During this webinar you will also hear directly from US cotton farmers and learn why regional context matters\, with pra ctical examples from West Texas. We'll also discus s the implications for farmers\, brands\, and supp liers\, including certification timelines\, sourci ng options\, brand claims\, and available data.
\n \nWhether you work in sustainability\, sou rcing\, compliance\, or supply chain management\, this webinar offers valuable insights into one of the most significant developments shaping the futu re of cotton production and responsible sourcing.< /p>\n \n
Speakers:
\n \nJaime Levine\, US Member Engagement Manag er at Better Cotton Initiative
\n \nJaime Levine is BCI’s US Membership Manager – w ith an MBA on Circularity and Sustainability from Bard University’s Graduate Program in Sustainabili ty\, Jaime brings a wealth of knowledge on the fas hion industry from her own business and consulting roles. At BCI\, Jaime is focused on expanding the US membership of BCI’s retailer and brand members \, and ensuring that role of voluntary standards a nd value of sustainable cotton is championed in th e industry. Jaime.Levine@bettercotton.org
\n \ nTodd Straddley\, Gin CEO and BCI Grou p Manager\, Quarterway Cotton Growers Association< /strong>
\n \nQuarterway Cotton Growers is a cotton gin and producer organization working to create value for growers\, brands and retailers by connecting both ends of the cotton supply chain a nd supporting innovation in Texas High Plains cott on. Gin CEO and BCI Group Manager Todd Straley\, a long with his fellow Quarterway producers\, take f ull advantage of research\, technology and opportu nities available to ensure the long-term viability of cotton farming in their region.
\n \nTo dd Straddley\, Gin CEO and BCI Group Manager\, Qua rterway Cotton Growers AssociationA cotton produce r himself\, Todd has supported BCI's work since at tending the organization’s first stakeholder meeti ng back in 2012\, and helped to enroll 13 of the p rogram’s first US cotton growers. Having met with merchants\, mills\, retailers and brands from arou nd the world\, he has identified opportunities to set his gin apart through licensing and certificat ions which reflect a growing demand for responsibl y-produced cotton. Quarterway is now one of the la rgest BCI-Certified farm groups in the United Stat es. tod d@quarterwaycotton.com
\n \nEri c Harris\, Executive Vice President at SureHarvest
\n \nEric is Executive Vice Pres
ident at SureHarvest. He oversees client engagemen
ts to develop and implement data-driven sustainabi
lity and regenerative agriculture programs grounde
d in the most recent science. He has led sustainab
le agriculture programs and standards across domes
tic and global food and agriculture value chains\,
including hands-on verification work in cotton su
pply chains. Eric's regenerative agriculture exper
ience has included developing definitions and fram
eworks for industry groups and evaluating regenera
tive practices and outcomes in the context of diff
erent cropping systems. Previously\, Eric conducte
d research at the University of California\, Berke
ley and Harvard Medical School\, and has authored
multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications. Er
ic received a PhD in Integrative Biology from the
University of California\, Berkeley.
\n
Registe r today for the 2026 Annual Apparel Importers Trad e &\; Transportation Conference in New York Cit y\; this year&rsquo\;s event will bring together i ndustry leaders\, policymakers\, and experts to di scuss major challenges facing the global fashion i ndustry. We will talk about the tariffs\, sourcing \, and sustainability. Don&rsquo\;t miss this oppo rtunity to connect and develop strategies and solu tions with key voices shaping the future of fashio n.
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DESCRIPTION:Register today for the 2026 Annual Apparel Importe rs Trade & Transportation Conference in New York C ity\; this year’s event will bring together indust ry leaders\, policymakers\, and experts to discuss major challenges facing the global fashion indust ry. We will talk about the tariffs\, sourcing\, an d sustainability. Don’t miss this opportunity to c onnect and develop strategies and solutions with k ey voices shaping the future of fashion.\n \n \n \ n \n \n CATEGORIES:Conference CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T090000 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261112T170000 LOCATION:FIT Baker School of Business and Technology\, Kati e Murphy Amphitheatre\n 218 W 28th Street\n Betwee n 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue\n New York\, NY 10001\ n URL:https://www.usfashionindustry.com/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=1040&reset=1&id=516 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:CiviCRM_EventID_518_5fcede5d7494e9791746b82d1f9dcf33@www.usfashionindustry.com SUMMARY:2026 Apparel Classification Workshop: Meet the Nat ional Import Specialists X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:USFIA i nvites you to participate in a meeting with key Na tional Import Specialists and gain a better unders tanding of the U.S. Customs &\; Border Protecti on classification process\, sponsored by our Customs Broker Pa rtner GEODIS.
\n \nAfter a brief introd uction and overview of the classification process\ , you will have the opportunity to talk informally with each National Import Specialist in a trade f air-style environment.
\n \nThis ev ent is free for attendees at the \;Apparel Importers Trade &\; Tr ansportation Conference \;on November 12. If you are already registered for the conference a nd would like to attend the workshop\, please cont act USFIA at info@usfashionindustry.com and we wil l process your workshop registration.
\n \nFor all others\, the fee is $95 to attend. USFIA m embers receive a $50 discount.
DESCRIPTION:USFIA invites you to participate in a meeting with key National Import Specialists and gain a better understanding of the U.S. Customs & Border Protec tion classification process\, sponsored by our Cus toms Broker Partner GEODIS (https://www.usfashioni ndustry.com/about/partners/usfia-customs-broker-pa rtner).\n \n \n \n After a brief introduction and overview of the classification process\, you will have the opportunity to talk informally with each National Import Specialist in a trade fair-style e nvironment.\n \n \n \n This event is free for atte ndees at the Apparel Importers Trade & Transportat ion Conference (https://www.usfashionindustry.com/ events/annual-conference) on November 12. If you a re already registered for the conference and would like to attend the workshop\, please contact USFI A at info@usfashionindustry.com and we will proces s your workshop registration.\n \n \n \n For all o thers\, the fee is $95 to attend. USFIA members re ceive a $50 discount.\n \n CATEGORIES:Conference CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=America/New_York:20261113T100000 DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261113T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261113T120000 LOCATION:U.S. Customs & Border Protection\n One World Trade Center\n 50th Floor - Ceremonial Room\n New York\ , NY 10007\n URL:https://www.usfashionindustry.com/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=1040&reset=1&id=518 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR