Can Footwear Manufacturing Return to the USA? | STRIDE USA 2026

Can large-scale footwear manufacturing return to the United States? In this STRIDE USA 2026 panel, leaders from Vibram, HILOS, COMUNITYmade, and Lalaland Production & Design discuss the realities of onshoring footwear manufacturing, rebuilding local supply chains, automation, 3D printing, workforce development, and the future of Made in USA production. 🎤 Speakers: • Sean Scott — Co-Founder & CEO, COMUNITYmade • Alexander Zar — CEO, Lalaland Production and Design • Fabrizio Gamberini — President, Vibram Corp & Global Chief Brand Officer, Vibram Group • Elias Stahl — CEO & Founder, HILOS Studio | Board Member, Made in Old Town ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & The Case for Local Manufacturing 01:54 The Realities of Made in USA Footwear 04:16 Why Localized Manufacturing Matters 06:41 Why the USA Shouldn’t “Manufacture Like China” 11:14 How Brands Can Experiment With Local Production 14:25 The Hidden Costs of Offshore Manufacturing 17:12 Rebuilding Local Supply Chains 21:16 Workforce Training & Manufacturing Skills 26:01 Why Brands Must Commit to Onshoring 30:36 The Future Role of Global Manufacturing Partners 35:04 Can US Manufacturing Compete on Cost? 37:20 What’s Actually Working Right Now 📌 Event: STRIDE USA 2026 — Portland, Oregon 📅 Recorded: March 2026 FIND OUT MORE https://pi.tv/ SOCIAL Instagram:   / pi_apparel   Tiktok:   / pi_apparel   Linkedin:   / pi-apparel   X:   / pi_apparel