Sustainability and circularity in the global textile colouration sector will be the focus of an international conference next summer by the Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC). Taking place on the 18-19th June 2024 at Manchester Conference Centre, the event is open to both members and non-members for what will be the SDC’s first international conference for a number of years. It will feature keynote presentations on four key themes – artificial intelligence in textile production, reinventing dyeing and finishing, bringing natural into manufacturing, and the sustainable impact of textile dyeing.
They will be delivered – respectively – by Calvin Wong, CEO and centre director at AiDLab and professor in fashion at PolyU, Hong Kong; Raj Tanna, founder and managing director of the Schützen Group in Mumbai, India; Gjuillaume Boissonnat, chief scientific officer at PILI in France; and Surinder Chahal, vice president of customer alliances at Croda.
Graham Clayton, CEO of the SDC, said: “This global conference is being held as a result of feedback from members of the society, who are seeking more internationalism. The SDC continues to maintain its online meetings for webinars and committees as a way of convenience and minimising travel for its members.
“However, this event has been designed to address the need for in-person collaboration and the society hopes to deliver a conference that enlarges attendees’ networks and knowledge, including those who already hold SDC membership.”
SDC president Chris Carr, a professor in textile technology at the University of Leeds, added: “The concepts of sustainability and circularity are not new but there are more contemporary ways of addressing them.
“As a leading academic I see first-hand many industry issues and I invite those working in the sector to this conference to contribute to the discussion, help shape further change, learn and drive positive impacts on our industry and the world.”
