The Promise and the Power

of a Connected World

September 13-15, 2017 • The Ritz-Carlton • Ft. Lauderdale, FL

“No matter the lens thro

ugh

which you look, it seems

safe

to say that we are enter

ing

2017 buffeted by winds o

f

chaos, complexity and ch

ange.”

— Jordan Spe

er

Editor in Chief, apparel

w w w . a p p a r e l m a g . c o m / e x e c u t i v e - f o r u m

The apparel Executive Forum offers you a high return for your time in terms of personal growth and development, peer-to-peer networking and strategic idea exchange. The Forum’s theme of “The Promise and the Power of A Connected World” of course is a nod to the connected digital world that dominates our industry landscape, technology and the consumer experience. But it also mirrors the experience you will discover at the Forum. The intimate environment — expect to meet up to 100 executives — will allow you to expand and deepen your professional contacts, and go home with much food for thought and inspiration.

2017 Special Highlights

Time Worth the Investment

The apparel brand and retail community has been turned upside down — by consumers, by new expectations and demands, by technology moving at warp speed. As such, the 17th Annual apparel Executive Forum brings together content contributors representing well-known mega brands, entrepreneurial-minded innovators and rising stars — all charged with sharing a relevant story that delivers real value, for you, the attendee.

Pano Anthos Managing Director XRC Labs

Rick Bingle VP, Supply Chain REI

Silvia Campello President & COO Cosabella

Heath Carr COO Shinola (Bedrock)

Amanda Curtis Co-Founder & CEO Nineteenth Amendment

Kevin Flammia CEO RFM Clothing

Rich Haig CIO/CTO Herman Kay

Rick Helfenbein President & CEO American Apparel & Footwear Association

Liz Hostetter Founder & President Ellie Kai

Alexis Kantor Vice President, Product Development Target

Mike Klepfer Vice President, Operations Black Tux

Krish Nathan CEO SDI Industries

Eugen Neiculescu VP - Product, UX and Design Adore Me

John Orekunrin Founder & CEO QUINN

Danit Peleg Founder Danit Peleg 3D

Matthew Smith CSO & Co-Founder ICIX

Dan Stolarski Senior Director 703 Advisors

Marleen Vogelaar Founder & CEO Ziel

Liyia Wu Founder & CEO ShopShops

• AEF University, featuring an array of interactive, topic-right workshops and peer-to-peer discussions

• Success Stories from apparel’s 2017 Top Innovators• Dinner Program recognizing the 2017 Top Innovators• AEF Quick Talks, delivered TED Talks style by several of apparel’s Top 30 Under 30• One-to-One Structured Networking• High-level Keynotes from Inspiring Brands & Retailers• Mentoring Opportunities for and with apparel’s Top 30 Under 30 Honorees

Amanda Curtis

Heath Carr

Pano Anthos

Speakers to Date

Watch for Updates!

adidas/ReebokAmerican Apparel Ann AmazonAntigua Aramark UniformAscena Retail GroupAugusta Sportswear Bebe StoresBlueflyBoston Proper Brooks BrothersCarhartt Carter’s Inc.Chico’s FASCintasCiti Trends David’s BridalDelta Apparel Inc.Destination Maternity Destination XL GroupDick’s Sporting GoodsEileen FisherGAP Inc. Gloria JeansGold Toe Brands Inc.GUESS?HaggarHampshire Group Ltd. HartmarxHerman Kay Company

HointerHudson’s Bay In the Pink StoresIvory EllaJCPenneyJ. Jill GroupJimmy Choo John VarvatosJos. A. BankJustfabKellwood CompanyKenneth ColeKohl’s Department StoresKoos ManufacturingLands’ EndL Brands/Mast La Jolla GroupLL Bean Lanier ClothesLevi StraussLi & FungLilly PultizerLT ApparelLucky Brandlululemon athleticaMaggy LondonMJ SoffeeModClothNew BalanceNikeOld Navy

Oxford IndustriesPatagoniaPerformance ScrubsPerry Ellis InternationalPolo Ralph LaurenRG Barry Corporation Russell Corporation SearsShinolaShoebuy.comStage StoresStein Mart Superior Uniform GroupTargetTea CollectionThe Men’s WearhouseTheoryToad&CoTommy BahamaTommy JohnTrue Religion Brand JeansTween BrandsUnder ArmourUrban OutfittersVF CorporationVibram USAWalt Disney Warnaco Williamson-Dickies & More!

“The apparel Executive

Forum is a unique content

and networking opportuni

ty

for our industry that is

replicated nowhere else

—

very valuable.”

Erik LaValle, Former VP,

Supply Chain Technology,

L Brands/Mast Global

What Kinds of Companies Attend the Forum? YOUR COMPANY SHOULD BE HERE! Join leading brands and retailers like these….

REGISTER AS OUR GUEST TODAY!

Qualified individuals (apparel retail, brand and manufacturing executives) will receive free registration, a value of $795, when registering online at www.apparelmag.com/executive-forum with code AEFECOMP. Redeem by August 1st.

For more information, contact Angela Shaw at ashaw@ensembleIQ.com or 973.607.1306. apparel reserves the right to accept or reject any registration.

Agenda

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2017

3:00p - 7:00p Registration Open4:30p - 5:30p apparel Editorial Board Meeting (private)6:00p - 7:00p Welcome Cocktail Reception7:00p on... Sponsor Networking Dinners

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

7:30a - 5:30p Registration Open7:30a - 8:15a Networking Breakfast8:15a - 8:20a Opening Remarks & Keynote Intro: Susan Nichols, Brand Director, apparel

8:20a - 9:10a Keynote NextGen Disruptors: The New Wave of Retail Moderator: Pano Anthos, Managing Director, XRC Labs Panelists: John Orekunrin, Founder & CEO, QUINN Marleen Vogelaar, Founder & CEO, Ziel Liyia Wu, Founder & CEO , ShopShops

In this unique and inspiring session, you’ll hear from several standout startups that are disrupting the retail apparel ecosystem via new technologies and business models that challenge conventional ways of thinking and operating. Our featured speakers are part of XRC Labs, an innovation accelerator for the next wave of retail entrepreneurs, created in partnership with Kurt Salmon (now part of Accenture) and housed at the Parsons New School of Design.

9:15a – 9:55a General Session #1 Success Stories from apparel’s Innovators Moderator: Jordan Speer, Editor-in-Chief, apparel Panelists: Rick Bingle, VP, Supply Chain, REI Silvia Campello, President & COO, Cosabella Liz Hostetter, Founder & President, Ellie Kai Mike Klepfer, Vice President, Operations, Black Tux

Each year apparel honors an outstanding field of apparel retail, brand and manufacturing companies that are recognized for unique innovations making a positive business impact. In an executive panel discussion format, several of the 2017 Innovators will share their success stories.

9:55a - 10:20a Networking Break

10:25a - 12:20p AEF University Part 1 • Round 1: 10:25 - 11:20 • Round 2: 11:25 - 12:20

AEF University features an array of interactive, topic-right workshops and peer-to-peer discussions. Attendees will participate in two 55-minute workshops in each AEF University segment for maximum idea exchange and networking.

Fulfilling the Consumer’s Dream in the Buy Anywhere, Anytime EnvironmentWorkshop Leader: Krish Nathan, CEO, SDI Industries As consumers embrace a marketplace where they can buy anywhere, anytime, retailers and brands are scrambling to reimagine their fulfillment paths. Explore common challenges and strategic approaches and solutions for efficient and effective order fulfillment across a maze of channels.

Best-in-Class Strategies for Distributed CommerceWorkshop Leader: Dan Stolarski, Senior Director, 703 Advisors In a world where buyers desire and are willing to buy any product at any time, how should your channels expand? Best practice dictates evaluating the strategic value of distributed commerce from the perspective of (1) The Buyer, (2) The Channels and (3) Your Organization.

Other sessions to be announced.

12:20p – 1:20p Networking Luncheon

1:25p – 3:20p AEF University Part 2 • Round 1: 1:25 - 2:20 • Round 2: 2:25 - 3:20

RFID as the Foundation of Customer EngagementWorkshop Leader: Richard Haig, CIO/CTO, Herman Kay RFID is at the crux of managing the supply chain, product flow, inventory visibility and more. What are the latest innovative ways RFID is being implemented and what’s next?Other sessions to be announced.

3:25p - 4:10p Day One Closing KeynoteAEF QUICK-TALKSHost: Susan Nichols, Brand Director, apparelSpeakers: Amanda Curtis, Co-Founder & CEO, Nineteenth Amendment Kevin Flammia, CEO, RFM Clothing Eugen Neiculescu, VP – Product, UX & Design, Adore Me Danit Peleg, Founder, Danit Peleg 3D Printed Fashion Mirroring the style of TED Talks, four of apparel’s Top 30 Under 30 honorees will share their unique perceptions on finding success in fashion, meeting the needs of consumers and pushing the envelope on new ways of thinking and doing to propel the apparel market forward.

4:15p - 5:35p 1:1 Structured Networking MeetingsModerator: John Wilkinson, CEO, b2b talkManaged by industry partnering experts, these fast-paced topic-based meetings between attendees and attendees, and attendees and sponsors not only serve as a productive ice-breaker but encourage real business dialogue to build on for future conversations. Pre-event profiles allow for the best possible matching of interests.

6:30p - 9:30p Cocktail Reception & Dinner Honoring apparel’s 2017 Top Innovators Special Guest Speaker to be announced.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

7:30a - 11:15a Registration Open7:45a - 8:30a Networking Breakfast8:30a - 8:35a Day Two Opening Remarks & Keynote Intro: Susan Nichols, Brand Director, apparel

8:35a - 9:25a Day Two KeynoteShinola: The Building of A Great American Brand Keynote Speaker: Heath Carr, COO, Shinola (Bedrock) Shinola, the Detroit-based watch, leather goods, bicycle and accessories brand is on a tear of expansion. With its mostly Assembled-in-America products and “localized” retail stores — from Miami to Dallas to Los Angeles to Brooklyn to Chicago to London — it’s been called the “coolest brand in America” by Adweek, and an “innovative giant” by The Washington Post. Come along for this fascinating look at the building of a highly successful and innovative consumer brand and retail base, while getting the lowdown on future product launches, including an audio line of turntables, speakers and audiophile-quality headphones, as well as eyewear.

9:30a - 10:10a Target on Transforming Retail Speaker: Alexis Kantor, Vice President, Product Development, Target

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Target Corporation’s exciting Accelerator Program , which is designed to help early stage startups develop concepts that could improve its business, as well as the broader retail industry. Through an intensive four-month program, these entreprenuers benefit from working closely with Target executives focus ed on transformative and technology-driven ideas to create solutions for today’s rapidly changing retail environment. Hear how advancements in solutions from artificial intelligence to virtual reality to 3D technology are being fostered in this highly innovative and creative culture.

10:10a – 10:30a Networking Coffee Break

10:30a - 11:10a General Session #3View From The HillSpeaker: Rick Helfenbein, President & CEO, American Apparel & Footwear Association An expert examination of the business, trade policy, and political environment for the fashion industry.

11:10a - 11:15a Closing Comments & Adjourn: Susan Nichols, Brand Director, apparel