IFAI’s annual Outlook conference highlights military textiles & fibres

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) hosted its first in-person event, the annual Outlook conference, from August 29-31, 2021 at Hilton Head Island, SC. Turnout and engagement showed that the industry was ready to learn, network, and reconnect personally. The forum highlighted topics about military textiles and fibre markets.

The conference attracted over 110 industry professionals from around the country and featured a diverse roster of speakers who shared insights into topics ranging from military textiles to fibre markets, trade and policy, reshoring to the economic picture, sustainability, and recruiting and retaining talent. The day and a half of business sessions closed with an inspiring keynote presentation by MSNBC/NBC news anchor, journalist and author Richard Lu. Attendees also participated in several networking and social activities as well as roundtable discussions, IFAI said in a press release.

During a half day of military sessions, four subject matter experts offered deep-dive information into the supply of textile and apparel products to the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. Presentations were given by Paul Campbell, general manager of Clothing & Textiles for Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR); Teresa Downs, vice president of business development at the Kennedy Center; Ron Houle, founder and president of Pivot Step Consultants; and Lisa Marie Vivino, chief of the field – clothing division, clothing, and textiles at the Defense Logistics Agency’s Troop Support within the DoD. Over 65 attendees sat in for the Military Morning portion of the conference.

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) hosted its first in-person event, the annual Outlook conference, from August 29-31, 2021 at Hilton Head Island, SC. Turnout and engagement showed that the industry was ready to learn, network, and reconnect personally. The forum highlighted topics about military textiles and fibre markets.

Auggie Tantillo, president of SRG & Associates and former president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), reviewed various federal policy matters confronting the U.S. textile sector. Also, a consultant to the IFAI’s US Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) and Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI), Tantillo updated the group on military procurement under the National Defense Authorization Act; key legislative and enforcement initiatives related to international trade; and efforts to bolster domestic production of medical personal protective equipment (PPE), according to IFAI.

Tantillo later moderated a panel discussion on ‘Recovering & Reshoring: US Manufacturing and PPE Production’, that included Morris Collins, director of member relations at INDA; and Joe Przepiorka, vice president of marketing at Shawmut. Each discussed the industry’s transition into PPE production when the pandemic struck. With several pieces of federal legislation to shore up domestic PPE production on the table, he added that this is the moment for the US government to take heed of the industry’s heroic efforts in order to avoid another shortfall.

Roger Tutterow, professor of economics at Kennesaw State University, provided an overview of the economic climate. He touched on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the retail and real estate sectors, the causes and effects of recent changes in energy prices, the structure and effect of the recent fiscal stimulus and the linkages between trade policy and currency valuation, an overview of recent Federal Reserve policy actions and the ongoing impact of changes in the political and regulatory climate on the manufacturing sector.

Aubrey Hilliard, CEO, Horizon Energy, covered ‘Surviving and Thriving in a Net Zero Carbon Future’, with a general overview of what a renewable and biodegradable future means for our businesses.

The conference attracted over 110 industry professionals from around the country and featured a diverse roster of speakers who shared insights into topics ranging from military textiles to fibre markets, trade and policy, reshoring to the economic picture, sustainability, and recruiting and retaining talent. The day and a half of business sessions closed with an inspiring keynote presentation by MSNBC/NBC news anchor, journalist and author Richard Lu. Attendees also participated in several networking and social activities as well as roundtable discussions, IFAI said in a press release.

During a half day of military sessions, four subject matter experts offered deep-dive information into the supply of textile and apparel products to the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. Presentations were given by Paul Campbell, general manager of Clothing & Textiles for Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR); Teresa Downs, vice president of business development at the Kennedy Center; Ron Houle, founder and president of Pivot Step Consultants; and Lisa Marie Vivino, chief of the field – clothing division, clothing, and textiles at the Defense Logistics Agency’s Troop Support within the DoD. Over 65 attendees sat in for the Military Morning portion of the conference.

The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) hosted its first in-person event, the annual Outlook conference, from August 29-31, 2021 at Hilton Head Island, SC. Turnout and engagement showed that the industry was ready to learn, network, and reconnect personally. The forum highlighted topics about military textiles and fibre markets.

Auggie Tantillo, president of SRG & Associates and former president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), reviewed various federal policy matters confronting the U.S. textile sector. Also, a consultant to the IFAI’s US Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI) and Narrow Fabrics Institute (NFI), Tantillo updated the group on military procurement under the National Defense Authorization Act; key legislative and enforcement initiatives related to international trade; and efforts to bolster domestic production of medical personal protective equipment (PPE), according to IFAI.

Tantillo later moderated a panel discussion on ‘Recovering & Reshoring: US Manufacturing and PPE Production’, that included Morris Collins, director of member relations at INDA; and Joe Przepiorka, vice president of marketing at Shawmut. Each discussed the industry’s transition into PPE production when the pandemic struck. With several pieces of federal legislation to shore up domestic PPE production on the table, he added that this is the moment for the US government to take heed of the industry’s heroic efforts in order to avoid another shortfall.

Roger Tutterow, professor of economics at Kennesaw State University, provided an overview of the economic climate. He touched on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the retail and real estate sectors, the causes and effects of recent changes in energy prices, the structure and effect of the recent fiscal stimulus and the linkages between trade policy and currency valuation, an overview of recent Federal Reserve policy actions and the ongoing impact of changes in the political and regulatory climate on the manufacturing sector.

Aubrey Hilliard, CEO, Horizon Energy, covered ‘Surviving and Thriving in a Net Zero Carbon Future’, with a general overview of what a renewable and biodegradable future means for our businesses.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)