Koobz reposted this
USMFA has descended on #DTLA, where we are kicking off two days of meetings on how to further propel the historic resurgence in domestic footwear manufacturing and strengthen the supply chains for textiles that are also critical for national security. Los Angeles is home to some of the most innovative footwear companies that are pioneering new and more sustainable manufacturing techniques and fostering a new generation of skilled workers. Special thanks to KX Inc., COMUNITYmade, INC, and Lalaland Production & Design for hosting our fall meeting in Downtown LA this week and Congressman Jimmy Gomez, a member of U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, who will offer valuable insights on legislation critical to growing our industry. On hand will be reps from American Sole, BASF, Belleville Boot Company, Bixby International, BRUNT Workwear, DATCH , Deckers Brands, DESMA Elastomertechnik, Draper Knitting Company, Drexel University, EVA USA LLC, The Haartz Corporation, Huntsman Corporation, Kamik Canada Inc., KARL MAYER, Koobz, Laforma presents, McRae Industries, Inc., Meramec Group, Inc., New Balance, Okabashi Brands, Inc., Polylabs, Precision Testing Laboratories, Rogers Foam Corporation, Rubberlite, Inc., Seidel Tanning Corp., Signet Mills, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Vibram Group, Z-Wovens Fabrics The domestic footwear manufacturing industry has made significant strides in recent years. Through innovation and targeted investments, it is building a more robust supply chain for yarns, fabrics, and foams that are also essential for medical devices and protective equipment. But significant global competition remains. USFMA is bringing together government and industry leaders for production tours and to update our aggressive national policy and trade agenda to take the industry to the next level. #footwear #manufacturing #onshoring #supplychain #robotics #trade #innovation #workforce #textiles
I fully support domestic manufacturing! With 24 years of experience in both domestic and international contract footwear and apparel manufacturing, I offer a unique perspective on the industry’s challenges and opportunities. The Challenges of Domestic Footwear Production: In my experience, increasing domestic or nearshore production of footwear and apparel requires a unique formula and approach. Many initiatives have failed due to a lack of proper strategy and execution. Key limitations include: Cost of Labor: Domestic labor costs are significantly higher than those in Asia and other parts of the world. Skilled Labor Availability: Both direct and indirect labor shortages are a major constraint. Material: Availability, Lead Times and Costs: Domestic materials are limited and relying on imported materials impacts lead times and cost. Real Estate Costs: Factories prefer to be in areas where real estate cost are low. This impacts the skilled labor availability. Production Volumes and Margins: Low production volumes combined with tight profit margins make scalability difficult.
Love to see makers connecting! Have a great meeting. I’ll see you all virtually Tuesday.
President / Founder of COMUNITYmade. Former Marketing Executive for ASICS America.
3moWe were thrilled and honored to be a part of such an inspiring meeting with our fellow United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) over the past few days. Looking forward to the next steps to move our agenda forward!