Prominent speakers from renowned international fashion companies have agreed to present their outlook on important industry-related topics at the 24th IAF World Apparel Convention to be held in Maastricht (The Netherlands) on October 29th – 31st, 2008.Changing Consumer Needs and the Future of Fashion Business is the central theme of this year’s convention. Four plenary sessions related to the main theme will take place during the convention:

- How will the new generation of consumers shape fashion?

- How will technology shape the future of fashion business?

- How will fashion education shape the future of fashion business?

- What will the future geography of apparel manufacturing and consumption be?

How will the new generation of consumers shape fashion business?

Appealing issues during the first of four sessions include consumer behaviour related to fashion, internet and fashion tribes and how they make or break a brand, the rise in luxury goods and sales vs. downgrading, ethical and corporate social responsibility and how to deal with it, and young consumers and environmental concerns. Leading industry speakers involved in the first session include Ludo Onnink (CFO Tommy Hilfiger, The Netherlands), Bill McComb (CEO Liz Claiborne, USA), Tim Kitchin (Partner, Glasshouse Partnership, UK), Gabriel Llaguno (Director Compliance NIKE, USA), Peter Ingwersen (Director Noir-Illuminati2, Denmark), Samuel Chan (CEO Baleno Holdings, Hong Kong), and Koen Snoeren (International Group Account Manager, GfK Panel Services Benelux, The Netherlands). The moderator during this session is Dr. Michiel Scheffer (Saxion University, The Netherlands).

How will technology shape the future of fashion business?

The focal point of the afternoon session will be on smart textiles creating new niches in fashion, information technology and mass customization, internet connectivity and internet based apparel solutions and consumer communities and their influence on product development. During this session, moderator Dr. Mike Fralix (President & CEO TC[2], USA), will provoke the opinions of Dr. Marc van Parys (University of Gent, Belgium), Uwe Quiede (RFID Project Manager Kaufhof Warenhaus AG, Germany), Paul Wright (General Manager Quality GEORGE, UK) and Antonella Marega (R&D Director Tecnica, Italy).

How will fashion education shape the future of fashion business?

During the morning session of the second convention day, topics to be discussed include balancing creativity and technical skills and harnessing talent to meet the needs of the fashion businesses. Prof. Dr. Dominique Jacomet (Director Institut Francais de la Mode, France) will moderate this sitting. He will be joined by speakers Elizabeth Rouse (Pro Rector Academic Development and Quality University of the Arts London, UK), Liesbeth in’t Hout (Dean Amsterdam Fashion Institute, The Netherlands), Linda Florance (CEO Skillfast, UK), Roland Kahn (CEO Coolcat, The Netherlands) and Agnes Maestripieri (Manager Textiles Decathlon, France).

What will the future geography of apparel manufacturing and consumption be?

The final session of the two day convention will mainly raise awareness on India, where the 25th IAF World Apparel Convention will be held in 2009. Topics to be concentrated on include a worldwide “level playing field” for apparel companies, the growing importance of logistics in outward production and consumer and production trends in India. The Textile Minister of India, Mr. Shankersinh Vaghela, will be joining this session, as well as Harminder Sahni (Managing Director Technopak), Thomas Glaser (Sourcing Director VF Corporation), Andreas Stockert (Supply Chain Director Charles Vogele), and Jan Hilger (Director Operations Hugo Boss Ticino SA). Mr. Arnoud Maas (Senior Partner at KSA) will moderate this session.

Source: International Apparel Federation