Herman had previously held the role of policy senior vice president. In this position, he managed the policy department's activities, including lobbying, policy formulation, and regulatory affairs.
With a career spanning two decades at AAFA, Herman has been advancing trade advocacy, product safety, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
According to the association, he has been instrumental in creating and executing CSR policies and representing the industry's stance on CSR matters to governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and various influential stakeholders.
Throughout his tenure, Herman is said to have spearheaded various initiatives for the benefit of AAFA's members. These initiatives include the implementation of significant trade preference programmes and bolstering US manufacturing. They also involve curbing restrictive regulations, advocating for alignment with the THREADS Protocol, and enhancing the industry's intellectual property safeguards in the battle against illicit trade.
AAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar said: “Our members navigate incredibly complex hurdles products for US consumers in their efforts to design, make, and distribute safe, authentic, responsibly made, ethically sourced, and affordable. These members look to Nate Herman for his expertise, vision, integrity, and reach in Washington. His natural move into this role is a win-win for the association and the membership."
Before his time at AAFA, Herman was with the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, where he supported American firms entering international markets.
He concluded his service at the Commerce Department as an industry analyst for the footwear and travel goods sectors.
Herman said: “I am delighted to have the continued trust of the AAFA membership. I cherish this opportunity to step forward in a meaningful way as we continue to highlight the contributions of US-based apparel, footwear, accessories, and travel goods companies, honing our strategic priorities while drawing attention to public policy impacts on fashion’s contributions to the global economy.
“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."
