NEW YORK (Commodity Online): Over 300 international representatives will meet in New York City, on October 27-28, 2010, to attend the 2010 Organic Exchange Sustainable Textiles Conference (www.organicexchange.org).

Participants will include those involved in making key decisions on sustainable textiles including; brands and retailers, manufacturers, farmers and producers, academics, NGO’s, and certifiers. Attendees will learn about and discuss best practices, emerging issues, and strategies to improve sustainability of textiles, and organic cotton. An exhibit area will demonstrate and profile the best of sustainable fibers and technologies. Organic Exchange will host a separate one-day seminar focused on organic cotton on Friday, October 29. Also, at our 2010 annual conference, we will introduce the new OE (complete with a new name and logo), poised to help you navigate through the unending shifts in the textile marketplace with the right array of services and products.

Yvon Chouinard, Chairman and Founder of Patagonia, will provide insight on transparency during his keynote address. Other plenary speakers include: Eileen Fisher, designer and owner of fashion leader Eileen Fisher, Inc., and Tensie Whelan, President of Rainforest Alliance. Workshop speakers include leading experts in environmental footprinting of textiles, water conservation and management in the textile chain, eco indexing, environmental issues in dyeing and finishing, natural textiles, recycled textiles, bio-based textiles, ensuring product integrity claims, understanding the regulatory landscape, and more.