Porto to Host the 93rd Textile Institute World Conference in October

How are fashion and textiles reinventing themselves in the face of sustainability challenges and the digital revolution? This is the question that will bring together international experts, researchers, and companies from around the world in Porto from October 7 to 10, for the 93rd Textile Institute World Conference, organized by AQUITEX. The event will take place at the Porto Palácio Hotel and promises to be a space for interdisciplinary reflection and the development of solutions for a sector undergoing profound transformation.

The conference program, updated weekly, promises four days of intense debate, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities around the major challenges and trends shaping the industry: biomaterials, advanced fibers, smart textiles, technical textiles, nanotechnology, textile recycling, circular business models, sustainable fashion practices, and retail.

Confirmed keynote speakers include prominent figures such as Claudia Giacovelli, Elizabeth Brown, António Braz Costa, Mário Jorge Machado, and Anna Beltzung, who will share global perspectives on sustainability and digital innovation in the textile and apparel sector.

The conference also highlights the role of national research, with the presentation of several outstanding Portuguese projects, including:

• Ecofriendly cotton dyeing process using eutectic solvents and curcumin (University of Coimbra, CERES, FCTUC and Department of Chemistry and Engineering);
• Clothing for a more sustainable way (Andreia Santos, UBI);
• Optimized pre-treatments and recycling strategies for textile waste (CeNTI, CITEVE, RDD and Valérius);
• Sustainable Textile Dyeing: expanding the chromatic palette through natural dyes of primary colours (2C2T, University of Minho);
• Development of military defence products: an innovative and sustainable design approach (CITEVE, ATP and 2C2T);
• Lifelong learning in textile and clothing industry: circularity deck of cards (2C2T);
• From land to fabric: exploring historical textile patterns and natural dyes (UBI);
• Smart textile printing and cultural sustainability: exploring creative expressions with interactive inks (2C2T);
• The role of certification in consumer trust and greenwashing prevention (2C2T);
• Textile deadstock repair and remanufacturing: a circular business model opportunity (CITEVE, University of Minho and ATP).

The agenda also includes social and networking moments, such as the gala dinner and the Textile Institute Awards ceremony, as well as technical visits to CITEVE and CeNTI.

By organizing this flagship event, AQUITEX reinforces Portugal’s role as a promoter of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration in the textile and fashion sector. The company encourages the active participation of the entire textile community to jointly explore new approaches and solutions that address global challenges.