Our owner, Casey Russell, is speaking at the 2026 SPESA Executive Conference on Thursday, October 29, from 8:15 to 9:00 AM at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. She’ll be talking about her experience as a woman starting a business on her own in this industry. If you register with the code WildPony, you’ll save $300.
What is SPESA?
SPESA stands for Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas. It’s the trade association for the companies behind the sewn products industry, from the machines to the materials.
The Executive Conference runs October 28 to 30, and SPESA describes it as open to “SPESA members, their customers, and anyone interested in learning more about the current issues, trends, and policies impacting the global sewn products industry.” That means suppliers, manufacturers, brands, retailers and academia alike.
It opens with a welcome reception on the evening of the 28th. The 29th is the full day of education, with panels, case studies and fireside chats, and then a second networking reception that night. On the 30th, attendees work through an interactive workshop on putting AI to use, and the conference wraps with optional tours of local cut-and-sew factories. Your registration covers every part of it. Expect sessions on trade, manufacturing technology and doing business in Texas too.
What Casey’s talking about
Casey opens the morning of October 29 with a fireside chat. The day’s emcee will introduce her, and they’ll talk through her experience of starting a business on her own as a woman in this industry.
After that, the session opens up into a group discussion. Casey’s hoping the women in the room will share their own experiences, struggles, questions and advice, so come ready to join in.
Conference details
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Event: 2026 SPESA Executive Conference
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Dates: October 28 to 30, 2026
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Schedule: welcome reception Oct 28 · education day and evening reception Oct 29 · workshop and optional factory tours Oct 30
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Casey’s session: Thursday, October 29, 8:15 to 9:00 AM
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Where: Hotel Valencia Riverwalk, 150 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205
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Save $300: use code WildPony when you register. It works on standard registration, not the Reg + Hat tickets.
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Hats: we’re hosting a Wild Pony hat bar for SPESA attendees at Double Standard.
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Register by October 21: standard pricing ends that night, and last-minute tickets cost more
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Follow along: @spesa_org on Instagram, or search #SPESAdoesSATX
In town for the conference?
If you’re coming in for SPESA, come find us while you’re here. Pick a hat, try on a few, and make it yours with bands, pins and branding before you head home.
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Grand Hyatt San Antonio: our closest spot to Hotel Valencia, right downtown.
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La Cantera: inside Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort. Monday to Friday 4 to 8 PM, Saturday 11 AM to 4 PM.
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Basila Frocks: our shop in a restored 1929 garment factory on the West Side, which feels about right for a sewn products crowd. Wednesday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM.
Planning an event or a conference of your own? We bring the full hat bar to venues all over San Antonio. See our corporate events page.
After the conference
We’ll be at SPESA capturing the day, and we’ll add photos and a few takeaways from Casey’s talk here after October 29.
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