94th International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) Congress
The 94th International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) Congress was held in Lille, France, from May 20 to May 22, 2025. Themed “Weaving a Perfect Fit Between Past & Present,” this year’s Congress brought together wool industry leaders and professionals to explore the evolving landscape of wool production, sustainability, and innovation.
286 participants representing more than 170 companies and 28 countries from across the global wool supply chain were in attendemce.
Following welcomes from the IWTO President Klaus Steger and Vice President Olivier Segard, Bertrand Gaume welcomed delegates to the region of Hauts-de-France. Klaus Steger pointed out that “this year’s Congress has reinforced the remarkable resilience and innovation present throughout our industry,”.
The program included dynamic working groups, insightful presentations, and networking opportunities. Topics included sustainable wool growing, traceability, new applications for wool, global consumer trends, economic forces, and the geopolitical landscape affecting the wool industry .iwto.org+4eventee.com+4iwto.org+4
A notable session titled “Wool for Health & Wellness” focused on the benefits of wool in various aspects of health and well-being.
The Congress continued its Young Professionals Program, a tradition of supporting emerging talent in the wool industry, offering bespoke networking and social opportunities .iwto.org+2Feltmakers Ireland+2Feltmakers Ireland+2
“The discussions and collaborations that have taken place in Lille will undoubtedly shape wool’s journey forward as we navigate increasingly complex market demands and regulatory landscapes,” said Klaus Steger.
The Congress celebrated a major milestone for the industry with the European Commission’s recent validation of France’s environmental cost labelling for clothing. This comprehensive ecolabelling system, presented by Vincent Colomb of ADEME, represents a significant step toward creating more balanced environmental assessments that recognize wool’s circular, renewable nature.
The French system builds upon the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework but crucially enhances it with additional factors that better capture wool’s advantages: microplastic release, durability considerations, and end-of-life impacts. Colomb specifically acknowledged the wool sector’s contribution to the development process, praising the industry for providing transparent and consistent data. Innovation Takes Centre Stage A significant highlight of the Congress was the presentation of an innovation expanding wool’s applications beyond traditional textiles.
Dr. Sonia Reynolds of Zephlinear Ltd introduced attendees to a “fourth class of textile” called noninterlaced textiles, created using FOYSE® Technology, which works particularly well with wool.
This complemented sessions displaying wool’s versatility in building materials, luxury cruise liner interiors, and garden applications, demonstrating the wool fibre’s remarkable adaptability to meet diverse market needs.
Addressing industry challenges, the Young Professionals Programme highlighted strategies to bridge generational divides and connect with younger consumers. The session explored how digital transformation initiatives and immersive storytelling can help position wool for the future while addressing misconceptions among digitally native consumers.
AI made its first appearance at an IWTO Congress, in another Young Professional’s presentation about the “HairSense” AI application for fibre identification. “Lille has provided the perfect backdrop for this Congress, with its rich textile heritage inspiring our discussions about wool’s future,” said IWTO Secretary General Dalena White. “The messages delivered from our expert speakers were on point and captured the current global textile industry challenges very well. The input from brand partners was clear and invaluable; we need traceability, measurements to reduce our carbon footprint, exemplary animal welfare standards and a clear focus on circularity. Delegate engagement has been exceptional, and the messages delivered will steer industry strategy to position wool as premium and sustainable fibre option to our brand partners.”
The 94th Congress saw strong attendance with industry representation from all major wool-producing regions globally, reflecting the continued importance of these annual gatherings for knowledge sharing and industry collaboration. At the closing session, it was announced that the 95th IWTO Congress will be held in Dalang, China in 2026, with exact dates to be confirmed.
Source: IWTO