What to Expect at Day 2 of Texworld USA

Texworld USA continues on Tuesday with a second day of comprehensive and informative events.

The seminars at Lecture Square kick off with a trend inspiration presentation from art director Louis Gerin at 10:00 a.m.

“Reenchanted” presents Gerin’s take on Autumn/Winter 2020-21 leading trend themes. Decrypted by the Texworld Trend Team, moods, color alliance, color palette, texture and specific aspects of the season will be decoded.

Augmenting the presentation, art directors from 2G2L will review the fabric trends for 2020 from the exhibitor collection in the Texworld Showcase area at 11:00 a.m.

Also at 10:00 a.m., in the Home Textile Symposium, is the seminar “Reshaping of the Textile Supply Chain–Is it Sustainable?” Moderated by Jennifer Marks, editor-in-chief of Home Textiles Today, panelists Kerrie Masone, senior researcher at Material ConneXion; Kathryn Richardson, vice president of sales at Libeco-Lagae Inc., and Debera Johnson, executive director of the Center for Sustainable Design Studies at Pratt Institute, will discuss consumer hot button issues for home textiles, new materials in development to create greener products, and how consumers are integrating sustainable products into healthy lifestyles.

Back at Lecture Square at 1:00 p.m. is “Doing Business in Africa: Trade and Sourcing.” This vital sourcing seminar, moderated by Tricia Carey, director of global business development–apparel at Lenzing Fibers Inc., panelists Manon Clavel, a consultant at the Morocco agency for investments, development and exports (AMDIE); Kristen Kern, government relations representative at the American Apparel & Footwear Association, and Gail Strickler, president of global trade at Brookfield Associates, will discuss the continent’s potential and rapidly growing production capabilities.

“U.S. imports from many countries in the regions, such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Jordan, and even South Africa, have increased dramatically,” Strickler said. Many of these countries have an “exceptional labor force,” she added, and with most apparel coming into the U.S. from African countries duty free under several free trade agreements, it’s becoming a new and important place to source.

Happening concurrently at the Home Textile Symposium is “The New Sourcing Model: Are You Prepared to Adapt?”

This panel discussion is moderated by Home Textiles Today’s Marks, with Wayne Buchen, vice president of strategic sales at Applied DNA Sciences; Barry Leonard, owner and operator of Neo Enterprises, and Robert Leo, customs attorney and partner at Meeks, Sheppard, Leo & Pillsbury, providing expert commentary. They’ll dive into how leading suppliers are addressing the changes in sourcing, what types of production resources are available outside the big three home producers of China, India and Pakistan, and how a small-footprint on-shoring operation could be set up to improve speed to market.

Rounding out the day’s seminar series at Lecture Square will “How to Create Material Change,” at 4:00 p.m.

Moderated by Arthur Friedman, senior editor at Sourcing Journal, panelists Hanna Denes, senior standards manager at Textile Exchange; Malvina Hoxha, business development manager for innerwear and knits at Lenzing Fibers, and Megan Meiklejohn, sustainable materials and transparency manager at Eileen Fisher, will tackle how robust sustainability goals must start with an understanding of where material impacts are highest and how to improve.

These experts will inform on how fibers and materials can assist companies in delivering on sustainability goals, and how standards and certifications can help companies verify the content of their products.

In between these education and vital seminars are two Textile Talks held on the show floor.

At 11:30 a.m., “From Launch to Growth: How to Gain Traction and Surpass Goals in Your Fashion Business” has Nicole Giordano, founder of StartUp Fashion, talking about how to grow beyond launch by creating brand personality, building customer relationships and overcoming obstacles to better market a business and reach your goals.

At 2:30 p.m., “Factory45: Sustainable Startup Storytelling” will have Shannon Lohr, founder of Factory45, moderating a panel with Mary Bemis, founder of Reprise Activewear, and Tiffany Shown, founder of Fair Seas Supply Co., sharing how they launched their brands without investors or much funding and offering five steps to go from idea stage to selling.