The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has unveiled a refreshed leadership lineup for its Board of Directors, introducing new appointments and re-elected members for the 2026–27 term.

The announcement was made during the 2026 AAFA Annual Executive Summit, where the association confirmed Joe Preston, President and CEO of New Balance, as the new Chair of the Board. He succeeds Halide Alagöz of Ralph Lauren Corporation, who will remain engaged with the organization in the role of Past Chair. Preston expressed enthusiasm about working with the AAFA leadership team to strengthen collaboration across the apparel and footwear ecosystem. He noted that the association has long served as a vital advocate and resource for the industry, adding that he looks forward to supporting initiatives that advance its continued growth and resilience.

Supporting the new chair will be Danilo Amoretty of Carhartt as Vice Chair, Chris Volpe of United Legwear & Apparel Co. as Treasurer, and Sally Gilligan of Gap Inc. as Secretary. The association also welcomed several new board members, who will begin three-year terms starting April 1, 2026. These include Meera Bhatia of Fabletics, Jeffrey Goldfarb of G-III Apparel Group, Raj Palakshappa of Oxford Industries, Stuart Pond of VF Corporation, and Lisa Williams of Eileen Fisher. In addition, several current board members representing companies across the apparel and footwear industry were re-elected for new terms, reflecting continued collaboration across leading global brands.