This year’s event served as a dynamic platform for innovation, collaboration and business opportunities in the textiles industry, with a bustling show floor of roughly 380 exhibitors between both expos. Exhibitors showcased the latest technological advancements and products, including space for exhibitors to hold meetings with colleagues and customers.

Steve Schiffman, president and CEO of ATA, expressed his excitement about the continued growth and impact of the expo. “Advanced Textiles Expo continues to evolve and this year set in motion a variety of changes designed to create greater engagement and continuous improvement while keeping people on the show floor,” he said. “Our community values networking opportunities that introduce them to new people and new ideas, and we’re delighted that expo is the platform where that happens. Whether that was at the Textiles Challenge, Industry Night or the Women’s Networking Walk, Advanced Textiles Expo keeps bringing the textiles industry together every year.”

The expo also included more than 25 educational “campfire” sessions, with education spanning 15 markets. Educational sessions included textiles in the new space age, how to be more environmentally conscious in fields such as medical textiles and fabrics, updates on the Awnings Safety Act and other federal law changes, and general topics such as climate change, succession planning and supply chain updates.

The final day featured a Marine Fabricators Association Roadshow, which presented a new topic every hour: From how to build a U-Zip with a built-in rain flap, to selecting the best project materials and general tips and tools in marine fabrication.

Exhibitor demonstrations included everything from welding technology to no-weld canopy system demonstrations, new generation cutting, piece cutting machines and more.

Attendees and exhibitors alike competed in the highly anticipated Textiles Challenge, a fun gameshow-like activity that put contestants to the test both in their knowledge and skill regarding all things textiles. Dan King of Davey Textile Solutions took home first place, while Felix Arwen from NASA Johnson Space Center came in second place, and Justin Wagner from Applied Research Associates Inc. (ARA) placed third.

A series of networking events brought together fabricators, manufacturers, suppliers and thought leaders. Attendees and exhibitors alike met to unwind after the closure of the show floor on day one at the opening reception. Later that night, the fun continued at Industry Night, hosted at the iconic House of Blues. Attendees enjoyed live music and a delicious catered barbecue dinner, making it a night of celebration and networking in a lively atmosphere.

Attendees took advantage of other educational sessions and networking opportunities, like a morning fun run/walk Sept. 25, Speed Networking, NextGen Networking and a live recording of the podcast, Talking Textiles.

Advanced Textiles Expo devoted its last day to women in the textiles industry, beginning the morning with a Women’s Networking Walk, and continuing with women’s leadership sessions that were both educational and empowering. Connie Huffa, CEO of Fabdesigns Inc., and Michelle Lea, chief marketing and sustainability officer at NILIT Ltd., shared both their experiences and the latest from their industries, and answered audience questions about being a woman in the textiles industry. A development session about setting boundaries and prioritizing a work-life balance followed the forum.

Camari Henderson-Zenon, a fabricator and owner of Camari’s Custom Canvas, agreed on the importance of coming together with others in textiles at her first expo.

“As a woman in textiles, attending Advanced Textiles Expo provides me the opportunity to stay current on all aspects of the textile market by networking with other men and women in the trade,” she said. “Along with a platform to share hands-on experiences, both good and bad, with vendor reps to positively shape the trajectory of the industry.”

Emerging Technologies Conference also returned this year September 23–24, following its successful debut last year. Exhibitors learned about topics such as technology transfer in textiles, smart clothing innovations and the use of AI in advanced fabrics. They also participated in the highly anticipated LEGO® networking session and a biomaterials workshop that explored sustainable textile innovations. The conference included its own opening reception, another opportunity for attendees to network.

David Fezer, an exhibitor from Alpha Tubular Motors, said being in his company’s “hometown” made Advanced Textiles Expo extra special this year.

“We had an incredible experience at Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim this September. We’re already looking forward to the next year in Indianapolis and can’t wait to see everyone again,” Fezer said. “Thank you to everyone who made this event such a success!”

As the premier event for the textiles industry, Advanced Textiles Expo 2024 continues to prove itself as the top-tier opportunity for professionals to discover new trends, forge partnerships and explore the future of textile technologies.

The next Advanced Textiles Expo will be held November 5–7, 2025, in Indianapolis. For more information, please visit AdvancedTextilesExpo.com.

Posted: October 17, 2024

Source: Advanced Textiles Association® (ATA)

IAA shines a spotlight on the extraordinary versatility of specialty fabrics, which are integral to thousands of products and applications across diverse sectors in the ever-expanding $130 billion global textiles market.

This year’s awards drew over 202 entries across 46 categories, with winners handpicked for their complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness, and function. The judging panel included industry experts, editors, architects, educators, and design professionals.

IAA, sponsored by ATA, continues to champion innovation in the specialty fabrics and technical textiles marketplace. As a not-for-profit trade association representing more than 1,300 member companies worldwide, ATA is committed to advancing the industry’s growth and global influence.

Below are just a few of the Award of Excellence winners!

Awnings and Canopies

• Project Title: Port Miami
  • Winner: Dunn Lightweight Architecture

Advanced Textiles

• Project Title: Privee: A Wearable for Real-Time Bladder Monitoring
  • Winner: University of California, Davis

Fabric Environments

• Project Title: Sea Change: Darkness and Light in the Gulf of Maine
  • Winner: Transformit

Fabric Structures

• Project Title: Glow Plaza
  • Winner: GuildWorks

Geosynthetic Projects

• Project Title: Yerba Buena
  • Winner: Solmax

Marine

• Project Title: Grandbanks Transformation
  • Winner: Kustom Canvas and Vinyl

Tent

• Project Title: Ledongli Sports Center
  • Winner: Röder Architecture

Posted: September 24, 2024

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)

TW Special Report

Textile industry associations want the textile industry to know they are talking. With a desire to work more collaboratively on industry initiatives and events that are beneficial to all their respective members, 11 associations — Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), American Textile Machinery Association (ATMA), Americas Apparel Producers’ Network (AAPN), American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), Association of the Nonwovens Fabrics Industry (INDA), the Nonwovens Institute (NWI), North American Linen Association (NALA), SEAMS – The Association & Voice of the U.S. Sewn Products Industry, Southern Textile Association (STA), Sewn Products Equipment and Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA), and Synthetic Yarn & Fabric Association (SYFA) — recently got together to discuss ways to benefit the industry.

“We all represent various segments of the textiles and sewn products industry,” said Maggie McDonald, vice president, Communications, SPESA. “But we all agree that collaboration and building on synergies is what will propel our industry into its next chapter.”

This “Alphabet Soup Collective,” as the group has affectionately named itself, was officially launched during Techtextil North America held in Raleigh August 20-22, 2024. One of the first ideas for the collective was to co-host a social event open to all members of the textile industry including current association members as well as non-members wanting to learn more. The result, the inaugural Alphabet Soup Shindig, was held at the Whiskey Kitchen in Raleigh, Wednesday, August 21, 2024. This first-of-its-kind, sold-out event gathered people from all aspects of the industry in one place at the same time to network, learn and collaborate. Attendance far exceeded expectations, illustrating a hunger for these types of cross-industry networking opportunities.

Twelve sponsors were instrumental in making the shindig happen, and the organizers are very grateful to these companies:

• American & Efird;
• Asheboro Elastics Corp. (AEC);
• Baxter Mill Archives;
• Better Than Found;
• Coker & Associates;
• Contempora Fabrics;
• Danbartex;
• Gribbin Strategic;
• Itema America Inc.;
• MajorSage Business Coaching;
• MMI Textiles; and
• North Carolina Textile Foundation at NC State University.

Ben Talbert, president and CEO of Greenville, S.C.-based Better Than Found Search Group, one of the event sponsors, said: “Better than Found Search Group (BTF) was proud to sponsor this event. A big thank you to Devin Steele with STA and Maggie McDonald with SPESA for putting together one of the best trade show social events I have attended. The textile community is a family, and this felt like our reunion.”

Organizers also shared the following event feedback posted on Linkedin by Graham Page, co-founder and president of iAtelier Corp. and principal at AlchemyX LLC. “That was hands down, the best industry networking event I have ever attended,” Page said. “Where else can you connect with the entire industry from start to finish, from fiber to retail? The energy was palpable. This sort of thinking is exactly what is needed in these difficult times in our broader industry. Innovation happens when you mix people and ideas to address big challenges. Kudos to the team that pulled this together.”

As McDonald noted: “Good people, good networking, good vibes, AND good weather. Doesn’t get much better.”

The Alphabet Soup Collective will continue its conversations as it looks for ways to collaborate, streamline events and gather the industry in productive, beneficial ways for all involved. Questions, suggestions, feedback and ideas all are welcomed.

1 of 4

August 27, 2024

The next edition of the Advanced Textiles Association’s AT Expo takes place in Anaheim this September.

TW Special Report

After multiple iterations held in east coast cities, the Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) is taking its Advanced Textiles (AT) Expo to the west coast for the 2024 edition. The expo will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. Education sessions begin on September 23 and the show floor is open September 24-26, 2024.

“ATA is excited to host the textile industry at Advanced Textiles Expo in Anaheim, California, September 24-26,” said Steve Schiffman, ATA president and CEO. “Being in California allows us to reach new people that may not travel to the east coast. Advanced Textiles Expo continues to bring thousands of textiles professionals who serve many markets together for education, networking, and an exhibit floor full of textiles/materials, new innovations, and equipment.

“This year’s show has several new features including the Next Gen(eration) Takeover Day, the Tex-tiles Challenge, programming on specialty textiles, shade and weather and emerging technologies.”

What To Expect

The show will again be collocated with Messe Stuttgart’s Sun Shading Expo North America, which will be held September 24-26, 2024. According to ATA, the collocation of the events for these two complementary industries offers value in terms of connecting with customers, suppliers, end-product manufacturers, and industry counterparts, as well as providing growth opportunities. Attendees have access to both events including the combined show floor, show floor education and networking receptions. The only exceptions are AT Expo’s conference, which is only open to AT Expo registrants; and Sun Shading Expo classroom education, which is only open to Sun Shading Expo registrants.

The show floor will feature the ATA Hub, which is a great place to learn more about ATA or join a member division open meeting. Also on the show floor, ATA announced the return of a pet rescue fundraising booth, as well as the Demo Booth —a hands-on educational space for makers and materials suppliers.

The optional add-on AT Expo Annual Fun Run/Walk will take place Wednesday morning, September 25, at 6 a.m. Participants will meet at the Hilton Anaheim and be led by experienced locals on a walk or run through Anaheim. Runners can choose a pace group and distance —1 mile or 5 kilometers. Proceeds benefit the Work Ethic Scholarship Fund.

New Features

ATA has planned several new features for attendees at the upcoming expo. The Next Gen(eration) Takeover Day is Wednesday, September 25. At 10 a.m., a hands-on LEGO net-working workshop will take place on the show floor. Designed to foster new connections and teach industry concepts, teams will collaborate to build Lego models that represent key elements of the industry. Later that afternoon, from 12:30-2:30 p.m., The NextGen Textiles Meet-up will take place. This fun activity begins with participants building a Lego avatar to represent their personal style. Afterwards, fast-paced networking rounds will give participants the chance to meet new people and mingle with industry influencers.

The Textiles Challenge, another new show feature, is a skill-testing, hands-on activity featuring — as the name suggests — textile challenges. Preview and practice rounds will take place on Tuesday, September 24, with qualifying rounds and the final round taking place on Wednesday.

On Thursday, ATA is giving women a chance to connect before the show floor opens. Interested attendees should gather at the Hilton Anaheim at 7 a.m. for the Women’s Networking Walk. Following the walk, women can participate in a leadership session titled “Balancing Priorities for Success” at 9:30 a.m. The session begins with a keynote followed by a panel discussion featuring industry leaders who will share their perspectives and advice. Wrapping up the event is a development session on strategies for establishing boundaries and setting priorities to obtain a work/life balance.

Nighttime Fun

To kick things off, the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA) is hosting the Awning Pub Night at Bowlero Anaheim on Monday, September 23 at 5 p.m. RSVP’s are required by August 26.

On Tuesday, September 24, AT Expo will host the official opening reception at 4 p.m. The reception is included with all registration types to give all participants the chance to mix and mingle to wrap up the first full day.

Those who opt to purchase a separate ticket when registering can move from the opening reception to Industry Night, which this year will be held at the Anaheim House of Blues starting at 7 p.m. As always, live music will be provided by ATA member band Hangin’ by a Thread.

Education

The one-and-a-half day Emerging Technologies Conference begins with a full day of presentations on Monday, September 23, and an Emerging Technologies Networking Reception at the close of the sessions. On Tuesday, additional sessions will be held in the morning. Topics will cover a variety of subjects from healthcare and electronic textiles to green chemistry and testing. A full lineup of speakers and topics is available on the AT Expo website.

Education continues on the Emerging Technologies show floor stage beginning Tuesday afternoon. These more informal, 30-minute sessions are designed to be interactive and digestible.

For more information about Advanced Textiles Expo — including the full conference schedule with speakers — as well as to register, please visit advancedtextiles expo.com.

2024 Quarterly Volume III

“The mission of The Textile Gateway is to educate and inspire students at all levels about textiles; promote career paths in the industry; and, serve as a catalyst for future innovation,” explained Tom Swantko, director of the Gateway program. “The Gateway is vitally needed to help develop the next generation of leaders, innovators and skilled workforce.”

Outreach to elementary and high school students is a primary focus. The Gateway provides students in every grade through high school with a wealth of age-appropriate resources designed to engage and inspire. Outreach is also provided to students in colleges and universities. The Gateway aids students by bridging the gap between academic studies and real-world applications. You’ll find an array of resources, and gain access to industry professionals who share their knowledge and insights through articles, videos and live events.

Students will learn about textile industry workforce development programs. Swantko explains, “We are looking to partner with workforce programs that provide internships, apprenticeship, skills-training programs, or offer scholarships to students. The Gateway is an ideal partner to direct students to these opportunities.“

Steve Schiffman, president and CEO, Advanced Textiles Association (ATA), agreed, stating:  “We are very excited to partner with the Textile Gateway and support their education and outreach programs. Workforce development in the textile industry is a critical initiative and one that requires collaboration between textile-related trade associations, and other like-minded organizations/partnerships.”

David Parkes, founder and CEO, Concept III Textiles, concurred: “For the Textile/Apparel industries to present mature ideas and innovations in the future, we need TheTextileGateway.org as a platform where high schools, and entry-level college students can have exposure to the many careers and exciting opportunities these industries provide.”

Family & Consumer Science (FACS) programs and Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculums for middle and high schools often lack resources for textiles. So, little is being done to educate young students about textiles and its many career paths. Swantko added: “We’ve met with administrators involved with FACS/CTE programs, who are excited to hear about what we’re doing and want to know how they can help. There is a real opportunity to promote the textile industry through schools across the USA.”

This is a platform where teachers can interact, share ideas and lesson plans, connect online with the industry, or arrange school visits. Ann Dietchman, supervisor of Family & Consumer Science Education (FCSE), for North Dakota’s Department of CTE (Career and Technical Education), is eager to work with TTG, and sums up the program in this way:  “The Textile Gateway program brings exciting opportunities for our students taking textile and clothing classes, by linking education to the textile/apparel business world.  This resource has long been needed for our FCSE programs.”

Posted: July 17, 2024

Source: FabricLink Network (FLN) / TheTextileGateway.org (TTG)

Just under 100 attendees gathered the next morning for the beginning of education and networking sessions, led by vivacious emcees Jasmine Cox, Gaston College and Nichole Holroyd, Spiritus Systems. Women in Textiles Summit favorite, Dr. Melissa Furman jumped right in with some reflective questions on what success means and how to get the job done with help from your personal power name.

Women throughout the industry from suppliers to manufacturers to academia and government found each other to connect, “[It’s] inspiring to have so many women together that have the same motivations. As someone from manufacturing I never see this many women together at once. So that in itself is very impactful,” Genavieve Lombara, Haartz Corp.

Presenters continued the day with topics such as social media and blogging and a panel, “Women in Textiles Making Great Things” featuring three women who spoke passionately about their journey and contributions to the industry. Clelia Parisi, Apex Mills; Jennifer Fennell, Polo Custom Products; and Xochil Herrera Scheer. From ideation to production, owning a small business and managing teams, these women take on innovation with energy and natural curiosity, because in the words of Parisi, “If you don’t grow, it gets boring!”

Breakout groups took a new approach with Dr. Furman returning to conduct network speed dating, an exercise to divide the group and encourage brand new connections and conversations. Additional discussion groups also included breaking up by position titles to talk trends and challenges within areas of work such as sales, marketing, engineering, administration and more.  “Networking is always great. Even after several years I’m still meeting new contacts,” stated Mary Reardon, MMI Textiles. Attendees then celebrated “Galentine’s Day” with Dinner and Trivia to unwind and process the content from the day.

Day two of education began with an empowering talk and mind map exercise from Amy Rivera who spoke passionately about her journey with Lymphedema. As an author, speaker and advocate, Rivera shared her story and how we can all become empowered through challenges by unleashing your inner strength and unlearning being taught to hide. Hand surgeon and medical textiles specialist, Holly V. Morris, followed with session “The Role of Textiles in Creating a Greener Theatre” where she discussed the impact of medical textile waste ways to question practices with three words: refuse rethink and redesign.

Groups again broke up this time by where the attendee is in their textile career such as new to the industry, middle managers, and executives. This was a great chance to learn and share from others in similar on how they face challenges and earn success.

Education came to a close with two final sessions including dynamic entrepreneur, Billie Whitehouse, speaking on “Techstyles to Help us Live Well” about her innovative approaches to wellness through e-textiles. Emcee, Nichole Holroyd and speaker Apurba Bannerjee from Standard Textile concluded with a talk on the pay gap between men and women in the textile industry including data and real-life examples.

Last chance networking took place that evening at Wine Girl in Downtown Scottsdale where the women could take another chance to recap the event and continue to make connections.

“As a first-time attendee to the Women in Textiles Summit, I was blown away by the experience,” said Christina Rapa from W.L. Gore & Associates Inc, “The networking opportunities and career-focused programing was a fantastic way to connect with other women in the textile and apparel industry. I met up with suppliers who I’ve only seen at trade shows or via email and found textile graduates from both Jefferson University and NC State University (my two alma-maters). I’ll be back again next year and will bring my colleagues along also.”

The next Women in Textiles Summit will take place in New York City in Spring 2025 at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Stay tuned for more information!

Posted: March 6, 2024

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)

“It was an incredible gathering of tent professionals,” said Nick Deninno, vice chairman of the Tent Rental Division (TRD) Steering Committee and owner of B&R Innovations. “Facing challenging weather while setting up the Tent Expo was tough, especially losing a day of setup. However, after the storm, everyone came together. Manufactures and even attendees pitched in, helping not only their own groups but also competitors. This cooperative spirit truly embodies the essence of ATA.”

On Tuesday evening, the “NextGen/OG” Happy Hour successfully brought together both newer entrants (NextGen) and long-time innovators (OG) in the tent industry. The two groups initially had their own social events and then regrouped to share stories, advice and lots of laughs late into the night.

On both Wednesday and Thursday, the TRD educational seminars provided engaging insights into the latest industry developments, complemented by hands-on training sessions like the Mobile Elevating Work Platform certification and TRD Boot Camp: Training for the tent professional. A noteworthy initiative this year was the collaboration between the TRD and the Common Ground Alliance (“811-Call before you dig”), introducing the “Call before you stake” campaign. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of having underground utilities located and marked before installation begins to protect tent crews from serious injury and financial liability.

Wednesday featured the annual Wodetzki Luncheon, where Michael Tharpe, a retired 45-year veteran of the equipment and party rental industry, and Kathy Schaefer, IFM, who is the CEO of Glawe Tent & Awning, were honored with the Bruce W. Wodetzki Award, which is the tent rental industry’s most prestigious honor. The award is named for the founding member and first Chairman of TRD and recognizes professionals who continue his legacy of impacting the growth, direction and success of the tent rental industry. (To read more about this award and this year’s recipients, Visit https://intentsmag.com/2024/01/15/2024-wodetzki/)

The welcome reception on Wednesday night was graciously hosted by InTENTional Systems beneath the company’s striking black and clear top structure. Attendees were treated to delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and seats around numerous campfires to watch the Soap Box Derby qualifying runs. Despite this being the first year of the derby, which was generously sponsored by Elevated Flooring Systems, 16 different teams built and raced their cars for a trophy and, more importantly, bragging rights.

On Thursday there was another full day of education sessions as well as the always popular “Tour of the tents,” followed by the evening’s Party on the Pad hosted by Fred’s Tents and Canopies. Fred’s elevated the experience with its massive black and clear glass garden tent and a lively Jimmy Buffet-themed party that also served as the backdrop for the highly competitive Soapbox Derby Finals.

The results of the derby were as follows:

First place: Event Quip

Second place: “Team Tentske” a.k.a. L&A Tent Rentals Inc.

Third place: “Tent Mafia” a.k.a. Tara and Pat Moughan, Losberger DeBoer; Tommy Wilson, All Occasions Event Rental; George Mahaffey, Sunbelt Temporary Structures; Keith Eismann, Keder Solutions and Phil Heidt, CORT Party Rental

Best in show: “Rolling Thunder” a.k.a. Block & Roll

Going the distance: Event Quip

Better luck next time: Fred’s Tents

“Although the weather for the 2024 TRD Tent Expo at the legendary Daytona International Speedway was a challenge, the show went on to meet and exceed high expectations for this biennial tent and related products showcase,” says TRD Chairman Steve Belliveau of Anchor Industries. “The educational, networking and entertainment opportunities were all very well received, particularly the first of its kind at a tent show-TRD’s own and original Soap Box Derby, which became an instant and huge success.”

Be sure to mark your calendars for January 7-9, 2025, when the TRD Tent Conference will take place in Louisville, Ky. Don’t want to wait that long to receive industry-focused training and education? Check out the next TRD Boot Camp event scheduled for March 6-7, 2024, at Chattanooga Tent & Event Solutions in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Save the date for Tent Conference 2025

Mark your calendar now. The 2025 Tent Conference will be January 7–9 in Louisiville, Ky.

Posted: January 30, 2024

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)/The Tent Rental Division (TRD)

The collocated Advanced Textiles Expo and Sun Shading Expo recently gathered in Orlando, Fla., to showcase industrial, technical and sun shading textiles.

By Jim Kaufmann, Contributing Editor

This year’s Advanced Textiles Expo — organized by the Roseville, Minn.-based Advanced Textiles Association and held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. — focused on the industrial, technical and performance sectors of the textile industry. It was once again collocated with the Sun Shading Expo, which caters to and addresses the interior and exterior sun shading industry. Unfortunately, both shows may have been the victims of either unlucky scheduling or trade show fatigue as the collocated expos were held the same week as two other functional textile and composites trade shows, both of which undoubtedly siphoned off some of the usual attendees.

That said, though the number of attendees may have been smaller than usual — actual numbers for exhibitors and attendees were not available as of TW’s press time —several exhibitors shared that they had a good show experience. Scott Hilleary, president of SSM Industries, Spring City, Tenn., expressed: “We’ve had a really good show here in Orlando. We’ve participated in a number of good meetings and made some interesting introductions to potential customers that we hope will develop into opportunities.”

“This is our primary event, and we always seem to have good traffic and meaningful conversations in our booth, so yes it’s been a good show for us,” said Dan Weisenberger, Southern Regional sales manager for Seaman Corp., Wooster, Ohio.

Exhibitors included a variety of narrow- and full-width fabric suppliers, coaters and laminators, machine vendors, auxiliary components, and accessories suppliers. Each catered to the wide breadth of markets that typically fall under the advanced textiles umbrella.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) again exhibited at the expo and brought what was probably the most visually interesting inflatable booth to grace the show floor. The booth showcased several examples of softgoods products and prototypes intended for use on future space missions to the moon and Mars, and maybe beyond, giving visitors a small glimpse into some of the challenges today’s space travelers face.

Tobias Cochran, an engineer in the softgoods lab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center appreciated the variety of exhibitors presented and the conversations that occurred. “We work on a lot of different prototypes, typically with rather unique requirements,” Cochran said. “So, coming to this show is great for us. It gives us the opportunity to not only show off the products we produce, but also provides us the opportunity to talk with the advanced textiles community and discuss problems we’re hoping to solve, learn about new and existing technologies, and look for possible new solutions that may help us at some point in the future.”

Events like the Advanced Textiles and Sun Shading Expos continue to provide a focused meeting space for industry newbies and veterans alike to meet and make new connections, get caught up with old friends, and maybe solve a problem or two. Ironically, regardless of how many attend a trade show, it really only takes one or two of those connections or conversations to make the trip worth the effort. As an old friend always used to say, if you’re fortunate to partake more than one or two good conversations, “…well, that’s just gravy! And man, do I like the gravy.”

The 2024 Advanced Textiles Expo will be held September 24-26, 2024, in Anaheim, Calif. Let’s hope there’s lots of gravy to be spread around again.

November/December 2023

This year’s event was again collocated with Sun Shading Expo North America, which is organized by Messe Stuttgart, the founders of R + T, the world’s leading trade fair for roller shutters, doors/gates and sun shading systems.

Advanced Textiles Expo and Sun Shading Expo North America combined to attract 4,517 attendees to the Orange County Convention Center where they had direct access to the textile and sun shading industries’ leading companies. Beyond the action on the show floor, both attendees and exhibitors networked and socialized at the Opening Reception as well as the crowd-favorite Industry Night.

375 exhibiting companies made up the combined show floor, displaying their latest products, equipment, and services. In addition to visiting exhibit booths, the show floor also hosted live equipment demonstrations, market update meetings and over 20 campfire education sessions broken out by Emerging Technologies, Specialty Fabrics, and Shade and Weather Protection markets.

“The first ever Advanced Textiles Expo is a wrap and we’re pleased with the positive feedback on the trade show and the many social networking events last week. Our 2nd year collocating with Sun Shading Expo North America brought new leads, more to see and learn.” said ATA President and CEO, Steve Schiffman.

Schiffman also added, “Besides the name change from IFAI Expo, which was the last step of a comprehensive rebrand of the trade association, we added many new show floor content options, including a live podcast, new education tracks and more. These are just the first steps of our long-term strategy of improving the value proposition for everyone. For 2024, in Anaheim, we are merging Smart Fabrics Summit, with our Emerging Technologies Conference and continuing our content evolution, bringing new attendees to the event which will give exhibitors more reason to participate in Expo than ever before.”

New this year was the Emerging Technologies Conference, which was held on Oct. 31, the day before the show floor opened. This conference offered a Plenary session and networking lunch followed by an afternoon of 12 classroom education sessions dedicated to the emerging technologies and smart textile markets. Topics included wearables, aerospace advancements, biomedical applications, nanotechnology, automation and more.

Also taking place on Oct. 31 were two deep-dive workshops. The topics of the workshops were “Emotional Intelligence Training” taught by Dr. Melissa Furman of Career Potential LLC and “Mastering Leadership for the Modern Sales Team” taught by Toby Payne of Sandler Training. Each workshop supplied attendees with valuable information to help improve their company.

Advanced Textiles Expo also hosted 15 market-specific classroom education sessions focused on shade and weather protection, supply chain challenges, marine, sustainability, workforce development and business operations, along with a wealth of other specialty fabrics and advanced textile-focused content.

Highlights at Advanced Textiles Expo included the Opening Reception, which took place just outside of the show floor, allowing participants to socialize and listen to music. Industry Night at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red was a popular event where attendees enjoyed live music from ATA member band, Hangin’ by a Thread, which is comprised of industry veterans along with some guest vocalists.

Keynoter Jeff Butler engaged attendees with his presentation “Building an Effective Multigenerational Workforce”, focusing on how to manage and work with various generations.  The Annual Fun Run/Walk also returned to Expo this year and allowed participants to either run or walk around the mapped-out route near the Orange County Convention Center.

Outstanding new products and materials were recognized on the show floor at their booths as a part of this year’s Show Stopper Program. These companies received an award and winner’s flag that is displayed in their booth to signify their innovative work.

Attendees also had the opportunity to take part in the ATA Division Update Meeting that took place in the ATA Hub on the show floor. This meeting encompassed all divisions and member groups of ATA to provide updates and valuable information on how ATA membership can serve every member’s individual needs.

Join thousands of your industry peers next year in Anaheim, CA  for Advanced Textiles Expo 2024. The official dates are Sept. 24–26, 2024, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA USA.

Posted: November 14, 2023

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)

The bipartisan, bicameral Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would expand qualified expenses under 529 savings plans to include postsecondary training and credentialing, such as licenses and professional certifications. The bill would provide valuable tax-advantaged resources for families, students and workers — with or without a college degree — who pursue career growth, mid-career changes or pathways that diverge from a typical academic route.

“There is no question that workforce development is critical for our members across all the industries we serve.” said ATA President and CEO Steve Schiffman. “Not only do we hear this regularly, but finding skilled labor was listed as the top concern in our State of the Industry 2023 research, presented by Specialty Fabrics Review.”

ATA recently launched the Workforce Development Council in response to those member concerns. The council is working to find ways to build and train the sewing, fabricating and manufacturing workforce across all segments of the textile industry.

“The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act can empower workers of any educational background, skill level or age,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “This pragmatic policy would support all industries and professions that rely on employees with specialized training or credentials. Our community is grateful to the Congressional champions for their commitment to supporting our current and future workforce.”

“Knowledge, skills and abilities are essential to help professionals grow their careers and for industries to grow their impact,” said Institute for Credentialing Excellence Executive Director and co-leader of the PCC Denise Roosendaal, FASAE, CAE. “It is a privilege to support the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which will help strengthen industries, professions and the broader economy.”

The bill is led by Representatives Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) in the U.S. Senate.

Training and credentialing organizations help expand industry excellence, establish and strengthen professional pathways, increase workers’ earning power, foster marketplace competition and supply consumers with the best products, services and expertise. A member roster can be found at powerofassociations.org.

Posted: August 2, 2023

Source: Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)