Last week I spoke at the Texprocess America conference in Atlanta. It’s been more than two years since SPESA, Techtextil, and SEAMS were together. The show was cancelled in 2020 for obvious reasons—and it is amazing to see how the whole industry has evolved in just 24 months. The event was not only fun and invigorating, but it showcased how companies are working together and propping up one another in this fast-changing apparel and textile industry.

It seems so 2019 to have physical mood boards in the room; today, everyone works virtually. In an industry that still relies heavily on Adobe Illustrator and 2D for a 2D design, Texprocess showcased that digitalization and automation are taking hold. With everyone working virtually, the days of physical mood boards in every room are gone. Emerging disruptive technologies such as 3D CAD, pattern templates, and on-demand print, cut, and dyeing allow brands to design and sell before the first product is even made. The theme “sell before make” was discussed throughout Texprocess along with the hardware and software that make this a reality.

I saw a lot of incredible technology at Texprocess and spoke to several innovators. I will continue to share their stories in the coming weeks. More importantly, I saw an industry banding together to demonstrate that not only can we innovate, but we can also succeed and make an impact on how we think, design, and take products to market.