Events

US sustainable fashion model and TV host Summer-Rayne Oakes was one of the main speakers at the 2009 RITE Group conference on eco-textiles and the environment. The event was held at Central Hall Westminster, London on 6th October 2009.

Summer is a spokesperson, resident expert, and is on the Board of Advisors for Planet Green , Discovery Network’s new eco-lifestyle network. Summer has appeared in the pages of Vanity Fair and Cosmopolitan and she recently worked with Payless ShoeSource to develop and launch a new line of eco-friendly footwear.

Other big-name speakers included Guido Verijke from IKEA who is in charge of the Swedish company’s massive textile programme. Although low prices are the cornerstone of IKEA’s vision, this is not at any price. In fact, IKEA says that taking responsibility for people and the environment is now a pre-requisite for doing good business and is adopting these values when sourcing home furnishing products.

For the first time, the RITE Group conference also included interactive breakout sessions designed to encourage debate on different topics in terms of textile sustainability. The three breakout sessions focused on fibres, colouration and media and will took the form of an expert discussion panel taking questions and interacting with delegates.

 

The RITE Group was formed in early 2007 in the aftermath of a landmark sustainable textiles conference organised by Dr Richard Blackburn and Dr Anna Harvey of the University of Leeds.

Click here to learn more about the RITE Group.

 

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Celebrating 30 years of Survival: Past, present and future

7th April 2009 - The Village Hotel, Leeds

 

Mr. Dave Brook (retired director of the Performance Clothing Research Group)

My 30 years in the outdoor industry

 

Prof. Jintu Fan (Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

Stretching the Limits of Functional Clothing

 

Dr. Rob Lomax (Baxenden, a Chemtura Company)

Spacesuits! Decades of innovation with impact on more everyday clothing

 

Mr. Don Gladstone (Peoplework)

The RED Initiative: Extending the life of outdoor sports products and promoting social and environmental stewardship

 

Dr. Mark Taylor (Centre for Technical Textiles, University of Leeds)

The challenges facing humans if they are to walk on Mars

 

Dr. Andy Brown (Institute for Materials Research, University of Leeds)

Future materials and trends

 

For more information please click here.