VT Garment at GFT 2025 – Sharing the Future of Smart Manufacturing

We were proud to represent VT Garment at GFT 2025 in Bangkok, where innovation meets tradition at the heart of Thailand’s garment industry.

This year was especially meaningful as our Managing Director, Chalumpon Lotharukpong, was invited to speak and share his experience from attending Texprocess Americas 2025, the leading garment trade show held in the United States this past May. His message was clear and compelling: the garment industry is not a sunset industry—it is evolving, and it is here to stay if we embrace the right technologies and practices.

To thrive, we must begin to run a garment factory like a tech firm—leveraging automation, smart factory principles, lean manufacturing, and AI-driven solutions. This means no longer operating in a black box, but acting with clarity, agility, and purpose—employing relevant and effective technologies that empower both people and processes.

We must also shift our mindset: focus on what we have, rather than what we lack. As our Managing Director emphasised, Singapore didn’t become wealthy by dwelling on its limitations. Thailand’s strengths are formidable—a rich cultural heritage, world-renowned cuisine, and its strategic position as a logistics hub in Southeast Asia. If we can harness these advantages, particularly our ability to deliver garments with short lead times and reliability, we can truly stand out.

Our session at GFT 2025 highlighted key insights from Texprocess, including:

AI-assisted decision-making

OEE optimisation

Workforce reskilling

Integration of ERP, MES, and PLM systems

A strong focus on sustainability and responsible manufacturing

We also acknowledged Thailand’s unique position in the global supply chain. Sandwiched between high-value producers like Korea and low-cost countries such as Bangladesh, we must not complain—but instead focus on delivering value. Thailand boasts unrivalled 5G coverage, excellent logistics infrastructure, and a skilled workforce. These are assets we must fully leverage.

It was a pleasure to meet and reconnect with industry veterans and innovators such as:

Leman Automation – the master of template sewing machines from China

Methods Apparel India – a leading garment consulting and software firm

Krishna Lamicoat Pvt. Ltd. – the leader in specialty papers and films

Fabric mills from Thailand, Taiwan, and China

Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared your insights, and helped push the boundaries of what’s possible in garment manufacturing.