Danilo Fonseka

Besides my responsibilities in Dhaka, I also have the following responsibilities in my new position: Responsible for fabric sourcing from China for LiDL, including identifying new trends, initiating work with mills for development and sourcing in a cost-effective manner, and managing a seasonal core fabric library. Handle fabric costing and price negotiations with suppliers, based on DVC requirements, payment and shipment terms. Managing fabric approvals (knit, woven, denim), bulk production, pre-shipment inspections, and third-party test report analysis before shipment. Ensure the production of fabric in a toxic-free, environmentally sustainable and compliant manner. Finalize fabric delivery schedules, with fabric suppliers, based on garments production planning and FOB (Freight on Board).

* Main responsible person for imported fabric (China) Sourcing for buyer LiDL. * Search for new fabric trends and take initiative to work with mills (China) to develop and source, based on cost effective manner and maintain a core fabric library on a seasonal basis. * Handle fabric costing and price negotiations with suppliers, based on DVC requirements, payment and shipment terms. * Ensure the production of fabric in a toxic-free, environmentally sustainable and compliant manner. * Finalize fabric delivery schedules, with fabric suppliers, based on garments production planning and FOB (Freight on Board). * Visit and assess factories in China and Bangladesh, in terms of detox conformation, and enabling the factories to achieve STeP, as well as C2C, by providing consultancy assessments and systematic training. * Order sample yardage and follow up for timely deliveries and development of collection, approval of strike offs and samples. * Analyze test reports, conduct root cause analysis for testing failures, and guide factories for corrective actions. * Organize fabric inspections before and after shipments as well as handle debit notes and claim adjustments with fabric suppliers. * Provide technical support on wet processes and special finishes, especially RUDOLF Bionic ECO plus, Easy-care, Feran ICE and CHT ecoprint. * Team leader of PURE (Environmental & Resource Efficiency Project), in 2017 Lidl, together with GIZ (Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit), program generates and promotes awareness of more sustainable and safer environmental and safety standards at Lidl's production sites in China and Bangladesh. * I have participated in training programs on specific standards such as GOTS, ZDHC, STeP, CmiA, C2C product certificates and Higg Index etc.

* Carry research & innovations in wet processing (washing, dyeing, etc.) and dry processing (color spray, ozone, laser etc.) developments to buyers’ requirements. * Handle buyer visits, product presentations and arranging visual studios for buyer visits according to buyers’ forecast. * Submit Risk Analysis Reports (RAR) on critical styles to the customers. * Coordinate with other departments of the company, external customers and buyers regarding product developments and innovations. * Technically involve and solve the issues on sampling and bulk.

* Quantitative analysis of fibre mixtures: ISO 1833, AATCC 20A, BS 4407, GBT 2910, ASTM D629, ASTM D1909. * Qualitative analysis of fibre mixtures: ISO/TR 11827, AATCC 20, ASTM D276. * Determination of formaldehyde in textile and leather products (colorimetric method using UV-spectrometer): ISO 14184-1, ISO 14184-2, ISO 17226-2, GBT 2912-1, GBT 2912-2. * Determination of pH of aqueous extract in textile and leather products: ISO 3071, ISO 4045, AATCC 81, BS EN 1413, GBT 7573. * Colour fastness to saliva: GBT 18886, DIN 53160-1, DIN 53160-2. * I have participated in: Training programs: Toy testing, GB testing for china market & SDC color evaluation, Effective application of thread and zippers by Sri Lanka Apparel Sourcing Association. Accreditations: M&S (Marks and Spence), Arcadia, Decathlon, Next, NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) and SLAB (Sri Lanka Accreditation Board) which has organized by SGS Lanka.