The International Textiles and Apparel Association’s (ITAA) annual conference was held in Philadelphia this year and chaired by Fashion and Design & Merchandising professor, Dr. Joe Hancock. Earlier this month, ITAA members and conference attendees celebrated inclusivity and innovation with distinguished guest speakers, workshops, a gallery, and design exhibition that highlighted the diversity of fashion, apparel, textiles, historical, retailing and merchandising programs around the nation.

The four-day conference included tours of David’s Bridal and QVC, as well as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, conducted by Fashion and Design & Merchandising Department Head Roberta Gruber. Conference workshops featured the latest retailing, merchandising, management and design philosophies from Target and Anthropologie, with speakers including Derek Jenkins, Senior Vice-President of Target Stores, film producer Maryanne Grisz, and the international menswear designer Siki Im.

Joe Hancock, along with Co-Chair and Fashion Design Professor Alphonso McClendon and Conference Coordinator Alexandra Horner, organized one of the most successful and well-attended conferences the Association has had to date. Next year’s conference will be held in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, the second week in November. For more information, visit http://www.itaaonline.org/.