What You Missed in Atlanta!
Thank you for joining us at Texprocess Americas! We hope everyone had a great show!
If you happened to miss any of the amazing SPESA members exhibiting at the show, please feel free to reach out to the SPESA team to help make connections for you. You can learn more about all the SPESA members who exhibited this year at the link below.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
INDUSTRY NEWS | 5.14.25
Robotics Innovations To Secure & Reshore Textile Manufacturing Public Webinar
ARM Institute
The ARM Institute is hosting a public webinar May 21st on robotics innovations related to textile manufacturing. For years, ARM has been catalyzing robotics and automation solutions that address areas of need to reshore the industry, from robotic assembly of garments and bottom hemming to manufacturing life preservers, military uniforms, and PPE. The Webinar will bring together expert presenters to discuss the topic.
U.S.-China Tariff Truce Offers Temporary Relief — and Plenty of Uncertainty
CBS News | May 13, 2025
A 90-day tariff truce between the U.S. and China announced on Monday will offer companies some relief, but also “prolong the kind of economic uncertainty that makes it hard for businesses to plan for the future.”
Beginning May 14th, the U.S. will lower its maximum tariff rate on Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, including a 10% baseline levy plus a fentanyl-specific 20% levy. China will reduce its 125% tariff on American goods to 10%.
But clinching a long-term trade deal is likely to prove challenging, while the reduced 30% tariff rate could still lead to price hikes for consumers, experts told CBS MoneyWatch.
Here is some additional industry-specific tariff news:
-
Temporary Tariff Truce to Trigger Import Surge of Chinese Goods - Sourcing Journal
-
Relief on China's factory floors as US tariffs put on hold - BBC
-
Fashion Investors Rally Behind De-escalation in U.S.-China Trade War - Sourcing Journal
-
With the Trade War on Pause, Here’s What’s Next for Fashion - Business of Fashion
-
What does the US-China tariff pause mean for fashion, retail sectors? - Just Style
Nearly Half of Shoppers Are Concerned About Tariff-Related Fashion Costs: Report
Fashion Dive | May 13, 2025
About 46% of consumers are concerned about rising fashion and clothing prices in the wake of tariffs, according to a report from Wunderkind. And more than half of consumers are willing to switch brands due to pricing. The shift gives challenger brands the opportunity to win over customers with competitive pricing and reliable delivery options.
U.S. Launches Section 232 Probe into Aircraft Industry
Supply Chain Dive | May 13, 2025
The U.S. Commerce Department has launched a Section 232 investigation into the commercial aircraft industry to assess potential tariffs, quotas or other ways to protect national security, according to a filing published Tuesday in the Federal Register.
EPA Postpones TSCA PFAS Reporting Period to April 2026
International Law Review | May 12, 2025
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced an interim final rule that would extend the dates of the reporting period for data submitted on the manufacture of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Under the interim final rule, the data submission period would begin April 13, 2026. Small manufacturers reporting exclusively as article importers would have until April 13, 2027, to report.
Small Business Administration Boosts Manufacturing Funding Efforts
Manufacturing Dive | May 12, 2025
The U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing funding opportunities to help small- and mid-sized manufacturers build, expand or enhance their operations. As part of its Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, the agency said it will provide three eligible applicants with up to $1.1 million total to deliver training and assistance to support small businesses in its Empower to Grow Program.
Walmart Turns to India To Avoid High Tariffs, but Garment Workers Scarce
Reuters | May 9, 2025
In a garment hub in south India, R.K. Sivasubramaniam is fielding requests from Walmart and Costco who want to sidestep higher U.S. tariffs faced by rival Asian suppliers, Bangladesh and China. But rows of idle sewing lines at his factory lay bare his biggest challenge.
SHIMA SEIKI Announces Partnership with Lonati
Press Release | May 9, 2025
Japan-based computerized flat knitting innovator SHIMA SEIKI Mfg., Ltd. is collaborating with Italy-based Lonati S.p.A. to promote digitalization and sustainable product development within the sock industry. The partnership forms a synergy by leveraging software solutions offered by each company — APEXFiz® design software developed and sold by Shima Seiki and ORION programming software developed and sold by Lonati. Together, they aim to help the industry shed its dependence on traditional physical sample creation processes.
What Is in the UK-US Tariff Deal?
BBC | May 9, 2025
The UK and the U.S. have reached a deal over tariffs on some goods traded between the countries. President Trump's blanket 10% tariffs on imports from countries around the world still applies to most UK goods entering the U.S. But the deal has reduced or removed tariffs on some of the UK's exports, including cars, steel and aluminium. BBC explains what is included in this not-really-a-trade-deal deal.
New Fiber-to-Fiber Recycling Technology Announced
Textile Technology Source | May 8, 2025
University of Nebraska–Lincoln researcher Yiqi Yang has developed a first-of-its-kind technology for fiber-to-fiber (or chemical) recycling that successfully removes dyes, separates natural and synthetic blends, and creates high-quality fibers. Yang’s research team aims to minimize the environmental costs and increase the sustainability of the textile industry, with attention paid to two avenues: improving recycling, and creating new textiles from agricultural waste, such as chicken feathers.
Read More...
Smart Shoe Insole Tracks the Wearer’s Movement
Textile Technology Source | May 8, 2025
This is pretty cool. A new smart insole system that monitors how people walk in real time could help users improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions from plantar fasciitis to Parkinson’s disease. Constructed using 22 small pressure sensors, and fueled by small solar panels on the tops of shoes, the system offers real-time health tracking based on how a person walks, a biomechanical process that is as unique as a human fingerprint.
March Stockpiling Spelled Good News for U.S.’ Asia Apparel Suppliers
Just Style | May 8, 2025
While U.S. apparel imports from China massively cooled in March as fashion companies braced for the impact of tariffs announced by President Trump, apparel producing hubs in wider Asia benefitted from early stockpiling. China’s share of the US apparel market fell from 25.6% to 21.8% year on year in March. While Vietnam’s increased to 18.4% from 17.5% and Bangladesh’s increased to 12.2% from 10.2%.
Read More...
Senate Dems Push for Small Business Tariff Exemption
Manufacturing Dive | May 8, 2025
Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts who is the ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, introduced a bill to exempt small businesses from the Trump administration’s tariffs. The initiative still has a long way to go in the process of potentially becoming a law, but we’ll keep an eye on it for you.
Read More...
The Case for a National Robotics Strategy
Manufacturing Dive | May 8, 2025
As countries like China and South Korea adopt more robotics on the factory floor, experts say the U.S. needs a centralized, federally led approach to better integrate the technology.
Read More...
Techtextil North America 2025 Opens in Atlanta with Global Innovations
Fibre2Fashion | May 7, 2025
“The show floor was buzzing with talk of the groundbreaking materials, technology, and solutions presented, along with the innovative machinery and equipment showcased.” Opening day began with a dynamic line-up in the Symposium, where visitors engaged in thought-provoking sessions covering a host of topics including emerging innovations in nonwovens and cutting-edge advancements in fibres.
Read More...
Fashion Sector Reacts to New UK-India Free Trade Agreement
Just Style | May 7, 2025
The UK fashion and textile sector has welcomed a “landmark trade agreement” with India that aims to boost trade between the two nations but it says caution must be exercised to maintain a level playing field. The UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT) said it has been working closely with the UK government to ensure that the deal is meaningful and beneficial for the UK fashion and textile industry at the same time as protecting the UK manufacturing industry from unfair competition and protecting the UK’s trading relationships with other countries under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) with countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh. Read more about the agreement here or here.
Read More...
Walmart Debuts ‘Grow with US’ Program for Small Businesses
Retail Dive | May 6, 2025
Walmart has debuted its Grow with US initiative, which provides U.S. small businesses with training, mentorship, and resources to grow in collaboration with the retail giant, according to a press release. Walmart is offering participating businesses access to its Supplier Academy curriculum and financial support via its Early Payment Program and Bridge Marketplace. Small businesses will also have a chance to present their businesses at product discovery opportunities like its U.S. Open Call event, RangeMe product discovery tool, or the Walmart Marketplace.
Read More...
UNIFI®, Makers of REPREVE®, Launches Fortisyn™, an Inherently Durable Yarn for Military and Tacticalgear
Press Release | May 6, 2025
Unifi, Inc., recently launched Fortisyn™, an abrasion-resistant yarn engineered for ultimate durability in tactical applications. This innovative yarn provides fabrics with enhanced tear and tensile strength, offering a robust solution for military and first responder uniforms and tactical gear. Fortisyn is available made-in-USA for Berry Amendment compliant applications.
Read More...
Kornit Digital and Gooten Expand Access to Kornit’s Global Fulfillment Network for On-Demand Production
Press Release | May 5, 2025
Kornit Digital LTD., a leader in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, announced that Gooten, a print-on-demand fulfillment and technology company, has integrated with Kornit’s Global Fulfillment Network (GFN). Through this integration, brands using the Gooten platform can now tap into Kornit’s trusted network of on-demand production partners to deliver high-quality printed textile products with agility, speed, and local fulfillment alongside Gooten’s extended product catalog.
Read More...
Temu Halts Shipping Direct from China as De Minimis Tariff Loophole Is Cut Off
CNBC | May 2, 2025
Chinese bargain retailer Temu changed its business model in the U.S. as the Trump administration’s new rules on low-value shipments took effect at the beginning of May. A Temu spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that all sales in the U.S. are now handled by local sellers and said they are fulfilled “from within the country.”
Read More...
Avery Dennison Platform Strengthens Apparel Supply Chain Visibility
Press Release | May 2, 2025
Avery Dennison, a global leader in materials science and digital identification solutions, has enhanced its Optica portfolio for the apparel industry. Through its partnerships with TrusTrace, a traceability and compliance data platform, and GPRO, an RFID and Industry 4.0 solutions provider, Avery Dennison optimizes its Materials Traceability and Work In Progress (WIP) Tracking capabilities, further enhancing supply chain visibility.
Read More...
emtec Electronic Strengthening Through Collaboration with Textile Expert Harrie Schoots
Press Release | May 2, 2025
emtec Electronic GmbH has been working closely for several months with Harrie Schoots, a seasoned expert in textile chemistry, dyeing and finishing. He has been providing valuable insights and strengthening connections within the North American textile industry. With more than 28 years of experience, Schoots has played a key role in driving innovations in textile processing worldwide.
Read More...
Climate-Beneficial Fibers Were Gaining Traction. Then Trump Happened.
Sourcing Journal | May 1, 2025
Sourcing Journal breaks down the impact of freezing of already committed federal money as well as the mid-April cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities on U.S. plans to produce climate-smart cotton and wool to build agricultural resilience, regenerate soil health and expand economic opportunities for American growers.
Read More...
LA Footwear Innovators Say Tariffs Aren’t Enough To Spur a Reshoring Renaissance
Sourcing Journal | April 30, 2025
“The reshoring of American footwear manufacturing at a meaningful scale will take more than panic caused by inflammatory headlines, and it will require deep conviction that outlasts the modern news cycle. In the view of the city’s most forward-looking producers, tariffs have lit a flame, but it will take oxygen — in the form of meaningful support from the industry and policymakers — to ignite a true blaze.” Sourcing Journal interviews leaders in L.A.’s footwear industry.
Read More...
Will Trump Tariffs Help or Hurt U.S. Garment Workers?
Sourcing Journal | April 25, 2025
“As garment workers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lesotho and Vietnam brace themselves for some of the most expansive of President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs (currently on hold), their counterparts in the United States are feeling the pressure from the stiff levies that are already in place.” This article looks at not only the impact of tariffs on the U.S. manufacturing industry, but also highlights several initiatives in place to support the local industry like the Garment Worker Center in Los Angeles and SPESA member ISAIC (the Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center) in Detroit.
“ISAIC is an example of how garment jobs, with the proper investment that Caspelich was talking about, can be transformed for the better. It sees its trainees as more than just future bodies on a production floor.”
