LILLE – The global wool industry has gathered in Lille, France, this week for the 94th annual Congress of the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO). 286 delegates from more than 170 companies and 28 countries are taking part.
Held at the historic Palais de la Bourse, the three-day event runs from 20–22 May and is focused on sustainability, traceability, innovation and the challenges facing the wool sector in an evolving textile landscape.
“This exceptional turnout demonstrates the resilience and collaborative spirit of our global wool community,” said IWTO President Klaus Steger. “The discussions and partnerships formed in Lille this week will strengthen wool’s position in the textile landscape for years to come.”
French MP Anne-Cécile Violland opened proceedings with a keynote address highlighting wool’s role in sustainability. “Sustainability is no longer just a marketing concept,” she told delegates. “It is a responsibility, a collective duty, but also an immense opportunity. And it is in this perspective that stakeholders in the wool industry play a fundamental role.”
The opening session also featured Alexandre Capelli, group environment deputy director at LVMH, who presented the luxury group’s LIFE 360 environmental strategy. Capelli outlined how sustainability is embedded across all 75 LVMH Maisons, with a focus on ecodesign, innovation, and biodiversity.
IWTO secretary general Dalena White said the programme for this year’s event reflected the industry’s deepening commitment to environmental responsibility.
“Delegates will engage with critical topics that will shape our collective approach to everything from on-farm practices to consumer messaging about wool’s inherent environmental benefits,” she said.
Key themes of the Congress include sustainability metrics and reporting, global traceability systems for wool, upcoming legislative pressures, new applications for wool, and responses to global trade shifts.
The Congress is being co-hosted by French partners including textile associations UIT and the Fédération Française des Industries Lainière et Cotonnière (FFILC).
Olivier Segard, IWTO vice president, said the event’s location in northern France linked the industry’s future with the region’s deep textile heritage.
