“We’ve got to put the ‘eco’ back into economics.” This quote, from David Suzuki, Canadian biologist and winner of the Alternative Nobel Prize, was the impetus for global trade show producer Messe Frankfurt to take that one step further with its Textile Business Network, driven by the concept of Texpertise Econogy—a powerful phrase that essentially “puts the textile expertise into the economics of ecology.”
Creating connections that build a more sustainable fashion industry, Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network is activated digitally and across all of its international trade fairs, including Texworld NYC (running July 16-18 and co-located with Apparel Sourcing New York City, Home Textiles Sourcing, and Printsource), and Texworld LA (running August 13-14 and co-located with Apparel Sourcing Los Angeles).
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The bi-coastal Texworld shows are increasingly focused on sustainability and ways to mitigate the industry’s environmental impact, but they are also highly responsive to the business concerns of every exhibitor and attendee. In fact, in order for the two forces to hand in hand, all show stakeholders need a platform to come together and “share knowledge, form new partnerships and therefore secure their future viability.”
Econogy on the Show Floor
Texworld shows not only bring sustainably minded exhibitors together under one roof, but they actively help attendees to research their stories and then locate them on the show floor. Exhibitors of sustainable products and services who sign up for the shows can get a “sustainability check” upon request. Once vetted by independent external sustainability experts, qualifying exhibitors are then listed in the show’s Econogy Finder, a curated exhibitor search both online and in print. Vetted exhibitors also receive an Econogy icon that is displayed at their booth for further identification. Econogy identified products can also be found within the Texworld Trend Showcase on both coasts.
Sustainability can be complex, and sustainability topics will be covered within Texworld’s educational program—a dynamic daily program of lectures, panel discussions, interviews, workshops and more to help keep companies informed.
Olaf Schmidt, vice president of textiles and textiles technologies at Texworld parent company Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, will be running a seminar explaining how the phrase econogy is the concept that sustainability and economic success go hand in hand. He will also discuss what the econogy icon represents and how both exhibitors and buyers will benefit from this initiative. Titled “Texpertise, the largest textile business network, introduces Texpertise Econogy: The harmonization of sustainability checks across all Messe Frankfurt trade shows,” will also include a happy hour. Stay tuned for the full education schedule coming soon.
Texpertise Network and the SDGs
Messe Frankfurt’s commitment to advancing the industry’s goals goes beyond its trade shows. For the past 15 years, Messe Frankfurt has worked to accelerate the rate of innovation and change on the textile and fashion industry to work toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. The Texpertise Network helps enable, increase visibility, is a partner and also a guide for the global transformation of the textile industry into an economically successful ESG/SDG-compliant circular economy. For more information on 2023 and 2024 mission statement and goals, click here.
Click for more information on Texworld NYC or Texworld LA shows.
To register, click here.
