Wear will be held in Canada on October 1 to 2. The event aims at working closely with small designers to build capacity, source more sustainable fabrics and engage with consumers. As has become customary at the annual event, policy makers, academics, NGOs and industry stakeholders will be presented with the business case of how to implement more sustainable practices.

The 2018 edition will center around innovation, with other topics such as circular economy, microfiber pollution and automation also being tackled through a range of panel discussions and break-out sessions. Key areas of interest can longer be easily pigeonholed. Fashion is at the intersection of science and technology, from fabric being grown in labs to block chain technology to help trace supply chains.

A panel discussion on robots will see industry representatives from both sides of the automation coin have their say on the wider impacts – whether positive or negative, which robotics could have on the fashion industry and society at large. Allowing opposing voices to be heard differentiates Wear from other sustainable fashion conferences.

Originally an innovation theme was slated for one day and a circular economy theme for another day. Then it was realized that the themes could not be separated and are intertwined, since innovation is what drives the circular economy.