05/18/2026
After winning the COBMEX® Knitwear Innovation Challenge, developed in partnership with George Brown Polytechnic’s School of Fashion, fashion student Leticia Zamolo Duque was awarded the opportunity to attend this year’s NAUMD, Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors Convention in Boston.
For Leticia, the experience opened the door to an entirely different side of fashion design, one focused on technical performance, functionality, and designing for real working environments:
“Before NAUMD, I had no idea how innovative and technical the uniform industry truly is. It completely changed my perspective on fashion design.”
That perspective shift is exactly why initiatives like the Knitwear Innovation Challenge matter.
Many emerging designers are never exposed to the uniform industry during their education, despite the scale, complexity, and impact of the work. Programs like this help bridge that gap by connecting students directly with the people, processes, and technical thinking behind performance knitwear.
Throughout the convention, Leticia had the opportunity to meet professionals across manufacturing, design, sourcing, and distribution while seeing firsthand how much engineering, research, and long-term thinking goes into uniform programs:
“One of the most memorable parts of NAUMD was the generosity of the people in the industry. Everyone was eager to share knowledge and support each other.”
At COBMEX®, we believe the future of the uniform industry depends on continuing to invest in emerging talent and creating opportunities for the next generation of designers to experience the industry firsthand.