At the end of January, I flew out to NYC to attend TexWorld. While there, I ran the SEAMS booth and gave 2 separate pitch talks. It was a great trip and I got to meet and reconnect with many colleagues and even some clients!
Day one started out with a little side trip. As soon as I landed at LGA, I headed straight over to National Textile Industries’ facility in Brooklyn, where I met with owner Jay Gagliano. He graciously showed me around so I could experience firsthand the process of how they manufacture their bias bindings, tapes, and trims. It was incredible to see all the machines in action, machines that have been running for DECADES, and hearing stories about the past, present, and future of this 3rd Generation business.
One question I had to ask was about the origin of the color names. While working on some custom trim for our client Red Land Cotton, we landed on a color called Nate's Mustard, which was named for Nate's Hotdogs in Coney Island. Other color names and number codes had special stories as well - named for family members, friends, industry partners, phone numbers, zip codes, and birthdays. Jay showed me the color swatch book from the early 1960s, and I appreciated learning so much in one morning.
On the first day of TexWorld, I presented my Pitch Session, "Own Your Product Development - Why Patterns and Tech Packs are Critical for Your Brand's Success.” I packed a lot of info in 15 minutes, speaking to a full audience followed by a fantastic Q&A session.
I also met with a lot of wonderful people while manning the SEAMS Association booth, and was able to recommend our Power Search tool, talk about our upcoming events, and even pulled up some suppliers for specific recommendations.
On day two of the show, I presented my second pitch, titled "SEAMS: Sourcing Your USA Supply Chain Start to Finish.” It was another great turnout. Afterwards, I ran into one of my current clients, as well as a potential new client! I also was able to get to know an industry friend who I hadn’t met in-person before, as she was my booth neighbor at the show. It was so much fun to hang out with her. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – it’s always an amazing experience being able to meet people face-to-face, especially those who I’ve been in contact with digitally but never in real-life.
In between tours, talks, and the booth, I had time to check out some cool bars and restaurants, including Tokyo Record Bar and Oscar Wilde. The nightlife is always fantastic in NYC! I felt like I was able to pack so much into my four-day trip.
Time always flies when I’m traveling, but I’ll be back in New York in a few months for another Women in Textiles Summit, and I am so looking forward to it. 2024 was my most traveled year to date, but already 2025 looks like it’ll be an even busier year!
