Nate Herman named Executive Vice President of American Apparel & Footwear Association

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has promoted Nate Herman to Executive Vice President, the organization announced Monday. In his new role, Herman will work alongside AAFA President and CEO Steve Lamar to guide the association’s membership initiatives and support the Board of Directors.

Herman previously served as Senior Vice President of Policy, where he led AAFA’s lobbying, policy, and regulatory affairs activities. Over the past 20 years, he has played a central role in the association’s advocacy on trade, product safety, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). His work has included efforts to advance trade preference programs, support U.S. manufacturing, reduce regulatory burdens, promote international harmonization through the THREADS Protocol, and strengthen intellectual property protections.

Lamar described Herman’s promotion as a natural progression, citing his “expertise, vision, integrity, and reach in Washington.”

Herman said he looked forward to continuing his work representing the U.S. apparel, footwear, accessories, and travel goods sectors. “In this role, I will continue to map out and refine the core values and collective voice of our industry and our continuous path of improvement,” he said.

Before joining AAFA, Herman worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, where he assisted American firms entering global markets and later served as an industry analyst for the footwear and travel goods sectors.

The announcement coincides with AAFA’s 25th anniversary, marking more than two decades since the 1990s merger of the American Apparel and Manufacturers Association, the Footwear Industries of America, and The Fashion Association. The organization’s origins trace back to the mid-19th century, representing a long-standing collective effort to support education, advocacy, research, and networking within the U.S. apparel and footwear industry.