Registration Opens for 2026 SPESA Executive Conference in San Antonio

Press Release

The annual SPESA Executive Conference is a key education and networking event for SPESA members, their customers, and anyone interested in learning more about the current issues, trends, and policies impacting the global sewn products industry.

June 11, 2026 - Raleigh, NC - The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) is excited to announce registration is open for the 2026 SPESA Executive Conference. This year’s event will take place October 28-30 in San Antonio, TX.

Second Rodeo

“As cliché as it is, it brings me immense joy to say ‘this ain’t our first rodeo,’” remarks SPESA President Michael McDonald. “After a fantastic first venture last year, we are thrilled to be heading back to the Lone Star State.”

In Spring of 2025, SPESA hosted its Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference —  the smaller of the association’s two key annual events — in Austin, TX. With help from the Texas Fashion Industry Initiative, SPESA connected with local manufacturers and designers, and gave conference attendees a crash course on the state’s burgeoning industry. 

Tacos and Takeaways

The SPESA team learned two very important lessons at its Austin event:

1. While Texas has become an incredible hub for technology, both in its creation and implementation, across an astounding number of different industries, its apparel, footwear, and sewn product sectors are still strongly tied to the foundation and tradition of making products by hand. And any business looking to be successful in the state must learn how to effectively balance those two worlds.

2. One can never have enough breakfast tacos.

These key tenets have both inspired and helped shape the association’s plans for San Antonio.

Bigger and Better

The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference seeks to build on the framework of the association’s earlier connections and insights to create an event that is worthy of an “everything is bigger in Texas” t-shirt.

“Building on the connections we made in Austin last year, we are excited to reunite with the growing brands and manufacturers that make up the Texas fashion industry and develop a multifaceted event that brings the industry together,” the SPESA team noted in its 2026 State of the Union address to its members.

The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference will include two evening networking receptions and a day and a half of education focusing on the key issues, policies, and trends impacting sewn product businesses today. SPESA events center heavily on group discussions — often favoring panels, fireside chats, and interactive sessions over slide decks — and this one is designed to bring together suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and other stakeholders to work through challenges together as an industry and community. The association expects to include sessions on AI, trade, manufacturing technology, and doing business in Texas, among other important topics.

Breaking in the Boots

SPESA’s commitment to roving destinations for its events — in the last five years, the group has held conferences and other networking events in more than a dozen different hubs across the country — means that each event inherently brings in something new: new markets, new audiences, and new perspectives. And, while the association’s execution of the SPESA Executive Conference is now as smooth as worn-in leather, its team is excited to break in some new boots (metaphorically and literally, they made a trip to Allen Boots while in Austin) with a few new ideas for the San Antonio event, including exciting networking activities and dual-track education catered to both industry suppliers and manufacturers.

SPESA also plans to bring back the experimental game simulation it introduced to attendees at the 2025 SPESA Executive Conference in Chicago. 

“Activities like game simulations provide attendees an opportunity to step out of the classroom, network in a creative way, and take what they learn during conference discussions and put it to use and thought right away,” explains McDonald. “Providing out-of-the-box learning opportunities is not only beneficial for the attendees who participate, it aligns with so many of SPESA’s goals as an organization, including: creating tailored education for the industry; building on SPESA’s reputation as a leader in the sector; and bringing our community together to address our common challenges.”

Don’t Be a Stranger!

The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference will take place October 28-30 at the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. Early bird tickets are available now through July 31st.

The event is open to all sewn product industry suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and stakeholders. SPESA members will receive a discounted registration.

Click here to register for the conference.

Click here to reserve a discounted room at Hotel Valencia.

More information about the SPESA Executive Conference, including a look at past iterations, is available here.

For press or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Maggie@spesa.org. For any additional questions about the event, please contact Marie@spesa.org. 

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