#Raw Materials

2016-05-12

IWTO welcomes new Secretary General

IWTO is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Secretary General, Dalena White. Bringing with her a wide range of experience in marketing, retail and fashion, Dalena will take up the role as of 17 May 2016 at which time the current Secretary General, Elisabeth van Delden, will step down to pursue new career goals.

Dalena's background includes working as a designer and pattern maker to two successful design studios, and for a number of years serving on the board of Sweet-Orr and Lybro, a leader in the protective clothing business, as Merchandise Director for men’s, women’s and children’s denim/cotton garments.

More recently she has served as Marketing Consultant for Cape Wools SA, promoting Merino wool with retailers and designers, building brand awareness and educating consumers about the unique properties of wool. She has curated exhibitions such as Design Indaba and Wool Week South Africa.

Dalena was chosen in a competitive selection process from a strong field of international candidates. Background knowledge of wool and the wool industry combined with experience for marketing, trends and retail made Dalena stand out and the Executive Committee felt these were skills that will help IWTO to deliver even better services to IWTO members.

"We are delighted that Dalena is joining IWTO to continue our goal of creating a sustainable future for wool," said outgoing Secretary General Elisabeth van Delden. "We are confident that she will carry forward all that has been achieved over the past years to establish IWTO as the key platform in support of the wool textile industry."

Pic: Secretary General Dalena White

Wool shoes at the Paris Olympics

The Olympic flame’s journey to Paris 2024 has been a global spectacle, and it took on a particularly sustainable twist in Guadeloupe. Legendary French sprinter Marie José Perec played a pivotal role in carrying the flame, and she did so in style—wearing Circle Sportswear’s innovative SuperNatural Runner shoes, which are made with merino wool.

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.

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.

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.

EDANA announces five new board members following 2026 Annual General Meeting

The EDANA Board of Governors is elected or re-elected at the Annual General Meeting by the member companies. The Governors are senior executives (business leaders) from member companies, based in different countries and representing different sectors of the nonwovens industry. The Board has central responsibility for guiding EDANA's overall strategy and approving its policies and priorities. It meets three times a year.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.