducing its environmental impact through its proprietary Low Impact Technology (L.I.T®).  Kingwhale’s L.I.T® uses 15% less dyestuffs, 22% less electricity for heating and cooling, half the amount of thermal energy usually required to create steam and 60% less water than conventional dyeing processes.

‘L.I.T® is at the core of Kingwhale’s commitment to sustainability,’ says James. ‘With our patented L.I.T® technology, Kingwhale has established itself as an innovator in manufacturing environmentally friendly textiles. We are about more than just producing low impact products – being genuinely low impact also means we take into account how we care for our products, employees, customers and the environment. Focusing on innovation and material science comes naturally to us – it enables us to develop new products and processes that continuously lower our environmental footprint. Ultimately, our passion for sustainability is what drives our commitment to excellence as a company’.

Vertical integration across markets has also played a key role in the company’s success. Kingwhale has mills in Taiwan, Vietnam, and had the foresight to enter the lucrative North American market by establishing a mill in North Carolina. By localizing production in key markets, Kingwhale is better able to serve customers and the company is looking to expand its global footprint over the coming years.

‘We are an environmentally-sustainable, diverse and dynamic company, dedicated to delivering the finest products’, concludes James. ‘Regardless of political, economic and environmental challenges, we embrace the vibrancy of the global market place and will move forward in line with our growth strategy and desire to position Kingwhale as a leader in the global textile industry’.

www.kingwhale.com