#ITMA 2015

2015-05-13

World Textile Summit 2015 reveals first speakers

The first speakers have been announced for the World Textile Summit, which will be co-located with ITMA 2015 and explore sustainability strategies to create business value in the textile manufacturing value chain. In line with the key themes of ITMA 2015, the Summit’s programme is being developed to explore a series of topics that link decisions on sustainability to profitability and corporate success.

These include the role of sustainability in:

differentiating brands and companies
business profitability and security
investment decisions
the circular supply chain
customer acquisition and retention
product development

The Summit will be an opportunity for textile business leaders to share and discuss their own direct experiences, with several presenting short case studies and engaging in audience debate on topics that include:

the investment case for green technology
value creation from the use of sustainable materials

Speakers announced today include Helga Vanthourout, a senior consultant at the Sustainability and Resource Productivity Practice of McKinsey and Company. Ms Vanthourout is an expert in the circular economy as it relates to textiles and her clients range from manufacturers to waste-management companies and even city authorities. In 2014, McKinsey, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, authored an influential report on the circular supply chain, on behalf of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The World Bank, whose International Finance Corporation division reported in 2012 on ‘The Business Case for Sustainability’, has also accepted an invitation to speak at the Summit.

Top-level speakers from within the textile community include: Frank Henke, VP for Social & Environmental Affairs, adidas; Dr Johannes Merck, CSR Director, Otto Group; Linda Keppinger, Global Materials Director, Nike Inc; Barak Tun, Director Sales, Menderes Tekstil; and Roger Yeh, President, Everest Textile Company. Other speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Scheduled for 13 November 2015, the second day of ITMA 2015 in Milan, the World Textile Summit 2015 is designed to 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.

The event is sponsored by leading textile-machinery companies and environmental standards bodies including SPGPrints, MS Italy, bluesign technologies, Oeko-Tex, Reggiani, and Oerlikon. Supporting partners include the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, The Textile Institute and the Better Cotton Initiative.

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.