The International Textile Fair (ITF) will have partnership with the Ethical Fashion Forum’s sustainable fashion business platform, SOURCE, to bring a dedicated sustainability seminar to the October tradeshow in Dubai.

The two-day ITF welcomes over 6000 visitors to the UAE, which is now the fourth largest trading centre for fashion and apparel.

Mallory Giardino, SOURCE membership director, will present a seminar on both days of the tradeshow looking at the business case for sustainability in today’s fashion industry. With over 50 per cent of global online consumers now willing to pay more for products and services from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impact*, sustainability is no longer about philanthropy; it is a huge business opportunity for fashion businesses to tap into.

The International Textile Fair Dubai is now onto its third event and has already grown immensely. It is estimated that by 2016, the UAE will become the world’s leading high-end textile and garment re-export centre. With this massive growth in fashion businesses in the UAE, the opportunity really is now to integrate sustainability and gain a competitive advantage as they make their mark on the global fashion stage.