Americas Apparel Producers Network

We are excited to welcome?Peter Smith, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Jockey International, Inc., as a speaker at the?2025 Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) pro:Americas Annual Conference this May in Fort Lauderdale, FL. ? With an extensive career leading supply chain and operations for major apparel brands, including Carter’s, V.F. Corporation and Party City, Smith brings deep expertise in?global sourcing, inventory optimization, logistics and supply chain technology. His leadership has driven large-scale transformation initiatives, improving efficiency and agility in both retail and wholesale environments. ? Now at Jockey International, Smith continues to apply his strategic approach to?integrating technology, enhancing supply chain resilience and driving operational excellence. His session will provide valuable insights for businesses looking to navigate today’s challenges and stay ahead in an evolving market. ? Join us in May to hear from Smith and connect with industry leaders shaping the future of apparel retail and supply chain. AAPN 2025 pro:Americas Annual Conference ????May 12 – 14, 2025 ???Marriott Harbor Beach I Ft. Lauderdale, FL ???Register today!?https://lnkd.in/e8cFuZuu ***Reminder: the early bird discount ends Friday, March 14th!!! #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion?#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #Economics?#Trade #Tariffs

With trade regulations shifting and tariffs in flux, the road ahead for businesses across the Western Hemisphere is anything but predictable. While none of us have a crystal ball, we do have access to experts who can help us navigate the uncertainty. That’s why we’re excited to welcome?Nicole Bivens Collinson, President of International Trade & Government Relations at Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A., as a speaker at the?pro:Americas Annual Conference this May at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Ft Lauderdale! ? Nicole is a recognized leader in trade policy, customs and global negotiations. With years of experience advising businesses on regulatory changes, she brings invaluable insights into the current volatility surrounding tariffs, supply chain disruptions and policy shifts. In a time when uncertainty is the only constant, this discussion will be essential for anyone looking to mitigate risk and uncover opportunities in the evolving trade landscape. Join us in May?to hear from Nicole and connect with industry leaders shaping the future of trade in our region. ? Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) 2025 pro:Americas Annual Conference ????May 12 – 14, 2025 ???Marriott Harbor Beach I Ft. Lauderdale, FL ???Register today!?https://lnkd.in/e8cFuZuu ***Reminder: the early bird discount ends Friday, March 14th!!! #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion?#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #Economics?#Trade #Tariffs

The Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) would like to thank our sponsors for the 2025 Carolina Mill Tour! Sponsors and hosts for the event, set for April 8-11, include: ? American & Efird ? Contempora Fabrics ? Color Solutions International (CSI) ? HAMRICK MILLS ? Parkdale Mills, Inc. ? Unifi Manufacturing, Inc. (makers of REPREVE? ) The purpose of the tour is to highlight and educate brands and retailers about fabric and trim capabilities in the U.S. BRANDS & RETAILERS: Only a few spots left for the Carolina Mill Tour, and time is running out! Registration closes Friday, March 14. Register now before it’s too late, email Lynsey Jones today to secure your spot:?[email protected]. Read about last year’s Carolina Mill Tour here:?https://lnkd.in/eMufwgGp #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #Retailers #Brands

Last Chance! Only a few spots left for the Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) Carolina Mill Tour Register by Friday! Time is running out!?We only have a few spots left?for the?Carolina Mill Tour, and registration?closes this Friday. ? This exclusive tour – open to brands and retailers only – is a rare opportunity for emerging talent to experience the entire textile supply chain firsthand right here in the U.S.! ? Why Attend? ??See manufacturing up close?– from fiber to fabric, including spinning, knitting, dyeing, and finishing ? Learn from industry experts?and leading U.S. textile manufacturers ? Expand your network?with sourcing and product development peers ? Gain real-world supply chain knowledge?without international travel ? This is more than a tour – it’s an investment in the future leaders of your team and their industry expertise. ? Spots are limited, and registration closes Friday!?Don’t miss out – secure a spot today. Register now before it’s too late, email Lynsey Jones today to secure your spot:?[email protected]. #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #Retailers #Brands

We hear you. Loud and clear. The challenges in our industry aren’t just headlines – they’re shaping the future of your business. That’s why the? Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) pro:Americas Annual Meeting (May 12 -14, 2025)?is laser-focused on the biggest pain points we’ve heard from our membership: ·???????AI in Business?– Real-world applications that actually work (not just hype). ·???????Investment in the Americas?– Where is the money flowing and how you might align your strategy. ·???????Nearshoring Success?– Who’s making it work, and what can you borrow from their playbook? ·???????Emerging Technologies?– 3D design, factory visibility, and what’s next. ·???????Economic & Trade Outlook?– Tariffs, inflation, and the real cost of doing business in 2025-26. ·???????Sustainability?– Turning ESG from an expense into a profit driver. ·???????The Western Hemisphere Advantage?– Changing perceptions, winning new customers, and proving the region’s strength. This isn’t just another conference –?it’s your Playbook for the Future. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS MARCH 14! Register now & book your hotel before the AAPN Room block ends: Register here:?https://lnkd.in/e8cFuZuu Book hotel here:?https://lnkd.in/e_6p-k_z We’ll see you in Ft. Lauderdale. Let’s solve these challenges together. #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion #Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #ArtificialIntelligence #AI

Welcome new Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) member Shreenika! Based in San Diego, Calif., Shreenika is a biomanufacturing company committed to becoming the world’s leading producer of sustainable chemicals. It delivers high-performing solutions that prove sustainability can be cost-effective. Its flagship product is a sustainable blue dye that serves as a 100% bio-based replacement for traditional indigo in textiles, with minimal land, water and carbon footprint. Shreenika is continually expanding its chemical portfolio with performance chemicals that raise the standard for eco-friendly innovation. ? Bottomline:?Sustainable manufacturing and green chemistry, with the world's first all-natural alternative to indigo for denim and blue textiles being launched this year. www.shreenika.bio #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #GreenChemistry

Longtime Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) member Contempora Fabrics forges partnership with America Knits to bolster textile/apparel production, supply chain ____________________________________ Ron Roach, president of?Contempora Fabrics Inc., and Steve Hawkins, president of?America Knits LLC, say they have known and respected each other for about two decades – and now, they’re turning their friendship into a partnership to boost the made-in-America movement. Thursday, Roach and Hawkins announced to eTC that they are forming a strategic partnership between 53-year-old Contempora Fabrics, a circular knitter based in Lumberton, N.C., and America Knits, a six-year-old cut-and-sew and apparel manufacturer based in Swainsboro, Ga. This collaboration marks a significant step toward bolstering domestic textile production and fostering economic growth in these two small towns in the Southeast U.S. Read more: https://lnkd.in/emftJz8m #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion?#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA

We are thrilled to welcome?Dr. Roger Tutterow?to the?Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) 2025 pro:Americas Annual Conference?as a featured speaker on?“Macroeconomic?Trends?Shaping?Our?Industry.” ? Dr. Tutterow is a?Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University?and holds the?Henssler Financial Endowed Chair.?A sought-after expert, his insights have been featured in the?Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, CNN, CNBC?and many more. He has advised Fortune 500 companies, served on Georgia’s Council of Economic Advisors under three governors, and provided expert economic testimony at both state and federal levels. With a deep understanding of?business cycles, policy shifts and financial markets,?Dr. Tutterow will provide valuable perspectives on the economic landscape and what it means for our industry. Don't miss this opportunity to gain strategic insights from one of the leading voices in economics. ?AAPN 2025 pro:Americas Annual Conference ????May 12 – 14, 2025 ???Marriott Harbor Beach I Ft. Lauderdale, FL ???Register today!?https://lnkd.in/e8cFuZuu ***Reminder: the early bird discount ends March 14th #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #Economics

Back by popular demand, we are thrilled to welcome?Joe Parrish, Chief Creative Officer at The Variable, as our?keynote speaker?for the?Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) pro:Americas Annual Conference on May 13, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, FL! May 12-14 Marriott Harbor Beach I Ft. Lauderdale, FL This year, Joe will take AI education to the next level with a hands-on session titled?"Leveraging AI to Solve Real-World Business Challenges."?Building on the success of last year’s sessions, this workshop will move beyond theory and tools to real-time problem-solving using AI. ? Watch Joe’s insights on embracing AI here: https://lnkd.in/eViVKqcb ? What makes this session different from 2024? ? A quick refresher on AI fundamentals (Prompting 101, AI tools & workflows) ? Live, audience-driven Q&A—Joe will demonstrate AI solutions on the spot ? Hands-on business cases tailored to Sales, Supply Chain, Brand/Product Development, and Suppliers ? Practical takeaways to immediately apply AI in your organization ? Looking forward to an engaging session with all of you in May! Click the link? ?and register by March 14th to receive the early bird rate:? https://lnkd.in/e8cFuZuu #ProAmericas?#AmericasTextiles?#WesternHemisphere?#ILoveThisIndustry?#Fibers?#Yarns?#Fabrics?#SewnProducts?#Apparel?#Fashion?#Knitting #Weaving?#Sustainability?#ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA #AI #ArtificialIntelligence

Happy Valentine’s Day! While today is all about love, we know your passion for textiles and supply chains runs deep – so here’s a friendly reminder to register for the 2025 AAPN Carolina Mill Tour! Brands already registered include Carter’s, Dillard’s, Momentec and Truewerk – don’t miss your chance to join them for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at some of the most innovative mills in the US! ? Dates: April 8 - 11, 2025 ? Location: Charlotte, NC Why Attend? ? Gain firsthand insight into the supply chain of leading textile and apparel producers ? Network with key industry decision-makers & emerging talent ? Strengthen sourcing, production & manufacturing knowledge Spots are filling up quickly, so click here to read more about the tour ---> https://lnkd.in/eJN84dy4 If you're interested, contact us directly, and we’ll get you registered ---> [email protected] or +1 843 729 1477. Also, feel free to share this with your customers (brands or retailers) who might want to join! #ProAmericas #AmericasTextiles #WesternHemisphere #ILoveThisIndustry #Fibers #Yarns #Fabrics #SewnProducts #Apparel #Fashion #Knitting #Weaving #Sustainability #ApparelIQ #SupplyChain #Reshoring #Nearshoring #CAFTADR #USMCA