SEAMS

What SEAMS does

SEAMS is a U.S.-based non-profit trade association founded in 1967 that serves as the recognized voice of the U.S. sewn products industry, representing more than 200 member companies spanning fashion brands, retailers, manufacturers, textile providers, and technology suppliers. The organization operates as a membership-based industry association rather than a technology platform; its core digital offering is SEAMS Power Search, a supply-chain sourcing directory that connects buyers with domestic manufacturers, textile mills, and other supply-chain participants. SEAMS does not develop proprietary software products beyond this internal directory and a Member Marketplace for member business visibility, and the organization explicitly does not offer a public API or SDK.

The association generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues, structured by company type (Manufacturers, Textile Providers, Brands, Retailers, Tech Providers), and through conference-related sponsorship packages tied to its two flagship annual events—the Spring Networking Conference (e.g., April 29-May 1, 2026 in Greensboro, NC) and the Fall Networking Conference (e.g., September 15-17, 2026 in New Orleans, LA). Base conference registration is listed at $0.00, with monetization driven by tiered sponsorships and paid add-ons such as the $295 Mardi Gras World evening event. SEAMS supplements this core programming with member e-blasts (four included annually), blog content, social media, and trade-show presence at Texprocess Americas, Techtextil North America, Advanced Textiles Expo, Texworld NYC, and SHOT Week.

Distribution is achieved through direct engagement, the seams.org website, and SEAMS' co-founding role in the Alphabet Soup Collective—a multi-association collaboration with AAPN, AATCC, SPESA, STA, INDA, and the Advanced Textiles Association that anchors joint conferences (including the inaugural Fabricating the Future with AATCC in 2025) and shared advocacy on trade policy, Berry Amendment enforcement, USMCA preservation, and customs fraud. The association is led by Executive Director Will Duncan (since 2017) and a 2026 Board of Directors under President Brent Jones (Henderson Machinery), with operating geographies concentrated in the U.S. Southeast textile corridor (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia) and broader Eastern U.S.

Name

SEAMS

Legal name

SEAMS

Website

https://seams.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SEAMS is an association and voice of retailers and manufacturers to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and profitability.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association (Sewn Products)

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (3152), Knit Fabric Mills (31324), Narrow Fabric Mills and Schiffli Machine Embroidery (313220)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Knitting Mills (2250), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Denim & Bottoms Cut & Sew (Jeans/Trousers/Shorts) (IMAOAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Threads, Yarns & Sewing Notions (Sewing Thread/Embroidery Thread/Bobbins/Needles) (IMAOALAE)

Keywords

• Sewn products association
• Textile supply chain networking
• Apparel manufacturing membership
• Made in America sourcing
• Industry trade advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Wake Forest

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SEAMS generates revenue through annual membership fees from manufacturers, textile providers, brands, retailers, tech providers, and suppliers across the sewn products industry.
2. Conference Registration & Sponsorship: Revenue from SEAMS Spring and Fall Networking Conference registrations and tiered sponsorship packages (Mardi Gras World, Antoinnes Bar, Welcome Reception, Gold, Silver, Bronze, WOVEN Soiree, WiFi, meal packages, display tables).
3. Member E-Blasts: Members receive four e-blasts per year included in membership to share news, capacity, products, or job openings. Additional e-blasts may be available for purchase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SEAMS is a national trade association for the U.S. sewn products industry, providing members with industry networking, advocacy, education, and supply chain sourcing resources. Its core offerings include annual membership, the SEAMS Power Search sourcing database, two annual networking conferences (Spring and Fall), the Member Marketplace and Resource Center, the WOVEN women's networking initiative, and technical webinars and industry benchmarking.

Product overview

SEAMS is a membership-based industry association offering a unified portfolio of services centered on promoting the U.S. sewn products and textile industry. The core offerings include SEAMS Membership for industry participants (manufacturers, textile providers, brands, retailers, tech providers), the SEAMS Power Search sourcing tool for supply chain discovery, SEAMS Conferences (Spring and Fall Networking Conferences) for industry education and networking, the WOVEN women's networking initiative, and a Member Marketplace for business exposure. The association does not operate as a software platform but rather as a connector and advocate for domestic manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEAMS Annual Membership Annual membership program for U.S. sewn products manufacturers, textile suppliers, brands, retailers, and service providers, providing access to the SEAMS Power Search, member directory, conferences, advocacy, and networking. Founded in 1967 and serving 200+ member companies.
• SEAMS Power Search Proprietary online sourcing database for the U.S. sewn products industry. Allows members to list capabilities and helps brands, retailers, and government buyers locate U.S. suppliers of cut-and-sew, textiles, and components.
• SEAMS Spring Networking Conference Annual spring conference bringing together U.S. sewn products manufacturers, suppliers, brands, and government buyers for networking, education, and business development.
• SEAMS Fall Networking Conference Annual fall conference serving as the second flagship networking event of the SEAMS calendar, focused on industry education, awards, and peer engagement.
• Member Marketplace & Resource Center Online marketplace where SEAMS members can showcase products and services to the broader sewn products industry, with access to industry resources and educational content.
• WOVEN (Women Optimizing Vision, Excellence, & Networking) Industry networking initiative for women in the U.S. sewn products industry, providing connections, mentorship, and leadership development.
• SEAMS Webinars & Industry Recordings Educational webinars and recorded sessions providing SEAMS members with technical training, industry updates, and best practices.
• Alphabet Soup Collective Collaboration platform between SEAMS and other allied apparel/textile industry associations to share resources and co-host educational programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• SEAMS represents more than 200 of America's foremost fashion brands, retailers, manufacturers and textile providers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Alphabet Soup CollectiveflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAMS is a founding member of the Alphabet Soup Collective, a collaboration of associations representing the global sewn products, textile, apparel, and nonwovens industries. Member organizations include the Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN), AATCC, SPESA, and INDA. The collective co-hosts conferences including Fabricating the Future and shares industry advocacy efforts.
• AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAMS co-hosts the Fabricating the Future annual conference with AATCC. The inaugural 2025 event was held in Savannah, GA, combining both associations' members for joint sessions on trade policy, sustainability, automation, and workforce development.
• National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCTO and SEAMS share aligned advocacy goals around Made in America, trade policy, Berry Amendment enforcement, and customs fraud. NCTO President Kim Glas speaks at SEAMS events and SEAMS shares NCTO news on its platform. NCTO represents U.S. textile industry interests in Washington.
• Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAPN is part of the Alphabet Soup Collective with SEAMS. SEAMS Executive Director Will Duncan participates in Alphabet Soup panels alongside AAPN's Lynsey Jones at industry events.
• SPESA (Sewing Equipment Trade Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPESA is part of the Alphabet Soup Collective. SEAMS participates in SPESA Executive Conferences and shares industry leadership through joint panels on topics including resilience, automation, AI-driven sourcing, and circularity.
• Southern Textile Association (STA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTA is part of the Alphabet Soup Collective and co-organizes events with SEAMS including the STA Annual Meeting. SEAMS shares industry news and event calendars with STA members.
• INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINDA is part of the Alphabet Soup Collective. SEAMS Executive Director Will Duncan participates in joint panels with INDA representatives at industry events such as the Advanced Textiles Expo.
• Messe Frankfurt North AmericaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMesse Frankfurt organizes Techtextil North America, at which SEAMS promotes membership and the domestic supply chain. SEAMS lists the event on its industry events calendar and encourages member attendance.
• Advanced Textiles Association (ATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAMS participates in ATA events including the Advanced Textiles Expo and Women in Textiles Summit. SEAMS members exhibit at ATA events; SEAMS leadership appears on Alphabet Soup collective panels with ATA.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO): NCTO is the primary U.S. textile industry trade association representing textile manufacturers, with aligned advocacy on Berry Amendment, USMCA, and customs fraud. Overlaps directly with SEAMS' textile provider and manufacturer membership and shares advocacy priorities.
• Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN): AAPN connects Western Hemisphere apparel producers, brands, and retailers across the Americas. It is a member of SEAMS' Alphabet Soup Collective and serves a closely overlapping apparel sourcing and manufacturing constituency.
• AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists): AATCC is the leading textile testing and standards association. It co-hosts the Fabricating the Future conference with SEAMS and overlaps significantly with SEAMS' textile provider membership on technical and standards-related content.
• SPESA (Sewing Equipment Trade Association): SPESA represents sewing and sewn products equipment manufacturers and distributors. It is part of the Alphabet Soup Collective and shares SEAMS' sewn products industry focus, though emphasizing equipment rather than finished sewn goods.
• Southern Textile Association (STA): STA is a regional textile association concentrated in the U.S. Southeast. It is an Alphabet Soup Collective member and co-organizes events with SEAMS, serving overlapping mill and manufacturer members in the Carolinas, Georgia, and surrounding states.
• INDA (Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry): INDA represents the nonwoven fabrics industry and is an Alphabet Soup Collective member. It overlaps with SEAMS members in technical and industrial textile applications and jointly advocates on shared trade and supply chain issues.
• Advanced Textiles Association (ATA): ATA (formerly IFAI) represents advanced and specialty textiles manufacturers and is a fellow Alphabet Soup member. It shares SEAMS' technical textile and specialty sewn products constituency, hosting the Advanced Textiles Expo.

Broad incumbents

• American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA): AAFA represents apparel, footwear, and accessory brands, manufacturers, and retailers at the U.S. national level. It is broader than SEAMS in product scope but overlaps in apparel and sewn products advocacy and brand-retailer member constituency.

Regional players

• Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI): IFAI serves the industrial fabrics sector with overlapping specialty textile and sewn products members. Following its reorganization into ATA, IFAI-branded activities continue to overlap with SEAMS members serving technical and industrial textile end markets.
• U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA): USFIA represents fashion brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers on trade policy and sourcing. While more import and sourcing focused than SEAMS, it shares overlapping brand/retailer members interested in U.S. textile policy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/seamsassoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SEAMS.Association
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/27020304

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SEAMS