HSBC’s New Digital Network Taps Fashion-Centric Businesses

While many professionals in fashion might be over trite terms such as “curated” or “edited,” the value of a fully vetted, invitation-only trade platform targeted to the industry cannot be overestimated. And that’s the basis behind Serai, a solution specialized for the business-to-business crowd that aims to simplify international trade by connecting screened manufacturers and suppliers exclusively invited by other users, or by the platform itself. Serai is a fully owned subsidiary of the HSBC Group, which naturally opens the door to thousands of “qualified” clients in the apparel sector globally, giving the network a leg up from the start with companies such as FCI Group, Envoy Textiles, Leverstyle, Esquel Group and DBL Group already using the platform. Think of it as a LinkedIn for fashion industry professionals. Here, Vivek Ramachandran, chief executive officer of Serai, talks to WWD about the mechanics of Serai, the role of technology in transparency, and why the fashion industry is ripe for change. WWD: How does Serai’s platform streamline global trade for fashion industry businesses and brands? What about it is fashion-specific? Vivek Ramachandran: Serai is a digital network for businesses to build trusted relationships. The world of international trade is still much more complicated than it

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