The future of the American textile industry was on display in Washington, D.C. on Monday, as the first annual Smart Fabrics Summit drew a capacity crowd to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) was proud to co-host the event.

Also co-hosted by the United States Department of Commerce, experts from throughout the American textile industry gathered to discuss the future of one of the world’s emerging markets.

“The day was a huge success,” ATA President and CEO Mary Hennessy said. “Some of the best minds in the industry gave us an exciting look at the future.”

Hennessy took part in a roundtable discussion moderated by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, and spoke about how smart fabrics will affect everyday life.

“It is the future,” Hennessy said. “The American textile industry has been in the forefront of change for fifty years and smart fabrics are the next logical step.”

Topics of discussion included an ATA market research overview, manufacturing smart garments, Federal government investment, intellectual property rights and industry standards, and the future of the industry.

“The interest we saw from within the industry was amazing,” Hennessy added. “ATA will continue to be at the forefront of advocacy for an industry which is vital to many of our 1,500 member organizations.”

Conference highlights will be available soon. Watch www.textiles.org for details.

For additional information, contact ATA Marketing Communications Manager Jeff Papas at (651) 225-6933 or at jpapas@ifai.com.