Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

SNF Global Conference 2024 | Event Overview

Posted by Katy Edwards

11th – 12th April 2024

Jinhai Lake International Convention Centre

Pinggu District of Beijing, China

Building a Sustainable Future

In collaboration with the SFA and other likeminded organisations, the Sustainable Natural Fibres (SNF) Global Conference is a two-day event that is free to attend by registering your interest to join through the button above. This international conference is aimed at advancing sustainability and responsible practices within the natural fibres and fashion textile sector, covering animal fibres, down, silk, and other ethically sourced materials.

It serves as a learning platform for all stakeholders engaged in the industry supply chains, from herders and growers to manufacturers and international brands, as well as research and academic institutions, government bodies, private sector bodies and NGOs.

By fostering a collaborative environment, the event allows participants to come together, exchange ideas and cultivate synergistic relationships to raise awareness and promote climate action.

Experience the event

The global gathering will unite stakeholders from the natural fibres, fashion and retail sectors, including:

Growers & Herders

Standards & Certification Bodies

Associations

Processors & Manufacturers

Brands & Retailers

NGOs

Brokers & Exporters

Designers

Consultants

Media & Press

Academia & Students

Government

Be informed, inspired and empowered

The conference will feature plenary sessions, interactive workshops, and invaluable networking opportunities.

High profile speakers and experts will provide insights on emerging trends, present-day challenges, and strategic approaches to safeguard communities involved in natural fibre production. Discussions will highlight successful case studies and facilitate meaningful conversations on creating a more sustainable future. Topics to be addressed include:

  • Climate change impact on herders, farmers and growers.
  • Sustainability trends in natural fibre and fashion industry.
  • Global brands and local enterprises collaboration for sustainability.
  • Regenerative agriculture.
  • Animal welfare considerations.
  • Innovative supply chain tools and technologies.
  • Green finance opportunities.

 

If you would like to share your expertise and speak at the event, please contact us via the button below.

Sustainable fashion showcase

As part of the two-day event, the conference will launch the Sustainable Natural Fibre International Fashion Design Competition as well as feature a showcase for emerging designers specialising in the use of natural fibres. Innovative design creations will be exhibited at the conference venue, while a fashion show for a new generation of talented designers will take place at the U-town Shopping Centre.

Participants will have the opportunity to witness progressive fashion crafted by up-and-coming designers, skilfully blending creative concepts with a commitment to sustainability.

Contact us for information about how to enter the fashion competition and showcase.

China emerges as the ideal location to host the
SNF Global Conference

As the world’s largest producer and exporter of textile raw materials, including cashmere, China possesses unparalleled expertise in natural fibres and holds significant influence in the global textile industry.

By embracing eco-friendly manufacturing practices and technological innovations, China can serve as a catalyst for inspiring global efforts towards sustainability.

The country’s dynamic fashion industry and rapidly growing consumer market create an ideal environment for advocating sustainable choices. As Chinese consumers increasingly prioritise environmental considerations, China has the potential to spearhead worldwide trends towards greener fashion alternatives.

Cashmere-Fibres

Join us in Beijing

The Pinggu District in Beijing offers a blend of natural beauty and culture. Nestles among stunning landscapes, Pinggu offer picturesque views of Jinhai Lake and hosts the International Peach Blossom Festival every year in April.

In addition to its natural attractions, Beijing’s cultural richness is reflected in its iconic landmarks such as the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall of China.

The city also boasts a vibrant culinary scene, bustling markets, dynamic arts and entertainment, and a thriving fashion and retail hub that blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary style.

Prepare for your journey

To ensure a smooth and efficient journey to Beijing, we recommend securing your travel arrangements well in advance.

For air travel, your destination will be one of the three major airports: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, or Beijing Nanyuan Airport.

For those travelling by high-speed train, the nearest station to the Jinhai Lake International Convention Centre is Yanjiao Railway Station.

It is important to note that entry into China may require a valid visa. To obtain comprehensive information regarding visa requirements and application procedures, we suggest reaching out to the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

Enjoy your stay

The SNF Global Conference will take place at the Jinhai Lake International Convention Centre, situated in the scenic Pinggu District of Beijing. Its unique design is inspired by its natural surroundings of mountains, valleys, and integrated rock formations.

To ensure your comfort and convenience, accommodations at the Grand Metropark Jinhai Lake Hotel in Pinggu District and the Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town in Chaoyang District have been arranged and will be fully covered for the duration of the event. Additionally, meals will be provided throughout the conference to ensure that all participants have a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Conference Schedule

Please find below the current draft version of the conference schedule.

Thursday 11th April 2024
REGISTRATION & CHECK IN
Jinhai Lake Convention Centre
8:00AM
WELCOME & OPENING SESSIONS
Welcome remarks and presentations on emerging trends, challenges, and breakthroughs in sustainable practices.
9:00AM
LUNCH
Buffet lunch is provided at the conference venue.
12:00PM
AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Natural Fibre Comprehensive Forum
1:00PM
FASHION DESIGN COMPETITION SHOWCASE
4:00PM
SNF CONFERENCE BANQUET
Venue TBC.
7:00PM
Friday 12th April 2024
OPENING REMARKS & AGENDA
Jinhai Lake Convention Centre
9:00AM
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Roundtable discussions for animal fibre, down, and silk sectors.
9:30AM
LUNCH
Buffet lunch is provided at the conference venue.
12:00PM
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
1:00PM
FASHION SHOW & COMPETITION AWARD CEREMONY
4:00PM
CLOSING REMARKS
6:00PM

Sponsorship Opportunities

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS PLATINUM GOLD SILVER BRONZE SUPPORTER
AMOUNT IN USD
$24,000
$12,000
$6,000
$3,000
$1,500
COMPLIMENTARY CONFERENCE PASSES
15
10
6
3
1
LOGO ONSITE
VERY PROMINENT
VERY PROMINENT
VERY PROMINENT
PROMINENT
PROMINENT
SOCIAL MEDIA MENTION
TABLETOP EXHIBIT
POP-UP AT U-TOWN CENTRE
DISTRIBUTION OF PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
SPECIAL MENTION BY CONFERENCE MODERATOR

Please do contact us for more details on how you can become a sponsor.

Take part in a global network

The Sustainable Natural Fibres Global Conference is organised by the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW) of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation (CAPIAC).

The conference is held in collaboration with the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) and the Cashmere and Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI). It is supported by the Government of the Beijing Pinggu District.

Partners of the event include Australian Wool Growers’ Association, Mohair South Africa, China Down Industry Association, National Wool Industry Technology System, National Mulberry and Silkworm Industry Technology System and Inner Mongolia Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.

Register to join by clicking the button below or for more information about how to take part in this exciting event, please contact our communications team at the following email address: info@sustainablefibre.org

Whether you have inquiries about registration, speaker opportunities, sponsorship, or any other aspect of the event, we are happy to assist you.

See you soon!

Katy Edwards

SFA MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Update: 6 March 2024

SFA Mongolia Conference 2023 | Summary

Posted by Katy Edwards

After the busy seasons of spring and summer for producing cashmere fibre, herders have gathered once again this autumn, on 8 September 2023, for an important branch conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in run up to the international Natural Fibre Connect (NFC) conference.

Bringing together over 150 in-person attendees, the SFA Mongolia Conference included delegates from 57 herder organisations from 41 soums and across 14 provinces in Mongolia. The conference also brought together cashmere processors, researchers, academics, and specialists from the Mongolian government.

The assembly this year was held under the theme of Human-Centred Natural Fibre with a purpose and outcome that herder representatives would share their findings as part of the global NFC conference that was later held in Biella, Italy at the end of September. These herder representatives would be the voice for Mongolian producers and bring herder’s perspectives and valuable input to the discussion from source level.

What made this assembly even more unique was that it was held and organised by the herders themselves with support from the Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA), the Association of Nutag Cooperatives – an inter-cooperatives initiative for better representation in the fibre market – and The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia (MoFALI). The event has been praised by academics for its successful organisation, meaningful presentations and discussions that were hosted by the cashmere herders.

Presentations and talks were held throughout the day, along with roundtable discussions. Topics that were discussed included:

  • Herding as a profession.
  • Government updates on the sector, policy, and vision.
  • Necessity of collaboration of herder cooperatives.
  • The benefits of practicing “One-Health” – combining health awareness campaigns for herders, animals, and the environment.
  • Capacity-based training.
  • Importance and requirement of developing a combined fibre standard.
  • Developing standards for other fibres, including yak, sheep, and camel.

The core of the conference declared the necessity of a human-centric idea for the sector and the importance of coming together collaboratively as herder cooperatives. Key takeaways focused on discussions regarding standards for herding as a profession, the “One-Health” initiative for the welfare triangle of human-animals-environment and the new generation of herders. As well as good practices of animal husbandry in different animals and the production of natural fibres.

Further, the SFA raised the discussion and held consultations during the conference on the development of standards that branch out into other natural fibres for fibre-producing and supplying. Consultations took place for sheep, yak and camel, and were based on experience from the SFA Cashmere Standard.

Concluding the event was a spirit-lifting highlight of the conference, the Herder Sustainability Awards, a presentation of nominated herders and herder cooperatives celebrating their achievements over the past year. The six main award categories were:

  • Best Cooperative for Quality Improvement
  • Best Producer Organisation for Animal Welfare
  • Best Producer Organisation for Land Management
  • 3 awards for Best Female Herder
  • 4 awards for Best Herder Trainer
  • 4 awards for Best Young Herder

The awards were sponsored and presented by the SFA and SFA brand members, including Scottish-based brands Johnstons of Elgin and Alex Begg, who once again sponsored the Best Young Herder and Best Producer Organisation for Land Management awards, respectively. And the Best Female Herder award was sponsored this year by Mongolian brand Sor Cashmere.

The SFA would like to thank everyone for attending this year’s SFA Mongolia Conference, to all the inspirational speakers and to all our sponsors and supporters. As well as a heartfelt congratulations too the winners of this year’s Herder Sustainability Awards!

Tamir Bud

SFA COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

11 October 2023

Natural Fibre Connect is Back

Posted by Sarah Krueger

Join the Global Conversation on the Future of Natural Fibres

Natural Fibre Connect launches its 2nd annual conference this September in Biella, Italy

BUY TICKETS

LEARN ABOUT SPONSORSHIP

The Natural Fibre Connect conference returns for a second year on September 25-29, 2023 in Biella, Italy and virtually. The event will bring together over 500 industry professionals, researchers, and students from across the natural fibres sector.

Through plenary sessions, mill visits, workshops and beyond, conference attendees will gain insights into the latest trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of animal fibres. Sustainability, innovation, and transformative trends will be at the forefront of the conversation as expert speakers and representatives from across the sector will be engaging in the discussion. Those joining in-person will also have exclusive access to behind-the-scenes mill tours, witnessing first-hand how Italian craftsmanship transforms raw fibre into premium textiles.

Unlike any other conference of its kind, Natural Fibre Connect aims to prioritise the perspectives of growers and herders. Those attending the event will have the opportunity to hear directly from these most important stakeholders as they share how key challenges and trends are impacting the very foundations of the natural fibres sector as well as their livelihoods.

Evelyn Diaz, Peruvian Alpaca Grower and Veterinarian: “NFC is an event that allows us to connect with other growers, with the textile industry and the entire value chain. Likewise, it allows us to share and learn more about the problems and opportunities we have in common, and work together to improve our herds that produce alpaca, wool, mohair, and cashmere fiber. Let us remember that not only do we have the right to inhabit this beautiful space in the universe, but we must also think about future generations. I think that natural fibers offer us a chance at life and it is a great challenge for NFC to keep connecting with growers and entrepreneurs around the world.”

Topics discussed are global trends influencing the textile fibre industry, regenerative agriculture, fibre traceability, innovation and technology as well as green finance. Keynote speakers include Veronica Bates Kassatly (Independent Analyst), Anna Heaton (Textile Exchange), Philippa Grogan (Eco-Age) and a range of other exciting personas that will be announced soon on the event website. In addition, various fibre standards will be holding their working-group meetings during the event including RMS, RWS, SFA and ZDHC.

Whether attending virtually or in-person, Natural Fibre Connect 2023 offers an unparalleled platform to expand ones professional network, connect with potential partners and leave with actionable takeaways. Attending NFC takes participants on a journey towards a more sustainable future for fibres and fashion. Tickets can be purchased via the NFC website. Information about special sponsor packages and benefits can also be found on the event’s website.

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ABOUT NATURAL FIBRE CONNECT

Natural Fibre Connect brings together the world’s leading alpaca, cashmere, mohair and wool organisations to advance shared priorities around sustainability, innovation and ethics. By fostering collaboration across the natural fibres sector, Natural Fibre Connect aims to build a more transparent supply chain and empower fibre communities for generations to come. The Natural Fibre Connect conference is hosted by the International Alpaca Association, Mohair South Africa, The Schneider Group, and The Sustainable Fibre Alliance.

SFA Cashmere Conference Summary | Biella, Italy

Posted by Fiona Jones

The Sustainable Fibre Alliance (SFA) hosted a conference in Biella, Italy on February 2-3. The event welcomed over 70 guests from around the world, representing all stages of the cashmere supply chain, including herding cooperative leaders from Mongolia, cashmere processors, manufacturers, brands and retailers. In partnership with Natural Fibre Connect, the Schneider Group, The Cashmere & Camel Hair Manufacturers Institute (CCMI), and LVMH, the conference featured 14 talks from experts across the industry, a workshop focused on exploring solutions to sustainability challenges facing cashmere herders and the wider sector, as well as a factory tour to 3-key manufacturing sites in the area.

A Rare Opportunity for Mongolian Guests

The SFA Biella Cashmere Conference was the first of its kind conducted in Europe to include representatives from all phases of cashmere production, from raw cashmere to final products. For some of the guests – particularly those arriving from Mongolia – this was their first time in Europe, and a rare opportunity for them to meet directly with the companies and organisations further up the supply chain.

The Mongolian Embassy of Italy offered support for the event and took the opportunity to meet with visiting brands and producers. Una Jones, CEO of SFA: “We want to thank the Embassy of Mongolia, especially the 1st Secretary, Mrs. Delgerjargal Ganbold, and Honorary Consul Paolo Bonete, for their professional and valuable support to make this experience special for our Mongolian guests.” The delegates emphasized the importance of the visit of Mongolian national industries and cooperatives to Italy for the expansion of Mongolian cashmere exports to the European market. Giovanni Schneider, CEO of the Schneider Group, stated that he will be working towards enhancing the ability of Mongolian herders to compete on the market with other livestock products, as well as introducing and enforcing relevant standards to help build sustainable systems.

Ariunaa, director of Goyol Kashmer Co., Ltd., extended a warm welcome to representatives of major Mongolian cashmere processing companies. She stated, “The objective for the sustainable growth of Mongolia’s cashmere sector is to introduce the world to the superiority of sustainable cashmere processing and production. We, the manufacturer, are pleased that the SFA team is committed to socially responsible, environmentally friendly, and sustainable manufacturing within the context of this objective. We want all manufacturers to participate in this initiative.”

During the roundtable discussions on day one of the conference, a business meeting was hosted by the visiting Mongolian companies to discuss joint solutions to supply chain issues as well as opportunities to expand and scale up partnerships and cooperation between the beginning and end stages of the supply chain. Mongolian herders also were able to address the audience of nearly 70 industry and brand directors and management level guests to share their perspectives on key challenges and the needs of their producer communities. The meeting was an important step in increasing the export of Mongolian cashmere as primary and final finished products to the international market.

Series of Talks on Sustainability

Ms. Narantsetseg, the head of Yav Bulag Herder Cooperative in Khentii Province, Umnudelger soum, shared a presentation on the “Trends of Herder Cooperatives” that outlined key rangeland issues such as environmental impact risks, and how the SFA Cashmere Standard Certification process is / can address these issues.  

Chris Gaffney, CEO of Johnstons of Elgin, shared the perspectives of a leading Scottish brand and the shifting mindsets of its consumer base when it comes to sustainability. He concluded by addressing the herders directly: “Our communities are only here because your communities do all the work to produce this miracle product.”

Mongolian processors also had the chance to address the audience, sharing their concerns about climate change and the impact this is having on cashmere herders. They emphasized the importance of mitigating these risks in order to protect the quality of fibre moving up the chain, as well as the longevity of the producer system. They presented possible solutions for supplementing livestock feed in the winter, protecting the diversity of goat genetics, and for diversifying herder income. They also called for increased investment in Mongolian processors, particularly in spinning factories, in order to increase capacity and meet market demand.

Textile Exchange and the SFA shared on update on the new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) project taking place, which aims to fill an important information gap of the impact of cashmere on the land and on livelihoods. Cashmere is one of the harder LCAs to undertake due to the varied landscapes and traditional communities it is produced in. Cashmere from Afghanistan, China and Mongolia are produced in very different ways, with landscapes ranging from desert, mountain steppe, grassland, and farm-based environments. Data collection for the LCA project will conclude in Q1 or Q2 of 2024 and provide a solid foundation for developing accurate impact reporting in the future. Six provinces in Mongolia and six provinces in China will be assessed and included in the report.

Workshop

After the talks were concluded, guests were invited to break-out into tables of 6-10 to discuss supply chain challenges and opportunities currently faced at the herder, processor, manufacturer and brand levels. The main challenges identified at herder level included climate change, pasture degradation, fluctuations in market price, supply shortages, and animal disease. Opportunities to address these challenges included identifying and supporting diverse income sources for herders that might include other rangeland products, implementing programmes to protect pure goat fibre and livestock genetics, ensure herders are connected to the rest of the supply chain and that there is sufficient transparency around their work and impacts, and to incorporate requirements and guidance on carrying capacity into the SFA Cashmere Standard certification.

Challenges at the processor and manufacturing level of the cashmere supply chain included a lack of transparency due to long and complex supply chains, low margins for profit, competition from companies producing cheaper products, labour skills shortage, as well as auditing cost and capacity. To combat these challenges, the groups identified various opportunities including creating a global consensus on fibre quality thresholds, low interest rate loans for processors, encouraging green financing investment into cashmere processing, and tightening up the length of the supply chain in order to improve transparency.

Brands also faced a variety of challenges unique to them. These included democratisation – which was seen as both a positive and negative impact on their operations, faltering perceptions of cashmere due to lobbying groups against natural fibres, lack of consumer education about the benefits of natural fibres, and access to reliable and accurate information on cashmere impact (LCA’s). Solutions for these challenges included the funding of Life Cycle Assessment projects to provide the industry with cashmere impact data that can be shared with consumers, receiving precise ingredient information of chemicals used in cashmere processing, developing an easier way to communicate what certification is and how it works for the benefit of their consumers, and finally the possibility of the SFA becoming recognised in EU Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

At the closing of the talks, Fabio Garzena, president of CCMI provided closing remarks, “Many things have changed for the textile industry over the years, especially for cashmere and other natural fibres. Technology, better organisation, new innovations have all improved the productivity and quality of the these product systems… Today, our biggest challenge is for the cashmere industry to keep up with the rapidly evolving market landscape and demands in order to arrive at a more sustainable and transparent supply chain… I think it is clear to everyone that all players in the supply chain have a responsibility to accept the burden of added complexity and costs in order to protect the long-term viability of our industry. We need to be ready to adapt to a system that is under development, and support ongoing modifications and improvements that are needed… We are all connected, each stage of the supply chain being dependent on the rest. But we also have to be fair with how our common challenges impact each stage with different weight and protect those who experience the biggest impact: herders.”

Factory Tour

On the last day of the conference, guests disembarked on a three site factory tour. For some, it was their first exposure to the cashmere manufacturing process. Guests first visited the Pettinatura Di Verrone facility, followed by a visit to Loro Piana, the world’s largest manufacturer of textiles, where they saw the Quarona Showroom, spinning plant, lab, and finally the weaving and finishing plant.

The tour marked the end of the conference, and guests were encouraged to stay tuned on SFA communications channels for updates on the next event of the year – the Natural Fibre Connect annual conference in September. Following the success of the Biella conference, and the unique opportunities it offered in connecting the entire cashmere supply chain, it was proposed that the meeting become a global tradition and grow to include even more participation from cashmere herders.

SFA Cashmere Conference | Biella, Italy

Posted by Fiona Jones

Ulaanbaatar Conference 2022 | Summary

Posted by Fiona Jones

On 9 September, 2022, the Sustainable Fibre Alliance organised the Natural Fibre Connect conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The event welcomed 120 in-person guests representing 17 provinces, 58 herding cooperatives, processors, partners, academic institutions, as well as government and non-government organisations. An additional 11 thousand guests attended virtually through the SFA’s live-stream of the conference on Facebook.

Talks were held throughout the day along with a series of working group breakout sessions to discuss the following important themes:

1. The need to focus on the social issues of herders

2. Natural fibres – becoming the driving force of the rural economy

3. Livestock Breeding and Care Realities – Challenges for Farmers and Cooperatives

4. How Chain of Custody and Traceability are Changing the sector?

5. How to support cooperatives with green financing?

Herder cooperatives and communities discussed the importance of maintaining fibre quality alongside sustainability, and the need for affordable veterinary care and subsequent medicines. One of the main takeaways relating to animal care was that if good conditions (health care and water quality) are maintained in line with international standards, waste would be reduced and herder lifestyles would also be improve. Water quality was highlighted as a major issue, with a large percentage of families using wells which can lead to hygiene concerns. Artificial insemination was also a topic of discussion as a viable option to maintain the sustainability of herder lifestyles.

Other key takeaways related to social protection and health insurance. Herders were encouraging to conduct medical examinations for themselves at minimum twice a year; herders were also urged to partake in the extensive ‘herder health insurance’ to protect their finances and maintain social protection, especially due to the risky nature of their jobs. Linked to this, it was determined that labour safety standards on par with international guidelines need to be introduced, implemented and monitored in herding groups.

Furthermore, protecting herders through education and training was emphasised as paramount, so that they can better understand and utilise tools like satellite imagery, GPS and identification services. These technologies can be applied in order to facilitate surveillance activities and monitor where their livestock are grazing.

To close out the conference, more information was shared regarding the new collaboration between the SFA and Khan Bank, one of the major commercial banks in Mongolia, which is providing preferential loans to certified herding families and cooperatives.

As the Mongolian government expands and creates more positions with the priority of protecting the cashmere industry, social protection for herding communities should become a bigger consideration. Additionally, creating better incentives for sustainable change within the industry would aid both Mongolian herding communities and the national economy.


Natural Fibre Connect | Virtual Conference Summary

Posted by Fiona Jones

Understanding the Growers & Herders perspectives is key to building better textile fibre supply chain partnerships to accelerate innovation and sustainability

On 7-9 September 2022 the Natural Fibre Connect online conference for the alpaca, cashmere, mohair, and wool industries completed successfully. 

Over 1000 tickets were sold for the live event and on-demand content platform to participants from 43 different countries. For 6 hours on each of the three conference days, over 80 speakers shared their knowledge across 9 key themes such as animal welfare, social welfare, regenerative agriculture, traceability, green finance and the metaverse. Majority of the presentations were available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Mongolian. 

Highlights of the event, were speeches from His Majesty King Letsie III from Lesotho, Artist Michelangelo Pistoletto as well as La Rhea Pepper, CEO of Textile Exchange. 

Recordings of all live presentations and discussions are available on the platform along with additional on-demand content until the end of the year.

In addition to the live conference, ticket holders also had access to a virtual exhibition hall where close to 40 different sponsors representing the Alpaca, Cashmere, Mohair and Wool industry exhibited their organizations and projects. Visitors to the virtual booths were able to connect and interact with the respective booth representatives. 

The Natural Fibre Connect conference has highlighted the challenges of the textile industry of natural fibers of animal origin, considering current global trends. Industry experts, opinion leaders, breeders, brokers and brand representatives have shared their experience, concerns, limitations and challenges the industry faces in the light of new consumer demands.

One of the most important conclusions was that sustainability has multiple dimensions: environmental, economic, social and cultural; only when all four dimensions are being addressed progress in areas such as climate change, desertification and animal welfare can be achieved. This became apparent in the discussions around traceability and green finance where efforts need to go beyond Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or animal welfare standards and instead must consider economic and social dimensions as well. 

The argument can however also be reversed. Improving livestock and regenerative practices and certifying them requires financial resources and the commitment and partnership of the entire value chain. Speakers of the green finance session have shown that funds exist and that the natural fibre industries must work together to tap into this massive opportunity. 

Speakers of the Web 3.0 session also gave a glimpse into how the metaverse and blockchain technology will change supply chains, on-farm data management as well as consumer interaction with textile products and the people working in textiles. The transformational power of the new technologies is the future of the industry and will connect us in ways we cannot imagine today

The event was closed with growers and herders connecting live from Australia, Mongolia, China, South Africa and Argentina to share their perspective, challenges, questions and ideas with the supply chain.  

Participants by industry sector

Natural Fibre Connect 2022

Posted by Fiona Jones

Natural Fibre Connect Online Conference 2022

Natural Fibre Connect is an online conference taking place on 7-9 September 2022 for the alpaca, cashmere, mohair, and wool industries.

As the effects of climate change and market fluctuations continue to grow, it is more important than ever before to understand the impact on growers and herders at the beginning of our supply chains — their prosperity is vital for safeguarding the future of the sector and making real progress towards our sustainability goals. The virtual event will cover trends, challenges, and innovations within the four industries and how they are impacting growers and herders around the world. In turn, we will look at how the growers and herders themselves are shaping the future of the sector.

The event will welcome over 1000+ guests from around the world, including growers, processors, brokers, manufacturers, brands, NGOs, and government stakeholders invested in the natural fibres sector. As the name of the conference suggests, the focus will be to connect all actors of the supply chain, exchange knowledge and insights and work together toward reaching the Sustainable Development Goals.

The 3 live days are filled with expert speakers, recorded talks, and roundtable discussions aimed at tackling the common challenges of the alpaca, cashmere, mohair, and wool industries.

Attendees will benefit from plenty of networking opportunities including access to the virtual exhibition hall where they can connect with fibre supply chain companies, NGOs, and government organisations invested in making the natural fibre industries more sustainable.

Topics discussed during the three-day conference will be:

The event platform is available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. There will be 2 sessions per day discussing the same topics with different speakers: First session (7:00-10:00 UTC) Second session (14:00-17:00 UTC).

An overview of the schedule can be viewed here: https://woolconnect.gschneider.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Schedule-Natural-Fibre-Connect-2022-1.pdf

More information and tickets about the event can be found here: https://bit.ly/NaturalFibreConnect

Sustainability in the Cashmere Sector Conference | Culture Panel

Posted by Fiona Jones

The Sustainable Fibre Alliance organized a three-day virtual conference this Autumn on the Sustainability of the Cashmere Sector. On the second day of the conference, four Mongolian speakers spoke on the theme of “Culture” how we can we learn from other disciplines that look at the realities of nomadic life from different angles. The Culture Panel speakers helped enlighten us by sharing their greater knowledge and understanding on how cultural photography, cultural artwork and ethnographic research are able to expose humanity’s connection to the natural world and what we can learn from pastoralists’ mentality and wisdom – their way of living that is inherited from ancient ancestors yet still so vibrant today.

P. Battulga, founder of the “EGEL” project for the study of Mongolian ethnic heritage and photography, gave his presentation titled “Transformation of nomadic life into modern design.” The report was divided into five subsections: Mobility, Colors, Numbers, Equestrian Culture and Miscellaneous. The speaker said that he was trying to give new ideas, new motivation and new ideas to professional designers and anyone who wants to develop the cashmere market in a sustainable way.

The artist T. Nurmaajav, who creates her artwork using the genre of Mongolian painting, presented fiive of her works: “Sunrise”, “Summer”, “Good Noise”, “Peace” and “Mongolian Wind”. She also talked about how she reflects the nomadic lifestyle, the general harmony of Mongolian paintings and innovative expressions in her works.

L. Jargalsaikhan, a nature photographer of birds, butterflies and insects, spoke about whether herders’ livelihoods are at a reasonable level with nature and wildlife, and how climate change and agriculture affect the balance of nature. He compared how natural degradation relates to the seasonality and attitudes of people, to the photographs of birds and animals that he took.

M.Enkhbaatar, a doctoral candidate at the Institute of History and Ethnology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, made a presentation on the topic of “Knowledge of Mongolian Shepherds about Goats”. The presentation was divided into four sections: “What is the role of goats in the herd?”, “Is it possible not to have sheep and goats in the city?”, “Responsible grazing of goats” and “Characteristics of goats”. It was also interesting to understand the difference between the Mongolian notion that “more goats destroy pastures” and simply explaining the pros and cons of goats herd.

Article in Mongolian

Тогтвортой ноос ноолуурын олон улсын эвслээс ноолуурын үйлдвэрлэлд тогтвортой ханган нийлүүлэлтийн сүлжээг бий болгох зорилготой сонирхогч талуудыг оролцуулсан “Ноолуурын салбарын тогтвортой байдал” сэдэвт гурван өдрийн виртуал бага хурлыг зохион байгууллаа. Уг хурлын хоёр дахь өдөр “Өв соёл” сэдвийн хүрээнд Монголын талаас дөрвөн хүн илтгэгчээр оролцож, өөрсдийн сонгож авсан сэдвийн хүрээнд илтгэл тавьлаа. Энэ хэсгийн чиглүүлэгчээр Монгол дахь Тогтвортой ноос ноолуур эвслийн захирал, доктор Б.Батхишиг ажиллаа.

Монгол угсаатны өв соёлын судалгаа, гэрэл зургийн “ЭГЭЛ” төслийг санаачлагч П.Баттулга “Нүүдэлчин ахуйг орчин үеийн дизайнд урвуулах нь” сэдвээр илтгэл тавьсан. Энэхүү илтгэл нь Нүүдэл, Өнгө, Тооно, Адуун соёл, Элдэв гэсэн таван дэд агуулгад хуваагдсан байлаа. Илтгэгч мэргэжлийн дизайнерууд болон, ноолуурын зах зээлийг тогтвортой хөгжүүлэхийг эрмэлзэгч хэн бүхэнд шинэ санаа, шинэ сэдэл, шинэ ойлголт өгөхийг хичээсэн гэдгээ илэрхийлж байсан ба гэрэл зураг гэдэг хэдэн зуу, хэдэн мянган үгийн үнэ цэнтэй баримт тул төслийн хүрээнд авсан 80 гаруй фото зураг илүү олон зүйл өгүүлсэн хэмээн итгэж буйгаа хэлж байв.

Монгол зургийн аргаар уран бүтээлээ туурвидаг, зураач Т.Нурмаажав өөрийн “Сэтгэлд мандсан нар”, “Зун”, “Сайн чимээ”, “Амар амгалан”, “Монгол салхи” зэрэг таван бүтээлээ хурал оролцогчдод танилцуулсан. Ингэхдээ мөн л нүүдэлчин ахуй, монгол зургийн ерөнхий өнгө зохицол, зохиомжийн шинэлэг илэрхийллийг бүтээлдээ хэрхэн тусгаснаа илтгэлдээ өгүүлж байлаа.

Байгалийн тэр дундаа шувууны, эрвээхэйн, шавьжны зураг авдаг гэрэл зурагчин Л.Жаргалсайхан илтгэлдээ малчдын ахуй амьдрал байгальтай, ан амьтадтай зохистой түвшинд байж чадаж байгаа эсэх, уур амьсгалын өөрчлөлт, газар тариалан зэрэг нь байгалийн тэнцвэрт хэрхэн нөлөөлж буй талаар ярилаа. Байгалийн доройтол цаг улирлын байдалтай яаж холбогдож байгаа, хүмүүсийн хандлага зэргийг өөрийн авсан шувууд, амьтадын зурагтай жишин ярьсан юм.

Монгол Улсын Шинжлэх ухааны Академийн Түүх, угсаатны зүйн хүрээлэнгийн эрдэм шинжилгээний ажилтан, докторант М.Энхбаатар “Монгол малчдын ямаатай холбоогдох мэдлэг” сэдвээр тавьсан илтгэл мөн сонирхол татна. Уг илтгэл “Сүргийн дотор ямаа ямар үүрэгтэй вэ”, “Хоттой хонь ямаагүй байж болох уу”, “Ямаан сүргийн хариулга маллагаа”, “Ямааны онцлог шинжүүд” гэсэн дөрвөн хэсгээс бүрдэж байлаа. Монголчуудын дунд нийтлэг байдаг “Ямаа олширвол бэлчээр талхлагддаг” гэсэн ойлголтын ялгаа заагийг ойлгуулсан, ямаа хэмээх малын сайн хийгээд саар талыг энгийн ойлгомжтой талбарласан мөн л сонирхолтой байлаа.

Sustainability in the Cashmere Sector Conference

Posted by Fiona Jones

The live portion of our first virtual conference has concluded and we want to thank the over 400 attendees and 50+ speakers who helped make this event a huge success! While the live sessions are complete, you will still be able to view the recorded sessions, explore the exhibition hall, and continue to network with the cashmere industry through 14 October.

It is not too late to purchase a ticket to gain access to the platform and view the recorded versions of the live sessions. Please visit our event website here to learn how to register: https://conference.sustainablefibre.org/virtualconference/.

Don’t Miss Wool Connect, September 7-9

Posted by Fiona Jones

Wool Connect Online Grower Conference taking place on 07-09 September 2021

On 07-09 September 2021, The Schneider Group is organising its second edition of the Wool Connect Online Grower Conference. The event will be scheduled across three days, with around 2-hour sessions each day. A wide range of speakers is scheduled to speak at the event.

Each of the three days will cover a different topic. On day one, the focus will lie on the international context for the wool industry. Here participants will hear from brands and retailers as well as NGOs and policy influencers about the future market demand and trends relevant for wool. Speakers of day one include La Rhea Pepper, CEO of Textile Exchange and Elena Schneider from The Schneider Group.

On day two, the focus will be on animal welfare. During Wool Connect 2020 animal welfare was already openly discussed. One year later, some challenges have already been tackled due to better communications along the supply chain. In this session, speakers will report about the progress made. Speakers of day two include Bridget Peachey from AWI, Südwolle Group representative Davide Marcante, Germán García Ibañez from Inditex, Heinz Zeller from Hugo Boss, Marta Maniero from Marzotto Wool Manufacturing, Paul Swan from SustainaWool, Ed Storey from WoolProducers Australia and Rebecca Picallo Gil from Four Paws, among others.

On the third and last day of Wool Connect, the session will be organised around new income streams such as carbon accounting. Mick Taylor from Landcare Australia, Stephen Wiedemann vom Integrity Ag & Environment and others will lead through this session.

Agricultural media specialist, David Cussons will be leading through the sessions together with wool communicator, Elisabeth van Delden. The goal will be to encourage interactive and engaging sessions between speakers and the audience.

Participants to the event can join all three days live via Zoom. However, all recordings will also be made available within the Wool Connect community for everyone who purchased a ticked. Registration is already available via this link. Authentico Growers receive a 50% discount, and just need to contact the organisers by email at woolconnect@gschneider.com to receive a discount code.

Buy tickets here: https://woolconnect.gschneider.com/register/wool-connect-2021/

Wool Connect is a strategic pillar of the Schneider Group’s Sustainability Strategy TOGETHER 2030. Through the online conference format and community, the Schneider Group aims to contribute to a better dialogue and consensus building along the wool supply chain.

Save the Date – Sustainability in the Cashmere Sector Conference 2021

Posted by Fiona Jones

This September the SFA will be hosting a two part conference to explore Sustainability in the Cashmere Sector. Join us from 8-11th of September for our Ulaanbaatar Conference and from 14-16th for our Virtual Conference.


Registration is now open and you can find more information on our event website: https://conference.sustainablefibre.org/

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or speaker, please contact Katy Edwards: katy.edwards@sustainablefibre.org

Sustainable Cashmere Working Group Meeting, 28.04.20

Posted by Fiona Jones

Tuesday, 28th April 2020, Webinar, Time: 10.30 – 13:00 pm BST

With a total of 40 attendants, we heard from a wide range of perspectives about the impacts of Covid-19 on the sector and how the SFA can respond.

We are now taking expressions of interest to be part of the SFA Covid-19 Working Group. This group will be coordinated by our Chair, Chas Hubbard, and its primary task will be to assist in the development of our Covid-19 Action Plan

The meeting also included an update on the SFA Chain or Custody and our work in Inner Mongolia.

Animal Welfare Working Group, 04.06.20

Posted by Fiona Jones

Thursday 4th June 2020: 10:30 – 12:10. BST, Webinar.

As part of the webinar, Zara Morris-Trainor gave a presentation explaining the differences between the pastoral and farm-based systems in the context of the internationally recognized Five Freedoms framework, which form the base level for SFA’s codes of practice in animal welfare. 

Mr. Ayoshi Ayongxi of the International Cooperation Committee of Animal Welfare (ICCAW),  talked us through the requirements of the joint code of practice for cashmere goats in Inner Mongolia. 

Members also shared their approach in protecting cashmere’s reputation.

Exhibition, London Design Biennale, 04.09.18

Posted by typeface

Tue, Sep 4, 2018 –  Mon, Sep 24, 2018  18:00, London Design Biennale.

For more information, visit http://www.londondesignbiennale.com

Sustainable Fibre Alliance is representing Mongolia and Cashmere with an installation at the London Design Biennale at Somerset House, London. The installation responds to the theme ‘Emotional States’.

Sustainability in the Cashmere Sector Conference, 23.05.19

Posted by typeface

Thu, May 23, 2019 10:00 –  Sun, May 26, 2019 17:00, Blue Sky Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

A multi-stakeholder conference bringing together representatives of the cashmere supply chain and wider stakeholders to discuss current and future development of cashmere sector sustainability -Environmental, social and economic challenges, promoting long-term sustainable development and innovative cooperation.

Parliamentary reception, London, 11.09.18

Posted by Fiona Jones

House of Commons, Westminster, London

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, 18.00 -21.00

Sustainable Fibre Alliance and Mongolian British Chamber of Commerce in association with the All Party Parliamentary Mongolia Group and OYUNA successfully organised “Mongolian Cashmere” reception in the Jubilee Room in Parliament of Westminster Hall to promote Mongolian sustainable cashmere industry on 11 September 2018.