Industry experts from France, Italy and Japan are confirmed to speak, and will give their unique take on what trends will shape the textile and fashion sectors next year.

Industry experts will present the latest updates on textile certifications and standards

A series of Certifications and Standards seminars will be hosted by industry professionals from organisations such as the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), IMO Control China, Testex, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) and WWF.

One such speaker is Ms Shirley Han of GOTS. Having previously spoken at Interstoff seminars, she explains that her presentation on organic textiles is beneficial for buyers, manufacturers, designers, educators and students who are looking for the latest updates on this fast-changing topic.

"Interstoff Asia Essential is the perfect event to start spreading the message about organic cotton and the benefits of choosing organic cotton. We believe organic textiles will become a significant part of everyday life, enhancing people’s life and the environment, so organisations should certainly be aware of the trends to capture future business opportunities," she explains.

Another seminar that will be beneficial for both exhibitors and buyers is the Oeko-Tex presentation on day two. This seminar’s speaker, Dr Jean-Pierre Haug, COO of Testex, thinks that "international buyers and top retail brands are increasingly searching for high-caliber suppliers and sustainable textile products that don’t contain harmful substances."

"With that in mind, this seminar will outline how Oeko-Tex standards can help manage environmental risk and ensure compliance, allocate resources more efficiently, incorporate environmental strategies through business planning, and enhance relationships among customer, suppliers and communities," Dr Haug says.

Eco-textile Labelling Scheme to help buyers identify eco-friendly exhibitors

Developed in conjunction with International Association Natural Textile Industry (IVN) and Systain, the Eco-textile Labelling Scheme will also be outlined.

It features four labels to help buyers identify eco-friendly exhibitors throughout the show:

• Green Label – fabrics produced with certified organic raw materials
• Brown Label – fabrics made in accordance with social responsibility and transparency standards
• Blue Label – fabrics manufactured using optimised dyeing and finishing processes
• Silver Label – fabrics that meet some criteria from each of the above labels