Czech Republic visit 16th 17th October

I attended and gave two lectures at the centenary of the Czech Association of Textile Chemists and Colourist in Dvore Kralove nad Labem, about two hours drive east of Prague. One lecture was about the Society the other was how we can improve efficiency and colour communication through best practice. The Association is part of IFATCC, International Federation of Associations of Textile Chemists and Colorists and there were the Presidents of the Polish, German and Italian Associations also present at this event. I was invited to give a paper at the next International meeting in Italy in 2010. The events showed there is a keen interest for the remaining industries within Europe to share know how and improve the efficiencies of the remaining factories. We also visited where there was a plaque commemorating the start of the Association and a 16th century castle where the current family was also celebrating their centenary of ownership.

Visits this week

This week I attended the second RITE conference in London. (RITE is Reduced Impact of Textiles on the Environment). The SDC sponsored students to attend this conference and had a table at the exhibition manned by Anika and Quentin. The speakers varied from politicians, journalists, world wildlife fund and retailers to suppliers of genetically modified crops. The question and answer session was very stimulating and at times contentious. On Wednesday night I attended the Swan Dinner, invited by the Dyers Company. The dinner was held at the Cloth Workers Hall, another magnificent building in the City of London. I was made very welcome at this dinner in celebration of the Swan Uppings carried out in July. I sat next to my friend and ex President David Blackburn and a major in the Royal Signals whose regiment is sponsored by the Dyers Company. Please visit the Dyers Company Website for more of the history.

Visits in October

Since I have last written in my blog I have been very busy. We have now virtually completed a Visual Standard and Best practice guide for visual and instrumental assessment and have accredited two more tutors in the UK, and one in India for our Colour Management in Textile Diploma Courses. After a successful visit to Hong Kong in July we are returning in November to set up the training program there. Next week I am attending the RITE conference in London and then the Swan dinner at the Worshipful Company of Dyers in London. The week after next I am speaking at the North of England Region and then in Czechoslovakia at the Czech Textile and Colourist Association Centenary. I will certainly report back on all the events!

Back from holiday

I have just come back down to earth after a lovely relaxing visit to Spain. I thought I would show an elevated view of the beach close by the pool at the villa. You can see why I miss it all, having a sangria by the beach and a BBQ by the pool. Anyway back to work and I will keep you posted with the progress of our training courses and the visits to China and Hong Kong.

The President in Hong Kong

I left China to go to Hong Kong and meet with various retailers, research establishments and our Patron Supporters both colleges and Companies. I had excellent and positive meetings welcoming our diploma courses. I held a seminar with over 200 attendees and covered the principles and innovations in colour assessment. The Hong Kong SDC Region welcomed and hosted the events together with HKRITA. I do have to mention special thank you to Clariant who hosted my visits as part of the SDC to some retailers and brands in HK

China Conference

The first joint conference betweeen CTIC, AATCC and SDC was held in Shanghia 23-25th July. It was a great success and congratulations and thanks need to be extended to the organisers, speakers and sponsors. We are planning another in less than two years. You will see all the pictures from the Colourist later but I have included a few photographs anyway. The SDC and AATCC speakers were from Clariant, Dystar, M&S, Levi Strauss & Co, Polo, Luen Thai, J C Penney, Rhode Island University. Thank you from me to all of you what excellent speakers!

Arrival in China

I arrived in Shanghai on Thursday 17th July to a phenomenal heat and humidity. Luckily I didn't have a visit that day just an update of the visits to date made by Ken, Clare and our Chinese consultants and translators Betty Hu and Prof. Dominic Lo. On the following day we went to Jiangnan University where it was my pleasure to present their accreditation certificate for their MSc course in Textile Chemistry, enabling the graduates to apply for the ASDC. In the afternoon we formally inaugurated the new Jiangnan region, the first in The People's Republic of China, and thanked and welcomed the new committee for all their efforts. Again congratulations to all of the committee for all their efforts. Professor Fang, the Jiangnan Chairman, was presented with the prestigious award, the Fellowship of the Society award, only the second Fellow in China and one of the elite group world wide to have had this bestowed on them for their contribution to the colouration industry.

The first seminar of the new region was then held in the afternoon. Ken McGhee and I gave presentations but what impressed us was that two Chinese speakers gave presentations in English on very technical topics, Dr Zhong, from Donghua University, and Dr Wang from Jiangnan University. You will see a report of this seminar when we return to the UK. I will also try and attach a photo of the region and attendees at the inauguration ceremony.