California Apparel News

The Raleigh, N.C.-based Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA), unable to reach an accord with other trade groups and show producers over the staging of future technology trade shows, has decided to produce its own triennial exhibition, with the first edition set for May 18–20, 2004, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The news follows other announcements made recently by the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Bobbin Group, which stated their intentions to produce technology shows around the same time in the same city (California Apparel News, July 26–Aug. 1), further clouding the event picture for the apparel industry.

SPESA’s executive vice president, Benton Gardner, said that several factors went into the board of directors’ decision to launch its own show.

“We were hopeful that only one equipment show would emerge from all this and we made efforts to make that happen,” she said. “We feel there needs to be only one equipment show every three years. There’s tremendous expense that goes into exhibiting with heavy machinery and this schedule fits in with the global show cycle.”

Gardner said part of SPESA’s decision also was made to “avoid potential legal entanglements.” Whether the industry can support three technology shows in one year remains to be seen. However, it is unlikely that the large cutting- room equipment makers will support all three shows.

The AAFA, which is comprised largely of sewn product suppliers, previously aligned with the Bobbin Group but decided to partner instead with producers of the Material World fabric and sourcing show in Miami. The AAFA earlier this year sued Bobbin and affiliate VNU Expositions over alleged non-paid membership dues. Bobbin canceled this year’s Bobbin Americas Expo, opting to put efforts into the next Bobbin World Expo, set for the spring of 2004, also in Miami. AAFA’s first effort will take place April 14–16, 2004, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, while Bobbin has yet to release specific dates.

While the AAFA said it intends to draw equipment manufacturers, SPESA’s membership includes the likes of technology leaders Lectra Systems, Gerber Technology and Brother International.

Said Lectra USA president David Siegelman in a statement: “The members want [this show]...the broadly defined industry needs it. It was not the original intent of SPESA to produce, manage, or own a trade show. However, through the years, more and more members have urged us to consider this option. The decision was made, in large part, because they believe a three-year major machinery and technology-focused show, in harmony with the global cycle [JIAM in Japan and IMB in Germany], is a much more cost-effective approach to marketplace shifts and needs than an annual show. The current proliferation of annual and semi-annual events may serve short-term situational needs, but this is not cost-effective for customers and suppliers alike.”

Added Stephen Lovass, Gerber’s executive director of marketing and product management, “The unanimity of the SPESA board and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the SPESA members for this unique show reflects their need for a single, cost-effective triennial exhibition that targets the multiple sectors of the sewn products industry. SPESA members are totally committed to this exhibition.”

Brother’s Peter Holland, who also sits on the SPESA board of directors, noted that its show will be the only one owned by a non-profit organization.

“This will help suppliers and customers achieve cost reductions and provide value-added results,” he said.

The emergence of these tech shows has cast confusion within the apparel industry.

“We haven’t made any commitments yet,” said Sonia Chhabra, marketing manager for Los Angeles-based CAD/CAM developer Tukatech Inc. “We are members of SPESA but we have to sit down and discuss all this.”