The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) will bring together apparel manufacturers, suppliers and industry stakeholders in San Antonio next week for its 2026 Executive Conference, with discussions focusing on trade policy, artificial intelligence and the future of manufacturing.
The three-day event, scheduled for October 28-30 at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, will examine business trends, workforce development and technological changes affecting the global sewn products industry, according to the event organiser.
The programme will feature a full day of educational sessions on October 29, covering domestic manufacturing, industry sustainability, global economic trends and policy changes affecting production and equipment imports.
A session on workforce development will explore how manufacturers, universities and industry organisations can build faster training pathways for technical careers in advanced textile and soft-goods manufacturing. The discussion will include a case study of Texas Christian University’s TACTIC initiative.
Trade policy will also feature prominently, with an update examining how regulatory changes and international trade measures affect manufacturers, equipment suppliers and supply-chain costs.
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Another panel will focus on FutureTEX, a manufacturing innovation initiative aimed at strengthening the United States’ textile industrial base by connecting manufacturers, suppliers and research and development networks.
Artificial intelligence will be another major theme. An interactive workshop on October 30 will encourage participants to examine practical applications of AI in the workplace, alongside questions of access, future workforce needs and ethical implementation.
The conference will also include a new Women’s Leadership Breakfast, networking receptions and breakout sessions tailored to manufacturers, suppliers and other industry participants.
Factory visits on the final day will give attendees an opportunity to explore production operations at San Antonio Shoemakers and Jon Hart Design.
For Bangladesh’s export-oriented garment sector, discussions on trade policy, automation, workforce skills and manufacturing competitiveness could offer relevant insights as suppliers worldwide respond to shifting market conditions and technological change.
SPESA represents suppliers of machinery, systems, technology, equipment and supply-chain solutions serving the sewn products industry across the Western Hemisphere.