Inflow lands $2 million to bring unmatched advantages to global fashion brands

November 29, 2023 | 14:43
(0) user say
Inflow, a fashion supply chain platform, has landed a $2 million seed round to bring the sourcing and manufacturing advantages of a tech-enabled supply chain to fashion brands of all sizes.
Inflow lands $2 million to bring unmatched advantages to global fashion brands

As a venture capital fund from Taiwan with a fund size of up to $350 million, AppWorks has invested in over 1,000 startups from around the world, including Uber, Lalamove, and Shopback, as well as many prominent names from Vietnam such as Tiki and Docosan.

"Imagine a world where the runway's latest trends can move to retail racks in a fraction of the time, and where fashion brands can pivot as fast as the world changes. That's the future Inflow is creating. Our platform is more than a supply chain solution; it's a fashion revolution that leverages Vietnam’s central position in the global supply chain and democratises access to quality manufacturing and ethical production," said Khanh Le, founder and CEO of Inflow.

Speaking about this investment deal, Jamie Lin, chairman and partner of AppWorks, said that with a dedicated team, impressive growth, and an unwavering mission to empower brands with agility and efficiency, Inflow is paving the way for a future where dynamic and innovative fashion manufacturing becomes a reality.

Vishal Harnal, managing partner of 500 Global, a venture capital fund based in San Francisco that is known for its investment deals in major startups such as Airbnb, Canva, Reddit, and many others in Vietnam including Coolmate, ELSA, and Ticketbox, shared that the global garment and textile industry, like many others, is diversifying its reliance on China for manufacturing.

“Inflow’s fashion supply chain technology could capture this huge onshoring opportunity for Vietnam through a connected, convenient, and scalable platform,” Harnal added.

Inflow taps into the production advantages of Vietnam and Southeast Asia while solving critical supply chain challenges in the fashion industry such as opaque supplier networks and inefficient management of the design-to-production cycle.

The platform offers full visibility into the supply chain, from inventory forecasts to data-driven factory matching and merchandise management, all accessible through a user-friendly dashboard with real-time tracking. Inflow’s production network includes over 150 carefully pre-vetted and ethical manufacturers and suppliers in Vietnam. By enhancing these capabilities, fashion brands of all sizes can compete on a level playing field.

The strategic acceleration of this seed round is underscored by Inflow’s growth. In the last year alone, it saw a revenue surge of more than 15x. Today, a growing list of over 80 fashion brands across Southeast Asia tap into Inflow for the design and production of their garments.

Vietnam’s garment and textile exports for the year to date are valued at $27.7 billion, with over 6,000 registered factories nationwide.

Tightening the Vietnam-Japan friendship through culture Tightening the Vietnam-Japan friendship through culture

Japanese ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio told VIR’s Tra My that culture will be an important factor in strengthening the relationship between the two countries. The Kimono - Ao dai Fashion Show will serve as the opening event for a chain of cultural exchange ahead of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries this month.

Preserving traditional values through fashion Preserving traditional values through fashion

Renowned Japanese designer Kobayashi Eiko, founder of non-profit organisation Be-Japon, discussed with VIR’s Thai An about culture as symbolised in unique costumes that combine the typical traditional features of the Japanese kimono and Vietnamese ao dai.

Kimono - Ao dai Fashion Show: The beauty of Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange Kimono - Ao dai Fashion Show: The beauty of Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange

The story of creativity, traditional beauty, and a harmonious combination between the two cultures of Vietnam and Japan was told in a vivid way at the Kimono - Ao dai Fashion Show held in Hanoi on March 4, just days before International Women’s Day.

Fashion names face off for new slice Fashion names face off for new slice

Due to struggles in overseas markets, Vietnam has become a promising land for both local and foreign fashion brands to face off in a market rife with fierce competition.

By Bich Ngoc

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional