AAFA to Launch Tech Show in 2004
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), which is involved in litigation with Bobbin technology show producer VNU Expositions, has decided to break its ties with the group and sponsor its own technology show to be run on a triennial basis in conjunction with the Material World fabric and sourcing show held twice a year at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The first AAFA technology show will take place April 14–16, 2004. The AAFA and VNU have been involved in a legal struggle ever since VNU allegedly failed to pay $400,000 in past membership dues earlier this year. The rift resulted in financial hardships within the AAFA organization along with the cancellation of this year’s Bobbin Americas Expo, which usually draws the industry’s top technology suppliers, including Gerber, Lectra, Tukatech and others.
Following the AAFA’s announcement, VNU said it will also put on its Bobbin World Expo around the same dates as Material World (see adjacent story). AAFA executives in Washington, D.C., meanwhile, were calling on the industry to support its new event.
“I have no clue what VNU is going to do, but the industry needs a show like this now,” said AAFA president Kevin M. Burke. “We need to support our membership and we intend to bring the whole concept of sourcing and technology into one meeting concept. Our goal is to create the comprehensive international trade event in the Americas for the equipment, technology, logistics, financial and service suppliers to the sewn products industry.” Burke called on the industry to “join hands in a unified approach to maximize the opportunity and serve the industry most effectively.”
AAFA’s membership includes 600 apparel and footwear companies, among them some of the industry’s heaviest hitters. Liz Claiborne’s chief executive officer, Paul Charron, serves as AAFA’s chairman and he also urged industrywide support of the new show.
“It will be a great opportunity for our supplier members— whether they provide materials, equipment or computer systems,” said Charron. “This will be their big event in the Americas every three years. Our partners in production need a show like this to stay current and take advantage of the latest offerings from the world of technology and equipment.”
Added Rick Ludoph, executive vice president of Justwin Technologies and chair of the AAFA’s Supplier and Resource Division, “This unique, new event will focus on adding value throughout the entire international sewn products supply chain from retail and brand marketers all the way through to full-package suppliers and contractors.”
The show will be produced by AAFA partner Urban Expositions, owner and producer of Material World. Burke said the show will include participation from numerous national pavilions from foreign trade associations as well as extensive seminars from leading industry experts. He said he expects Urban Expositions to begin receiving commitments from exhibitors in the coming months. —Robert McAllister
