Weaving a Sustainable Future:
Pinalab Shines at the APEC Women's Business Activator Program

The global business landscape is being reshaped by visionary women leaders, and at the forefront of this transformative movement is the APEC Women's Business Activator Program. This initiative, designed to empower women-led businesses, recently saw Mrs. Tran Hoang Kim Ngan (Mrs Kim Julie), representing Pinalab, proudly participate—bringing with her a powerful narrative of tradition, innovation, and sustainability.

The APEC Women's Business Activator Program is a testament to the power of international cooperation in fostering economic well-being and gender equality. Supported by the Australian Government and implemented by the Australian APEC Study Centre and RMIT Activator, this program serves as a beacon for women entrepreneurs seeking to expand their ventures globally.

Its core mission is to strengthen the capacity of women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by equipping them with essential business competencies and strategies to navigate the complexities of both local and global markets.

Participants engage in a dynamic blend of online and offline activities throughout 2025, culminating in an intensive five-day session in Melbourne, Australia. This immersive experience brings together powerhouse women from diverse economies such as Vietnam, Peru, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, the Philippines, China, and Thailand.

What made this program stand out was not just the technical knowledge, but the powerful cross-cultural connections it fostered. Entrepreneurs brought their stories, passions, and ambitions, building a collaborative spirit that transcended borders. It wasn’t just about expanding a business — it was about redefining leadership and purpose in the global economy.

Representing Pinalab, Mrs Kim Julie shared a deeply personal and forward-thinking narrative. Born from a vision to elevate sustainable Vietnamese innovation, Pinalab was developed to pioneer new solutions in the textile industry — a sector often challenged by environmental concerns.
Pinalab’s mission is clear: 

“To become a trusted partner providing advanced, unique, and eco-friendly materials and ODM solutions. Through international expansion, especially into APEC markets, we aim to uplift farming communities, reduce waste, and prove that innovation rooted in tradition can scale globally.”

Data Source: Journal of Science and Technology, Issue 48, 2020, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology,  "Study and Potential Evaluation of Pineapple Leaf in Textile Industry"

To tackle this, Pinalab introduced a breakthrough innovation: sustainable fabric made from pineapple leaves. Vietnam cultivates over 40,000 hectares of pineapple annually, stretching from Phu Tho to Kien Giang — generating massive amounts of unused agricultural byproduct. Instead of burning the leaves, which contributes to pollution, Pinalab turned waste into value — producing a fabric that is breathable, antibacterial, UV-resistant, and high-quality.

One of the major challenges shared by Mrs Kim Julie was how to reconcile Vietnam’s sustainable heritage with the demands of the fast-paced, often wasteful global fashion industry — widely known as the second-most polluting sector in the world.One of the major challenges shared by Mrs Kim Julie was how to reconcile Vietnam’s sustainable heritage with the demands of the fast-paced, often wasteful global fashion industry — widely known as the second-most polluting sector in the world.

Participating in the APEC Women’s Business Activator was a pivotal experience for Pinalab. One of the most impactful takeaways was a deeper understanding of customer needs through the Value Proposition Canvas.

“It has shifted us from simply offering materials to delivering value-driven, purpose-aligned solutions — building lasting relationships with our customers,” shared Mrs Kim Julie.

This mindset shift is now guiding Pinalab’s global expansion strategy — positioning the brand not just as a fabric innovator but as a connector between Vietnamese traditional and international sustainability goals.

Pinalab’s journey through the APEC Women's Business Activator Program serves as a compelling example of how tradition and innovation can merge to create a globally impactful enterprise. It reflects the program’s success in empowering women-led businesses to scale not only in size but also in purpose — proving that with vision and collaboration, small ideas can stitch together a better, more sustainable world. One thread at a time.