SPESA Returns to Miami With a New Look
The SPESA Expo—the United State’s largest trade show featuring equipment, fabrics and technology under one roof—will return for its sophomore run May 8–10 at the Miami Beach Convention Center with some changes in store.
The event comprises three shows: SPESA (Sewn Products Equipment Suppliers of the Americas); the Material World fabrics and sourcing show; and Technology Solutions, featuring software and other technology. The expo runs only every three years, offering a rare opportunity for apparel manufacturers, retailers and importers to get a close look at the latest from suppliers, said Benton Gardner, executive vice president of SPESA.
At the inaugural event, held in 2004, the market was gearing up for the removal of textile quotas.
“It’s a different landscape now,” noted Tim von Gal, president of Urban Expositions of Kennesaw, Ga., which produces the Material World show. Von Gal pointed out events such as the pending Central American Free Trade Agreement and the growing importance of American designs in the world market keep the region relevant in the global economy.
“The changes we’ve witnessed in the global sewn-products industry since 2004 have convinced us more than ever that all segments of the industry must work together to remain competitive,” said Gardner. “The world has shrunk. Today’s customers can be anywhere in the world, yet are as close as an e-mail.”
“People tend to write off the Western Hemisphere; it’s way too early for that,” Gardner added. “It’s still a huge market with a lot of buying power. We’re offering a ticket to one of the largest marketplaces in the world.”
Dave Gardner, SPESA’s director of international affairs, noted that the Western Hemisphere has a gross domestic product of $16.3 trillion and 26 percent of its apparel produced remains in the region. Brazil is now among the top five apparel- and footwear-producing nations. Mexico still has a solid infrastructure, with 11,000 factories and 400,000 sewing operations. The proximity also offers advantages.
“It’s a three or four-day boat ride [from Latin America] to Miami versus 14 days from Hong Kong. That’s a big difference,” Dave Gardner said.
Factory representatives will be on the lookout for the latest in cutting machinery as well as plotters, embroidery machines, sewing machines and more.
The technology element is becoming more important as manufacturers look to cut lead times.
“The changes in this world are coming fast. Without technology, you are not going to be able to coordinate production appropriately,” said Kevin Burke, president of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which is sponsoring SPESA.
Show organizers announced some changes for the next show, which they estimate will draw 11,000 visitors. All educational seminars will be timed so as to not conflict with one other. In addition, [TC]2 will sponsor a future technology exhibit, featuring technology at least two years away from implementation.
The event has been endorsed by the American Apparel Producers’ Network, the National Textile Association, the Textile Distributors Association and the National Council of Textile Organizations.
For more information, visit www.spesaexpo.com.
—Robert McAllister
