Nov 9 - 12 Textile Exchange held their annual conference in Portland OR.
I wanted to share some insights gleaned from the event for me.
In looking back even just 5 years ago the conversation was much more about convincing us that there is an environmental and social crisis in our world today and a dire need to start addressing these issues. Today that conversation is moving into mainstream media and conferences like this are focusing on solutions.
There was a lot of excitement to see ideas like Bio-based polyesters in the market and a desire to move away from food based sugars. I was also inspired by the technologies around dying, water less, or reduced water use.
And there was a whole track of sessions on Chemistry. One designer leaned over to me and said, "I had no idea when I went to fashion school I was going to need my Chemistry knowledge."
The industry is changing and in some ways too slow and in others quite quickly. Overall the sentiment is a desire for figuring out solutions.
Inspiring few days!
