United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA)

Self-healing footwear could be on the market before we know it, as domestic footwear manufacturers push the envelope on innovative technologies and manufacturing processes and develop more environmentally sustainable textile solutions. The University of Massachusetts Lowell is working with Poly Labs, BASF, and The Haartz Corporation on behalf of U.S. Army DEVCOM to develop self-healing outsoles for combat boots. USFMA played a leading role in funding the research, which is funded by a $1.1 million grant as part of the R&D initiative Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers, or HEROES. “Our research is specifically being applied to combat boots, but because of the way we designed this chemistry, it can be broadly applied to all footwear and beyond,” said James Reuther assistant professor of polymer chemistry at UMASS Lowell. Reuther and his lab team are looking to replace rubber outsoles with polyurethane, a lighter synthetic resin that is easier to break in and more comfortable. And newly created dynamic chemical bonds that are incorporated into the polyurethane offer the promise of self-healing properties to enable tear to self-mend. “That’s our secret sauce,” Reuther explained. “Because of this dynamic bond exchange, the outsole can heal itself spontaneously when we apply heat or pressure.” But it's not just about outfitting the troops with more comfortable or longer-lasting footwear. “Our goal is that you can introduce these chemical bonds to applications that pose the biggest sustainability problems, preventing them from entering landfills,” Reuther said. “We’re seeing how commercially viable this could be."

Executive Director Bill McCann proudly represented USFMA on June 8 at Bixby International's 150th anniversary celebration, including the dedication of a new flagpole honoring the pioneering legacy of the company's founders Benjamin and George Bixby.  The highlight was a keynote from George Henry Bixby III on the tremendous changes to the business since its founding in Haverhill, Massachusetts, by the Bixby brothers in 1874 to service the footwear industry with cut fiberboard, felt components and tacks utilized in the assembly of footwear. The 20th century witnessed the evolution of the company into a dominant supplier of specialty products nationwide. Today, it remains at the heart of the footwear industry and USFMA's efforts to energize domestic footwear manufacturing, supply chains, and a skilled workforce for a new era. Congratulations to Daniel Rocconi, Dennis Lauzon and the entire team at Bixby International. Here’s to the next 150 years!

Amazing discussions last Friday at the University of Massachusetts Lowell at the U.S. Army DEVCOM and United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) first ever military footwear industry day. My Co-Founder Sean Scott was invited to speak on the importance of innovating within the nearshore footwear manufacturing network to strengthen opportunities locally. Special thanks to Bill McCann and Sourcing Journal for continuously pushing the efforts forward. We are committed at COMUNITYmade, INC to pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability responsibly. Here are a few key thoughts from the article posed by Sean from the article: "Building a strong domestic supply chain goes beyond simply meeting the Berry Act requirement. Sean Scott, co-founder of TOMS and current CEO and founder of custom shoe company COMUNITYmade, said the work of the SWIFT project has the potential to positively impact the shoe industry in myriad ways by reshoring production to the U.S. “If we look at overseas manufacturing as it is today, we’re often reliant on a single source for components and finished goods,” he said. “Now we have smoldering geopolitical and human rights issues. Then long lead times and high minimums that lead to inventory risk. And I think this might even apply to the military in this case, but for sure it applies to retail because that high inventory risk means it ties up money, ties up storage space, and leads to waste because you have to predict the demand years ahead of time.” And according to Scott, that funding and the work it facilitates can lead to not only better footwear for the military, but improvements to domestic manufacturing across the board. “With the opportunity to apply modern technology to domestic manufacturing, I believe there’s innovation for all industries that can come from the footwear industry,” he said. “Innovative ways to apply additive manufacturing, innovative ways to apply computer knitting or 3D knitting. There are innovative ways to do construction without stitching with 3D bonding. So we have the opportunity to invest in technologies that are going to help manufacturing as a whole.”

Thanks to Sourcing Journal and Jennifer Bringle for highlighting the role of the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA), under the leadership of executive director Bill McCann, in helping build a more vibrant domestic supply chain to meet the requirements of the Berry Amendment. McCann told the inaugural military footwear industry day hosted by University of Massachusetts Lowell and U.S. Army DEVCOM that the industry "has stepped up its technological capability to not only meet the innovation demands of military footwear, but to be able to do so in a cost-effective way," Sourcing Journal reported. “New technologies like robotics, additive manufacturing, data analytics and artificial intelligence have increased automation and reduced the cost-of-labor advantages that countries like China and Vietnam have over the U.S.,” McCann told attendees. “Also, the pandemic exposed us as a nation that has a hard time making what we need in a crisis, and that has spurred a lot of entrepreneurship and investment in our industry and rebuilding our supply chain.” A primary effort is the Supporting Warfighters through Innovative Footwear Technologies (SWIFT) program dedicated to giving the U.S. military greater choices of state-of-the-art footwear developed and produced in the United States. "McCann said Congress approved $3 million for the first phase of SWIFT, with $10 million more per year appropriated for the next two years, and an additional $10 million pending," according to Sourcing Journal. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eSmhN9EG

The University of Massachusetts Lowell on Friday hosted the first-ever military footwear industry day with U.S. Army DEVCOM and United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) to showcase new footwear technologies and funding opportunities to improve military readiness and strengthen the domestic capacity to outfit with troop with state-of-the-art boots and other gear. The Supporting Warfighters through Innovative Footwear Technologies (SWIFT) program has been funded by Congress to enlist U.S. textile manufacturers, suppliers, and universities to pursue inventive solutions to the unique footwear challenges faced by military personnel. The funding for prototyping and piloting new technologies, including an additional $10 million appropriated this year, is also intended to strengthen the Berry Amendment, which restricts the use of federal funds for military clothing, fabrics, and other textiles “not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States.” “I think we are all familiar with the expression that an army marches on its stomach, but here, UMass Lowell recognizes that what our men and women in uniform wear on their feet matters just as much,” said UML Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Anne Maglia. “We couldn’t be prouder to be playing a leading role in helping ensure they have the most innovative footwear in the world, developed and produced here in the United States.” “This is to build upon what we can do here in the U.S.,” said Anita Perkins, a footwear engineer at U.S. Army DEVCOM. “A lot of the technology over the years providing footwear has been transferred overseas.” The SWIFT initiative is a part of UMASS Lowell's Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers (HEROES) program, established in 2013, in which students and faculty research new materials and concepts to outfit the troops. “If you ask any soldier what is the most important piece of equipment they are getting...it is their boots,” said HEROES Co-Director Ramaswamy (Ram) Nagarajan. Specials thanks to participating industry and academic partners, including Polylabs; COMUNITYmade, INC; The Haartz Corporation; New Balance; Signet Mills, Northeastern University; Vibram Group; ORION PHOTONICS LTD; Flexcon; Aetrex, Inc.; Foundation Wellness; Mantel; and The University of Southern Mississippi. https://lnkd.in/ePPeggTd

The University of Massachusetts Lowell on Friday hosted the first-ever military footwear industry day with U.S. Army DEVCOM and United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) to showcase new footwear technologies and funding opportunities to improve military readiness and strengthen the domestic capacity to outfit with troop with state-of-the-art boots and other gear. The Supporting Warfighters through Innovative Footwear Technologies (SWIFT) program has been funded by Congress to enlist U.S. textile manufacturers, suppliers, and universities to pursue inventive solutions to the unique footwear challenges faced by military personnel. The funding for prototyping and piloting new technologies, including an additional $10 million appropriated this year, is also intended to strengthen the Berry Amendment, which restricts the use of federal funds for military clothing, fabrics, and other textiles “not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States.” “I think we are all familiar with the expression that an army marches on its stomach, but here, UMass Lowell recognizes that what our men and women in uniform wear on their feet matters just as much,” said UML Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation Anne Maglia. “We couldn’t be prouder to be playing a leading role in helping ensure they have the most innovative footwear in the world, developed and produced here in the United States.” “This is to build upon what we can do here in the U.S.,” said Anita Perkins, a footwear engineer at U.S. Army DEVCOM. “A lot of the technology over the years providing footwear has been transferred overseas.” The SWIFT initiative is a part of UMASS Lowell's Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers (HEROES) program, established in 2013, in which students and faculty research new materials and concepts to outfit the troops. “If you ask any soldier what is the most important piece of equipment they are getting...it is their boots,” said HEROES Co-Director Ramaswamy (Ram) Nagarajan. Specials thanks to participating industry and academic partners, including Polylabs; COMUNITYmade, INC; The Haartz Corporation; New Balance; Signet Mills, Northeastern University; Vibram Group; ORION PHOTONICS LTD; Flexcon; Aetrex, Inc.; Foundation Wellness; Mantel; and The University of Southern Mississippi. https://lnkd.in/ePPeggTd

The domestic footwear industry is on the move, but more aggressive government action is needed to ensure it can go the distance. That was the message USFMA's trade policy director Karlee Popken took today to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where she testified on “Promoting Supply Chain Resilience." “In recent years, the domestic footwear manufacturing industry has made significant investments in domestic capacity and production levels, but significant global competitiveness challenges remain,” Popken testified at the public hearing. “United States domestic manufacturing is still striving to compete with state-subsidized industries abroad.” USTR is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and oversees negotiations with foreign nations. At issue for footwear manufacturers and suppliers are thousands of skilled jobs here at home. “Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics paint a sobering picture, indicating a steady decline in footwear manufacturing employment over the years,” Popken testified. “This decline is primarily attributed to the expansion of footwear manufacturing abroad, driven by the offshoring of much of the supply chain components over the last 30 years.” Yet the stakes are much higher, she explained. The footwear supply chain also supports other critical products, ranging from protective gear to medical supplies. “[The footwear manufacturing industry] serves as a linchpin for demand in yarns, fabrics, and foams essential for various medical devices, emphasizing the industry's commercial viability and its broader contribution to national emergency preparedness,” Popken said. During her testimony, she also outlined a series of trade policy priorities for USFMA, including support for expanded tariffs on Chinese goods; “a broader embrace of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with our partners in the Western Hemisphere”; and policies that “carefully and strictly outline” requirements that limit the exploitation of FTA by adversary nations that ship goods via third countries. In addition, Popken urged the USTR "to robustly and proactively engage with Congress to advocate for policies that support domestic supply chains and manufacturing.” Popken appeared with representatives of other domestic industries, including retail, metal forging, construction, solar energy, and mining, as part of USFMA's proactive efforts to shape policies that fuel the resurgence in domestic footwear manufacturing.

The domestic footwear industry is on the move, but more aggressive government action is needed to ensure it can go the distance. That was the message USFMA's trade policy director Karlee Popken took today to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where she testified on “Promoting Supply Chain Resilience." “In recent years, the domestic footwear manufacturing industry has made significant investments in domestic capacity and production levels, but significant global competitiveness challenges remain,” Popken testified at the public hearing. “United States domestic manufacturing is still striving to compete with state-subsidized industries abroad.” USTR is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and oversees negotiations with foreign nations. At issue for footwear manufacturers and suppliers are thousands of skilled jobs here at home. “Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics paint a sobering picture, indicating a steady decline in footwear manufacturing employment over the years,” Popken testified. “This decline is primarily attributed to the expansion of footwear manufacturing abroad, driven by the offshoring of much of the supply chain components over the last 30 years.” Yet the stakes are much higher, she explained. The footwear supply chain also supports other critical products, ranging from protective gear to medical supplies. “[The footwear manufacturing industry] serves as a linchpin for demand in yarns, fabrics, and foams essential for various medical devices, emphasizing the industry's commercial viability and its broader contribution to national emergency preparedness,” Popken said. During her testimony, she also outlined a series of trade policy priorities for USFMA, including support for expanded tariffs on Chinese goods; “a broader embrace of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with our partners in the Western Hemisphere”; and policies that “carefully and strictly outline” requirements that limit the exploitation of FTA by adversary nations that ship goods via third countries. In addition, Popken urged the USTR "to robustly and proactively engage with Congress to advocate for policies that support domestic supply chains and manufacturing.” Popken appeared with representatives of other domestic industries, including retail, metal forging, construction, solar energy, and mining, as part of USFMA's proactive efforts to shape policies that fuel the resurgence in domestic footwear manufacturing.

USFMA is having an especially active year and to take our collective voice to the next level we are thrilled to announce that Caroline de Baere, a footwear industry veteran and educator, has been tapped as a strategic advisor. Caroline has supported leading brands and start-ups, designers, and suppliers both globally and domestically. She will leverage her experience and deep network to expand USFMA’s membership and reach a broader audience. “Caroline has long been a champion for United States footwear manufacturers, and we are thrilled to have her on our team as we continue to expand collaboration, build a more resilient supply chain, and press for smarter policies that help make our industry more competitive and create additional skilled jobs,” said USFMA Executive Director Bill McCann. “She brings a unique set of skills and contacts that have already paid dividends.” Caroline, who is also an adjunct professor of shoe design at California College of the Arts, has worked with multiple successful brands over the past three decades, including Ariat International, Sperry, BIRKENSTOCK, Red Wing Shoe Co., Sebago, Tecovas, KEEN, Livie & Luca, Esprit , LA Gear, and more. In her new consulting role, she will facilitate the recruiting of new members who share USFMA’s passion and commitment to domestic footwear manufacturing. “I am incredibly inspired by what the USFMA is doing to expand domestic footwear manufacturing here in the United States and their commitment to clearing the path for new opportunities for brands, manufacturers, suppliers, and universities,” Caroline said. “I urge anyone with a commitment to domestic footwear manufacturing, sustainability, and developing workforce advancement to join.” https://lnkd.in/exhRieH5

Great evening in Detroit to be recognized for our efforts on #onshoring. Thank you ISAIC - Industrial Sewing and Innovation Center for this recognition.