Textiles Recycling Expo USA Announces First Speakers for 2026 Conference Program
Charlotte, North Carolina — Textiles Recycling Expo USA has announced the first confirmed speakers for its 2026 conference program, taking place April 29–30, 2026 at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina.
Billed as the first dedicated textile recycling exhibition and conference in North America, the free-to-attend event brings together leaders from the textiles, fashion, waste, and recycling sectors to share insights, spotlight emerging technology, and accelerate progress on U.S. textile circularity.
Why this expo matters for textile circularity in North America
Textile waste and low recycling rates remain persistent challenges across the value chain; from design decisions and collection systems to sorting, end markets, and policy. Events like this create a rare “same room” moment for the people building solutions across recycling infrastructure, circular design, take-back models, and downstream markets.
The conference program is curated in collaboration with the expo’s Structural Partner, Accelerating Circularity, and is designed to surface practical pathways for scaling textile reuse and recycling in the U.S. and beyond.
First confirmed speakers for the 2026 conference program
The initial speaker roster represents organizations shaping circular systems through operations, policy, innovation, and industry collaboration:
Jessica Franken, Director of Government Affairs, Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART)
David Eagles, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Goodwill Industries International
Diane Woods, Global Head of Sales and Business Development, ReJu
Eileen Mockus, Chief Operating Officer, Accelerating Circularity
Adam Gardiner, Recycled Lead, Textile Exchange
Camille Tagle, Co-Founder, FABSCRAP
Kelly Drennan, Founder, Fashion Takes Action
Morgan Ginn, Footwear Circularity Program Manager, The Footwear Collective
Rachel Kibbe, Founder and CEO, American Circular Textiles
Steve Bethell, Founder, Bank & Vogue
Jimmy Summers, Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of Environmental, Health, and Safety, Elevate Textiles
Olivia Poole, Consultant, AMI
Stuart Ahlum, Co-Founder and COO, SuperCircle
What attendees can expect
The conference theater, sponsored by the event’s Impact Partner, Goodwill Industries International, will serve as a hub for dialogue on:
The real-world barriers to textile recycling scale-up (and what’s working)
Innovation in sorting, processing, and circular material systems
How brands, collectors, sorters, and recyclers can collaborate more effectively
The policy and market signals shaping textile recycling across North America
Alongside the conference program, the expo will host an exhibition featuring solutions related to textile recycling, shredding, sorting, circular design, and more.
Registration and event details
Dates: April 29–30, 2026
Location: Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Registration: Free for all attendees
For event updates and registration details, visit the Textiles Recycling Expo USA website.
Fashion Takes Action: stay connected
Fashion Takes Action will be present throughout the event, hosting a booth and participating on stage during the talks, capturing and amplifying practical insights that help move circular textiles from ambition to implementation.
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FAQ
Is Textiles Recycling Expo USA free to attend?
Yes, registration is free for attendees.
When and where is the 2026 event?
April 29–30, 2026 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Who is involved in programming?
The conference program is curated in collaboration with Accelerating Circularity (Structural Partner).