California Apparel News

ATLANTA—The apparel and manufacturing industries are on the upswing, according to exhibitors at the inaugural Texprocess Americas trade show, held April 24–26 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

The new event incorporates the former SPESA Expo and is co-produced by both Messe Frankfurt USA and SPESA (Sewn Products Equipment and Suppliers of the Americas). More than 6,700 attendees attended the event, which was held in conjunction with the Techtextil North America show, also produced by Messe Frankfurt USA.

Nearly 500 vendors gathered to showcase their products at the two shows, which were designed to highlight the newest wares of the apparel supply chain and technical textile industry. 

Strong business, busy show

“Business seems to be better out there right now,” said Chad Bralley, sales manager for Computer Generated Solutions, which produces enterprise resource planning, product lifecycle management and shop-floor-control softwares by Leadtec and BlueCherry. “We had lots of good business … as much as we can handle over the next while.”

While Bralley had hoped for a few potential leads, he wound up generating at least six or seven strong possibilities, he said.

The show was “one of the best ones we’ve had in years,” said Yoram Burg, president of OptiTex USA, which produces CAD and 3-D software.

Burg was showcasing the company’s integrated software that provides 3-D visuals and pattern-making in the same application, allowing designers to work virtually, draping fabrics and making comments directly within the image, which cuts down on samples and fittings.

“People understand that technology is the only way out,” he said, referring to challenges retailers face, such as overseas production slowdowns and inconsistencies in product development.

Rick Frye and Matthew Rhome of Brother International came to showcase the company’s latest sewing machines and new, smaller digital inkjet garment printer, which retails for $25,000. (Its larger counterpart sells for $50,000.)

“We’ve been swamped up until 3, everyday,” Rhome said. “I’ve never been to a trade show with such a good response.”

Debbie Marconi, Gerber Technology’s director of global marketing and communications, said her buyers were spending more now and that sales cycles were shorter.

  For the first time, the company didn’t bring any equipment to demonstrate at the show and, instead, debuted its products by iPad.

“It’s a whole different approach,” she said. “Instead of only one or two products, we were able to bring the entire product line.”

David Roberts of specialty-yarn provider Tuscarora Yarns in Mount Pleasant, N.C., said the show had been helpful in both meeting new clients and building existing relationships.

“It has been an excellent show in terms of the traffic and the quality of clientele,” Roberts said. “It’s bigger, there’s more critical mass, and so it’s drawing more people.”

His clients were expressing more interest in using U.S. manufacturers because of the flexibility, smaller orders and speed-to-market they provide, he said.

Mark Hatton of American & Efird Inc. was on hand to spread the word about A&E’s latest thread initiatives, including its new 100 percent recycled polyester thread. He said he was impressed with the retailers that attended.

“The show more than exceeded our expectations,” he said. “We met contacts from companies that we had been pursuing for a long time.” Juliana Baptista of Audaces Fashion Technology said her company’s digital pattern-making software, which does away with paper patterns, had garnered “many, many” interested buyers.

Baptista did not expect to see sales orders written on-site due to the product requiring “a huge change in the culture of a company,” but she was pleased the show had provided new relationships, she said.

Supply-chain education

In addition to the trade show, the conference also provided several seminars focused on various aspects of the supply chain, including product development, technology, sustainability and doing business with the government. 

Colombian businessman Miguel Caballero, who is known as “the Armani of bulletproof clothing,” gave the keynote address, speaking about advancements in his bulletproof apparel, which is used by diplomats, business executives and armed forces.

Initially launching with leather jackets that weighed 7.2 kilograms, his self-titled company has now developed lightweight, antimicrobial security undergarments that weigh less than 1.2 kilograms and are used by everyone from Steven Seagal to the president of Colombia.

Seminar panelists spoke about changes in product development, including the need for fewer iterations of garments with the advent of “fast-fashion” retailers, such as Zara, which reportedly produces 13 four-week seasons every year by creating fewer versions of each item.

Corporate social responsibility was a key term in sustainability panels. Companies such as Hanes Brands Inc. have expanded into everything from developing elephant grass for biofuel to harvesting rainwater in its facilities to help promote green initiatives.

Bonnie Meck, chief operating and chief sustainability officer of Fessler USA, spoke about her company’s use of low-impact dyes, organic cotton and solar-paneled roofing, as well as educating Fessler’s customers on the importance of these actions.

Frank Henderson of Henderson Sewing Machine Co. discussed changes in manufacturing technology, including swiveling sewing-machine heads, smart robotics, the increase of vertical integration, and the potential of futuristic fabrics, such as BMW’s GINA car concept, which features a car with a soft, stretchable spandex skin.

Advances in technology have also helped further military apparel. The Army has now developed optoelectronic-fiber devices and fabrics that can help sense radio frequency–detonated bombs, according to Brigadier General John McGuiness of the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command.

Looking forward

The goal of creating the Texprocess Americas show was to bring the textile and sewn-products industries together under one roof in the Americas, said Lorie Gross, marketing and conference manager for Messe Frankfurt USA.

The next Texprocess Americas will take place in May 2014, continuing every other year, with Techtextil North America held alongside it. The next Texprocess show will take place in June 2013 in Frankfurt, Germany, and will also be held every other year.