Registration Opens for 2025 SPESA Executive Conference in Chicago
SPESA is excited to announce registration is open for the 2025 SPESA Executive Conference. This year’s event will take place August 27-29 at the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile.
“Every year that we host this event is a bit better than the last as we build on what our team learns as event planners and the feedback we receive from our attendees on the topics and opportunities that are most important to them,” explains SPESA President Michael McDonald. “But every year is also a little bit of an experiment as we move to a new region, new market, and new audience pool, which keeps it exciting. Even for our returning attendees, there is always something new to learn and someone new to meet at every SPESA event.” Previous iterations in recent years took place in Montréal, San Juan, Boston, and New Orleans.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
INDUSTRY NEWS | 6.4.25
The Trump Administration Just Doubled the Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Imports. Here’s What that Means
CNN Business | June 4, 2025
U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum doubled to 50% today, a move cheered by the beleaguered American steel industry but worrisome to sectors that heavily use the metals, from car makers to can manufacturers.
“The jump in import taxes is the latest salvo in President Donald Trump’s trade war, part of a broad range of tariffs he’s levied since February. But the steel tariffs are especially significant to him and his political base, a symbol of once-iconic U.S. manufacturing that has since fallen on hard times.”
Lesotho Textile Factories Face Closure Amid U.S. Tariff Uncertainty
Fibre2Fashion | June 4, 2025
The 50% tariff rate imposed by the United States on imports from Lesotho — currently under suspension for three months — has started wreaking havoc on the country’s textile exports. More than 5,000 jobs in the sector are hanging in balance, and one of the country’s textile giants, Lesotho Precious Garments (PTY) Ltd and its subsidiary, Maseru E-Textiles (PTY) Ltd, are preparing to shut down operations, a domestic newspaper reported.
Hydrophobic Protective Layer Improves Mechanical Strength of Hemp Textiles and Paper
European Coatings | June 4, 2025
Hemp fabric and cellulose paper are sustainable materials with high application potential — but their limited water resistance and mechanical resilience hinder their wider industrial use. A research team from China has now developed a functionalized coating that addresses these weaknesses: A water-based polyurethane acrylate coating with silicone components (WPUASi) increases both the hydrophobicity and the strength of the substrates.
Fashion for Good and Arvind launch Future Forward Factories India
In Fashion Business | June 3, 2025
Fashion for Good and Arvind Limited announced the launch of Future Forward Factories India, an ambitious initiative focusing on transforming Tier 2 factories — the backbone of the supply chain — into operations that are both environmentally responsible and economically viable. The initiative delivers an open-source, modular blueprint for sustainable tier-2 textile manufacturing that can be adopted industry-wide, while simultaneously building a first-of-its-kind physical facility that demonstrates these principles in action.
A Sea Change in Bangladesh as New Leadership Takes Over BGMEA
Sourcing Journal | June 3, 2025
With a landslide victory in the recent election for the presidency of the powerful Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, managing director of Rising Group, is now on tap to take the reins. The win is all the more momentous as he is the leader for the Forum Panel which has largely been the underdog in terms of BGMEA leadership; the opposing Sammilito Parishad has been winning a majority of the elections for the last two decades.
Kontoor Brands Completes Acquisition of Helly Hansen®
Press Release | June 2, 2025
Kontoor Brands, Inc. announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Helly Hansen, a global outdoor and workwear brand.
Human Rights Abuse Documented in Global Leather Supply Chain
Fashion Dive | May 30, 2025
A new report by the Fair Labor Association and human rights consultancy firm Impactt found human rights abuse at every stage of the global leather supply chain, including child labor, exposure to chemicals, compensation issues, and discrimination. The study identified problem areas and made recommendations on how companies at all levels of the leather processing industry can foster traceability and improve conditions for workers.
Canada Goose: Vertical Manufacturing an Edge Against Tariffs
Supply Chain Dive | May 29, 2025
Canada Goose is using its vertical manufacturing capabilities to adjust production to demand in a market characterized by tariff uncertainty, executives said during a May 21 earnings call. The luxury retailer manufactured over 90% of its down-filled outerwear in the company’s facilities in Canada in fiscal year 2025. By coordinating its in-house manufacturing with third-party suppliers, Canada Goose was able to adjust efficiently to customer demand.
T-REX Project Concludes with Blueprint for Progress
Innovation in Textiles | May 29, 2025
The EU-funded T-REX (Textile Recycling Excellence) Project has now been successfully completed, presenting a blueprint for scaling textile-to-textile recycling and showcasing demonstrator products produced through the successful implementation of the recycling processes for polyester, polyamide 6, and cellulosic materials within Europe.
U.S. Fashion Leaders Meet with the White House To Discuss Tariff Relief
Vogue Business | May 29, 2025
Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer of Condé Nast, visited the White House with Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), to discuss this impact on the already disproportionately tariffed industry.
“Rapidly changing tariff policy has put the fashion industry in a precarious position, with founders and designers facing significant uncertainty on pricing and future planning. The chaos has shaken customer confidence, hurting brand outlooks.”
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Champion Thread Accelerates Growth with the Acquisition of Carolina Sales Thread
Press Release | May 28, 2025
Champion Thread Company (CTC) — a manufacturer and provider of industrial sewing threads, engineered yarns and other sewn products supplies — announced its acquisition of Carolina Sales Thread Inc., a popular regional distributor of industrial sewing threads to the needle trades.
Tiger Group and Asset Remarketing International Announce Major Cut and Sew, Textile-Embellishment Auction on June 10
Press Release | May 28, 2025
Hundreds of lots of embroidery, screen printing, cut and sew, industrial washing and drying, and related assets will go to auction on June 10 in a major textile-embellishment sale by Tiger Group and Asset Remarketing International. The machinery and equipment come from a 90,000 sqft textile and apparel embellishment facility on the Mexico-U.S. border.
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AFFOA Partners with Advanced Textiles Association To Launch Special Podcast Limited Series on Workforce Development
Press Release | May 27, 2025
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA), a non-profit Manufacturing USA Institute driving fiber and fabric-based innovation in the U.S., has announced a strategic partnership with Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA), leveraging ATA’s signature Talking Textiles podcast. The partnership will produce a special series of insightful episodes focused on addressing the industry’s most pressing workforce challenges.
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NC Textile Engine Receives $350,000 Grant from Walmart Foundation
Specialty Fabrics Review | May 27, 2025
The North Carolina Textile Innovation and Sustainability Engine (The Textile Engine) and North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles have received a $350,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to advance their research. Researchers will use the funding to conduct Life Cycle Assessments for yarns made from some of the industry’s most commonly used new and recycled fibers.
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Korean Textile Giant YongWan To Create 2,000 Jobs in Kenya with New Manufacturing Plant
Kohan Textile Journal | May 25, 2025
In a major boost to Kenya’s textile industry and employment sector, South Korea’s textile manufacturer YongWan is set to create at least 2,000 jobs for Kenyans through its soon-to-be-completed manufacturing plant in the country. The YongWan project is part of a broader initiative by South Korea to deepen its investment footprint in Kenya across various sectors.
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Soho Apparel Group Rallies Behind Trump’s Made-in-America Agenda, Unveils Aggressive U.S. Manufacturing Expansion
Press Release | May 23, 2025
Soho Apparel Group, a leading private-label apparel company and trusted supplier to major U.S. retailers including Nordstrom, Tillys, Marshalls, Ross, Burlington, TJ Maxx, and Dillard’s, recently announced its alignment with President Trump’s agenda to revitalize American manufacturing. In a strategic move to bolster domestic production and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, Soho Apparel Group is launching an ambitious expansion plan to increase its U.S.-based manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations by 300% by 2026.
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ICYMI: SPESA To Host 2025 Executive Conference in Chicago
Just Style | May 22, 2025
SPESA’s 2025 Executive Conference, which is taking place August 27-29 at the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, is now open for registration!
The SPESA Executive Conference serves as a platform for education and networking, targeting individuals keen on understanding the current landscape, trends, and policies shaping the global sewn products sector.
Participants will have access to a robust agenda featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, and case studies from the industry over the two days. These sessions are designed to facilitate knowledge sharing and active participation among attendees.
