#ITMA 2015

2014-07-23

World Textile Summit 2015 to explore the business benefits of an effective sustainability strategy

Mr. Du Yuzhou, President of China National Textile & Apparel Council spoke at the World Textile Summit (WTS) 2011 in Barcelona. (c) 2014 Cematex

The second World Textile Summit (WTS) will explore sustainability strategies that create business value in the textile manufacturing value chain. Scheduled for 13 November 2015, and co-located with ITMA 2015 in Milan, WTS 2015 will be a unique one-day event that brings together the world's most influential textile leaders to debate issues of strategic importance to the global industry. It is owned and organised by CEMATEX, WTiN and MP Expositions.

In line with the key themes of ITMA 2015, WTS 2015 will seek to answer sustainability questions that matter to the industry's strategic decision-makers:

What return should I expect from capital investment in resource-efficient technologies?
How do I establish and monitor a sustainable supply chain?
What are the market opportunities that arise from a strategy based on clean production and sustainable materials?
How do I manage the risks to corporate reputation?

Charles Beauduin, President of CEMATEX, said: "ITMA 2015 will be an opportunity for manufacturers to view and compare the latest in resource-efficient textile technologies. Such investments take place against a policy background where senior decision-makers have to consider their sustainability strategies against corporate objectives. World Textile Summit 2015 will help to place sustainability in its context as a key component of value creation in any business.”

Mark Jarvis, Managing Director of WTiN, said, "WTS 2015 will be different from other conferences examining sustainable methods in textile manufacturing. Instead of delving into the detail of technical solutions, delegates will hear from international experts on the business value created through a strong sustainability strategy.”

Programme development will be assisted by an advisory panel that currently includes: Jason Kibbey, Executive Director of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition; Jonas Eder-Hansen, Programme Director of the Nordic Initiative Clean & Ethical; LaRhea Pepper, Managing Director of Textile Exchange; Patrick Laine, CEO of the Better Cotton Initiative; Baroness Young of Hornsey, Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Ethics and Sustainability in Fashion, and Ambassador for the Ethical Fashion Forum and MADE-BY; and Saskia Hedrich, Senio Knowledge Expert, Apparel Fashion & Luxury, at McKinsey & Co.

Eileen Ng, Project Director of ITMA 2015, said: "With almost 16 months still to go, WTS 2015 is already attracting strong support from the broader textile community. We are very pleased to have the Textile Institute and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition on board as our supporting partners.”

Leading textile machinery companies SPGPrints, MS Italy and Oerlikon have also confirmed their sponsorship of the event, as has the sustainable-manufacturing specialist bluesign technologies.

For more information, please visit www.worldtextilesummit.com

ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026 Shanghai showcases intelligent and sustainable manufacturing

From 20 to 24 November 2026, the textile machinery industry will gather in Shanghai for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, Asia’s leading business platform for textile machinery, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The exhibition will occupy seven halls, with a total gross exhibition area of about 180,000 square metres. The exhibition has expanded by 10% over the last edition which reflects the continued industry interest in the region.

ITMA 2027 receives strong industry response

ITMA 2027 has unveiled its sector plan, marking progress towards the 2027 edition as planning continues ahead of the show. The ITMA 2027 sector plan covers 12 halls at the Messegelände Hannover venue, spanning over 180,000 square metres, and features 20 sectors of the textile and garment making processes, from spinning to finishing, software and automation, recycling, and fibres, yarns and fabrics.

ITMA 2027 gains strong momentum

In line with the theme "Co-creating the future of textiles", ITMA continues to strengthen its support for start-ups, recognising their role in driving innovation and shaping the future of textile and garment manufacturing. Through the Start-Up Valley, emerging companies gain access to a global marketplace where they can connect with industry leaders, potential partners, investors and customers.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.