Supporting Our Western N.C. Neighbors
A Letter from SPESA
While SPESA represents a global network, our roots are in North Carolina.
A few weeks ago, our neighbors in the western part of the state experienced a catastrophic event when Hurricane Helene brought historic flooding to the region, leaving many communities destroyed. For nearly one million people who reside in these beautiful mountain towns, the recovery process has barely begun. To assist in relief efforts, SPESA has compiled a list of resources and organizations doing work to support the people and communities impacted by the storm.
We hope you will consider joining us in donating to the recovery efforts.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
INDUSTRY NEWS | 10.17.24
2024 SPESA Executive Conference Coverage | Circularity Imposes Tough Operational Demands on Apparel Supply Chain
Just Style | October 16, 2024
A panel during the recent SPESA Executive Conference in Montréal discussed advancements in textile technology and circularity, as well as the practical impact of regulations such as California’s Responsible Textile Recovery Act, which was signed into law in September (2024).
India Launches Textile Policy 2024 To Boost Growth, Employment
The Economic Times | October 16, 2024
India has launched its Textile Policy for 2024, focusing on strengthening the textile sector with a range of financial incentives. The policy highlights two main areas: technical textiles, including clothing and apparel, and various manufacturing processes like weaving and dyeing.
USTR Begins Accepting Requests for Section 301 Tariff Exclusions for Machinery
ST&R Trade Report | October 15, 2024
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has opened a docket for requests to temporarily exclude specific machinery used in domestic manufacturing and classified under 312 HTSUS subheadings from the Section 301 tariffs against imports from China. Each request must identify a particular product and provide supporting data and the rationale for the requested exclusion. Read the update from trade advisory firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
Explainer: How To Improve Apparel Export Competitiveness to U.S.
Just Style | October 15, 2024
A report published by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) has identified four factors that leading and prospective apparel exporting countries to the U.S. must consider if they wish to succeed in future.
Read More...
Dick’s Sporting Goods Bolsters Production, Sourcing Tech
Supply Chain Dive | October 15, 2024
CDick’s Sporting Goods is expanding its use of artificial intelligence with supply chain software provider Inspectorio to create production efficiencies, according to an Oct. 2 press release. The retailer aims to increase supplier engagement and reliability as well as observe production processes for risks and inefficiencies.
Read More...
DECATHLON Pulse, unspun Forge Strategic Partnership To Drive Innovation in Fashion Manufacturing
Textile World | October 15, 2024
unspun, a fashion-tech company, and DECATHLON Pulse, the investment arm and start-up studio of DECATHLON, a global multi-specialist sports brand, have formed a partnership to deploy unspun’s 3D weaving technology, Vega™, across Europe. The partnership, which centers around the investment and a multi-year offtake agreement through 2030, aims to scale unspun’s 3D weaving technology throughout the region.
Read More...
2024 SPESA Executive Conference Coverage | Tech Innovation, Top Talent, Helpful Regulation Is Recipe for Apparel Growth
Just Style | October 14, 2024
Speakers on the next generation entrepreneur panel at the SPESA Executive Conference in Montréal shared their beliefs that automated production efficiency, combined with innovation in sustainability and widening sourcing worldwide will lead to apparel growth.
Read More...
KPMG: Sourcing, Supply Chain Operations To Continue To Migrate to Americas in Coming Years
Sourcing Journal | October 14, 2024
New data from KPMG shows the Americas are hot for companies looking to strengthen their supply chains — for reasons from cost reduction, to improved resiliency against ongoing geopolitical tensions. In separate news, KPMG has also shared analysis on fashion’s circularity progress.
Read More...
Global Sae-A Group Completes Construction of 36,000-Spindle Third Spinning Mill in Costa Rica
Press Release | October 14, 2024
The newly completed third spinning mill of Sae-A Spinning is located in Cartago, about 20 kilometers southeast of San José. The facility has a capacity of 36,000 spindles and can produce 8 million kg of yarn annually. With this addition, Sae-A Spinning's total capacity now reaches 106,000 spindles, securing an annual yarn production of 24 million kg. Global Sae-A entered the Costa Rica market in 2015. The company achieved full vertical integration of the entire apparel manufacturing process — from spinning, knitting, dyeing, and sewing — a first for Korea's apparel OEM industry.
Read More...
Archroma Introduces Breakthrough in Bio-Based Textile Printing
Press Release | October 14, 2024
Archroma, a global supplier of specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, has introduced the NTR Printing System to make bio-based pigment printing commercially possible for the first time. Bio-based pigment printing is an emerging technology that is attracting major interest from brands that want to use pigments derived from natural sources, such as plants, in the production of environmentally conscious textiles.
Read More…
Holland Industrial Group Announces Auction of a Complete, Modern Dyeing and Finishing Facility in Fullerton, CA
Textile World | October 14, 2024
Holland Industrial Group announced a major industrial auction of a complete dyeing and finishing facility, former assets of Dae Shin USA Inc., featuring a wide range of late-model machinery. The auction will take place on Thursday, November 7th.
Read More...
2024 SPESA Executive Conference Coverage | Reshoring Mitigates Weak Clothing Demand in North America
Just Style | October 11, 2024
The reshoring of some North American clothing and textile manufacturers is mitigating declines in consumer demand, according to SPESA Chairman Mark Hatton. Just Style’s coverage of our recent SPESA Executive Conference in Montréal kicked off with a focus on Mark’s Chairman’s Address to attendees.
Read More…
Los Angeles’ Leading Footwear Manufacturer Teams Up with 3D-printing Startup To Launch New Sneaker
Apparel Resources | October 11, 2024
LaLaLand Production & Design, California’s largest shoe manufacturer, known for working with brands like LVMH, Gap, and Amiri, has partnered with Elastium, a Los Angeles-based 3D-printing start-up that created the world’s first fully 3D-printed foam shoes. Together, they aim to revolutionize the footwear industry with a new Hybrid production model that combines cutting-edge 3D-printing technology with traditional mass manufacturing.
Read More…
Spain Launches Pilot for Large-Scale Textile Waste Management
FashionUnited | October 11, 2024
The Spanish Association for the Management of Textile Waste, FEMP (Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces), and some of the largest fashion companies are joining forces to tackle textile waste ahead of the EU regulation for the Collective System of Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles and footwear (SCRAP), which is expected to come into force in 2026. In a press release, they presented Re-viste, the name of the first pilot programme for textile waste collection in Spain. Re-viste aims to test the effectiveness of collection systems and is supported by major brands such as Decathlon, H&M, Inditex, and Mango. The programme will start in April 2025.
Read More…
Explainer: Why India’s U.S.-Bound Apparel Shipments Spiked in August
Just Style | October 11, 2024
U.S. apparel shipments inched up in August helped by increased imports from China, India, and Vietnam. India saw the largest growth of the top 10 apparel supplier countries to the U.S. at 13.4% to 115m SME. Professor Sheng Lu and Emilie Delaye, a graduate researcher of fashion and apparel studies from the University of Delaware, break down the data.
Read More…
Inditex Launches Venture Capital for Tech and Sustainable Startups
FashionUnited | October 11, 2024
Spanish fashion giant Inditex has announced the launch of a new venture capital as part of efforts to finance textile innovations and advance its own sustainability goals.
Read More…
The Fabric of Our Nation: A Brief History of Women and Textiles in America
Made Trade the Magazine | October 9, 2024
“We may not notice, but much of our language — and thus, our ways of thinking — hang on phrases rooted in weaving, such as ‘whole cloth,’ commenting on ‘threads,’ or franchise ‘spinoffs.’ From ancient times until now, textiles have become the cloth on which our stories have been woven, usually by the hands of women.” This is not at all breaking news, and is interspersed with ads for the brand behind the magazine, but is an interesting read about our industry.
Read More…
America’s PPE Industry Mobilizes To Aid States and Communities in the Wake of Natural Disasters
Press Release | October 8, 2024
In response to the recent and pending natural disasters devastating communities across the American South and Southeast, the American Medical Manufacturers Association (AMMA) is mobilizing its network of domestic PPE manufacturers to offer vital support to those in need.
Read More…
Polyester Recycling Firm Reju Opens First Facility
Fashion Dive | October 3, 2024
The plant in Frankfurt, Germany, will produce approximately 1,000 metric tons of material using technology developed in partnership with IBM, Under Armour, and Technip Energies.
Read More…
What’s Next Now That California’s EPR for Textiles Law Has Passed
Waste Dive | October 2, 2024
CalRecycle is expected to start working on regulations early next year. Recycling and waste groups say the law should divert more textiles, which can be problematic to process, into reuse or repair.
