World Textile Forum
09 | 10
SEPTEMBER
2019

Zunfthaus zur Meisen
Zurich

About

Location: Zunfthaus zur Meisen

The World Textile Forum: How digitalisation & sustainability will impact production and sourcing of textiles & garments.

The World Textile Forum (an event in cooperation with the Sustainable Textile School – STS) is the place where leading textile & retail players will discuss how to transform their businesses in order to adapt to the challenges of sustainability and new/digital technologies.

We bring leading managers of the industry together to lead this transformation. Make sure you are part of it!

Program

09
SEPT
2019
Evening
19:00 - 20:00:
Aperitif
20:00 - 22:00:
How Digital bridge the gap between industry needs and people’s capabilities. Drive transparency, impact and sustainability next to reducing waste
Dinner
Mustafiz Uddin, Founder & CEO BAE
Collaborative Innovation - How to put Fashion for Good into action
Dinner
Leslie Johnston, Executive Director of C&A Foundation
10
SEPT
2019
Sustainable Sourcing
08:00 - 09:00:
Registration & Coffee
09:00 - 09:15:
Opening Speech
Giuseppe Gherzi
Peter Flückiger
Sonja Amport
09:15 - 09:45:
Future Sustainable Sourcing
Robert van de Kerkhof, Lenzing AG
09:45 - 10:05:
Blockchain - the digital revolution of the textile supply chain
Heinz Zeller, Hugo Boss Ticino SA
10:05 - 10:35:
Coffee break
10:35 - 10:55:
Innovating sustainable production
Daniel Gemperle, Calida
10:55 - 11:15:
Made for Change: Responsible Sourcing at VF
Anna Maria Rugarli, VF
11:15 - 12:15:
Panel
Robert van de Kerkhof
all speakers
Mauro Scalia
12:15 - 13:30:
Lunch
10
SEPT
2019
Afternoon: Digital Production
13:30 - 14:00:
The future of production improvement
Torbjörn Netland, ETH Zürich
14:00 - 14:20:
The digital future of Karl Mayer
Maximilian Kürig, Karl Mayer Digital Factory (KM.ON)
14:20 - 14:40:
Fabric on demand: Mass customisation & digitalisation
Maria Neidhold, Spoonflower
14:40 - 15:10:
Coffee break
15:10 - 15:30:
Industry 4.0
Digitization, Industry 4.0, manufacturing on demand, the impact of millennials - the paradigm shift in the fashion industry is picking up speed
Holger Max-Lang, Lectra
15:30 - 16:30:
Panel
Giuseppe Gherzi all speakers
16:30:
End of the Event

Speakers

Prof. Dr.
Netland Torbjörn

Prod.- und Operations-
Management

Biography

Prof. Dr.
Netland Torbjörn

Prod.- und Operations-
Management

Prof. Dr. Torbjørn Netland is the Head of Chair of Production and Operations Management (www.pom.ethz.ch) at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. He is a member of the Expert Network of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Advanced Manufacturing and Production and a Board Member of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA).

His award-winning research on “managing corporate improvement programs” is performed in close cooperation with global companies. It appears in leading scientific journals, including the MIT Sloan Management ReviewJournal of Operations Management,Production and Operations Management, International Journal of Production and Operations Managementand the International Journal of Production Research, among others. His edited book, theRoutledge Companion to Lean Management,won the prestigious Shingo Research Award in 2017.

He has received several teaching awards. Being a dedicated research communicator, he blogs at www.better-operations.comand tweets as @tnetland

Daniel
Gemperle

Chief Operations Officer

Biography

Daniel
Gemperle

Chief Operations Officer

Nationality: 
Swiss

Year of birth: 
1959

Education: 
University of Applied Sciences, clothing & technology, Mönchengladbach / D   (Ing. FH)

 

Professional background:

  • Since 2012 Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the CALIDA GROUP 
  • 1999-2011 Member of the Executive Board of CALIDA AG, responsible for Production, Logistics, Procurement, Technical Development and partly IT
  • Additionally responsible for AUBADE brand integration projects from 2005-2011
  • 1988-1999 Member of the Executive Board (Operations) and Member of the Board of Directors of a Swiss clothing company
  • 1984-1988 Operations Manager at a Swiss clothing group (Retail & Production)

 

Other activities: 

  • Member of the Board of Directors of Lafuma SA, Annecy-le-Vieux / F
  • Member of the Board of Directors of LU Couture AG, Lucerne / CH

Mostafiz
Uddin

Managing Director, Denim Expert Ltd. and
Founder & CEO, Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE)

Biography

Mostafiz
Uddin

Managing Director, Denim Expert Ltd. and
Founder & CEO, Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE)

Mr. Mostafiz Uddin is the Managing Director of Denim Expert Ltd – a cutting edge and complaint denim manufacturing plant based in Bangladesh. He is personally driven by social and environmental ethics and is recognized to be a game changer through the introduction of sustainable practices, innovation and fashion disruption, which he sees as keys to the future of Bangladesh apparel. Mr. Mostafiz founded the organization Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE) under which he has been running several internationally acclaimed initiatives to promote sustainable practices within the Bangladesh apparel industry.

Anna Maria
Rugarli

Sustainability & Responsibility Senior Director EMEA,VF

Biography

Anna Maria
Rugarli

Sustainability & Responsibility Senior Director EMEA,VF

Anna Maria Rugarli is Senior Director Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility at VF in the EMEA region. She is responsible for developing and implementing the Sustainability and CSR corporate strategy in the Region. She joined VF in December 2010 and holds a strong track record of successfully creating Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility programs at Nike, a global leader in the field, where she worked for 12 years holding a variety of positions within the Sustainable Innovation team.

In July 2015, Anna Maria has been appointed as President of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) whose mission is to support valuable conservation work by raising funds from within the European Outdoor sector and promoting care and respect for wild places.

Anna Maria currently lives in Lugano with her family. She also lived in South Africa, Belgium, China and the Netherlands. She speaks Italian, English, Spanish and French.

Heinz
Zeller

Principal Sustainability at HUGO BOSS Ticino

Biography

Heinz
Zeller

Principal Sustainability at HUGO BOSS Ticino

Heinz initially worked in chemical research, first on anti-malaria and later on biodegradable polymers. Moved on to project management and completed a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems. 

He joined HUGO BOSS Ticino, South Switzerland, in 1998 with the responsibility to insource all existing textile and leather licensees, taking over the responsibility of logistics and participated at various corporate business-reengineering projects.

After the completion of the Cert. Adv. Study (CAS) in CSR, he established the HUGO BOSS sustainability road map and the sustainability strategy. Based on this, the required structures and programs were implemented and he led the various involved departments to publish the first sustainability report in 2013. The results of this work are many recognitions like CDP DACH sector leader, robecosam industry mover or the listing in the DJSI world index 2017 and again in 2018. 

Moreover, he created important public documents like the three whitepapers on Natural Capital Valuation or the environmental and the cotton commitment with the help of some well-known cotton experts and thanks to many other field experts.

Robert
van de Kerkhof

Chief Commercial Officer

Biography

Robert
van de Kerkhof

Chief Commercial Officer

Robert van de Kerkhof is Chief Commercial Officer of Lenzing AG. In his role, Van de Kerkhof is heading the performance of Marketing and Sales, Corporate Sustainability and Supply Chain. A veteran in the fiber industry with over 25 years of experience, he is also the President of the Austrian Fiber Institute and Vice-President of CIRFS, the European Man-made Fibres Association.

Van de Kerkhof’s comprehensive expertise in the international textile industry came from his many years of experience at various international companies and business functions. Van de Kerkhof began his career as an Aeronautical Engineer at Fokker Aircraft, and since then, he has taken up roles in Ten Cate, DuPont de Nemours and INVISTA. In addition to building expertise in various manufacturing components, fibers and raw materials, over the years, Van de Kerkhof also held multiple leadership roles across different business functions. He has successfully led the growth of various business units, including marketing and sales, manufacturing, financial controlling, product development and strategic business development. He also has extensive experience in transforming organizations through technology innovation and value chain optimization.

Van de Kerkhof is married with three children. He holds a B.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering from Inholland Hogeschool Netherlands and an MBA in International Management. 

Mauro Scalia

Director of Sustainable Businesses

Biography

Mauro Scalia

Director of Sustainable Businesses

Mauro Scalia is Director of Sustainable Businesses in EURATEX, the European Confederation of Textile and Apparel industry, in Brussels. In addition to his responsibilities in the Confederation management, he is charge of all activities on the sector chemicals, resources efficiency, circularity, climate change, CSR and sustainable supply chains which he coordinates with the EURATEX member national /European associations. He graduated cum laude in Political Sciences with specialization in Politics and Economics at the University of Catania, Italy, also studying in Germany and France. He joined Euratex in 2004 after several professional experiences in business consulting, industrial research and at the European Commission. Italian mother tongue, he also speaks English, French and German.

Holger Max-Lang

President, Northern & Eastern Europe, Middle East
member of Lectra´s Executive Committee

Biography

Holger Max-Lang

President, Northern & Eastern Europe, Middle East
member of Lectra´s Executive Committee

Holger Max-Lang, is President, Northern & Eastern Europe, Middle East and has been a member of Lectra´s Executive Committee since January 15, 2019.

Holger Max-Lang joined Lectra Germany in 2002 as an Automotive Account Director after holding various marketing and sales positions in IT and automotive companies, including Mitsubishi Electric, Borealis, Klein Plastik and Allocation Network. He then assumed management positions for Lectra in Germany, Eastern Europe and Russia, before his appointment as Managing Director of Lectra Germany, Eastern Europe & Russia in 2018.

 

Maria Neidhold

Marketing at Spoonflower

Biography

Maria Neidhold

Marketing at Spoonflower

Maria Neidhold joined the German Spoonflower Marketing Team in 2017. At Spoonflower, she combines her passion for marketing, fabrics, crafts & sustainability. 
Since finishing her Master’s in Sustainable Marketing from the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Maria continues to develop her expertise in environmentally friendly and fair production solutions, in custom printed fabric as well as in circularity in the fashion industry. 

Maximilian Kürig

Managing Director of the "KM.ON by KARL MAYER" digital division

Biography

Maximilian Kürig

Managing Director of the "KM.ON by KARL MAYER" digital division

  • Born in Frankfurt in 1987 and raised in Bad Homburg, Germany
  • Studied Mechanical Engineering & Management at the TU München
  • During my studies:
    • Experience gained both in start ups and groups (Volkswagen India) and in venture capital (venture capital fund of 3M)
    • Scholarship holder in the Manage&More support programme of UnternehmerTUM (www.unternehmertum.de) for entrepreneurial talent
  • Career start at ifp consulting (www.ifpconsulting.de - founded by Prof. Joachim Milberg) as consultant with focus on production planning and optimization
  • After nine months: Development of the digital division ifp analytics (www.ifpconsulting.de)
  • With KARL MAYER since July 2018: Managing Director of the "KM.ON by KARL MAYER" digital division
    • Development of digital solutions and software products for the textile value chain
    • Locations in Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Changzhou (China)
       

Leslie Johnston

Executive Director of C&A Foundation

Biography

Leslie Johnston

Executive Director of C&A Foundation

Leslie Johnston joined C&A Foundation as its first Executive Director in 2013 and brings over 20 years of management experience across multiple sectors, including smallholder agribusiness, entrepreneurship and corporate philanthropy. At C&A Foundation, Leslie led the development of the foundation’s first global vision, mission, and strategy, anchored on making fashion a force for good. She oversees team of over 50 people in nine countries and a grant budget of over EUR 50 million, working to improve lives and livelihoods of the women and men who work in the apparel industry.
Prior to this role, she managed the Swiss-based Argidius and COFRA Foundations, committed to helping enterprising people to help themselves. As the Deputy Director for TechnoServe in West and Southern Africa, she co-managed a $20 million portfolio and a diverse team. She also has top-tier management consulting experience, having worked for McKinsey & Company in DC and South Africa. She holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a double Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy and French from University of California at Berkeley.
Leslie currently serves on the boards of Fashion for Good B.V., the European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA), COFRA Foundation, GoodWeave International, CottonConnect, and the Organic Cotton Accelerator.

Impressions

Here some impressions of the World Textile Forum 2019.

Downloads

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Contact

STF
Schweizerische Textilfachschule
Gina Oesch
gina.oesch@stf.ch

Gherzi Textil Organisation
Maria Miceli
info@gherzi.com

SWISS TEXTILES
Textilverband Schweiz
Nina Bachmann
info@swisstextiles.ch

News

18.07.2019

Meet the World Textile Forum speakers: Prof. Dr. Torbjørn Netland

Gain insight into a changing industry and learn the new ways from the textile business experts!

ETH Zurich’s Head of Chair of Production and Operations Management Prof. Dr. Torbjørn Netland will deliver a keynote speech on “The Future of Production Improvement”.

As an award-winning researcher and editor - his Routledge Companion to Lean Management won the Shingo Research Award in 2017 - he will offer innovative perspectives on the future of the textile business.

Download Meet_the_World_Textile_Forum_speakers-_Prof._Dr._Torbjorn_Netland.pdf

28.06.2019

Expert talks at World Textile Forum 2019

The textile business is on the move: New ways and business models require open minds and innovative ideas. Therefore, the Swiss Textile Federation, the STF (Swiss textile technical school), Euratex and Gherzi Textil Organisation welcome the following experts from the textile business at the World Textile Forum 2019. The keynotes, talks, and panel discussions will focus on Sustainable Sourcing & Digital Production.

Benefit from the expertise of the World Textile Forum’s speakers!

Download World_Textile_Forum_Speakers_EN.pdf

16/06/2019

Visit Zurich and World Textile Forum 2019

While the World Textile Forum 2019 will present visitors with innovative perspectives on the future of the textile business, the event city is worth the trip alone.

Download Zurich_EN.pdf

14/06/2019

Experience the World Textile Forum ambiance!

The World Textile Forum 2019 will take place at the Zunfthaus zur Meisen in Zurich on 9 and 10 September.

The venue is one of Zurich’s traditional guild houses and is situated in the old town. Zunfthaus zur Meisen is close to both Fraumuenster and Grossmuenster, two of the most famous landmarks of the city. A fitting venue to talk about the future of a traditional craft.

The historical Rokoko-style building offers a unique setting and its location in the city centre ensures easy accessibility. There are several hotels and parking garages in close proximity to the venue. The central location also offers excellent connections to public transport.

Download Zunfthaus_zur_Meisen_EN.pdf

10/06/2019

Sustainable Textile School goes World Textile Forum 2019

Sustainability is not a trend but a necessity: Thanks to international regulations, the focus on sustainable production has become more and more important. At the same time, the ongoing digitalisation facilitates fast communication through new channels in a world-wide network of platforms and production capacities. [...]

Download Sustainable_Textile_School_goes_World_Textile_Forum_EN.pdf

08/06/2019

Robert van de Kerkhof at World Textile Forum 2019

What does the future hold for the textile business? At World Textile Forum 2019 visitors will experience interesting talks focussing on Sustainable Sourcing & Digital Production by relevant speakers from the textile business.

Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer at Lenzing AG, will present his ideas for the textile future at World Textile Forum 2019. In his position, he is responsible for Lenzing’s Marketing and Sales, Corporate Sustainability and Supply Chain. [...]

Download Robert_van_de_Kerkhof_World_Textile_Forum_2019_EN.pdf