Elena Lai, Secretary General of the European Textile Services Association (ETSA) is announced as the Chair for the PCIAW® Summit & Exhibition 2023, hosted 7-9 November 2023 at the award-winning venue – Alfandega Congress Centre, Porto, Portugal – on the bank of the iconic Duoro River.
The annual PCIAW® Summit & Exhibition is organised by the Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW®) and is an educational, networking event dedicated to the international supply chain for the uniform, workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE) markets. The 2023 event is sponsored by the global workwear fabric manufacturer, Carrington Textiles.
ETSA represents the interests, priorities, and concerns of the textile service industry, in close synergy with its member companies consisting of rented textiles and textile makers, industrial laundries, detergents and machineries as well as its national associations. ETSA’s role as the EU Climate Pact Ambassador means the organisation works in concert with the European Commission to inform and inspire real climate action.
Textiles services play an integral role within the professional clothing industry, particularly in the rental of workwear and PPE in the industrial and energy sectors, or the textile care services, including the laundries for hotels and hospitality businesses. ETSA’s natural crossover in services with PCIAW® makes Elena Lai, the Secretary General of ETSA compatible person to Chair the PCIAW® Summit & Exhibition.
The annual PCIAW® Summit, Exhibition & Awards event gathers global executives from the professional clothing supply chain for unique networking opportunities, advocating for partnerships and collaboration. 2023 is the first year the PCIAW® is set to host the event in Portugal, bringing people together from across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia to support the textile industry’s efforts to grow more sustainably and diversify sourcing operations.
Elena Lai, Secretary-General, ETSA said: “I am truly thankful to Yvette Ashby and PCIAW® colleagues for this fantastic opportunity. The inherent circularity and sustainability of textile services will certainly strengthen the debate with the textile value chain, in Porto. There are important challenges ahead of our industry, in Europe and beyond, therefore further cooperation will be instrumental”.
Yvette Ashby, CEO, PCIAW® commented: “Professional clothing is a significant part of the textile industry, supplying lifesaving equipment and identifying uniforms to the working people that keep the global economy operating. The progress toward a sustainable future is crucial and I am honoured to have Elena Lai as the Chair of the PCIAW® Summit & Exhibition as we can together educate and advocate for the circular economy.”
The PCIAW® Summit, Exhibition & Awards event takes place over three days from 7 – 9 November 2023.
- 7 November – Textile and apparel factory tours for delegates arranged by ANIVEC the Portuguese association for clothing and apparel, who is a long-term partner of PCIAW®.
- 8 November – PCIAW® Summit Part 1 begins at 9:00am until 1:30pm followed by a networking lunch. The PCIAW® Exhibition begins at 1:30pm until 5pm.
- 9 November – PCIAW® Summit Part 2 begins at 9:00am until 1:00pm. The PCIAW® Exhibition begins at 1:00pm until 4pm.
- 9 November – PCIAW® Awards begins with a champagne reception at 6:00pm followed by a three-course gala dinner. The PCIAW® Awards ceremony begins at 7:30pm until 10:00pm, complete with an evening of networking and entertainment.
Buy tickets to the PCIAW® Summit, Exhibition & Awards 2023 today.
