The inaugural Textiles Recycling Expo USA concluded with strong results, marking a key milestone for the North American textile recycling industry. Held at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina on 29-30 April, the event brought together the full textile value chain for America’s first dedicated exhibition and conference focused entirely on textile recycling. 

Building on the success of the event’s European launch in Brussels in 2025, the US edition exceeded expectations, welcoming 1,858 visitors, 95 exhibitors and 52 expert speakers for two dynamic days. 

Attendees included sustainability specialists from leading organizations such as Target, Walmart, Marc Jacobs, Sol de Janeiro, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Tesla, Belk, Macy’s, Kontoor Brands, New Balance, Amazon, and On Running, alongside recyclers, manufacturers, policymakers, and innovators from across the sector. The exhibition and conference program showcased the latest developments in textile-to-textile recycling, material innovation, and circular solutions. 

The event featured a packed conference theatre, a busy showfloor, and high-quality engagement throughout. Feedback from exhibitors and attendees consistently highlighted the value of having the entire value chain represented in one place, enabling targeted conversations and meaningful connections. The strong level of collaboration and openness around industry challenges - including scale, cost, and infrastructure - underscored the importance of collective action moving forward.

One of the standout features on the showfloor was the Textile Innovation Engine booth, where the energy and engagement throughout the event reflected the growing momentum behind collaborative innovation in the sector. At the center of this ecosystem is the NSF-funded Textile Innovation Engine, serving as the key connector uniting NC State University, Material Return, Manufacturing Solutions Center (MSC), the Gaston Fiber Innovation Center, and Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina. The showcase demonstrated the power of regional collaboration in accelerating textile circularity and advancing scalable solutions.

Another key highlight was the Reju VIP Lounge, which provided a dedicated environment for top attendees, speakers, and industry leaders to network, hold meetings, and continue conversations away from the bustling showfloor. The lounge became a central hub for high-level engagement and relationship building across the two days.

Following its successful debut, the Textiles Recycling Expo USA will return to Charlotte, NC on April 7–8, 2027, with plans already underway to expand the event further. 

About Textiles Recycling Expo USA 

Textiles Recycling Expo USA is North America’s first exhibition and conference dedicated entirely to textile recycling, bringing together stakeholders from across the value chain to drive innovation and accelerate the transition towards a circular textile economy.