SPESA —the association of equipment and service suppliers to the sewn products industry in the Americas— published the final agenda for its 2026 Executive Conference on October 21. It is the association's annual gathering: three days for suppliers and manufacturers to meet, and to catch up on the issues, trends and policies shaping the global sewn products industry.
Sponsors, and there in person
Agencia J.E. Handal is one of the conference sponsors, alongside Lectra, Aptean, Dürkopp Adler America, Groz-Beckert, Bierrebi and Texprocess Americas. Two of them are brands the company represents: Dürkopp Adler and Groz-Beckert. The company is also an active SPESA member, and will be in San Antonio all three days.
If you are attending too, write to us and we will find a moment to talk about your operation.
Texas in the morning, the world in the afternoon
Most of the education is on Thursday the 29th. The morning sessions look at Texas: a panel of San Antonio industry leaders, the state's suppliers and a panel on closing the skills gap on the plant floor, with Texas Christian University's training program as the case study. The afternoon thinks globally: a trade and tariff policy update from the firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, and a FutureTEX panel with AATCC and the U.S. Army's fibers and textiles institute.
What is new this year
- A women's leadership breakfast to open Thursday.
- Breakout sessions to choose by business: economic and sustainability trends, and roundtables for manufacturers, suppliers and associations.
- The emcee is TV style expert Michelle Washington.
The program
Wednesday 28
- Welcome reception
Thursday 29
- Women's leadership breakfast
- San Antonio industry leaders panel
- Texas suppliers
- Panel: closing the skills gap
- Breakout sessions
- Policy update
- FutureTEX panel
- SPESA board elections and annual business meeting
- Networking reception and after-party
Friday 30
- Hands-on workshop on AI in the workplace
- Tours of two San Antonio factories: San Antonio Shoemakers and Jon Hart Design