The fifth edition of the Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada, the largest international sourcing event focused on the North American apparel, textile, and fashion sectors, will be held during August 17-19, 2020. The event connects producers directly with the apparel, textile and fashion markets of North America. It will have participation from over 30 countries.
ATSC 2020 is expected to be the largest edition yet, offering many new additions to respond to a constantly changing geopolitical environment, tariffs and trade agreements that are creating uncertainty for the apparel and textile market and having a trickle-down effect on retail sales.
It will be attended by more than 300 apparel and textile companies and provide interactive events and industry connection opportunities such as the fashion show, seminar series, matchmaking, fashion lab, and the Trade Boot Camp hosted by event-partner Canadian Apparel Federation.
Attendees will include apparel and fabric buyers, sourcing directors, merchandisers, retailers, department stores, and designers from North America and around the world. The event is supported by many Canadian partners including TFO-Canada, Global Affairs Canada, mmode, Montreal Fashion Week, and the Canadian Apparel Federation.
ATSC 2020 will offer comprehensive seminars and informative expert-led panel discussions. The Seminar Series features two separate conference tracks: Enterprise Connect and Fashion Lab.
The seminars will cover sustainability, compliance and technology. Speakers at the event include Bob Kirke, executive director of the National Trade Association for the Apparel Industry, Canada’s premier apparel and textile member organisation, Julia K Hughes, president of the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA), which represents brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally, Marc Sidler, Group CMO, Testex, whose strategic goals include bringing together brands and retailers with the worldwide procurement market in a sustainable way, Avedis Seferian, president and CEO, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), Paul King, president, KenDor Textiles, Vancouver, and Helen Harakas, executive director, Brands for Canada, and Anna Livermore, founder and CEO of V Mora, a fashion consulting firm dedicated to ensuring the success of designers by giving high-quality service and insider expertise.
The ATS Fashion Lab was piloted at events in Miami and Toronto in 2019 and will build on the success of the programme at the 2020 trade show in Toronto. The educational conference series targets small to mid-size brands, retailers, eCommerce platforms and designers looking to scale their business. The ATS Fashion Lab will provide an immersive, interactive forum for discussions and workshops. Topics will encompass eCommerce, retail technologies, the apparel industry 101, digital marketing, product development, and fashion law brand development.
The fashion show will have the spotlight on Canadian production and fashion and feature apparel available directly from the trade show floor. It includes a professional runway show highlighting looks from local Canadian designers, international brands and the latest garment trends from ATS exhibitors.
The international sourcing trade show entered the North American market via Toronto in 2016 and has since expanded to Montréal, Miami and Berlin. For the third consecutive year, ATS will also provide a one-day-only, Montréal Matchmaking Event on August 21, 2020, featuring specially selected exhibits from ATSC 2020, including apparel and textile producers, partners, speakers and a fashion show, all with a distinctive Montréal flair.
