Name: Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference
Start: 2025-04-29 00:00:00 UTC
End: 2025-04-30 00:00:00 UTC
Location: Amsterdam

This event is passed. Registration for the North America edition in June is open.

See more here

This two-day business conference targets forward-thinking leaders in the apparel and textiles industry, bringing together a variety of stakeholders to focus on essential strategies for tackling today’s challenges. We'll equip attendees with actionable insights and guides for adapting operations to create a real impact amid growing competition and scrutiny, all while managing tight budgets.

Ethical and transparent sourcing

Discover step-by-step strategies for engaging stakeholders across the value chain. Learn how to effectively collaborate from tier 4 suppliers to consumers amidst evolving regulations.

Net-zero decarbonisation

Get expert guidance on securing investment for profitable decarbonisation and essential considerations for a just transition.

Climate, nature and water

Escape carbon tunnel vision for more holistic and effective strategies that recognise the synergies and complexities of the climate crisis.

Circularity and sustainable design

Explore practical, efficient, and economical methods for advancing circularity, and develop innovative approaches to 'end-of-life' strategies to remain competitive.

Click here for the US Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Forum

Speakers

Nicolaj Reffstrup

GANNI

Co-founder

Lynne Walker

Primark

Director of Primark Cares

Logan Duran

Tapestry

Vice President, ESG and Sustainability

Thijs Maartens

Tommy Hilfiger

Vice President Global Sustainability

Gudrun Messias

Adidas

Director Global Sustainability Direction

Carsten Wentink

European Commission

Policy Officer

Dounia Wone

Vestiaire Collective

Chief Impact Officer

Begüm Kürkçü

Senior Director of Sustainability

View all speakers

Agenda highlights

The state of sustainable fashion: Assess whether current climate strategies are both just and achievable
Navigating policy: Strategies for compliance with evolving EU and global regulations, including the CSRD
Due diligence: How to demonstrate action against forced labour and prevent human rights abuses
Understanding EPR: Unpack the Netherlands' policy in the context of wider EU pending regulation
Eco-design directions: Unlock opportunities for a more durable and transparent supply chain
Inclusive decarbonisation: Practical steps for an effective and equitable transition plan, incorporating supplier perspectives
Overcoming overproduction: Pathways for waste-prevention, enhanced efficiency and supply chain optimisation

Financing innovation: Who will bridge the finance gap for a sustainable transformation?
Closing the loop: Essential actions to achieve circularity, from design to waste management
Beyond carbon: Key actions to integrate water stewardship and biodiversity conservation into climate strategies
Material risks: Assess the full impact of material choices in the context of the rise of virgin fossil-based synthetic fibres
Next-gen materials: How can we ensure reliability, improve affordability and scale innovation?
Greenwash vs. Greenhush: Is the crackdown on green claims getting in the way of progress?
Closing the say-do gap: How to engage consumers for lasting behavioural change

View full agenda

Why attend?

Discover best practices from industry leaders and get in-depth guidance on how to effectively implement policies

Meet & network with an influential audience of key stakeholders, including NGOs, business, government and supply chain actors

Benchmark company performance amongst a room of your peers and discover where you should be focusing efforts

What you can expect:

Candid conversations and open debate

We prioritise open, honest debates under the Chatham House rule, avoiding PowerPoint presentations. Our "other" rooms facilitate intimate, moderated discussions on often-avoided topics, fostering constructive, solution-focused dialogue. All participants are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences.

Participatory learning

We’re creating dynamic opportunities for attendees to actively engage and shape the conversation. With the introduction of the 'This House believes' debate format, alongside scenario-based breakouts, Q&A sessions, and discussion roundtables, we focus on critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving. These sessions are designed to ensure that every participant has the opportunity to share their expertise, fostering an inclusive environment to generate meaningful solutions.

Practical, focused problem solving

Our breakout sessions emphasise hands-on problem-solving for real business challenges. Featuring real-world case studies, we break down successes and lessons learned step-by-step. By leveraging the expertise of all participants, we address critical issues and deliver clear, actionable outcomes for immediate implementation.

Impactful networking & tech solutions

Innovative technologies like life cycle assessments (LCA), traceability, and manufacturing solutions are key to addressing sustainability challenges such as overproduction, circularity, and consumer engagement. Our multi-stakeholder environment offers ample opportunities for collaboration, with networking, side events, and interactive formats to help you build impactful partnerships and drive progress.

The collective intellect, experience and dedication to frank discussion about authentic change has inspired me enormously.

Laurel Schaffer - Founder of VIV Refashioned Couture

Feeling inspired and energized after catching up with some old friends and making new connections at the forum.

Nany Trivita Kusama - Senior Director of Circular Business at Tommy Hilfiger

So many great insights to take back and share with the team. Thanks for the inspiring agenda as well as the fruitful and challenging discussions

Sarah de Visser - Senior Textile Innovation Specialist at On Running

The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers and engaging discussions that inspired and motivated attendees to be a part of the movement for a more sustainable future.

Alison Ward - CEO of Cotton Connect

What’s different about this forum?

Innovation Forum is:

Candid: Entirely off-the-record discussion that enables open and honest disclosure from speakers and genuine participation from the audience.
Practical: A clear focus on the practical and actionable guidance that can drive change throughout industries and supply chains.
Focused: We provide enough time, resources and expertise to the issues that really matter. We don’t skate the surface, but get to the crux of the issues to provide in-depth, constructive discussion.

Innovation Forum is NOT:

A PR platform: Enthusiastic speakers are NOT given free rein to fill a session presenting their companies, allowing no time to actually get to the crux of the issues.
A talking shop: This is NOT an opportunity for a group people in a room to simply agree with everything said, regardless of outcomes.
All promise, no delivery: We will NOT promise what we can’t deliver. The issues covered are complex. They won’t be solved at a two-day conference. But we will help deliver progress through in-depth, constructive and practical advice around specific issues.