The 89th Textile Institute World Conference 2014 to specifically focus on textile innovation from fibre to fashion in both research and industrial applications opened Monday in central China's Hubei Province, with experts expected to exchange ideas to drive innovation in the industry.

The event will bring together over 260 representatives from more than 20 countries and regions to discuss smart textile products, wearable technology and the future of the textile industry.

TIWC 2014 is a platform that gathers researchers, academics and the industries related to the areas of textiles, clothing and footwear. The conference aims to provide a significant platform for industry and researchers around the world to meet, discuss, share and disseminate findings for future collaborations.

Delegates will benefit from a wide range of plenary speakers, invited speakers and other local and international presenters, along with poster sessions. It is anticipated that the conference will become a catalyst for textile innovations from fibre to fashion and enterprising spirits among the participants.

Textile is one of China's pillar industries, with the country consuming the largest portion of textile products in the world. Moreover, China is the world's biggest textile producer and exporter, making innovation extremely important, said Sun Ruizhe, deputy head of China National Textile and Apparel Council.

They need to continue to be innovative in the textile industry to usher in a new era of development.

The conference, held at the Lake View Gardent Hotel in Wuhan, Hubei's provincial capital, will run until Thursday.