Schedule
Monday, March 31
Kick off the Women in Textiles Summit by choosing your own adventure in a specific neighborhood in NYC! Led by a designated leader, groups will be communicated before the event, which will give you all a chance to connect beforehand to introduce yourselves and highlight what you are most excited for and want to do during your ‘adventure!’
Each adventure may involve personal expenses, such as admission fees, food, drinks, and transportation. Costs will vary based on the neighborhood, locations, and itinerary. This is a true “choose your own adventure” experience—participate in what interests you most!
Looking to sign up? CLICK HERE for more information.
First time attending the Women in Textiles Summit OR attending alone? Come check out the “Pre-Welcome Reception” where you can meet ATA staff, the Summit Planning committee and others like you, who may not know any one yet! Find some friendly faces in the crowd before the whole gang shows up.
Within walking distance to both host hotels, Good Behavior is situated high above 29th St. and Broadway (2-min walk from Ace Hotel and 3-min walk from Moxy Chelsea).
Kick of the conference with some “Good Behavior” with your Women in Textiles Summit friends – old and new! This year we will be offsite at Good Behavior – a rooftop bar above the MADE Hotel in NYC.
Good Behavior is located on the 18th floor with panoramic stunning views of New York City. Within walking distance to both host hotels, Good Behavior is situated high above 29th St. and Broadway (2-min walk from Ace Hotel and 3-min walk from Moxy Chelsea).
Sponsored by:
Tuesday, April 1
Registration sponsored by:
Breakfast sponsored by:
DEBUNKING THE CONFIDENCE MYTH – getting real about confidence
Growing up, we were all sold a myth about confidence. You know the one—how it magically appears once we achieve something big in life. Or that we can simply “think” confident thoughts and suddenly, boom, we’ve got it. The truth? That’s a lie. Confidence isn’t a switch you flip—it’s a spectrum we move along every single day.
In this powerful, fun, and engaging program, Tina gets real about confidence. She encourages women to own their moments of true confidence while confronting the negative experiences that hold them back.
Her core message? Confidence isn’t a solo journey—it’s a team sport. Tina emphasizes the power of lifting each other up through genuine compliments and support, showing that when we rise together, we all become stronger and more confident than ever before.
Emily Donnelly, CPCU, Talent Development Specialist, Rutgers University- Camden HR; Laura E. Glotzbach, President and Founder, LGS Marketing Services
Many high-achieving women grapple with impostor syndrome, a pervasive feeling of self-doubt that can hinder career growth and innovation. This compelling session reframes failure as a powerful tool for overcoming impostor syndrome, offering a fresh perspective crucial to thrive in leadership roles.
Attendees will learn:
- How to recognize and combat impostor syndrome in the textile industry context
- Strategies to leverage failure for personal and professional growth
- Techniques to develop a growth mindset and build resilience
- Practical tools for reframing past failures and boosting confidence
Get ready to ‘mix it up’ at lunch – sit with faces you don’t know or don’t see on a regular basis. Don’t worry, if you need a little boost to put yourself out there, ATA staff have ways of helping!
Sponsored by:
Textile Development and Marketing students take their research to the next level in preparation for the SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference. Students will present their innovative textile research at the Women in Textiles Summit, hosted at the Fashion Institute of Technology. This is the perfect opportunity to connect the next generation of textile enthusiasts and professionals, unlocking new opportunities in the industry.
Choose one of the following to attend:
- Handweaving with Recycled Fabrics (limit 20)
- Sponsored by:
- Sponsored by:
- Fragrance Finishing using Lavender-Based Finish on Sample Fabrics (limit 20)
- Textile Product Testing Quality (limit 20)
- Group Breakout Discussions
Christina Rapa, Textile Engineer/Digital Fabrics, W.L. Gore & Associates
Over the last several years, brands have adopted 3D design software as a method of reducing sample iteration, visualizing styles and increasing speed to market.
Many textile suppliers, particularly in the US are still marketing their products the exact same way: fabric hangers at trade shows, mailing fabric swatches and dyeing up small run sample rolls in multiple colors. This presentation will take you on Gore’s journey to digitize the entire Consumer GORE-TEX collection and help you understand the process to do it.
As the textile industry shifts toward sustainability, scaling innovative solutions is key to reducing environmental impact. This presentation reviews supply chain challenges and trends as it relates to sustainability, explores breakthrough textile innovations, and features spotlights on women in attendance whose companies are successfully implementing these solutions at scale. We’ll highlight industry leaders who are setting new standards with sustainable products and discuss strategies for widespread adoption.
GAMES. DRINKS. VIBES. Join us for a special social experience at Electric Shuffle NYC – where friends and colleagues come together for a (friendly) competitive experience with high-energy shuffleboard, showstopping cocktails and delicious bites to eat!
Electric Shuffle NYC is located on W 30th St. and Broadway, an easy walk from both the host hotels (2-min walk from Ace Hotel and 4-min walk from Moxy Chelsea).
Sponsored by:
Wednesday, April 2
Start your day off right, with a little yoga and networking! Meet on the (indoor) rooftop of the Moxy Chelsea hotel for a morning yoga session and then head downstairs to their coffee shop to continue your morning conversations.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
FROM COMPETITION TO COMMUNITY – creating workplaces where women thrive together
In almost every industry, there’s an unspoken belief that only a few women can succeed, fueling a toxic environment where women feel they must compete with each other to get ahead. This narrative creates unnecessary competition, forcing women to edge one another out to climb the ladder.
Research shows that when women build strong communities, advocate for one another, and create spaces to connect and share ideas, everyone benefits—their working lives improve, and so do their industries. Women need each other, especially at work. We need places where we can discuss real issues, like the pay gap, workplace safety, and shared experiences, rather than trying to climb to the top alone.
In “From Competition to Community”, Tina emphasizes that there’s room for more than one woman at the table, and we should be bringing “folding chairs” for each other to sit beside us.
Samantha Marion, Sales Director, Apparel & Home Décor, TVF
This session will share my personal journey of gaining confidence, taking risks, and becoming an influential leader as a 30-something woman in an employee-owned textile company that is half a century old. In an industry where many leaders, colleagues, and customers have decades of experience, I’ve learned how to lead and influence senior, tenured team members and customers, navigating the challenges of being a younger female in a traditionally male-dominated space. I’ll share the lessons I’ve learned on using my strengths, building trust, managing up, and guiding experienced colleagues through change.
Key Takeaways:
- How to build influence and confidence when leading experienced and tenured team members and customers.
- Effective techniques for managing up and driving change in traditional, long-standing organizations.
- The importance of self-awareness and utilizing strengths
- Lessons on taking risks and developing leadership presence as a young female leader in her 30s.
Get ready to ‘mix it up’ at lunch – sit with faces you don’t know or don’t see on a regular basis. Don’t worry, if you need a little boost to put yourself out there, ATA staff have ways of helping!
Sponsored by:
Choose one of the following to attend:
- Natural Dyeing in FIT’s Natural Dye Garden (limit 20)
- Nonwoven Fabric Formation Using a Felting Machine (limit 20)
- Knitting Lab Tour (limit 20)
- Breakout Discussions
The textile industry extends far beyond fashion design, encompassing engineering, materials science, sustainability, manufacturing, and more. This panel will explore how to bridge the communication gap between academia and industry, ensuring that students and educators are aware of the vast career opportunities available. Experts from various textile-related fields will discuss how to better prepare students for industry roles, improve recruitment efforts, and inspire the next generation to explore the full spectrum of textile professions.
Panelists:
Sean Cormier, Associate Professor and Chair, Textile Development & Marketing Department, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)
Tanga Crosby, Technical Director, Archroma Color Management
Eleanor Enochs, Marketing Manager, DNA Technical Fabrics
Moderator: Apurba Banerjee, PhD, Textile Research Scientist- Research and Development, STANDARD TEXTILE
Nicole Meier, Director of Product Marketing, Pantone
Join Nicole Meier as she shares her journey of navigating the textiles industry by trusting her instincts and embracing intuition. Learn how listening to your inner voice can guide you through pivotal decisions, build authentic relationships, and foster lasting success. Whether you’re starting out or well into your career, this talk will inspire you to follow your gut, advocate for yourself, overcome challenges, and create a career defined by meaningful connections.
Thursday, April 3
Alphapointe, a non-profit organization affiliated with National Industries for the Blind (NIB), is dedicated to empowering individuals with vision loss by providing employment opportunities, job training, and rehabilitation services. Alphapointe manages multiple manufacturing, service, and administrative programs that create meaningful employment for people who typically face barriers to finding jobs. Alphapointe has graciously offered to provide a tour of their cut and sew facility located in Richmond Hill, NY to attendees of the 2025 Women in Textiles Summit. Transportation to and from the hotel will be provided, complements of Alphapointe.
Participants are welcome to bring luggage on transportation and request cabs/Ubers/Lyfts from Alphapointe, following the tour, as it is on the way to both major NY airports and may be more convenient than heading back into the city afterwards.
Sticking around for awhile on Thursday? Join a FREE walking tour of the NYC garment district. The tour guide will be focusing on women textile designers!
The tour meets at W 39th St. and 7th Ave (at the GIANT yellow button)
Questions?
For more information, or website accessibility questions, contact: Jill Newman, Education & Events Manager | 651-225-6953 | jill.newman@textiles.org
