ShinWon Corporation, a leading global apparel manufacturer, has officially joined the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), becoming only the second Korean vendor to do so. This milestone underscores South Korea’s growing influence in the global fashion sector.

This strategic move allows ShinWon to deepen partnerships with existing clients while leveraging AAFA’s extensive network. The company’s membership also reflects its commitment to advancing its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy, with a focus on ethical sourcing, sustainable production, and corporate social responsibility.

CEO JJ Park initiated engagement with AAFA last November, participating in the Social Compliance Committee meeting in Virginia, USA. As a representative of a supplier operating in Guatemala, Park shared ShinWon’s initiatives supporting women workers through education and career development programmes. He emphasised the role of corporate social responsibility in fostering worker welfare and gender equality across the global supply chain.

“Our mission is to cultivate a fair labour environment and champion gender equality throughout our global operations. Through AAFA and the RISE initiative, ShinWon will strengthen its sustainability efforts while contributing to collective progress in ethical fashion,” said JJ Park.

On 25 March, ShinWon hosted its inaugural Compliance Management Declaration Ceremony at its headquarters in Seoul. The event reviewed the company’s year-long ESG initiatives and introduced a strategic roadmap to institutionalise corporate ethics. The roadmap includes measures such as human rights management, anti-corruption protocols, ethical business conduct, and fair trade policies. ShinWon also launched training programmes and internal reporting systems to enhance compliance awareness across its workforce.

ShinWon’s export division operates 13 subsidiaries across five countries, including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the United States, with approximately 30,000 employees in its production facilities. The company has obtained SBTi certification for its carbon reduction and net-zero targets, reinforcing its ESG commitment through annual sustainability reports and environmental initiatives.

www.shinwon.com