Wednesday, June 7

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Welcome

Bryan Wolfe, Vice President, International Trade, Ann Inc.

Welcome Address: The New Political Dynamics
Rick Helfenbein, President and CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

Keynote Address: Changing the Mindset​

Looking ahead....Are you a disruptor, or is your business being disrupted by others? How do we get to where we want to be? Dual presentation focusing on efficiency, innovation, automation, and responsible sourcing.
Sean Cady, Vice President, Global Supply Chain and Responsible Sourcing, VF Corporation
Tom Glaser, Vice President, VF Corporation & President - Supply Chain, VF Corporation

Networking Break
Sponsored by GT Nexus, an Infor® Company

New Horizons in an Innovative World

From innovation labs and fashion accelerators to emerging technology like 3D printing and wearables, our industry is seeing an increased focus on creating and growing innovative products, processes, and materials. Key questions arise when planning all of the ins and outs from sourcing to compliance and logistics. Fashion industry pioneers are becoming the norm, but how do you source these new products/materials that don’t exist?  How do you integrate and plan for this disorder from a sourcing, classification, customs/trade compliance, and logistics perspective?  This session will focus on the innovation we are seeing in the industry and how to manage it.
Pano Anthos, Founder and Managing Director, XRC Labs
Despina Papadopoulos, Founder & CEO, Principled Design
Jose Suarez, President/CEO, Impactiva
Moderator: Rick Horwitch,Vice President, Global Strategy and Solutions Business Development, Bureau Veritas Consumer Products

State of Sourcing--Trends, Shifts, and Looking Ahead

As global markets and consumer demands change, how do you transform sourcing by empowering your supply chain? The uncertain trade environment and shift in trade policies can lead to sourcing country shifts. Constant changes in world economies and labor costs, plus sustainability, CSR and vendor compliance requirements add another layer of complexity. Speed-to-market is the price of admission, but is “Made in USA” a viable alternative, and at what scale? This diverse panel includes:
Gary M. Barraco, Director, Global Product Marketing, Amber Road
Amy Leonard, Vice President, Sourcing, Stitch Fix
Robert Riccoboni, Senior Vice President of Product Engineering, Sourcing and Production, Kenneth Cole Productions
Moderator: Anna Czerwinska, Head of Marketing and Communication, OEKO-TEX® Association

Lunch and Networking
Sponsored by BSI

Trade--A Town Hall Meeting
They are the universal questions in our industry today--How do I re-engineer my business in the face of an uncertain trade environment? How will tax reform impact my business? An interactive town hall format led by AAFA's chief trade lobbyist in Washington, DC.
Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA

Customs Under a New Administration

The Trump Administration’s emphasis on trade enforcement is expected to impact all of our supply chains, and a recent Executive Order to determine the causes of trade deficits is likely to shape the Administration’s trade policy going forward. What should your company be doing to be prepared? What have we learned the past year after the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act went into effect? Will your shipments be seized by Customs due to the forced labor ban? Will new Fish and Wildlife Service requirements in ACE complicate Customs documentation? These critical questions and concerns around the future of C-TPAT, CBP Informed Compliance letters, and increased activity by Regulatory Audit are keeping the industry up at night. This panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities of recent changes to U.S. Customs rules and regulations that affect your ability to do business.
Nicole Bivens Collinson, President, Trade and Legislative Affairs, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P. A.
Paul Linet, Manager Customs and Trade, L.L. Bean
John Leonard, Executive Director, Trade Policy & Programs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA
Moderator: Ryan Lynch, Head of Advisory and CSR, BSI Supply Chain Services and Solutions

Interactive Discussions Round 1: What's Next?

A chance to take a deeper look into the pressing issues of today. These topics repeat at 4:10 PM.

• Topic 1: Beyond Compliance/Sustainability
  Going beyond the silo and what is happening today. How do you effectively work across teams in your own company to address the pressures on the supply chain? What do you consider? Can the European model be leveraged?
  Facilitator: Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, AAFA
• Topic 2: Innovation
  How do you make your sourcing strategy dynamic and flexible to incorporate the innovation happening in your company and inside/outside the industry?
  Facilitator: Roni Miller Start, Professor & Department Chair, FIDM
• Topic 3: Future Trade How can we conceive of, create, and advocate the trade policies that will make our industry grow?
  Facilitator: Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA

Interactive Discussions Round 2: What's Next?

• Topic 1: Beyond Compliance/Sustainability
  Going beyond the silo and what is happening today. How do you effectively work across teams in your own company to address the pressures on the supply chain? What do you consider? Can the European model be leveraged?
  Facilitator: Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, AAFA
• Topic 2: Innovation
  How do you make your sourcing strategy dynamic and flexible to incorporate the innovation happening in your company and inside/outside the industry?
  Facilitator: Roni Miller Start, Professor & Department Chair, FIDM
• Topic 3: Future Trade How can we conceive of, create, and advocate the trade policies that will make our industry grow?
  Facilitator: Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA

What's Next Report
Facilitators report on the top three topics discussed during the roundtable discussions.

Closing Remarks
Bryan Wolfe, Vice President, International Trade, Ann Inc.

Sourcing Welcome Reception--Sponsored by Amber Road
Rooftop Reception at Rare View Chelsea, inside Hilton NY Fashion District Hotel.

Thursday, June 8

8:30 – 9:15 AM

Breakfast and Networking
Sponsored by Applied DNA Sciences

Opening/Welcome

Steve Lamar, Executive Vice President, AAFA

Keynote: Industry 4.0: The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Edwin Keh, Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Research Institutes of Textiles and Apparel

Refresh Break

The Logisitics Quagmire--the Current and Future State of Transportation
With transportation and logistics, it seems the only thing you can expect is the unexpected. How do you successfully manage the twists and turns? This panel will discuss the current state of play in a constantly changing logistics landscape, including what’s ahead for supply chain challenges around speed-to-market and smaller order sizes, the disruptions in the ocean carrier landscape, port labor, the air freight market, and contingency planning for dealing with disruption. Are carrier innovations to improve time and speed poised to lead the way to a returned focus on service?
Kevin Holian, Vice President, Global Operations, New Balance, Inc.
John Kazmac, Director of Sales, APL Logistics
Ken O’Brien, Chief Operating Officer, Gemini Shippers Group
Ken Uriu, Business Development Manager – Import Cargo, Port of Long Beach
Moderator: Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, AAFA

Trends Impacting Our Industry

Join us for a thought-provoking finish to this year’s conference as industry experts share their insights on both known and emerging trends—many from outside our industry—which will be impacting our supply chains of the future. Data, technology, and the Internet of Things are incubating innovations faster than ever, and manufacturers, brands, and retailers must be bold in their actions to identify and leverage new distribution channels, cultivate client experiences, and build brand loyalty in order to gain a competitive advantage.
Kurt Cavano, President/CEO, GT NEXUS
Shoshana PollackSenior Research Associate, Fung Global Retail & Technology
Moderator: MeiLin Wan,Vice President, Textile Sales, Applied DNA Sciences

Closing Remarks
Bryan Wolfe, Vice President, International Trade, Ann Inc.

Half-Day Tours
Flex Ltd. - Innovation Lab Tour
A special tour of Flex Ltd.'s NYC facility will take place focusing on fashion innovation and wearable technology.