Audience:
Open industry. All apparel and footwear industry professionals, regardless of AAFA membership, are encouraged to participate.
Description:
Many product safety and chemical compliance risks originate early in the supply chain during raw material selection and production sourcing. This session will explore how improved data visibility helps chemical management teams proactively address evolving regulatory requirements. The key is collecting data earlier in the product lifecycle to reduce risk and ensure finished product compliance. With better access to supplier, material and lab test data, brands can identify risks sooner and prevent issues before they reach finished products or regulatory review.
Deepak Jadhav, Global Director of Product Chemistry at New Balance Athletics, will share how New Balance manages chemical compliance and product testing across its global supply chain. The discussion will highlight how better visibility into supplier and testing data supports stronger product safety programs and helps teams respond more effectively to regulatory requirements.
Joe Walkuski, Founder, CPO & Chairman of Texbase, will share his perspective on how structured compliance and testing data helps brands strengthen chemical compliance resilience, support supplier collaboration, and proactively manage finished product compliance requirements, including emerging programs such as eFiling.
Attendees of this webinar will learn:
- How compliance risks originate during raw material selection and production sourcing.
- How centralized supplier, testing, and certification data helps proactively prevent compliance failures.
- How supply chain data visibility supports finished product compliance and evolving regulatory requirements, including programs such as eFiling and DPPs.
Speakers:
Joe Walkuski
Founder, Chief Product Officer & Chairman
Texbase, Inc.
Joe Walkuski, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, has worked in the textile, apparel, and software industries since the mid-1980s, including 13 years as Director of Textile Research & Development at Patagonia. In 2002, he founded Texbase, a software platform that helps consumer brands manage materials, testing, compliance, and collaboration across their supply chains.
Deepak Jadhav
Global Director of Product Chemistry
New Balance
Deepak Jadhav is Global Director of Product Chemistry at New Balance, where he leads sustainable chemistry, materials governance, and regulatory compliance across the product lifecycle. With more than 18 years of experience in the retail and textile industries, he specializes in product integrity, chemical compliance, and sustainability programs. He holds an MBA in Marketing Management and a Master’s degree in Sustainability Management and is certified in environmental and social auditing.
AAFA Host:
Andrew Pappas
Director, State and Local Government Affairs
AAFA
Andrew Pappas joined AAFA in January 2025 as Director of State and Local Government Affairs. In this role, he leads the association’s advocacy efforts at the state and local levels, engaging with legislators and regulators across the country to represent the industry’s interests and priorities. Before joining AAFA, Andrew worked in Community Relations and Public Affairs at Vail Resorts where he built partnerships and advanced strategic initiatives. Prior to Vail Resorts, Andrew worked at Outdoor Industry Association where he managed the organization’s sustainability and regulatory policy programs, driving environmental stewardship and navigating complex regulatory challenges.
Unable to join on May 6?
Register for the webinar to receive an email containing the direct links to access the recording and the PDF version of the presentation. The email will be sent 1-3 business days after the webinar.
CONTACT | QUESTIONS
Stephanie Paendong