AAPN Launches Apparelpedia, Sourcelist Web 2.0 Services

The Atlanta-based American Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN) has developed two Web-based Web 2.0 services to provide information about apparel producers and the apparel supply chain.

Apparelpedia, located at http://aapnetwork.pbwiki.com, allows users to search or browse for entries related to AAPN’s activities and members, and also allows members to log in to edit entries or submit new entries in a manner akin to that used by contributors to Wikipedia. “Web 2.0 technology now allows us to organize the content we’ve accumulated here at AAPN over our 27 years,” writes Mike Todaro, AAPN’s managing director, in the apparelpedia Overview. “Fortunately, and uniquely in this industry, AAPN’s membeers span the entire global apparel supply chain, so our content does as well.”

AAPN has also launched a new sourcelist, a proprietary service based on craigslist that can be accessed at www.aapnetwork.net/content/168.htm or through the apparelpedia website. The sourcelist provides a brief description and an e-mail link for each company or organization on the list. AAPN members may be included on the list free of charge. Nonmembers may also be listed for a $200 fee.

“The key to our growing our membership has always been to keep them engaged,” said AAPN Executive Director Sue Strickland. “As a professional trade group, we’re acutely aware of the need to stay on top of technology. In fact, AAPN has rolled out one or more new ‘technologies’ every year since 1994. But we never suspected Web 2.0 would deliver us such a spectrum and variety of applications that could be adapted to our industry and become mission-critical in their impact.”

April 8, 2008