SPESA Executive Conference

2026 SPESA Executive Conference

2026 Conference Attendees CLICK HERE for Conference Materials!

The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference will take place October 28-30 in San Antonio, TX!

About SPESA's Executive Conference

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.

The conference features a combination of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and industry case studies to provide an opportunity for attendees to both learn and engage. While our speakers are experts in their fields, no one has all the answers and thus this conference aims to build communication among both speakers and attendees to address the issues facing our industry and find solutions together.

Registration

Click here to register for the 2026 SPESA Executive Conference!

Limited Time Special! A limited number of attendees can sign up to receive a custom cowboy hat from Wild Pony Hat Bar with their paid registration! (Available to 4 SPESA members and 4 non-members only.) Look for this special at the link above.

Additional opportunities to win or purchase hats will be available during the event. Discount codes are not applicable to this ticket.

REGISTRATION RATES

SPESA Members:

$625 through July 31st; $750 August 1-October 21*

Non-Members:

$750 through July 31st; $899 August 1-October 21*

*To help alleviate the costs of last minute additions, a $100 fee will be added to tickets that are purchased within 1 week of the event.

Spouse/Partner:

$275

This ticket is meant for spouses or partners who will join the evening networking receptions. The spouse/partner must be accompanied by a registered ticket-holder. This ticket does not give access to any of the daytime activities.

Government & Academia:

$625

Please reach out to Marie@spesa.org and Maggie@spesa.org for information on how to register.

Manufacturers, brands, and retailers are also eligible for discounts at this event. Please reach out to your favorite SPESA member company or to Marie@spesa.org and Maggie@spesa.org for your discount code!

All attendees are required to comply with SPESA's event terms and code of conduct.

Agenda & Speakers

Click here to view the agenda for the conference.

SPESA is excited to welcome fashion stylist, GQ Insider, and tv personality Michelle Washington as our emcee for the 2026 conference. Read more here.

Travel & Logistics

SCHEDULE

The 2026 SPESA Executive Conference will kick off with a welcome networking reception on October 28th. We will have a full day of education (and another evening networking event) on October 29th, as well as a final morning education session (with, of course, more networking) on October 30th. JUST ADDED: Attendees are also invited to join for tours of two San Antonio sewn goods factories on the afternoon of October 30th.

To make the most of your time in San Antonio, please plan to arrive by the afternoon of Wednesday, October 28th and stay through late afternoon/evening of Friday, October 30th.

Or bring the family and stick around for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos!

VENUE

The conference will take place at the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk.

150 East Houston Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Phone: 210-227-9700

The SPESA room block is now closed. If you have not yet booked a room, please do so directly through the hotel.

If you need assistance, please reach out to Marie@spesa.org.

Why San Antonio?

Last year, SPESA hosted our Advancements in Manufacturing Technologies Conference in Austin, TX, and it turned out to be one of our favorite events that we have hosted. With help from the Texas Fashion Industry Initiative, and the Austin Community College Fashion Incubator we connected with local manufacturers and designers, and were in awe of the creativity and determination of those who are working to not only keep the industry alive but allow it to thrive despite enduring challenges.

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

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.
One can never have enough breakfast tacos.

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

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, dive deeper into the topics that are most important to the region, and develop a multifaceted event that brings the industry together.

Sponsorships, Press & Assistance

From the speakers we bring to the table, to the networking opportunities we curate, our team works hard to make every gathering feel valuable, welcoming, and worth the trip. And our sponsors are a big part of what makes that possible! Whether you want to increase visibility around your business, support a special part of the conference, or simply show your commitment to the industry, there’s an opportunity for every company to get involved and help us create another memorable SPESA experience.

View the sponsorship opportunities available for this year's Executive Conference.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Maggie@spesa.org. As always, we're open to creating a sponsorship opportunity that best fits your needs and your budget!

SPESA events are generally open to press. For press inquiries, please contact Maggie@spesa.org.

For any additional questions about the event, including assistance in registering, please contact Marie@spesa.org.

All event attendees are required to comply with SPESA's event terms and code of conduct.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

We're overwhelmed by the tremendous support we've received from sponsors of the 2026 SPESA Executive Conference. Thank you to the SPESA members, listed below, for supporting this event!