Textile Exchange

Organic Exchange has been attending both the February and August/September MAGIC event in Las Vegas since 2004 for three primary reasons: to recruit new OE members who are interested or currently working with organic cotton, to expand knowledge of organic cotton by distributing information in Sourcing at an “Info Pod” and presenting at various seminars, and finally to meet with current OE members.

While at MAGIC we observed an obvious reduction in attendance and exhibitors. Ecollection, like all other areas of MAGIC, was reduced in size but several vendors were still optimistic. It was great to see the many vendors outside of Ecollection also offering organic products, which supports the fact that the organic cotton industry is continuing to grow. Like every industry, the organic market has of course been impacted by the economy, but still demonstrates double–digit growth.

In attempt to make the most of our trip to Vegas, we also visited the ‘Project’ Tradeshow at the Sands Expo Center. Spending just a few hours at this show made it very apparent that there is still a great need to educate brands and retailers about organic cotton. While circulating the floor and searching for companies with organic products we would ask, “Do you sell organic cotton products?” The response was often, “I think so,” or “What is that?” Or my favorite response, “Well it’s a cotton product, so it’s naturally organic!” On the plus side, there was a fantastic response from these companies interested to learn the about the facts and willingness to use OE as a resource. Several companies were also selling organic products as part of a line, while some featured entire organic lines.

• Anvil Knitwear – ‘Ecollection ’ Booth E-73000-9 and ‘WRAP Pavilion’ Booth MA33411
  Contact: Christopher Levesque, Tel: 800.223.0332 x 338, Email: chrisl@anvilknitwear.com
  also- Anthony Corsano, CEO, on ‘The Future of Sourcing’ panel held Aug. 31 at 3pm, Hilton Room 11

• Canaren – In attendance, Office: 1-800-361-3699 x 238,
  Contact: Steve Domaratzki, Tel: 416.435.5451, Email: sdomaratzki@canaren.com

• Colored by Nature/ Natural Fashion- "Sourcing" Booth 32613
  Contact: Darren Davis/ Marcia Davis, Tel: 415.246.0034, E-mail: info@coloredbynature.com

• Earth Co b. organic by Z-ply Corporation – ‘Ecollection’ Booth 73000-20
  Contacts: Timothy Chung, CEO, Tel: 212.398.7011x 888, Email: timothy@z-ply.com and Elizabeth Searle, Design, Tel: 212.398.7011x 268, Email: elizabeth@z-ply.com

• FASE, ECOfashion Consultant – In attendance
  Contact: Marci Zaroff, Under the Canopy Founder, Tel: 561.302.2010 Email: marcizaroff@gmail.com
  also on ‘Designing Mindfully’ panel held Aug. 31 at 1pm, Room N256, and ‘Eco-Retail’ panel held Sept. 1 at 9am, Room N256.

• Green Textile – In attendance
  Contact: Phillip N Glover, Tel: 864.415.2897, Email: phillip.glover@greentextile.com

• Greensource – In attendance
  Contact: David Basson, Tel: 425.656.9123, Email: David@apparel-source.com
  also on ‘Eco Materials’ panel held Sept. 1 at 1pm, Room N256.

• Internet Tekstil – In attendance
  Contact: Koray Asici, Tel: 90.416.2272401, Email: korayasici@internettekstil.com.tr

• Itsus Eco System Green – ‘Pool Trade Show’ Booth 1210
  Contact: Richard Brown, Tel: 001.514.344.5454, Email: richard@itsus.ca

• Kerkus Organics – ‘Premium’ Booth PR 21208
  Contact: Camilo Salazar, Tel: 574.373.3560, Email: camilo@oddsjeans.com.co

• Lenzing Fibers, Inc. – In attendance
  Contact: Tricia Carey, Tel: 917.690.5154, Email: t.carey@lenzing.com

• Levi Strauss & Co. – ‘Premium’ Booth PR 20000
  Contact: Michael Kobori, email: mkobori@levi.com
  also on ‘Apparel Sourcing Stewardship’ panel held Sept. 1 at 12:30pm, Hilton Room 7

• N.C. John & Sons Ltd. – "Sourcing' Booth MA30429
  Contact: Alexander Neroth, Tel: 919.843.024223, Email: alex@ncjohn.net

• prAna – In attendance 
  Contact: Nicole Bassett, Tel: 760.566.1070, Email: info@prana.com
  also presenting ‘Sustainable Value in Your Supply Chain’ held Aug. 31 at 11am, Room N256.

• SGS Consumer Testing – ‘Sourcing’ Booth SP31830
  Contact: Katherine Stein, Tel: 561.998.9115, Email: katherine.stein@sgs.com
  also on ‘From Retailer to Supply Chain’ panel, Part 1 held Aug. 31 at 3:30pm, Room N259, and Part 2 held Sept. 1 at 10:30am, Hilton Room 7.

• Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative – In attendance
  Contact: James Wedel, Tel: 806.946.7011, Email: james@wedelfarms.com
  also on ‘The Future of Sourcing’ panel held Aug. 31 at 3pm, Hilton Room 11.

• The Merino Company – In attendance
  Contact: Sabino Iacovone, Tel: 917.613.6258, Email: sabino@solostile.net

• Tropic Knits – ‘Sourcing’ Booth 31820
  Contact: Yannis Faydherbe, Tel: 230.602.1000, Email: yfaydherbe@tropicknits.com

If you are an OE Member at MAGIC and are not listed above, please email Daren Abney.

Organic Exchange presented a seminar at MAGIC to provide the growing organic market with important information and network with the organic community.

Monday, August 31 – 9:00 a.m.
ECOLLECTION Seminar
Room N256
Knowing Your Standards and How to Track Your Supply Chain

• Lee Tyler, Organic Exchange
  OE & GOTS Organic Standards presentation
• Ashley Currin, Organic Exhange
  String Traceability System presentation