The Textiles Recycling Expo USA will take place for the first time in Charlotte, N.C., April 29-30, 2026, at the Charlotte Convention Center. The event will bring together industry stakeholders to address the challenge of textile waste, including fabric, clothing, footwear, fiber and nonwoven recycling.
The free-to-attend exhibition and conference — organized by events company Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI), England — will build on the success of the debut event that was held in Europe last year. According to AMI, key organizations in North America have shown their support for the U.S. version of the event.
“We are very excited to bring the Textiles Recycling Expo to the USA,” said Zied Chetoui, event manager for the show. “We had discussions with numerous American attendees at our launch event in Europe and it’s clear that there’s a real need for a similar meeting place for the North American textiles recycling community to help foster dialogue and progress.”
Americans discard more than 10 million tons of textiles annually, according to industry estimates, with only a fraction recycled currently. The U.S. fashion and waste management sectors are under increasing pressure to increase recycling rates and reduce the volume of clothing and fabrics going to landfills. The Textiles Recycling Expo USA will address these challenges head-on, promoting information exchange, innovation and collaboration to create a more circular and sustainable future for the industry.
Exhibitor Profile, Key Sponsors
Organizers report that exhibitors at Textiles Recycling Expo USA can expect to connect with influential buyers and specifiers from across the supply chain, while visitors will have the opportunity to discover innovative technologies from an international array of suppliers as well as gain invaluable industry insights in the show’s conference theater.
More than 60 exhibitors have already signed up to participate, and organizers expect that number to grow. Exhibitors include textile recyclers, sustainable fiber companies, sorting and recycling technology suppliers, waste management services, and collection/recycling program organizations. The exhibitor list features some of the industry’s most influential names including UNIFI Inc., Syre, PureLoop, Valvan, Valerius, Circ and Debrand. Sweden-based Syre, a founding exhibitor, is particularly well aligned with the U.S. edition of the event as it prepares to launch its first North Carolina-based plant capable of producing 10,000 metric tons of circular polyester annually.
Textiles Recycling Expo USA has secured key sponsors, including the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC), as well as industry partners:
- Structural Partner — Accelerating Circularity, which will work closely with the organizers to help shape the conference program;
- Founding Partners — Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) and American Circular Textiles; plus
- Impact Partners — Textile Exchange, Carolina Recycling Association, Goodwill, Southern Textile Association (STA), Fashion Takes Action, International Fiber Journal, North American Linen Association, and Denim Deal, among other Impact Partners.
Conference Sessions Featuring Expert Speakers
The open conference theater at Textiles Recycling Expo USA will host keynote presentations and panel discussions, and present case studies from circularity experts. Sessions will explore critical topics such as regulatory developments, market trends, technical innovations, supply chain developments and investment opportunities.
Industry leaders speaking at the conference include:
- Jessica Franken, director of Government Affairs, SMART;
- David Eagles, executive vice president and COO, Goodwill Industries International;
- Diane Woods, global head of Sales and Business Development, Reju;
- Eileen Mockus, COO, Accelerating Circularity;
- Adam Gardiner, Recycled lead, Textile Exchange;
- Camille Tagle, co-founder, FABSCRAP;
- Kelly Drennan, founder, Fashion Takes Action;
- Rachel Kibbe, founder and CEO, American Circular Textiles;
- Morgan Ginn, Footwear Circularity Program manager, The Footwear Collective;
- Steve Bethell, founder, Bank & Vogue;
- Jimmy Summers, chief sustainability officer and vice president of Environmental, Health, and Safety, Elevate Textiles; and
- Stuart Ahlum, co-founder and COO, SuperCircle.
Special Exhibition Features
A showcase for the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Textile Innovation Engine — which brings together NC State University, Material Return, Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC), Gaston Fiber Innovation Center, and Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina — will highlight how the engine is working to collaboratively accelerate the development of scalable textile circularity solutions rooted in North Carolina.
The VIP Lounge, sponsored by Reju, offers a dedicated networking space for decision-makers to meet with like-minded professionals. In addition, a Networking Party will be held on the evening of April 29 at the golf-themed Puttery on Rampart Street in Charlotte.
For more information about the exhibition and conference, as well as details on how to register for a free ticket, visit events.amiplastics.com/textiles-recy cling-expo-usa.
