Driving change in a large yet fragmented industry like textiles and apparel is, to use a clichéd expression, like turning the Titanic. We all know how that ended. Is fashion headed down the same road?

In an industry this large, change seems to move at a snail’s pace. But there are some encouraging signs. And independent sources like The Sourcing Journal, the World Textile Information Network (WTIN), and—we hope—WhatTheyThink are key enablers to driving this change. In this article, we highlight some of the events and content that are placing a laser focus on the need for change in the industry. While there are many aspects where change needs to occur, not the least of which is protection of the workers that are so critical to the industry’s success, today we are focusing on the sustainability aspect—how can the industry create less pollution and waste, protect precious freshwater resources, keep damaging microfibers out of the ocean, and more. We do this through shining a light on efforts from these organizations to bring the issues—and perhaps some solutions—to the fore.

It should be noted that while the organizations I mentioned above are for-profit organizations, they and others, both for- and non-profit, are operating with a sincere intent to drive change in the industry. WhatTheyThink launched its Textiles section in late 2018, and it has been an honor for me to manage it, and hopefully bring to our readers educational journalism with a focus on the analog-to-digital transformation that is key to the industry’s future. If you are not a WhatTheyThink member, perhaps a visit to our Member Center would be worth your time. We have both free and Premium content on the site; for example, all of our videos are free. But our Premium content is reserved for members. (Normally, this article would be reserved for Premium members, but we have “ungated” it for readers who may not have become Premium members…yet.) And I hope you will join us, and contribute your thoughts in the form of comments on the various articles and videos we have built up over the years.

I also want to give a shout-out to WTIN. Not only does WTIN do important research, but it offers nearly four million pieces of content organized around a number of key innovation topics, and hosts important events. For example, WTIN is hosting the Global Digital Textile Conference 2022 October 5–6 at Lake Como in Italy. The event is hybrid, meaning you can participate virtually or in person. Offering hybrid events is important and not just a pandemic relic, since it enables more people to participate than might otherwise be able to. And it features a wide range of expert speakers on all topics digital related to the industry.

• A panel discussion about whether sustainability is within reach for digital textile printers will have representation from print service providers, digital textile OEMs, ink manufacturers, and brands to understand how the digital textile ecosystem can lower its environmental impact.
• Fashion for Good innovation associate Jana van den Bergen will present a session entitled Moving from wet to dry processes: The D(R)YE Factor of the Future, identifying both incremental and disruptive innovations that can significantly reduce carbon emissions within the fashion supply chain.
• Lutz Walter, secretary general, The European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing (ETP), will present a session on the technological and legislative trends that enable reshoring, an important sustainability aspect for the industry that has the potential to significantly reduce the industry’s carbon footprint while also benefiting brands, manufacturers, and consumers alike.
• And Edward Hertzman, founder and president, Sourcing Journal, will present a session on the supply chain crisis, sharing share how brands and retailers can build scalable customer-driven supply chains.

And this just scratches the surface. Be sure to check out the agenda and determine how the conference can help your organization move into a more sustainable—and digital—future.

The Sourcing Journal is another terrific resource. We recently interviewed its founder, Edward Hertzman, who will also be speaking at the WTIN conference as noted. He shares the outcome of an in-person sustainability summit he hosted in New York, The Road to 2030. I appreciate receiving his newsletters, which always have timely, relevant, and thought-provoking content about the state of the industry and its efforts to reinvent itself. Hertzman will be hosting the Sourcing Journal Fall Summit in New York on October 18, billed as delivering strategic solutions for complex challenges. It also features a thought-provoking agenda, ranging from discussions about how consumers and the market overall are reacting to the current environment of tight credit and escalating prices, to the need for brands to build social capital and a raw material outlook.

Whether you prefer to get your industry information from newsletters, research, events, or a combination of the above, these are great resources.

As a final note, there has been much discussion about the state of journalism in the world of late, from local news deserts created by closures of newspapers and reduction of the number of journalists available to cover important local news, to the partisan divide that is growing in the American news industry.

What does not get a lot of attention, though, is the importance of trade journalism in providing industry-specific communities with the information they need to navigate an accelerating and increasingly confusing path forward, particularly as it relates to sustainability, worker rights, supply chain, and more.

Whichever source or sources you choose to support, we hope you will actually support trade journalism in the textiles and apparel industry, which is facing many challenges. These sources are indispensable in helping all industry stakeholders navigate a path forward. Without them, progress to a fairer and more sustainable future for the industry will be slower, and could even grind to a halt.