In a move that creates sourcing flexibility for apparel brands and retailers, Billion Rise, the vertically integrated apparel and textile company, said it has opened a new “high-tech factory” in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam.

The Hong Kong-based company said the decision to open the facility was to “better serve and support increasing interest among apparel brands seeking greater geographic diversification with their sourcing needs.”

The opening also coincides with the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, which the company said provides opportunities to increase trade “by eliminating 99 percent of tariffs, reducing regulatory barriers and opening services and public procurement markets, while supporting jobs and economic growth on both sides.”

Steven Moore, global sales director at Billion Rise, said the agreement creates new opportunities for EU and U.K.-based brands to source apparel from Vietnam using fabrics and other materials that are made locally. “With our new factory, we can now better support brands looking to build more integrated value chains in Vietnam while expanding our business across these important markets,” Moore added.

The company said the factory is backed by a $100 million investment and is being developed in three phases. The facility is approximately 320,000 square meters and is expected to have an annual production capacity of up to 100 million meters. Billion Rise said the first phase one is complete and is about 110,000 square meters. Additional knitting, dyeing and printing capacity will then be added in the next phase, which is expected to be completed in the third quarter of next year. The last phase will be done in the third quarter of 2029.

“We’re pleased to give our customers greater sourcing flexibility with the addition of our Vietnam operation to our established manufacturing base in Qing Yuan China,” said Charles Chen, Billion Rise CEO and owner. “After a decade of investment in developing the facility and building it to the same high standards our customers expect from us, we’re confident Vietnam will deliver the quality, technical expertise and consistency our brand partners require.”

The company said the Vietnam factory will have “sophisticated capabilities” comparable to those in its Chinese facility. This includes warp and weft knitting, dyeing, digital, flat-bed and heat-transfer printing, stentering and finishing proficiencies. “It also includes a cutting-edge wastewater treatment system and solar rooftop to help minimize our environmental footprint,” the company noted.

According to JP Brogan, U.S. managing director of sales and marketing for Billion Rise, major U.S. activewear and intimate brands are looking to diversify their sourcing to Vietnam. Brogan said the company has built a strong reputation for making high-volume and technically complex performance fabrics. As a result, Billion Rise’s has evolved into an attractive sourcing destination for U.S.-based activewear, swimwear and intimate apparel brands.

“Our investment in Vietnam goes beyond the physical facility,” Brogan said. “We’ve also dedicated resources in materials strategy expertise across our global team along with AI and 3D visualization tools that help brands identify white space, build key material franchises, and quickly visualize new opportunities.”

The company will be showcasing its fabric innovations during Performance Days Munich, Oct. 13 to 15, Interfilière Shanghai, Oct. 13 and 14, Texfuture Tokyo/Performance Days Tokyo, Oct. 21 and 22 and Vietnam Hanoi Textile & Garment Industry Expo, Oct. 21 and 22.