In March 2026, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Executive Summit brought together senior-level executives from retail, apparel, footwear and fashion accessories to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Representing SGS and bluesign were Roberto Casadei, Global Head of Softlines, SGS; Barbara Oswald, Chief Commercial Officer, bluesign; and Simone Ross, Director of Business Development of NAM East region, bluesign.
It was clear from the conversations the team held with decision makers during the summit that one theme dominates the industry today: uncertainty in the operating environment. From shifting trade policies to geopolitical tensions and tightening enforcement, C-suite leaders described a landscape where volatility is no longer a temporary headwind but a structural reality.
What stood out across conversations with CEOs, policy experts and technology innovators was not sustainability or material innovation, which are now considered foundational and non‑negotiable. Instead, executives highlighted growing concerns around risk, resilience and the urgent need for reliable data to support faster, better-informed decisions.
New priorities: data, resilience and trust
"The real pain points weren't sustainability or compliance – they were geopolitics and market instability. Tariffs, policy shifts and a general sense of volatility are now the biggest drivers of business risk." – Roberto Casadei
The volatility of recent months has pushed brands to reassess how well they understand their supply chains. Traditional oversight models are no longer sufficient, especially with greater scrutiny around origin, forced labor and regulatory compliance. What they now need is trusted, end-to-end visibility.
Across the summit, three priorities emerged:
- Data as a backbone: executives see AI and digital tools as essential, but only if supported by structured, verified operational data. Without it, the promise of AI remains largely theoretical
- Resilience as a strategy: brands are focusing on building supply chains that can withstand tariff shocks, political shifts and economic pressure
- Trust as differentiation: brands with stronger verification, clearer supplier relationships and transparent input streams will outperform in an era of rising enforcement
Technology that matters
While technology was discussed everywhere during the summit, leaders were highly selective in their focus. Two areas stood out:
- Radio frequency identification (RFID) and item-level visibility enable real-time accuracy and end-to-end traceability of goods
- AI powered by trusted operational data, especially from inspections, audits and supplier performance records
However, every technology-based conversation always circled back to one central point – these tools are only useful if the underlying data is reliable. Many brands understand their strategic objectives but lack the data foundation required to achieve them.
Each member of our team left the summit with one clear message: invest now in reliable data. Brands that build their supply chain oversight structures on trusted, verified data will navigate turbulence with confidence. Those who do not will struggle in a volatile trading environment.
Where SGS and bluesign fit in
"In a volatile environment, confidence starts with knowing your supply chain. Together, we bring the certainty and understanding brands need to navigate risk and move forward." – Barbara Oswald
The summit made clear that brands are not looking for more complexity – they need clarity. They want partners who can deliver confidence through verified data and actionable insights across their global supply chains.
We are uniquely positioned to support this shift through the independent testing, inspection, verification and certification services offered by SGS, ensuring product and supplier information is accurate, consistent and trusted. bluesign complements this by providing solutions that enable brands to understand their inputs and upstream processes with exceptional depth and chemical transparency.
Simone Ross, Barbara Oswald and Roberto Casadei
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).
