The 94th IWTO Congress has concluded with remarkable success, bringing together 286 delegates from 28 countries at the historic Palais de la Bourse in Lille. Over three inspiring days, our global wool community explored the challenges and opportunities shaping our industry’s future.

94th IWTO Congress:
A Resounding Success in Historic Lille

IWTO President Klaus Steger reflected: “This year’s Congress has reinforced the remarkable resilience and innovation present throughout our industry. 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.”

Secretary General Dalena White added: “Lille has provided the perfect backdrop for this Congress, with its rich textile heritage inspiring our discussions about wool’s future. The messages from our expert speakers captured current global textile industry challenges perfectly. Brand partners delivered clear, invaluable input – we need traceability, carbon footprint reduction measures, exemplary animal welfare standards and a clear focus on circularity.”

Key Highlights

Milestone in Environmental Assessment

Just before the Congress opened, the European Commission’s validation of France’s environmental cost labelling system for clothing. Vincent Colomb of ADEME presented this comprehensive ecolabelling framework, which builds upon the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) but crucially includes additional factors that better capture wool’s advantages:

• Microplastic release considerations
• Durability assessments
• End-of-life impact evaluations

This represents an important step toward more balanced environmental assessments that properly recognize wool’s circular, renewable nature.

Innovation Expands Wool’s Horizons

Dr. Sonia Reynolds of Zephlinear Ltd introduced delegates to an exciting innovation – noninterlaced textiles created using FOYSE® Technology. This “fourth class of textile” works exceptionally well with wool, demonstrating our fibre’s remarkable adaptability.

Sessions throughout the Congress showcased wool’s versatility across diverse applications:

• Building materials
• Luxury cruise liner interiors
• Garden applications

Connecting with the Next Generation

IWTO’s Young Professionals Programme addressed crucial industry challenges, highlighting strategies to bridge generational divides and connect with younger consumers. The Young Professionals session explored how digital transformation and immersive storytelling can position wool for the future while addressing misconceptions among digitally native consumers.

AI made its first appearance at an IWTO Congress through the “HairSense” application for fibre identification – an innovative tool that points to exciting technological developments ahead.

Save the Date

We’re excited to announce that the 95th IWTO Congress will be held in Dalang, China in 2026, with exact dates to be confirmed.

The strong attendance from all major wool-producing regions globally reflects the continued importance of our annual gatherings for knowledge sharing and industry collaboration. Thank you to all delegates who made this Congress such an engaging and productive event.

Media enquiries: Jeannette Cook, IWTO Communications Manager

Download the Media Release as a PDF here.

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