Ho Chi Minh City hosts international denim supply chain show

Over 40 denim companies from 10 countries will exhibit at the two-day show, which will bring denim supply chain partners and experts on one platform to capitalise on new market trends.

“Vietnam has gained more importance in the last few months not only because of business treaties including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), but also due to the ongoing trade war between China and the US,” said the event organisers.

For China, Vietnam seems to be a good market, as it is facing heat from the US and is experiencing rising labour costs. Leading denim fabric suppliers from China and Hong Kong, including Prosperity, Blackpeony, Foison Textile, XDD Textile, Chanzhou Thome Textile, Zhejiang Xinlan Textile, and Guangzhou Indenim Textile, are participating in the event. Prosperity Textile has recently built a factory in Vietnam and has started operation.

India has also got a great advantage as its fabric is only subject to 7.5 per cent duty in Vietnam. Further, the duty is expected to be cut in the coming time due to good diplomatic relations between the two countries. From India, Arvind Ltd., KG Fabriks, Bhaskar Denim, Anubha Industries, Malwa, and Ramsons are exhibiting at the show.

In addition, Vietnam is one of the most strategically growing markets for Pakistan as well, as it has been increasing its exports to the US. From Pakistan, the show will have Artistic Milliners, Kassim Denim, Crescent Bahuman, Soorty, Indigo Textile, and US Denim Mills. All these companies have been catering to some of the most niche denim brands/retailers including Levis, H&M, Tesco, Inditex, C&A, PVH, GAP, and Li & Fung.

Besides international exhibitors, this time the show will have several reputed garment exporters from Vietnam, including TCE Vina Denim, T&T Garments, Resource Garments, Rose Garment, and Jeans Life.

Themed “My Earth My Denim”, the show once again stresses the importance of sustainability. Sandeep Agarwal, founder and CEO of Denimsandjeans.com, said, "Vietnam is fortunate to have started its denim industry in a very balanced way where sustainable production has been ensured in many ways due to local government laws. This also helped and pushed the industry to invest in machines and equipment which could help minimise the impact on the environment."

A special traditional fashion show, Ao Dai Denim Show, has also been scheduled for the very first day of the evening to bring the traditional dresses of Vietnam with a denim twist.