#Raw Materials

2022-09-28

Cotton decoded - 36th International Cotton Conference Bremen

The time has come: the 36th International Cotton Conference Bremen is about to begin. One of the best-known international conferences on cotton and one of the most important global scientific cotton conferences is starting. Participation in the conference is possible both on-site in Bremen and online. On 29 and 30 September and already days before, several hundred experts and interested people from almost 40 countries will be guests in Bremen. At the beginning of the week, the CmiA Stakeholder Conference has already attracted numerous participants from mainly African producer countries to Bremen.

The International Cotton Conference is taking place in the 150th anniversary year of the Bremen Cotton Exchange. The birthday celebrations are also making their way into the conference. "We are very pleased about the gratifyingly high response to our conference and the participants' confidence in our work expressed by this. And I am particularly pleased to be able to welcome so many guests from Germany and abroad to Bremen and to celebrate our founding anniversary with them. The stay in Bremen finally creates the opportunity for the necessary direct exchange on professional issues. From our point of view, and this is certainly also the opinion in the industry, personal meetings are more desirable than ever after the pandemic restrictions", emphasises Stephanie Silber, President of the Bremen Cotton Exchange.

The anniversary week at a glance

Events in the run-up

The Cotton Week in Bremen began on Monday with a stakeholder conference organised by Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA). On 27-28 September, the first meetings of associations and working groups take place in Bremen. These include the meetings of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), the Discover Natural Fibres Initiative (DNFI), the Industrieverband Veredlung, Garne, Gewebe, Technische Textilien (IVGT), the ICAC Task Force on Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC), the ICA Bremen Board Meeting as well as the meeting of the ICAC expert working group Social, Environmental and Economic Performance of Cotton Production (SEEP). in addition, an expert seminar of the textile industry will take place on Wednesday, 28 September at the ECOMAT Research and Development Centre. Accompanied by lectures, the changing quality requirements along the entire textile value chain will be discussed. The organisers are the Faserinstitut Bremen e.V., the Bremen Cotton Exchange, the ITMF and the IVGT. This confirms how important the conference has become for the industry networks.

New conference venue

The 36th International Cotton Conference Bremen begins on Thursday, 29 September. The venue this time is the Schütting, the listed building of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce, directly on the market square and in the vicinity of the Cotton Exchange. The Chamber of Commerce has represented the interests of Bremen's trade since 1451, including the Bremen Cotton Exchange Association as a member since its foundation in 1872.

Anniversary evening at the Übersee-Museum

On Thursday, in keeping with the anniversary, the traditional Bremen Cotton Night will be held for all guests of the conference, in a different venue from usual, at the Übersee-Museum Bremen. This will be accompanied by the opening of a large cotton exhibition entitled '100 % Cotton' on the cultural history of the raw material in the past, present and future.

Topics of the Cotton Conference

The programme of the International Cotton Conference consists of seven sessions with lectures in presence. These will also be broadcasted online at the same time. In parallel, there will be additional online tracks with further, equally informative content. All sessions will be recorded. This means that participants will not miss any of the sessions and can follow them afterwards.

Poster presentations

A total of 13 poster presentations will provide valuable additional inspiration that will increase the added value for conference participants in Bremen. They will be presented at the conference venue in the Bremen Chamber of Commerce. Just like the conference lectures, but nevertheless from different perspectives, they deal with topics such as organic cotton production and the supply situation, various methods for creating transparency, the technologisation of textile production processes including design or the development of natural fibre-reinforced plastics with increased sound absorption made of flax, hemp and cotton for applications in the automotive sector or in architecture.

Online access to the Cotton Conference Bremen

Conference participants who are not travelling to Bremen and have opted for online participation will receive access data for all conference sessions, poster presentations, the virtual exhibition, workshops and networking/matchmaking events by e-mail before the start of the conference. However, regardless of attendance, all conference participants can also follow sessions online on the platform and use the various networking tools.

During the conference sessions and presentations, there are opportunities for interaction. Participants can use the conference software to ask questions to the conference speakers and get in touch with them. The virtual platform of the International Cotton Conference Bremen with the conference software 'talque' is hosted by the Düsseldorf-based online event agency LIVENCO.

Bremen Cotton Exchange: Fritz A. Grobien re-elected as President

The members of the Bremen Cotton Exchange have re-elected Fritz A. Grobien as President during the association’s 152nd General Assembly on June 18, 2026. The election confirms the organization’s commitment to maintaining its role as a leading international platform for the cotton and fiber industry amid a period of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.

Beyond Cotton: Natural Fibres in the Spotlight at the Bremen Cotton Conference - Branded by DNFI

Climate targets, fragile supply chains, and rising regulatory requirements are fundamentally changing the perspective of the textile industry - the focus is increasingly shifting toward the base material. Not only cotton, but natural fibres are gaining significant importance: they stand out not only because of their outstanding functional properties, but also because they make a valuable contribution to the bioeconomy and responsible product development.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead

Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorder cuts through the ideology to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of both sides of the debate.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.