Sourcing Journal Summit Set for Sept. 29
Thu, September 17, 2026 at 7:54 PM GMT+3 3 min read
Global sourcing across the fashion, apparel, and textile sectors is undergoing profound changes. Persistent geopolitical tension, stricter trade regulations and volatility in the transport market are driving fashion brands and retailers to adopt a host of strategies to combat risk in their supply chains. Some to continue to diversify their sourcing portfolios, while others are deepening relationships with their existing supplier bases. Some are bringing production closer to home, while others are probing new markets for manufacturing.
At the same time, newly introduced strict rules on supply chain visibility—in the form of digital product passports, carbon border adjustments and forced-labor compliance—are putting a premium on brands' ability to ensure full transparency of all suppliers and to provide end-to-end traceability.
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This change in global sourcing is now no longer just about low labor costs but about securing supply, complying with trade regulations and maximizing operational efficiency.
These issues and challenges will be the focus of Sourcing Journal's 2026 summit, titled "The Global Sourcing Reboot," which is being held in New York City on Sept. 29.
The speakers include the industry's top thought leaders, executives and business influencers. Taking the stage will be Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association, Lindy O'Brien, vice president of recommerce and returns, at Target Corp., Kevin McCoy, vice president, Made U.S./U.K. at New Balance Athletics, Elizabeth Richman, general counsel at Eileen Fisher Inc., Drew Taranto, vice president of strategy and product development, e-commerce and returns at DHL Supply Chain, Malvina Hoxha, U.S. director of textiles marketing at Hyosung TNC and Maristella Iacobello, vice president of global customs and trade governance at PVH Corp., among many more.
The topics include "Navigating Trump, Trade, Tension & Turbulence: The Midterm Effect" and "The State of Western Hemisphere Sourcing: Has Nearshoring Become a Reality?" as well as "Regulatory Reset: What Does Human Rights Due Diligence Look Like in 2026?" among others.
"Can Sustainability Survive Capitalism?" panelists include Dana Davis, founder of Dana Davis Consulting, Leah Hollinder, senior director of merchandising and planning at Fjällräven North America, and Eileen Fisher's Richman. The experts will discuss how sustainable brands are caught between two conflicting objectives: encouraging consumers to buy less and better while needing to generate growth.
In the current market, some retailers and brands are succeeding and remaining competitive, while others have had to change course—closing, pivoting to other verticals or selling their businesses. This panel will discuss how the narrative around sustainability as a business case must evolve, and how brands can change the way they're engaging with consumers and why sustaining responsible practices requires company-wide ESG integration.
For "Cotton at a Crossroads: What Cotton Farmers Need Brands to Understand," the panelists will frame the discussion on how farmers sit at the top of the cotton supply chain, but often the industry is out of the loop when it comes to the agricultural operations behind their T-shirts, jeans and towels. Organizers said the session will dive into cotton cultivation, including the stresses currently facing the crop and its growers and the innovations that are making the practice smarter and more sustainable. The speakers are Brendan Collins, CEO at Avalo Inc., Tillman White, program manager at the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, and Mead Hardwick, partner at the Hardwick Planting Company.
Hosting the event will be Sourcing Journal editors, including Kate Nishimura, deputy editor, and Angela Velasquez, executive editor of SJ Denim, who are the lead editors of the publication. "Even against a backdrop of geopolitical stressors, logistics challenges, economic headwinds and, yes, more tariffs, the supply chain has persevered," said Nishimura and Velasquez. "Rather than simply reacting to rapid shifts in the market, organizations have taken the future into their own hands, proactively laying the groundwork for adaptability in the face of disruption. A more durable path forward."
They noted that this year's summit "will focus on the tactics and strategies the industry is employing as it enters a new era marked by constant change."
To learn more and register for the event, CLICK HERE.
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