About the Nearshoring Experience

A curated journey from Honduras to Guatemala, connecting regional leaders with global partners through mill visits, real conversations, and the true potential of nearshoring.

What to expect of the Nearshoring Experience?

Supply chain visibility across the full value chain
Firsthand exposure to the region’s sustainability efforts
Traceability processes built for transparency
Clear advantages of producing within the region

Why Should You Join the Nearshoring Experience?

Why This Iniciative Exist & matters?

Nearshoring is reshaping how the textile industry connects, produces, and responds to global demand. Across the Americas, brands and manufacturers are looking for supply chains that offer proximity, faster execution, stronger communication, and greater visibility from fiber to finished product. As these expectations evolve, the connection between regions becomes more important—not only through trade, but through shared capabilities, aligned production, and real collaboration across the value chain.

The Nearshoring Summit 2026 was created to bring those connections into motion through direct industry experience across Guatemala and Honduras.

Through mill visits, technical discussions, and regional dialogue, the initiative creates space to better understand how textile manufacturing is evolving across the CAFTA region, what strengths already exist, and what is needed to continue building a more connected, transparent, and responsive supply chain.

Key Attendees

The Nearshoring Summit 2026 brings together professionals across the textile and apparel value chain who are actively shaping sourcing, manufacturing, product development, and regional strategy across the Americas. Attendance is intentionally curated to encourage meaningful conversations between brands, manufacturers, strategic partners, and industry leaders working toward more connected and responsive supply chains.

Previous editions of this initiative have welcomed participation and support from globally recognized brands and organizations including Polo Ralph Lauren, Fanatics, J.Crew, Walmart, Bella+Canvas, Under Armour, Gap Inc., Hanesbrands, and Target. Their participation reflects a growing focus on regional collaboration, transparency, vertical integration, and the evolving role of the CAFTA region within the global textile industry.

Why Now?

Nearshoring is accelerating across the global textile and apparel industry as brands rethink how supply chains are built, managed, and connected. Speed, proximity, transparency, and regional collaboration are becoming increasingly important as companies respond to changing market expectations, shifting sourcing strategies, and the need for more resilient production models across the Americas.

At the same time, the CAFTA region holds many of the capabilities already needed to support that transition—from vertically integrated manufacturing and established textile infrastructure to geographic proximity and technical expertise. The conversation is no longer about potential alone, but about how the region can move forward with greater alignment, stronger visibility, and a more unified voice within the global supply chain.

What Shapes the Experience?

01
We build relationships that truly last
02
We show every step we take without filters
03
What starts here moves the industry

Speakers & Industry Experts Joining

Alex Helander
Director of Business Development,
Bluesign
Supporting responsible textile production, sustainability strategies, and supply chain transparency across the global apparel industry.
Gerson Fajardo
Executive consultant in the CPG Sector,
US Cotton Trust
With experience leading sustainability, manufacturing, global sourcing, compliance, and quality strategies across retail and production operations.
Pablo Hernandez
VP of Strategy, Brand and Manufacturing,
SIERRA
Leading long-term business strategy through operational alignment, procurement, and cross-functional collaboration across manufacturing and corporate transformation.

Inside Nearshoring Summit 2026 Agenda

June 23
Day 01
Tour of SIERRA Spinning Mills
Morning
Transfer to Quimistán
On Transit
Welcome & opening remarks
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Guided Spinning Tour (fiber to yarn process)
On Transit
On-site session by Rieter
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Midday
Lunch
On Transit
Yarn Experience Lab
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Afternoon
Yarn Experience Lab
On Transit
Fabric Outcome Preview
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Industry Conversation
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Session by Gerson Fajardo
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Morning
Return to hotel
On Transit
Hosted Dinner  
From Honduras Spinning Mills
June 24
Day 02
Fabric, Chemistry & Performance
Morning
Transfer to Quimistán
On Transit
Guided Dye House Tour
From Northern Textiles
Midday
Lunch
On Transit
Afternoon
SIERRA Chemicals Experience
On Transit
Solar Panels Visit
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Future Expansion Stop
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Session by bluesign
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Closing Session
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Morning
Return to hotel
On Transit
Closing Dinner
From Honduras Spinning Mills
June 25
Day 03
Sustainability Forum by VESTEX
Morning
Transfer to Quimistán
On Transit
Welcome & opening remarks
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Guided Spinning Tour (fiber to yarn process)
On Transit
On-site session by Rieter
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Midday
Lunch
On Transit
Yarn Experience Lab
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Afternoon
Yarn Experience Lab
On Transit
Fabric Outcome Preview
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Industry Conversation
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Session by Gerson Fajardo
From Honduras Spinning Mills
Morning
Return to hotel
On Transit
Hosted Dinner  
From Honduras Spinning Mills

The Facilities Behind the Experience

Step inside the textile operations driving innovation, performance, and nearshoring across Honduras.

Pricing & Access

Experience three days across the CAFTA region through mill tours, innovation, sustainability, and industry connection.
Day
Experience
Access
Day 1
Tour of SIERRA Spinning Mills
Complimentary
Day 2
Fabric, Chemistry & Performance
Complimentary
Day 3
Sustainability Forum by VESTEX
$20 USD Forum Pass
Additional forum details and registration information will be available soon through the VESTEX website.
All experiences are complimentary except the Sustainability Forum by VESTEX. Airfare is not included, but our team can support participants with flight coordination and booking assistance if needed.

Visa Requirements

Travel requirements may vary depending on your nationality.

Our team can support participants with:
Passport validity guidance
Entry and visa support
Invitation letters upon request
Travel coordination assistance
Review the official entry requirements for both destinations before traveling to ensure all necessary documentation is completed in advance.

Moments From Previous Editions

A look into past experiences, industry connections, mill visits, and conversations that have helped shape the Nearshoring Summit across the CAFTA region.

Be Part of the Experience

Stay up to date as the Nearshoring Summit 2026 experience takes shape, from speaker announcements and program updates to mill visits and registration details.

Reserve your spot through the link below.