Organic Exchange will focus on making sense of the new paradigm of sustainable textiles and help our members advance truly sustainable practices (including organic cotton). As we’ve done with organic cotton, we’ll strive to become a trusted voice in a confusing market and provide useful, decision-making resources and tools for sustainable textiles. We’ll do this in partnership with many of the existing organizations with whom OE has strong relationships and seek other partners working in the field of sustainable textiles.

This new direction was fully supported at Organic Exchange’s annual conference, held in Seattle on the 20 - 22 of October. The theme, ‘21st Century Sustainable Textiles’ was a timely response to the needs of the marketplace with 242 attendees from 22 different countries in attendance. Attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, and speakers came from companies and organizations such as Walmart, Disney, adidas, Huntsman, Lenzing, WWF, C&A, Internet Textile, Novozymes, Otto Group, Anvil, Nike, Esquel, Nordstrom, Patagonia, Federal Trade Commission, Eileen Fisher, REI, Williams-Sonoma, Egedeniz Tekstil A.S., Levi Strauss, Clariant, JC Penney, Thai Alliance, VF Corp/The North Face, Pratibha, Target, and many others.

Response to the event was very positive with conference evaluations rating the usefulness and workshop content as exceeds expectations. Comments typically included responses such as “great balance of content, timing, exhibition and networking.” Organic Exchange is thrilled at the results of the conference and looks forward to convening other similar events in 2010, along with key partners that are active in the field of sustainable textiles.