Belgium — April 18, 2012 — The International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) is organizing
its 81st Congress together with the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) in New York City, USA
on May 07-09, 2012.
Annually IWTO coordinates a global congress which allows various forums for networking and
education for those associated with the wool industry; from wool growers to spinners, weavers,
manufacturers and retailers.
Over 225 international leading wool industry players will be attending the Congress to
listen to respected speakers from all around the world including China, India, the US, Australia,
South Africa, Uruguay, Norway, the UK, Germany and Italy.
The Congress programme has been carefully crafted to be both educational and challenging to
discuss new research developments and trends as well as related business and marketing strategies
in areas including online retailing and social media. The industry’s efforts on the Life Cycle
Analysis for wool will also be discussed.
Tuesday 8 May 2012 will be dedicated to fashion retail and interior textiles. The morning
will see Woolmark and Women’s Wear Daily present a Fashion + Retail Market report on What is
Working Now and Why in the USA, speakers including Rachel Roy, Linda Fargo and more. The afternoon
session on Interior Textiles and Lifestyle organised by the Campaign for Wool will focus on how
wool is a preferred interior design solution while meeting sustainability, health and safety
expectations.
The theme for this year’s Congress is WOOL IN THE CITY and the choice of New York as the
IWTO Congress location was an obvious one as it is the unrivalled style hub of the Americas and
home to some of the world’s most celebrated fashion and interior designers. “At the same time WOOL
IN THE CITY is also a challenge as there is not nearly enough wool being consumed within the US”
explains IWTO President Peter Ackroyd, “The wool industry has to urgently carry out its message of
being a renewable, sustainable and versatile luxury fibre to this vast market of immense
potential.”
IWTO and ASI kindly thank their sponsors for supporting the IWTO Congress.
Posted April 24, 2012
Source: IWTO