The event brought together more than 220 people from across New Zealand’s fibre, textile and fashion value chain, from growers and farmers through to manufacturers, brands and retailers, for a day of discussion about where the industry is heading and what it will take to get there.
Presented by Fashion & Textiles New Zealand, an FSC promotional licence holder, the Summit was structured around three themes: Place, Possibility and Momentum. The morning began with a look at the current state of New Zealand’s fashion and textile sector, before shifting to discussions around design, storytelling, circularity and supply chain integrity. The final session focused on what comes next for the industry, including building business resilience, improving transparency and traceability, and finding new value in waste streams and by-products.
As part of the Summit's Innovation Hub, FSC showcased products from promotional licence holders and certificate holders, including Kazzi Kovers, Step One, Wattle Accessories, Sandos and Merry People. The display highlighted the many innovative ways forest-based materials are already being used across the sector and provided an opportunity to discuss responsible sourcing, certification and supply chain transparency with attendees.
Trademarks and Partnerships Manager of FSC ANZ, Jennifer Nicita, said it was energising to connect with such passionate and driven voices from across the industry, all working towards a shared vision. “These collaborations reinforce the shift towards a more transparent and traceable industry, and a positive future for responsible fashion.”
FSC ANZ is proud to have exhibited alongside other industry leaders in this space, including Wool Impact, Trust Trace, Inter-Weave and Wool Yarns, which brought a strong mix of perspectives across fibres, materials and traceability solutions.
Thank you to Fashion & Textiles New Zealand for hosting such a valuable event. It was encouraging to see strong engagement from across the industry and a shared recognition that transparency, traceability and responsible sourcing will play an important role in the future of fashion and textiles.