To those who are unfamiliar with it, how would you describe the Asia Garment Hub in one sentence?
The Asia Garment Hub is a thriving online resource and community that is uniting diverse industry stakeholders across Asia and beyond, in support of a greener, more responsible and more sustainable garment industry.

The Hub is now 3 years old: how has it evolved since then, and what role do you see for it in the years ahead?
Since its inception, the Hub has grown into a robust community fostering knowledge sharing, innovation, and sustainable practices in the garment industry. Looking ahead, we remain committed to becoming both a leading voice on key industry issues and the go-to place for insight, tools and collaboration in your sustainability journey -regardless of your background or role in the industry.

What new features has the Hub been working on in 2024?
In 2024, we have revamped parts of the Hub for easier -and quicker- navigation, whilst also expanding our resource library and producing highly popular explainers and interviews on hot topics like sustainability legislation. We also launched the fashion producer collective -a coalition of like-minded manufacturers who are now conducting joint advocacy to rebalance the debate on issues like supply chain decarbonization. In addition, with "Skills Development" we are offering a new focus theme on Hub. An exciting first half of the year, with much more to come!

A key motto of the Hub is collaboration: what collaborations has it helped to forge between industry partners and what successes have you seen? 
We mentioned the fashion producer collective, which is building much needed solidarity among manufacturers, with some brands already sitting up and paying attention. But beyond that the Hub is always connecting with new and current members to see what they’re doing and how they can help others navigate complex sustainability challenges. In recent months we added Issara Institute to our membership and created content together, whilst also penning interviews with diverse players such as financial analysts Planet Tracker, upcycling initiative ReMade in Cambodia, and growing brands Hakro and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail.  Through our interviews, explainers and good practices, partners tell us we’re helping unlock barriers to action spur more ethical manufacturing practices across the industry.  

How can industry partners support the Hub to deliver more and better for the Asian garment industry?
Of course, as you’d expect us to say, partners can support us by joining the Hub today and becoming active in discussing issues and sharing expertise! But even if you don’t do that, you can follow and share our content on our social media channels, and give us feedback on what you want to see more of. Your involvement can help strengthen the community and foster a more resilient and forward- thinking garment industry in Asia.

What unique features does the Hub offer to the garment and textiles industry in Asia that other platforms don't?
Overall, the Asia Garment Hub is a comprehensive knowledge hub that not only informs but also empowers industry professionals with the tools and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of the garment and textiles sector in Asia effectively. The platform not only offers specialized industry insights and news, but also offers a wide range of educational resources such as articles, white papers, case studies, and webinars tailored to industry professionals. These resources cover topics from sourcing strategies and production techniques to sustainability practices and market entry strategies. Furthermore, the knowledge platform offers networking opportunities, especially for suppliers.

What are your favorite features on the Asia Garment Hub?
I think it has to be the resource library and country profiles -because you can't get them anywhere else, and because they really help people navigate complexity, build knowledge and save time all at the same time. With such handy access to data, knowledge and tools, these pages help our users stay informed and make better decisions, not to mention get ahead of the competition in the race to a more sustainable garment industry.

Constantia Chirnside holds a master degree from the university of Cologne, Germany. She has work experience in Namibia, Australia, Germany and Cambodia. She started working for GIZ HQ in Germany in 2019 and is currently located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, since January 2021. There she works as an advisor for the regional GIZ FABRIC project.

David Williams manages the ILO’s Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Supply Chains (RISSC) project, which works to improve labour standards and responsible business conduct in key export sectors in Asia. He has over 15 years’ professional experience spanning labour market policy, working conditions, and global supply chains, with a particular focus on Asia. He was previously deputy programme manager for Better Work Vietnam (an ILO-IFC partnership), and also led the ILO's regional apparel programme, Decent Work in Garment Supply Chains Asia, which founded the Asia Garment Hub.