Just Style Excellence Awards 2024: Epic Group

In this exclusive interview, we had the opportunity to speak with Jason Wang, the COO of Alvanon, a leading new-age apparel and fashion technology company that has won the 2023 Just Style Excellence Award for Innovation and Product Launches. Alvanon has been at the forefront of shaping the future of fit in the fashion industry for over two decades, providing sizing standards and fit specifications for consumers' bodies. In our conversation Wang discusses the future of fit and fashion technology, from anticipated industry trends to insights on Alvanon’s mission, goals for the future, and what sets them apart. He also introduces MyAlva, an exciting new venture with the potential to transform fit for consumers and the industry. Alvanon is working towards creating a sustainable future for the apparel industry, including the development of a new technology, BodyAI, designed to reduce overstock inventory and their transition to 3D printing for their physical mannequins.

Epic Group's Chairman, Ranjan Mahtani, discusses the company's transformation into a leader in sustainable apparel manufacturing, highlighting their innovative use of Apparel Industry 4.0 technologies and ambitious environmental goals. With a global presence and a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by 65% per garment by 2030, Epic Group is setting new industry standards while expanding into growth markets like India. Epic Group also won four awards in the 2024 Just Style Excellence Awards.

Being an affiliate of global supply chain manager, Li & Fung, we are deeply entrenched into the supply chain flows of our SME clients globally, thereby possess a deep understanding of their working capital requirements. At the same time, our ability to acquire quality assets has attracted a wide base of financial institutional partners which leverage our extensive industry insights and data analytics. We thereby seamlessly link our SME clients to our multiple funding partners via our technology-enabled, easy-to-use cross-border supply chain financing platform, which efficiently processes transactions for all parties involved.

Epic Group has evolved from a major textile trading house to a premier global apparel manufacturer since its inception in 2005. With facilities worldwide and a workforce of over 30,000, we focus on delivering high-quality apparel through state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge design. Our global footprint spans Africa, Asia, UAE, the UK, Jordan, and the United States. We pride ourselves on our commitment to sustainability, integrating innovative practices from our headquarters to our manufacturing plants to ensure we meet and exceed the environmental and social expectations of our clients and communities.

What sets Epic Group apart is our holistic approach to innovation and sustainability, which has been recognized through multiple awards at the 2024 Just Style Excellence Awards. Our leadership in adopting Apparel Industry 4.0 technologies and our strategic investments in growth markets like India demonstrate our commitment to reshaping the apparel manufacturing landscape. Additionally, our significant achievements in environmental initiatives, including substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, reduction in water consumption, and the elimination of hazardous chemicals, underline our dedication to setting new standards in the industry and ensuring a more sustainable future.

Over the next five years, Epic Group aims to continue leading the way in sustainable apparel manufacturing. Our goals include achieving a 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per garment by 2030, and expanding our technological advancements to further integrate digital transformation strategies across our operations, enhancing both efficiency and product quality. Additionally, we plan to diversify our product offerings and increase our use of sustainable materials, ensuring that our growth in new and existing markets is aligned with our stringent sustainability and ethical manufacturing standards.

One of our most exciting projects is the construction of a new facility in India, designed to meet the highest sustainability standards. This facility incorporates significant solar energy generation capabilities and is aimed at achieving Net Zero, setting a model for future industrial operations. It is designed to set benchmarks in energy and water efficiency. This project not only supports our decarbonization goals but also showcases our commitment to pioneering a sustainable future in apparel manufacturing.

In the next 6-12 months, we anticipate a continued emphasis on sustainability, with a significant push towards decarbonization and water conservation in manufacturing processes. Additionally, the integration of digital technologies such as RFID-based tracking and advanced analytics will become more prevalent, as companies seek to enhance operational efficiencies and responsiveness to market dynamics.

Epic Group is actively reducing its environmental impact through strategic investments in green technology and infrastructure upgrades, such as our effluent treatment plants that meet ZDHC standards and reuse 50% of treated water. Our participation in Walmart’s Project Gigaton and our commitment to significant GHG emissions reductions exemplify our proactive approach to environmental stewardship.

Being honored with 4 awards at the 2024 Just Style Excellence Awards is a profound acknowledgment of Epic Group’s dedication to sustainability and innovation in the textile and apparel industry. These accolades affirm the hard work and dedication of our global team and reinforce our motivation to continue setting industry standards in sustainable manufacturing.

We owe our success to the unwavering commitment of our global team, whose dedication and innovation drive our operations. We extend our gratitude to our clients and partners who trust in our capabilities and share our vision for a sustainable future. Special thanks to our strategic partners like the International Finance Corporation for enabling us to pursue our ambitious sustainability goals through their support.