Challenge the Fabric aims to scale impact through collaboration. The pioneering cross-industry initiative is a unique platform that enables the entire supply chain of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) to meet, collaborate and create change.
CTF invites industry leaders and stakeholders from the fashion, textile and forest industries shaping the industry of tomorrow.
What is MMCF?
Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs) are a group of regenerative fibres that are conventionally derived from wood, and in some cases from other sources of cellulose such as cotton rich textiles or for e.g. agricultural waste. Through different manufacturing processes, the cellulose is dissolved then extruded into a variety of fibres including viscose, lyocell, acetate, cupro and modal. MMCFs have the third largest share in global fibre production after polyester and cotton. They are a set of fibres with increasing importance and great potential from a sustainability perspective if the cellulose is sourced sustainably and/or derived through recycling processes, and the processing chemicals are handled properly.
Challenge the Fabric is hosted by Ekman & Co, a global sales and marketing organization, strategically aligning buyers and sellers of forest products around the world.
CTF is organized by the Swedish Fashion Council (SFC), an industry organization that works to promote, educate, and innovate the fashion industry for it to become competitive, sustainable and relevant in our changing world.
Around the globe, companies turn to Ekman for market guidance and knowledge. Since our incorporation in Sweden 1802, Ekman has earned a solid reputation for reliability, competence and service. Our highly competent and motivated staff, long history in the marketing and sales of forest products, and experience in creating solutions for related financial and logistical matters, help us live up to this reputation. Ekman offers a wide range of services, covering the entire forest products supply chain and we contribute valuable market intelligence to each stage of our business partners’ enterprises.
At the core of Ekman’s strategy is our focus on building long-term partnerships with business partners. The transparency we operate under has proven to be a successful shift in the way our industry has historically conducted business. Our partners value close and mutually beneficial relationships. Ekman strives to deepen its long-term relationships with existing partners and seeks to develop opportunities through new partnerships.
SFC is an industry organisation that aims to guide the fashion industry into the future, establishing Sweden as the global leader of the industry’s new era. Together with a strong community, SFC works to promote, educate, and innovate the fashion industry for it to become competitive, sustainable and relevant in our changing world.
Established in 1979, the core of the organisation’s work consists of leading research projects, providing industry reports and supporting the next generation of fashion leaders through its incubator program, SFC [Incubator].
SFC is owned by the Swedish Trade Federation.
Challenge the Fabric 2024 will take place on May 14 – 15, in Milan
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Welcome Mingle
Registration
Introduction and welcome
The opportunity of Green Textiles
Keynote speaker
Jonatan Janmark | Partner, McKinsey & Co
Sustainable Forestry
Keynote speaker
Valerie Langer | Fibre Solutions Strategist, Canopy
Forest to fabrics; the importance of sustainable forest practices
This panel discusses the importance of sustainable forest management. Topics
that will be discussed are centered around how sustainable forestry
management is defined, how farmers work with their forests to ensure and
protect the biodiversity, regeneration capacity and reforestation. The panel will
also discuss what sustainable forest management mean for different regions of
the world as well as how it influences sourcing strategies and the demands on
raw material suppliers.
Keynote speaker
Diana Tuomasjukka | Head of the Bioeconomy Programme, European Forest Institute
Break
Moderator
Oliver Lansdell | Director, Pulp and Paper, Hawkins Wright
Panel
Johannes Bogren | Vice President, Södra Cell Bioproducts
Anna Palmberg | Material & Innovation Developer, IKEA of Sweden
Surya Valluri | Chief Sustainability Officer, Birla Cellulose
Sofia Jorge I Board Member, Sustainability, Risk, Communication, People & Talent, Altri SGPS
Legislation, Policy, and Traceability
Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in legislation related to sustainability in textiles. For example, the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles will require the use of more sustainable and recycled materials as well as identification through the Digital Project Passport (DPP). Organizations such as the Textile Exchange are supporting the industry by developing standards to classify preferred materials. Also new startups are focusing on helping brands achieve visibility on their supply chains. How can fashion brands and suppliers alike navigate this new landscape? What role can stakeholders like innovators, NGO’s and industry organizations play? What is required to educate and disseminate knowledge on legislation, policy, and traceability? This panel will explore these important topics.
Moderator
Christine Goulay | Founder, Sustainabelle
12:05 – Panel
Amit Gautam | CEO & Co-founder, Textile Genesis
Sara Mariani | Chief Sustainability Officer, OTB
Claudia De Witte | Sustainability Leader, Textiles, Eastman
Lunch
Committing to the future of Next Generation Solutions
This panel discusses the collective commitment at COP27 by brands such as Kering, H&M, Inditex to purchase over half a million tonnes of fibres stemming from Next Generation Solutions. The panel will address what this commitment means for the innovators in terms of the need for scaling, investments and partnerships and the potential challenges of reaching the scale needed.
Keynote speaker
Dolly Vellanki | Innovation Associate, Fashion for Good
Moderator
Brooke Roberts-Islam | Founder, Techstyler; Senior Contributor, Forbes.
14:30 – Panel
Jenny Fredricsdotter | Circular Business Manager, Re:newcell
Erik Karlsson | VC/Impact Investor, H&M CO: Lab
Julia Viner | Investment Associate, Fashion, Closed Loop Partners
Peter Majeranowski | CEO & Co-Founder, Circ
Break
Shaping the path forward
This panel will focus on how we can shape the path towards fashion’s sustainable future and highlight the possibilities within the MMCF field. It will discuss the importance of cross industry collaborations and how we can create long lasting change by engaging different stake holders from different industries. What can we learn from the development of other fibre categories or other industries? What will be critical to continue to grow in an innovative and sustainable way?
Keynote speaker
Andrea Rosso | Sustainability Ambassador, Diesel
Moderator
Bella Webb | Sustainability Editor, Vogue Business
16:00 – Panel
Amanda Parkes | Chief Innovation Officer, Pangaia
Dr. Shahriare Mahmood | Chief Sustainability Officer, Spinnova
Christina Iskov | Head of Innovation & Academy, Global Fashion Agenda
Malva Carlsson
Conclusion | Nina Elmersson – VP Innovare, Ekman
Cocktail
