Textiles Scotland have announced that Tom Ott, Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue will speak at this year’s Scottish Textiles Industry Conference.

Tom will provide an essential insight into what a leading US retailer and brand looks for when selecting suppliers. He has held his current position since 2008, recently leading the launch of their own 'in-house' label and is working with a number of leading Scottish suppliers to deliver this successful collection.

Accompanying Tom, global PR consultancy Weber Shandwick will host a practical session on Social Media, focused specifically at the Scottish textiles industry. The Scottish Leather Group will provide a thought-provoking case study on their ground-breaking site and their zero waste policy. The Scottish Academy of Fashion completes the programme with a presentation on how this ambitious project is at the forefront of making Scotland a global centre of excellence.

The conference will be hosted by Keith McDermott of Brilliant Red and Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism will address the conference dinner.

The event will be held on 27 October at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh.

Find out more about the Scottish Textiles Industry Conference 2011