Trade Fair : Sustainable Textile Conference Slated for October in Hong Kong .

Textile Exchange has partnered with Messe Frankfurt and Planet Textile to design a global conference intended to take the sustainable textile industry to new levels.  The 2012 Sustainable Textile Conference will be hosted at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Oct. 3-5, running in conjunction with Interstoff Asia Essential - Autumn Fair.

With a focus on problem-solving and action-oriented working sessions, the overall goal of the 2012 global conference is to create an open environment in which the industry’s top leaders and innovators representing the entire value chain from fiber to fashion can discuss real issues and solutions that will benefit the future of the industry. 

Marking its 10th anniversary, Textile Exchange (formerly known as Organic Exchange) is slated to make this global conference a pinnacle event featuring the most innovative and game-changing players in the industry – both as speakers and attendees.  Participants will have an open opportunity to help shape the future of the textile and product industries.  The results will help solve challenges for industry-wide commercialization and scalability of more sustainable textile and product technologies.

Conference highlights include:

• Organic Cotton Round Table - The inaugural meeting of brands, retailers, producers and other value chain members with an ongoing stake in the sustainable health of the organic cotton industry. Stakeholders will collaborate to establish a plan of action that addresses key issues and identifies and removes barriers to growth, including non-GM seed supply, forward contracting and sourcing strategies. In collaboration with Fairtrade International and other key supporters. By invitation only/media must register to attend.
• End of Life – Hear Ricky Miyatake from Teijin, Linda Shih from Goodwill and Christina Dean from ReDress talk about the rapidly-changing End of Life industry.  Attendees will learn how to tap into and influence End of Life strategy and be a part of the global changes ahead.
• Selling the Sizzle - Ed Gillespie, Co-Founder of Futerra, will lead a session about how to educate consumers about sustainability efforts.  While many companies are working hard behind the scenes to develop and commit to sustainable practices, most aren’t sharing these efforts with their customers.  Learn how this communication can strengthen your overall public image. 
• Investment in Tomorrow’s Solutions:  Conference attendees will hear how we, as influencers and investors, can make a change and promote a future for the people living and working in the developing countries who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.  We can all learn to be a part of the solution while investing our resources and focus in the correct locations.

Textile Exchange is headquartered in the USA with staff and contractors located in eight countries.  We envision a global textile industry that protects and restores the environment and enhances lives.  Our mission is to inspire and equip people to accelerate sustainable practices in the textile value chain. We focus on minimizing the harmful impacts of the global textile industry and maximizing its positive effects.
Textile Exchange’s past global conferences have gathered more than 300 textile industry-related representatives from 29 countries.  TE’s global conferences have included representatives from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, adidas, Anvil Knitwear, C&A, Disney, Eileen Fisher, Gap, H&M, Lenzing, LL Bean, Nike, Nordstrom, Patagonia, Puma, REI, Target, Walmart, Williams-Sonoma and many more.