Clarke will work with vice-chair Ted Dagnese, head of sourcing at the Lululemon Athletica group. Katherine Gold, president of the Goldburg group, has been appointed treasurer, while the CEO of BBC International, Josue Solano, is the association’s new secretary. Clarke has indicated that AAFA’s new board of directors will strive to make the association more agile and adaptive, at a time when manufacturing practices and consumer behaviour are changing at an increasingly fast pace.“Sarah Clarke’s track record of fostering diverse and strategic partnerships is vital and unparalleled, as we continue to navigate global supply chain disruptions and enter a critical period of trade policy negotiations,” said Steve Lamar, CEO of AAFA. “Her laser focus on what it takes for supply chains to be competitive, sustainable, and responsible, combined with a unique global perspective, will be hugely beneficial,” he added.

AAFA has some 1,000 members, operating in the footwear and apparel industries as labels, retailers and manufacturers. The sector is said to generate 3 million jobs in the USA, for an estimated retail sales volume of some $350 billion. AAFA represents the fashion industry in the USA, and is working with the government on the sector’s main challenges. Recently, the association has focused its attention on the project for a new legal framework for US maritime freight, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. Rising rates and haphazard service levels have frequently been denounced by AAFA in the last few months.