Under the name Texpertise Network, Messe Frankfurt has been drawing attention to sustainability at its global textile events for over 15 years by, for example, publishing special trade-fair guides, initiating panel discussions, offering guided tours to exhibitors with appropriate product portfolios, compiling material galleries with sustainable textile innovations and holding events such as Neonyt, which focuses solely on sustainable fashion. Since 2019, the fair and exhibition company has been collaborating with the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network and the UN Office for Partnerships to spotlight the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its textile events around the world and thus contribute to their achievement in the fashion and textile industry. Comprising representatives of the fashion and lifestyle sector, the media, governments and UN agencies, the international network came together for its first annual meeting at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York on 2 June. Among the participants: the Texpertise Network of Messe Frankfurt.

Considering the fashion and lifestyle sector’s significant impact on societies and the environment, the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network Annual Meeting will review how the platform is fostering transparent, inclusive, and transformative engagement of global stakeholders to drive urgent action for sustainability. Its key objective is to mobilize expertise, innovation, technology, and resources towards a sustainable and inclusive COVID-19 recovery, with the Sustainable Development Goals as a guiding framework.

In a panel discussion, Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies of Messe Frankfurt, Sara Kozlowski, Vice President Education and Sustainability Initiatives of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Chair of the PVBLIC Foundation, and Roberta Marcenaro, CEO of IMARK strategy consultants and strategy expert of POLIMODA, spoke about the importance of partnerships and cooperation for the achievement of sustainable development goals. The discussion was chaired by Lucie Brigham, Chief of Office of the United Nations Office for Partnerships and co-founder of the Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network.

“The textile industry is characterised by stark contrasts. In the sector, one can find both traditional handicrafts skills and high-tech with fully digitalised and automated production processes. At the same time, delivery chains are more complex and interlinked on a global scale than in virtually any other industry. Sustainability can only be achieved in close cooperation with the right partners”, said Olaf Schmidt during the discussion. “As the organisers of fairs and exhibitions, we cannot directly cause the textile industry to become more sustainable. However, this is not the main aim of the Texpertise Network of Messe Frankfurt. Our aims are different: We offer platforms for networking and bring together the right partners at some 60 textile events around the world. We create visibility by providing a stage for the industry to spotlight its commitment to sustainability. We offer education and knowledge transfer at numerous conferences and discussion events revolving around the subject of sustainability. And we set a good example – with our worldwide campaigns focusing on the SDGs, we have reached an estimated 9,200 exhibitors and 195,500 visitors – and did so even during the pandemic.”