Textile Exchange, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable textile practices, is teaming up with Swiss sourcing solution company Bluesign Technologies in Milan this October for a back-to-back showcase of the latest advances in ecologically-friendly fashion.
With similar goals centered on the advancement of sustainable practices in textile production, Textile Exchange and Bluesign decided to combine forces for a five-day event.
“Textile Exchange recognizes the importance of collaboration in order to accelerate sustainability in fashion, and this year’s Textile Exchange conference is noteworthy for highlighting collaborative initiatives transforming our industry in more sustainable ways,” said Textile Exchange managing director LaRhea Pepper.
The event will begin on Oct. 18 with the 5th annual Bluesign conference, featuring consumer psychologist Simonetta Carbonaro as the opening speaker. The aim of the conference is to outline the greatest challenges facing textile production and sourcing as it transforms into a more sustainable and transparent industry. The theme for the Bluesign portion of the event is, “TraceAbility. NetworkAbility, TransformAbility: Stitching the Blue Way Together.”
“We are pleased to cooperate with Textile Exchange and connect professionals around the world to drive the sustainability transformation in the industry,” said Bluesign Technologies CEO Jill Dumain. “The 5th Bluesign conference will offer plenty of opportunities for matchmaking and networking with other attendees and sharing your business prospects with like-minded colleagues in the industry.”
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The Bluesign stage of the event will take place within Milan’s Museo Nazionale della Sciencza e della Tecnologia in the recently renovated Cavallerizze exhibition center.
The Textile Exchange Sustainability Conference starts on Oct. 22 after a break over the weekend, and will take place in the Milano Congressi, the largest convention center in Italy. Textile Exchange expects more than 500 industry leaders will attend the event intended for high-level textile sourcing professionals. The list of speakers confirmed for the conference includes Pacific Institute president Jason Morrison, World Resources Institute research analyst Deborah Drew, Forum for the Future CEO Sally Uren and Hohenstein Institute America managing director Ben Mead.
Textile Exchange plans to tackle tough topics, including water stewardship in the apparel sector, apparel and textiles in a circular economy, and new reports on sustainability strategies.
Pepper said she’s optimistic about the appeal of the conference. “We offer content for every level of expertise and every role in the value chain–from our Basics Day to our Round Tables and Working Groups to our more expert plenaries and breakout sessions,” she said.