Nashville, Tenn. – As manufacturers around the world look for more sustainable business models, OnPoint Manufacturing’s CEO, J. Kirby Best, was invited by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to speak on innovations in clothing manufacturing at the third annual Seoul International Fashion Manufacturing Forum recently held on December 5.

The theme of this year’s forum was “The strategies of fashion manufacturing in the age of sustainability.” The forum became an avenue to discuss the expansion of businesses in Seoul’s impressive fashion textile and manufacturing industries as well as advise on the direction of the city’s future policies based on global trends happening in fashion manufacturing.

At the event, innovative fashion manufacturing business cases were shared by a well-curated list of speakers who presented in individual sessions and panel discussions. OnPoint CEO J. Kirby Best was one of four guest speakers invited to participate to discuss the benefits of on-demand manufacturing from the US perspective.

“It was a great honor to be one of four speakers, and the only US manufacturing company, invited to participate in this year’s forum. The event was incredibly well executed, and the discussions held were exciting and thought provoking,” said J. Kirby Best.

Best led a discussion on the benefits of using an on-demand manufacturing model. He explained how through strategic partnerships with companies like Gerber Technology, OnPoint is able to integrate systems and software which ultimately provide its customers with a complete end-to-end manufacturing solution.

The forum, held at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, began with a keynote from Lee Eun Hee, CEO of Trend in Korea, who discussed the present and future of garment manufacturing in Seoul. Other speakers included Luwei Wang, Executive Director of Strategy, Shenzhen Yosar Technology Co., Ltd., and Ha Dong Ho, CEO of Sewing Boundaries.

A panel discussion followed featuring Best, Wang and Ho, along with Kim Wang Si, General Manager, Korea Fashion Industry Association and Choi Hyun Jung, Head of Urban Manufacturing Center for the Seoul Metropolitan Government Urban Manufacturing Clusters Division. The discussion led by Kim Kyung Min, Professor, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University covered plans on expanding ways to win clothing manufacturing contracts. The event concluded with an awards ceremony and a fashion show.

“Seoul is a vibrant city who is already ahead of many other cities through their use of cutting-edge automation and technology in their factories,” Best said. “Bringing in an on-demand manufacturing model is the next logical step toward efficiency and profitability for them. I’m excited to see where they go next and how OnPoint can assist with their growth.”

The stage at the Seoul International Fashion Manufacturing Forum (SIFMF). Photo courtesy of SIFMF.