Our Factory

The Modern Dress Sewing Factory (MDSF) is a small garment factory based in Pnom Penh that produces simple garments and different types of bags including conference bags for local, national and international markets. Started in January 2007 as a business unit of the Cambodian Community of Women living with HIV( CCW), MDSF employs 15 women living with HIV who are well trained in making garments (school uniforms, shirts, t-shirts and women’s garments) and bags (fancy bags, conference bags etc). In a short span of one year, the factory has already established business partnerships with national markets in Cambodia. Some of the major buyers include government schools (school uniforms), and international agencies (conference bags). The United Nations in Cambodia are also very supportive to the factory. International Labour Organisation (ILO) UNAIDS and UNESCO have already used MDSF bags for their conferences. MDSF also institutionalized a good quality control system for all their products.

MDSF also has an ongoing capacity/ skills development programme. The employees regularly participate in the training programmes that are conducted by the Cambodia Garment Training Centre to further enhance their skills. They are also supported by Women Empowered through Inter National Cooperation (WEINC), a group of Japanese women volunteers, in designing and making new products.

Fourteen employees are currently on Antiretroviral (ARV) regimen. Working at MDSF also helps women to provide support to each other including clarifying their concerns about the medications. The factory is also maintaining an ARV check list to ensure adherence to the medications.

MDSF is currently in the process of exploring international markets for the products.