The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA), owner and producer of SPESA Expo 2004, and Urban Expositions, owner and producer of Material World, have announced plans to co-locate the events in 2004. Offering a comprehensive global solutions resource for the sewn products industry, the co-located event will also feature the Information Technology Exposition and Conference, an IT-focused event jointly owned and produced by SPESA and Urban Expositions. Occurring in the spring of every third year, this all-inclusive industry event now brings together machinery and equipment, fabric/findings, sourcing and information technology.

Co-hosted by SPESA and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), official sponsor of Material World, this co-located event will be held May 18-20, 2004 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida.

A New Approach:
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“Recognizing that the sewn products industry has changed dramatically over the past few years, SPESA and Urban Expositions believe that the industry is best served if visitors can see all the major components of the sewn products industry in one place, at one time,” explains Tim von Gal, executive vice president, Urban Expositions.

Visitors will be able to see machinery, parts, fabric, trims, services, CAD/CAM, software, sourcing, accessories, and more at the co-located events.

“While each exhibition will retain its own identity and deliver its own message, the co-location of SPESA Expo and Material World will provide the attendee a seamless opportunity to visit both shows,” added Benton Gardner, executive vice president, SPESA.

To minimize confusion and to maximize service to the attendees, there will be one registration system that will service both shows, one badge will provide entrance to both shows, and an open floorplan will make it easy for attendees to move from one show to the other.

About SPESA Expo 2004:
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SPESA Expo 2004 is solely owned by SPESA™, the Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas. Focusing on machinery and technology, SPESA Expo 2004 will also feature a conference program with seminars and educational events that support and augment attendees’ use and knowledge of today’s technology.

The target audience of the SPESA Expo 2004 are decision-makers and their buying teams from companies throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia who design and manufacture apparel, transportation interiors, upholstered furniture, home textiles and fashions, floor coverings, defense softgoods, footwear, sporting goods, industrial fabrics, accessories, luggage/leather goods, medical softgoods and other related industries of the $407 billion sewn products industry.

SPESA Expo 2004 has received official endorsements from leading international organizations. AAFA, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, JASMA, the Japan Sewing Machinery Manufacturers Association, VDMA, the German Association for Garment and Leather Machinery, CSMA, the China Sewing Machinery Association, CNIV, the Mexican Apparel Manufactures Association, AMPIV, the Mexican Machinery Association, and IFAI, the Industrial Fabrics Association International, have all pledged their endorsement by encouraging their members to exhibit in SPESA Expo 2004.