NAUMD, Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors, 186 Stoll Road, Evanston, IL (2026)

08/05/2026

Duty footwear is in the middle of a significant transition, and the decisions being made right now will shape what first responders and military professionals wear for years to come.

On September 8 at 12:00 PM EST, The Uniformer goes live with Stuart Brooks, Sales Manager at Rocky Brands, for a conversation about where protective footwear standards and product innovation are heading.

Rocky Brands, Inc.

Stuart will walk through the shift from NFPA 1977 to the new NFPA 1999 standards, the ongoing Boot Bill conversation, and how evolving regulations are directly influencing product development and purchasing decisions across public safety and military markets. He will also introduce Rocky's latest platforms, including the lightweight Super Cop and Alpha Lite, along with the newest USMC-certified S2V and Havoc boots.

For anyone involved in footwear sourcing, uniform program management, public safety procurement, or product development, this is a conversation worth tuning into.

Bring your questions and join us live.

September 8, 2026 | 12:00 PM EST
Live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

08/05/2026

LION introduced a breakthrough in dress uniform comfort with the CX360™ Stretch Single-Breasted Blousecoat—the first blousecoat on the market featuring both a stretch outer shell and a fully stretch-lined interior, available for men and women.

By merging elevated dress uniform tailoring with 360° stretch fabric technology, the CX360 delivers the polished, formal appearance officers expect while unlocking freedom of movement previously impossible in traditional dress uniforms. Extensive wear testing with trusted dealer partners and active agencies validated fit, mobility, and satisfaction before market release.

Early adopters consistently report immediate improvements in comfort and mobility compared to traditional blousecoats. In the marketplace, the CX360 has demonstrated strong momentum as agencies recognize the rare combination of formal precision and all-day wearable comfort it delivers.

You can view all 2026 NAUMD Award winners and learn more by visiting https://naumd.com/awards/

08/04/2026

Can outstanding personal service still be your greatest competitive advantage?

On September 10 at 12:00 PM EST, The Uniformer goes live with Linda Cohen-Tobin, President and Owner of Neptune Uniforms & Equipment, for a conversation that gets to the heart of what it means to build a lasting business in today's uniform market.

Neptune Uniforms & Equipment

Neptune has built its reputation on exceptional personal service, serving first responders, transportation organizations, and security professionals for decades. Linda will share how the company is navigating the pressures every independent distributor faces right now: e-commerce competition, shifting customer expectations, and a marketplace where, as she puts it, there seems to be a uniform store on every corner. The discussion will also cover Neptune's specialized expertise in Honor Guard and Class A uniforms, its work bringing innovative products from Compliant Technologies to first responders, and how industry partnerships continue to expand what the company can offer its customers.

The central question threading through it all: in a world that keeps adding new channels and technologies, are personal relationships becoming less important or more valuable than ever?

For manufacturers, distributors, and uniform program managers, this is a conversation worth having.

Bring your questions and join us live.

September 10, 2026 | 12:00 PM EST
Live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

08/04/2026

Join us for a live conversation with Lisa Li, Creative Director at Thames Apparel International, a global manufacturing and sourcing partner serving many of the world’s leading corporate apparel, hospitality, airline, retail, and workwear programs.

Today’s uniform programs demand far more than simply producing garments. Buyers are looking for performance fabrics, consistent fit, faster development cycles, sustainable sourcing, reliable global manufacturing, and supply chains that can respond to an ever-changing marketplace. We’ll explore how companies are navigating these challenges while continuing to deliver apparel that looks professional, performs in demanding environments, and provides lasting value.

During this session, Lisa will share how Thames Apparel works with brands and organizations to develop everything from performance dress shirts and knit polos to tailored suiting, hospitality collections, airline uniforms, and industrial workwear. We’ll discuss fabric innovation, product development, sourcing strategies, quality management, compliance, replenishment programs, and the trends shaping the future of professional apparel.

Whether you’re responsible for designing uniforms, sourcing products, managing supply chains, or overseeing a corporate apparel program, this conversation will offer valuable insights into what it takes to build successful uniform programs in today’s global marketplace.

Bring your questions and join us live for an informative discussion on innovation, manufacturing, and the future of uniform apparel.

08/04/2026

The most forward-thinking uniform programs are no longer just about what employees wear. They are about what the brand communicates.

On September 3 at 12:00 PM EST, The Uniformer goes live as host Rick Levine sits down with Tony Schenk, Director of National Accounts at BAMKO, a division of Superior Group of Companies, for a conversation about how uniforms and promotional products are increasingly working together to create stronger brand experiences.

Tony will share what he is seeing across quick-service restaurant, transportation, hospitality, and industrial markets, where brands are moving away from a single year-round uniform toward seasonal uniform drops that align with marketing campaigns and promotions. The discussion will also examine why the most successful uniform programs today are less about individual products and more about the message they send, the audience they reach, and the experience they create.

For manufacturers, distributors, decorators, and brand managers, this conversation offers a timely look at how the lines between uniforms, merchandise, and marketing continue to blur, and what that means for the future of branded apparel.

Bring your questions and join us live.

September 3, 2026 | 12:00 PM EST
Live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

08/04/2026

Tune in today, August 4 at 12:00 PM EST, for Uniformer live with Thames Apparel International.

Building a successful uniform program today means solving problems that did not exist a decade ago.

Today The Uniformer goes live with Lisa Li, Creative Director at Thames Apparel International, for an inside look at what modern uniform manufacturing actually requires.

Apparel International

Thames Apparel serves as a global manufacturing and sourcing partner for leading corporate apparel, hospitality, airline, retail, and workwear programs. Lisa will share how the company works with brands and organizations to develop everything from performance dress shirts and knit polos to tailored suiting, hospitality collections, airline uniforms, and industrial workwear.

The conversation will cover fabric innovation, product development, sourcing strategies, quality management, compliance, and replenishment programs. It will also explore the broader pressures uniform buyers are navigating right now: performance fabric expectations, consistent fit across global supply chains, faster development cycles, sustainable sourcing, and the kind of supply chain flexibility that today's marketplace demands.

If your work touches uniform design, sourcing, supply chain management, or corporate apparel program oversight, this conversation is built for you.

Bring your questions and join us live.

August 4, 2026 | 12:00 PM EST
Live on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

Learn more at https://events.naumd.com/events

08/03/2026

Protective clothing is no longer just a garment. It is an engineered safety system, and the market is reflecting that shift in a significant way.

According to Transparency Market Research, the global protective clothing market was valued at $11.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $24.0 billion by 2035. The growth is being driven not by volume purchasing, but by industrial buyers demanding higher performance: multi-hazard protection, advanced fiber technology, sustainability credentials, supply chain traceability, and certified compliance with international standards.

This piece from Textile Today does an excellent job laying out what is driving that transformation. Material science is replacing sewing capacity as the primary competitive advantage. PFAS-free chemistries and recycled fiber inputs are becoming procurement requirements rather than optional features. Smart PPE with embedded sensors for monitoring worker health and environmental conditions is moving from concept to commercial reality. And trust, demonstrated through ISO, EN, ASTM, and NFPA certification, has become a more powerful differentiator than price.

For uniform and workwear manufacturers and distributors serving industrial, public safety, healthcare, and utility markets, this article is a useful benchmark for where buyer expectations are heading and what it will take to stay competitive.

Full article at https://www.textiletoday.com.bd/protective-clothing-market-is-shifting-from-ppe-to-engineered-safety

Each week we publish The Pulse, a free email newsletter with news, research, and information of interest to anyone in the uniform, image apparel, and public safety equipment industry.

Not subscribed? Make 2026 the year you join 10,000 other uniform and workwear professionals looking to expand their network, grow their knowledge, and stay up to date on the current news surrounding the uniform, image apparel, and public safety equipment industry via a weekly newsletter.

Subscribe now at https://naumd.com/subscribe/

08/03/2026

What if someone asked you to explain, in one minute, why uniforms matter?

As we count down to National Uniform Day on September 16, NAUMD is inviting people from across the uniform community to help us build something meaningful: a collection of authentic voices that tells the story of uniforms, image apparel, and workwear, in the words of the people who live it every day.

Whether you manufacture uniforms, distribute them, design them, specify them, sell them, manage a program, or proudly wear one, your perspective is part of a much larger story. Uniforms help people stay safe, build pride, strengthen brands, create trust, and help organizations serve their communities. That story deserves to be told.

We are asking you to record a short video, just a minute or two, sharing what uniforms mean to you. No special software or account required. Just click the link, hit record, and share what you know.

Some prompts to get you started:

Why are uniforms important? What do you wish more people understood about this industry? Why are you proud to be part of it?

Your video does not need to be polished. It just needs to be yours.

🎬 Record your video here: https://vocalvideo.com/c/naumd-national-uniform-day

08/01/2026

Congratulations to Randy Carr, CEO of World Emblem, on being named the 2026 Counselor Person of the Year by the Advertising Specialty Institute.

For those in the uniform and garment decoration industry, Randy and World Emblem need no introduction. What began as a family business rebuilt from near collapse in a one-bedroom apartment in South Florida has grown into a global operation employing approximately 1,500 people, producing more than 250 million products annually, and generating an estimated $168 million in annual revenue, a fourfold increase since 2018.

The profile is a candid and compelling read. Randy has become one of the more outspoken voices in the industry on tariffs, nearshoring, and the urgency of adapting to change, including a rapid move to open facilities in Houston and the Dominican Republic in direct response to shifting trade conditions. He is also making significant investments in agentic AI with the stated goal of removing repetitive work from across his entire executive team.

Beyond the business headlines, there is a deeply personal story here worth reading, including the family's commitment to MADD following a tragedy that shaped who Randy is as a leader and as a father.

A well-deserved recognition for someone who has been unafraid to take big risks and speak plainly about what it takes to grow in uncertain times.

Read the full story at https://members.asicentral.com/news/strategy/july-2026/counselor-2026-person-of-the-year-randy-carr-world-emblem/

Each week we publish The Pulse, a free email newsletter with news, research, and information of interest to anyone in the uniform, image apparel, and public safety equipment industry.

Not subscribed? Make 2026 the year you join 10,000 other uniform and workwear professionals looking to expand their network, grow their knowledge, and stay up to date on the current news surrounding the uniform, image apparel, and public safety equipment industry via a weekly newsletter.

Subscribe now at https://naumd.com/subscribe/

07/31/2026

A significant regulatory shift just took effect in Europe that the global apparel and uniform industry should be tracking.

As of July 19, large companies operating in the EU are now prohibited from destroying unsold clothing, accessories, and footwear under the European Commission's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Medium-sized companies will be subject to the same rules beginning in 2030. The regulation requires businesses to prioritize keeping products in use through discounting, donation, resale, repair, or remanufacturing. Destruction is permitted only in narrow circumstances, such as when items are unsafe, counterfeit, or rejected by charitable partners, and companies must maintain five years of records and publish annual disclosure reports.

The scale of the problem this regulation is designed to address is significant. According to the European Environment Agency, an estimated 4 to 9 percent of all textile products put on the EU market are destroyed before use, amounting to between 264,000 and 594,000 tonnes of textiles destroyed each year.

For uniform manufacturers, distributors, and program managers, this is a meaningful development. End-of-life planning, return and reuse programs, and lifecycle management are no longer optional considerations in the European market. They are legal requirements for large businesses and will be for mid-sized companies within four years.

The conversation our industry has been having about sustainability just became a compliance conversation in the EU.

Read the full story at https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/ban-destruction-unsold-clothes-and-shoes-enters-application-2026-07-17_en

Each week we publish The Pulse, a free email newsletter with news, research, and information of interest to anyone in the uniform, image apparel, and public safety equipment industry.

Subscribe now at https://naumd.com/subscribe/

NAUMD, Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors

08/05/2026

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