SHANGHAI–The annual Planet Textiles event on sustainability, which takes place on October 19th in China can now confirm an extended line-up of speakers including some of the most influential textile industry figures in the Asian region.

High level executives from Asian textile producers such as John Cheh, CEO of Esquel Group and Kenneth Lo, Chairman of the Crystal Group will be joined by Eleanor Wright, Global Fabric Director of Wal-Mart and Bril Lacno, Director Environmental Sustainability, Asia, Levi Strauss & Co.

Other leading executives scheduled to speak include Liazzat Rabbiosi, United Nations Environment Programme; Dr Delman Lee, Director, TAL Group; Linda Greer, Executive Director of Natural Resources Defense Council; Paul Hulme, President of Huntsman Textile Effects; and Sun Ruizhe, President of CTIC & Vice President of CNTAC, among others.

In addition, Q&A sessions will be hosted by Pat-Nie Woo, Chairman of the Sustainable Fashion Business Consortium, Phil Patterson, Chairman of the not-for-profit RITE Group and Nico van Schoot from Genencor.

Planet Textiles will also take place at the Renaissance Hotel, Shanghai, China alongside the huge Intertextile Apparel Fabrics exhibition in Shanghai on 19th October.

“Planet Textiles not only tackles the crucial issues on sustainability in the global textile sector it brings these emerging issues to China and Asia,”said John Mowbray editor of Ecotextile News.“While there are already events on textiles sustainability in Europe and North America, Planet Textiles is unique because it unites retailers, brands and Asian manufacturers under the umbrella of sustainability in Asia–exactly where most textiles are made.”

The event, which first debuted in Hong Kong in 2009, is jointly organised by MCL Global - the publisher of Ecotextile News and Messe Frankfurt. It aims to improve the environmental and social impact of the global textile and clothing supply chain by raising awareness of these issues in Asia and providing a unique networking platform for retailers, brands and textile innovators.