CEMATEX and its organiser, MP International, is launching a global platform at ITMA 2011 to share trends, exchange views and collaborate for the textile industry’s sustainable future. The Sustainable Textile Leaders Roundtable Dialogue will see participation from major textile machinery manufacturers, textile and apparel producers, and brands and retailers when they converge at ITMA 2011 this September.

Organised as part of ITMA’s 60th anniversary celebrations, the inaugural dialogue is scheduled to be held on the opening day, 22 September 2011, at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via.

 “Besides focusing on innovation and creativity, industry players need to tackle pressing environmental issues to ensure the long term sustainability of their businesses and secure their place in the global economy. We are pleased to partner with Textile Exchange to launch this dialogue to help all textile leaders in their quest for sustainability,” Ms Sylvia Phua, Chief Executive Officer of MP International said.

Consumers demand eco-friendly products

“Consumers are increasingly demanding eco-friendly products and supporting businesses that adopt eco-friendly processes, hence textile makers need to explore cost efficient and environmentally friendly solutions to meet rapidly growing demand. Companies with strong environmental and social commitments who spoke at a recent Textile Exchange conference also noted they had increased sales - even during the recession - as consumers chose to support companies with such initiatives,” a statement form CEMATEX said today.

“Textile sustainability enables the entire value chain to find cost savings and production efficiencies and pass those savings on to customers, while reducing the impact of textile production on people and the environment. With this as the key motivation behind the inaugural dialogue, we will be working closely with the organiser of ITMA 2011 to ensure we make a positive difference in the global textile industry,” Ms LaRhea Pepper, Senior Director of Textile Exchange said.

Invited speakers will share the latest on sustainable innovations, machinery advances and trends for the future that will impact all players in the textile and garment making value chain.

Show owner, CEMATEX, is supportive of this dialogue session. Mr Stephen Combes, President of CEMATEX said: “As the largest textile and garment machinery exhibition in the world, ITMA is well positioned to integrate machinery manufacturers into the entire value chain for sustainable production. The issue of sustainability is part of our longstanding commitment to help the world textile industry innovate and meet the global challenges.”

Celebrating 60 years of innovation

ITMA has been a platform for innovation since its inception. This year being the 60th anniversary, show owner, CEMATEX, is organising a range special events to complement the exhibition and celebrate its long history of innovation.

Apart from the Sustainable Textile Leaders Roundtable Dialogue, ITMA 2011 will present the World Textile Summit, Textile Dyestuff and Chemical Industry Leaders’ Forum and Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)’s Advanced Textiles forum.

World Textile Summit

A first joint initiative between CEMATEX and the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), in partnership with the World Textile Information Network and MP International, the World Textile Summit is a unique one-day event that brings together textile industry leaders and some of the world’s most influential thinkers and policymakers in fields such as economics, trade, technology and sustainability.  The Summit includes confirmed keynote speakers Mr Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary General and Prof Barry J. Eichengreen, Professor of Economics and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley. The event takes place on 21 September 2011, the day before the opening of ITMA 2011.

Textile Dyestuff & Chemical Industry Leaders’ Forum

The Textile Dyestuff and Chemical Industry Leaders’ Forum is scheduled to be held on the mornings of 25 and 26 September 2011 at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via. Currently, the China Dyestuff Industry Association (CDIA), Dyestuffs Manufacturers’ Association of India (DMAI), Indian Speciality Chemical Manufacturers’ Association (ISCMA), Latin American Federation of Textile Chemists (FLAQT) and Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) have confirmed their participation in the forum technical committee, which will chart the direction of the discussion.

IFAI Advanced Textiles Forum

Participants at ITMA may also gain a deeper understanding on technical textiles at The Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI)’s Advanced Textiles forum, which will be held from 26 to 27 September 2011.

Topics to be covered by leading industry experts include an overview of the technical textile market and demands and challenges, an examination of specific end market needs such as performance apparel, bio-hazard/extreme environment and electronic interactive materials as well as digital signage and complex materials applications. Delegates will come away with a new perspective on the industry’s state-of-the-science advancements in technical textile applications.

Launch of comprehensive global road shows and presentations

Since February this year, MP International has embarked on extensive road shows and presentations to key countries across Europe, the Americas, North Africa, Middle East, India and Asia.

Central to the promotional campaigns are establishing partnerships with leading industry associations and buyer groups from the key industry segments, and establishing rapport with government officials from key textile and garment manufacturing countries.

During these visits, the team gives detailed presentations to invited guests in each of the major cities and schedules personal visits to meet with leading members and influencers in the textile and garment industry.

The response from major textile and garment manufacturing markets in the Indian sub-continent which include Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, is said to have been very positive, and plans are underway to organise visiting and buying delegations to ITMA 2011.

In the coming months, MP International will be meeting more textile and garment professionals and trade associations in key markets including Argentina, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

 Industry professionals are invited to visit the world’s largest textile and garment technology showcase and ultimate business platform. The exhibition will be held from 22 to 29 September 2011 at Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía, Barcelona, Spain.

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