Final Agenda Released for 2025 SPESA Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference
SPESA Press Release
Taking place April 2-3, 2025, in Austin, Texas, SPESA’s next Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference brings together stakeholders from across the fashion, apparel, and sewn products industries to discuss the latest trends, policies, and innovations impacting their ability to do business.
Raleigh, N.C. - March 25, 2025 - After months of researching, planning, and connecting with local industry, SPESA, the Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas, is excited to share the final agenda for its 2025 Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference. The conference will kick off with a networking reception at the Austin Community College (ACC) Fashion Incubator on April 2nd, followed by a full day of education at the technophilic Austin Central Library and another networking reception to round out the packed event.
With previous iterations taking place in Los Angeles, Detroit, and Raleigh, SPESA chose Austin as its 2025 host city due to the city’s well-earned reputation as a hub for technology and innovation, as well as the region’s burgeoning sewn products industry. Similar to other U.S. production hubs, like Miami or Los Angeles, Texas offers a combination of long standing tradition — take a look at the legendary bootmakers of El Paso or the apparel and furniture designers and retailers of DFW — and next-gen creators looking to reinvigorate the industry with a focus on sustainability, worker empowerment, and artistic expression. But the state doesn’t receive as much attention as it should. Fortunately, there are groups at work trying to fix that.
Founded in 2018 and launched in January of 2019, the San Antonio-based Texas Fashion Industry Initiative (TFII) 501c3 is the state’s official non-profit dedicated to the positive growth of the Texas fashion industry through fashion career development and support for fashion entrepreneurs. TFII is also the founder of Texas Fashion Week™, the state’s first official fashion week in support of a stronger industry. SPESA is thrilled to have both TFII and the ACC Fashion Incubator participate in the 2025 Advancements Conference, alongside local designers and manufacturers, to share an inside look at the industry in Central Texas and beyond.
As always, the 2025 Advancements Conference will also feature SPESA members — the creators of the most advanced machinery and technology available in today’s market — discussing the industry’s challenges and their solutions. “This event is crafted for our members to show off a bit, not through a sales pitch, but through the incredible wealth of knowledge they possess,” explains SPESA President Michael McDonald. “The amount of expertise that will be in that room in Austin will blow you away.”
McDonald continues: “The only way for us to move forward as an industry is to continue having dialogues like those that will take place in Austin. When you are talking about the challenges in our industry, like reshoring production, integrating technology, or automating operations, you need to hear from both the manufacturers facing these challenges and the suppliers who are creating the solutions. SPESA is honored to be the facilitator.”
SPESA would like to thank its conference sponsors for helping make this event possible: Aptean, Lectra, Frontier Distributors/Phillocraft, Henderson Sewing Machine Co., Leridge, and Tukatech.
To learn more about the 2025 Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference, please visit https://www.spesa.org/spesa-advancements-conference.
For press inquiries, please contact Maggie@spesa.org or Marie@spesa.org.
2025 SPESA Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference
April 2-3, 2025 | Austin Central Library, Austin, TX
April 2, 2025
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception
Austin Community College Fashion Incubator
Get a head start on your networking at this welcome networking reception. Housed inside a sustainable wonder — a LEED-certified reclaimed mall — the ACC Fashion Incubator provide a unique real-to-industry experience for students and local fashion design startups that is highly inclusive, collaborative, and supportive. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to mingle among the studio and design labs for the organization's designer-in-residence program, and learn more about the new digital fashion academy. Come see what a $13 million injection of technology and software can create.
April 3, 2025
8:00 - 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. | Welcome
Michael McDonald, SPESA
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | Texas Fashion Industry Initiative
This panel, created and hosted by a new SPESA partner, the Texas Fashion Industry Initiative, brings together local manufacturers, designers, and industry stakeholders to introduce our attendees to the state’s burgeoning industry. Touching on a wide range of issues from building successful supplier relationships to managing carbon footprints to inspiring emerging designers, this panel will kick off our day with a discussion on the manufacturing opportunities available in Texas, and the challenges ahead.
Moderator:
Saige Thomas, Texas Fashion Industry Initiative
Speakers:
Marta Miller, Stitch Texas
Rebekah Hoffer, Stitch Texas
Austin DiPadova, breakfront apparel
Michelle Washington, TV Style Expert, Fashion Stylist
Felishia Shinn, LS4 3D Printing
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Fireside Chat | Global Sourcing
Tony Anzovino's resume includes manufacturing management at Abercrombie & Fitch and Haggar Clothing. Pulling from 35 years of experience in manufacturing, sourcing, technical design, and product development, and his perspective now working for a major regional retailer, Tony will share insights on today’s global sourcing environment.
In conversation with SPESA President Michael McDonald:
Tony Anzovino, Dillard’s
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. | Break
11:15 - 11:45 a.m. | Hot Topic Session #1 | Made in America: Turning Demand into Manufacturing Opportunity
With tariffs driving brands to source domestically, U.S. manufacturers face a major challenge: demand is rising, but resources, labor, and infrastructure are lacking. Industry experts Justin Hershoran and Anthony Mele will explore how automation, AI, and workforce training can help manufacturers scale, retain talent, and capitalize on new opportunities. Join Justin and Anthony for an interactive discussion on real solutions for reshoring success.
Speakers:
Justin Hershoran, Aptean
Anthony Mele, Aptean
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | AI & Automation: Reshaping the Future
This panel of SPESA members will discuss the latest trends in automated sewing and material handling, as well as implementing artificial intelligence into your factory operations.
Speakers:
Frank Henderson, Henderson Sewing Machine, Co.
Yong Jin, Leridge
Geoff Taylor, Tukatech
12:30 - 2:15 p.m. | Lunch & Library Time
During our lunch break, attendees will have extra time to chat with new connections, meet our event sponsors, and explore the Austin Central Library.
2:15 - 2:45 p.m. | Hot Topic Session #2 | Innovation Through Integration: The Role Connectivity Plays in Transforming Manufacturing
In this fireside chat, Michael and Mihaela seek to offer a holistic look at process flow, production flow, and technology integration — focusing on how systems and the industry can grow by integrating different parts of the manufacturing puzzle. They both agree: “we’ve had too much of people talking at other people.” Instead, they want to have a conversation with the audience and share their real-life experiences and perspectives from backgrounds in manufacturing, retail, and technology. They plan to explore what people are doing right and take an honest look at what they might be doing very wrong when it comes to manufacturing and technology integration.
Speakers:
Mihaela Coapsi, CGS, Inc.
Michael Rabin, Morgan Tecnica
2:45 - 3:30 p.m. | ACC Fashion Incubator
Nina Means, Director of the Austin Community College (ACC) Fashion Incubator, will join SPESA member Lectra to discuss their efforts to increase enthusiasm, education, and investment in Austin’s fashion industry. They will explore industry 4.0, emerging technology trends, and how the Fashion Incubator is leveraging industry advancements.
Speakers:
Nina Means, Austin Community College Fashion Incubator
Leonard Marano, Lectra
3:30 - 4:00 p.m. | Break
4:00 - 4:45 p.m. | Advancing the Industry: A Discussion on Industry & Academia
We will end the day looking toward the future and discussing academia’s role in shaping the next generation of the industry. With this panel, we hope to learn more about the goals of these various educational programs, what they need from industry to better prepare their students to enter the workforce, and how we can bridge the gap between education and workforce demands.
Speakers:
Dr. Charles Freeman, Texas Christian University
Dr. Jennifer Wilson, University of Texas at Austin
Morgan Davis, Austin Community College Fashion Incubator
4:45 - 5:15 p.m. | Wrap-Up
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. | Networking Reception
Codependent Coffee & Cocktails
Join us for a short walk around the block to round out the day with some final networking and cocktails in an Austin patio paradise.
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