The Winter 2021 Edition Opens the Show by taking a Look Ahead
Textile Talks opened the educational program with a screen of attendees eagerly awaiting the opportunity to garner new insight into the sourcing landscape for 2021. The presentation, Searching for Certainty in a World of Unknowns: A 2021 Outlook, took a deep dive into the current unrest in politics, economics and health issues that are deeply impacting the industry now and its future.
Panelist, Steve Lamar, President & CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, shared his insight on the future.
“After the events at the Capitol Building last week, the slow start to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and other concerns – it is clear that 2021 has plenty of health, economic, and political tensions to address. After January 20, we will be facing a narrowly divided Congress which could be a recipe for gridlock or an opportunity for the administration to govern from the middle.”
Operating with a backdrop of uncertainty has become the norm since Covid-19 rocked everything from the supply chain to foot traffic at stores across the globe. Captivating audiences and delivering on an engaging conversation, Lamar was joined on the panel by influential speakers, John Kernan, Managing Director, Cowen & Company LLC; Mark Cohen, Director of Retail Studies/Adjunct Professor, Columbia Business School, and moderated by Edward Hertzman, EVP, Fairchild Media / Founder & President, Sourcing Journal.
From trade issues, inventory concerns, managing margins and approaches to sustainability, the session covered where the economy is headed and how the election will affect all aspects of business. Lamar offered a few bright spots
- While the pandemic hit us in 2020 with little warning, we have now weathered a year of crisis and we predict the industry is much more prepared going into 2021. Of course, our preparedness and resilience will depend on how well we learned and absorbed the lessons of this year.
- 2021 will require innovative approaches to sustainability, traceability, product safety, labeling modernization, digitalization, protecting intellectual property, trade and customs policies, government contracts, social justice, and the list goes on.
- 2021 will be a pivotal year for progress around social responsibility and also sustainability. COVID-19 and climate change are both economic and health crises affecting the entire planet. COVID is a dramatic reminder that we can’t afford to waste a single minute in addressing climate change and instituting the sustainability protocols needed to make a difference.
The educational program at Texworld New York City and Apparel Sourcing New York City will continue for the next two days focusing on diverse and relevant array of topics, including sustainability, climate change, circularity and trends.