Our owner, Casey Russell, spoke at the 2026 SPESA Executive Conference on Thursday, October 29, at Hotel Valencia Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio. She opened the morning with a fireside chat at the Rise & Shine Women’s Leadership Breakfast, talking about her experience starting a business on her own as a woman in this industry.
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 ran October 28 to 30 and brought together suppliers, manufacturers, brands, retailers and academia. The program covered trade, manufacturing technology and doing business in Texas, with an interactive AI workshop and tours of local cut-and-sew factories on the final day.
Casey’s fireside chat
Casey sat down with the morning’s emcee for a conversation about starting Wild Pony on her own. She wore one of our own felt hats on stage, of course.
Thank you to SPESA for having her, and to everyone who came out early for breakfast.
Visiting San Antonio?
If you’re in town for a conference, 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. Wednesday to Friday 10 AM to 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM.
Planning a conference of your own? We bring the full hat bar to venues all over San Antonio. See our corporate events page.
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