Taking place on Wednesday 23 September at Drapers Hall in London, the conference will explore developments across bio-based materials, low-impact dyes and finishes, textile reuse and recycling, data-driven circularity, traceability and transparency.
Opening the conference, Georgia Parker, Innovation Director at Fashion for Good, will deliver the keynote, “What does progress in practice look like?”
Fashion for Good brings together brands, retailers, suppliers, innovators and funders to support the transition towards a circular and regenerative fashion industry. Its work centres on helping disruptive innovators move towards scale by providing practical support, connections to capital and access to a broad network of industry expertise.
As Innovation Director, Georgia leads Fashion for Good’s Validation Team, overseeing innovation scouting, industry intelligence and initiatives spanning the supply chain. The team works to address knowledge gaps and validate the performance and impact of emerging solutions, helping to determine whether they are ready to scale and supporting their journey towards implementation.
Her keynote will establish an important starting point for the day: progress is not defined by innovation alone, but by whether new ideas can demonstrate their value, meet industry requirements and move into practical application.
This question will run throughout the conference. From bio-based fibres and alternative materials to new approaches to dyes, finishes, waste and data, the programme will examine the partnerships, evidence and infrastructure needed to translate technical potential into commercial adoption.
Closing the conference, Beatrice Oldenburg, Project Manager for Innovation at the H&M Foundation, will deliver an outnote reflecting on what she has heard, what has stayed with her and what may come next in the innovation landscape.
Beatrice works on the Global Change Award, supporting the nomination and screening process, the annual summit and the programme through which each winner receives a grant and takes part in a one-year accelerator. Her perspective is also informed by first-hand experience of textile start-ups, technical roles and factory audits.
Her outnote, “What is next in the innovation game?”, will bring the conference back to the role of people in shaping change.
While technologies such as artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly prominent, innovation must also take account of the people affected by the industry’s transition. This includes considering what a just and responsible transition looks like in practice, from equipping workers with new skills to addressing heat stress, health and working conditions in factories.
The H&M Foundation increasingly sees its role as that of a connector and multiplier, helping to link ideas, organisations and resources so that promising solutions can travel further and have greater impact. This requires listening closely to manufacturers and understanding what is preventing them from decarbonising, as well as identifying the support they need to move forward.
Across the day, delegates will hear about new materials, finishes, dyes and approaches that turn waste into a resource. Beatrice’s closing challenge will ask the audience to look beyond the availability of innovation and consider what will enable it to thrive.
The conference will therefore move from a system-level examination of progress to a personal call for action. What can each organisation contribute? What can each individual amplify, connect or help put into practice?
There may be no shortage of innovation, but progress depends on the decisions, partnerships and actions that surround it. The final question for everyone in the room will be a direct one: what is the one thing I can do to help move the needle?
UKFT’s Sustainability Conference 2026
UKFT’s Sustainability Conference 2026: Progress in Practice will explore how innovation is driving measurable change across the UK fashion and textile supply chain.
Taking place on Wednesday 23 September, from 9am to 6pm at Drapers Hall, London, the conference will showcase developments across bio-based materials, low-impact dyes and finishes, textile reuse and recycling, data-driven circularity, and traceability and transparency.
For businesses working to improve supply chain visibility, meet evolving regulatory expectations and substantiate material claims, this session will offer practical insight into the technologies, partnerships and approaches shaping the next stage of fibre traceability.
Find out more about UKFT’s Sustainability Conference 2026: Progress in Practice at the link below.
