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EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPEN | 2025 SPESA Advancements Conference

SPESA Announcement


SPESA is excited to announce registration is officially open for the 2025 Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference, taking place Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the Austin Central Library in Austin, TX. Click here to register and lock in your early bird rate. Early bird rates will be available through Friday, February 28, at which point the price will increase.


As we put final touches on the agenda for this year’s conference, here’s some preliminary information to get you excited about putting on some cowboy boots and booking your trip to the Lone Star State.


 

What is the SPESA Advancements Conference? Why should I attend?


SPESA’s Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference is a one-day event packed with educational sessions for you and your team to learn about the new ideas, solutions, and technology available for the sewn products industry.


The conference is designed specifically for sewn products manufacturers, brands, retailers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders to hear directly from the technology providers responsible for what’s on the horizon when it comes to new innovations and advancements in manufacturing soft goods.


This is an industry event like no other. We carefully curate panels and content that address the latest trends and issues impacting the industry. Previous topics include: AI, sustainability, waste management, on-demand manufacturing, robotics, and automation.


Speakers of the conference — many of them SPESA members — are there to discuss the products they make as well as the challenges they still want to tackle to improve efficiency, speed, and accuracy in sewn products manufacturing. We invite you to join us for a day filled with learning and productive conversations with the people who create the solutions and products you need.


Worried you won't have enough time to network? We’ve got you covered. In addition to a full-day conference, we will also be hosting two networking events while in Austin — an introductory event on the evening of Wednesday, April 2nd and a culmination event on the evening of Thursday, April 3rd.


Check out media coverage from the 2024 Advancements Conference, held last April in Los Angeles.

 

Why Austin?


This is a conference focused solely on highlighting the new technology and advancements for the soft goods industry. As one of the largest — and fastest growing — tech hubs in the U.S., Austin felt like a strategic meeting place for this event. Given its central location, Austin is also more easily accessible from locations on both U.S. coasts, Canada, and Mexico, plus Central and South America.

 

Why Austin Central Library?


This isn’t your boring run-of-the-mill library. The Austin City Library, an LEED Platinum Certified space, brings history, culture, technology (be sure to check out the “technology petting zoo” on the 5th floor), and community together in the heart of downtown Austin. It's one block away from the Google headquarters in Austin and two blocks away from Austin City Limits Live. It's that unique marriage between emerging tech and deep roots that attracted us to Austin in the first place. We hope you enjoy the library, and the city, as much as we do.


Here's what other people are saying about Austin Central Library:

 

Where to Stay


Similar to 2024, SPESA will not have an official room block for this event, as there are several great options downtown to suit anyone’s tastes. We are, however, recommending the Canopy by Hilton Austin Downtown, which is a 10 minute walk to the Austin Central Library.


You’re welcome to connect with the SPESA team should you need additional recommendations in Austin.

 

Final Call for Speakers!


Our call for speakers will be open for ONE MORE WEEK! Through next Friday, January 17, we invite SPESA members to share proposals that address the latest, most innovative methods and technologies. Possible topics include the following:

  • Automation: Sewing, Robotics, Shop Floor Controls, Software

  • Microfactories: Integration, Software, Equipment, Sourcing, Domestic Manufacturing

  • Product Development: Product Development, Pattern Making, Fit, 2D/3D Design, Costing

  • Spreading/Cutting: Fusing, Cut Order Planning, Spreading, CNC Cutting, Material Handling

  • Finishing: Pressing, Embellishment, Finishing, Laundry

  • Logistics: Packaging, Distribution, Info Flow, Warehousing

  • Other New & Exciting Innovations Impacting the Industry Today


We will plan to use the same successful strategy as past Advancements Conferences and organize the speakers into panels that allow for audience engagement and in-depth discussion of specific topics. Therefore, once we have confirmed interest, we will be working with all of our speakers to set up panels of 3-4 people and narrow down the hot topics that will be covered.


You can check out the initial call for speakers here. Contact Maggie McDonald (maggie@spesa.org) with questions and/or your speaking proposal.

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