BTMA - British Textile Machinery Association

Throughout 2010, The Textile Institute is celebrating both its heritage and the future of textiles with a series of special events culminating in its Centenary Conference in November.

The Textile Institute is unique in being the only professional body for those working in any sector of the global textiles, clothing and footwear industries. It has individual and corporate members in over 80 countries and its primary aims are to set professional standards and to promote the advancement of knowledge within these industries.

The formal inauguration of the Institute took place in Manchester, UK on the 22^nd April 1910. By 1953 there were 10 Sections and in that year the first overseas Section was set up in Calcutta, India. To meet the growing needs of this worldwide industry Sections were established in Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Switzerland. All of these Sections are still active today, along with others in Egypt, Japan, and the UK. Along with the Special Interests Groups (SIGs), they provide a vibrant, crucial and very relevant network of industry professionals.

Membership of the Institute brings numerous benefits, not least by providing networking opportunities with a worldwide community of textile, clothing and footwear professionals. There are local and global events - seminars, conferences and study tours.

The Textile Institute's SIGs meanwhile, provide a focus for members in different sectors, with many of them organising conferences, study tours and other events covering their subject area.

The following SIGs are currently active:

• Schools
• Fashion and Technology
• Design
• Information Technology
• Smart Wearables
• Technical Textiles
• Sustainability

The Textile Institute also provides a comprehensive information service in respect of:

• Countries and markets
• Economics, management and statistics
• Exhibitions, conferences and events
• Manufacturers, supplies and products
• Standards, terms and definitions
• Fashion design, technology and retailing
• Engineering applications
• Fibres and their conversion

In addition, the Institute, working with publishing partners, is one of the world's leading publishers of periodicals and books spanning these subjects.

Textiles is the Institute's quarterly membership magazine.  Each issue covers various aspects of the international fibre based textile industry, covering fibres, processes, production, and end uses, from geotextiles and interiors to clothing and footwear.

Membership of The Textile Institute is open to all individuals and organisations, including universities. The only requirement is an interest in the industry.

Centenary World Conference

The Centenary World Conference of The Textile Institute will be the leading 'must attend' international conference in 2010, drawing together presentations from industry and education providing a chance to meet old friends and new as well as a platform for information exchange and networking.

The guiding theme for the conference will be 'creating a global vision for textiles, clothing and footwear'.

Manchester has been home to The Textile Institute for 100 years and consequently is the natural choice as the venue for the Centenary Conference.

An awards ceremony will also form part of the Conference and the 2010 celebrations, which also include many events around the world and of course the Institute's prestigious Parliamentary Lunch held each year at the Houses of Parliament, London, UK.