Innovation Unseen supported by the Sustainability Lounge & Polartec

Alexa Dehmel is an international Designer and Strategic Advisor for luxury & performance sportswear, functional textiles and Future Concepts for the Textile Industry,  trusted by 60+ global brands. With 25+ years across sportswear, outdoor and performance markets, she transforms material innovation into market leadership, responsible design and measurable value creation, working across Europe, the U.S. and Asia.

For 17+ years, she serves as Head Judge of bi-annual Forum jurys and Functional Fabric Curator, curating the TREND FORUM and Forum Areas, delivering Forum Insights on stage at PERFORMANCE DAYS Munich, the FUNCTIONAL FABRIC FAIR powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS (Portland, New York, Orlando) and FUNCTIONAL TEXTILES by Performance Days in Shanghai.

Deeply rooted in Europe and globally connected, she translates international market insight into strategic value and bridges brands with relevant sourcing ecosystems.

Ramesh Kesh is Senior Vice President and Business Manager for Government and Defense Business and Polartec Business Units. With over 70 issued patents in U.S. and in other countries, during his tenure at Milliken, Ramesh has and continues to direct and lead development organizations in multiple business units. Ramesh joined Milliken in 1996 as a Senior Development Engineer in the Airbag Business where he supported business growth through major innovations in airbag designs and multiple coating technologies that has been licensed and currently used in three continents.  His inventions are being utilized in over 200 million vehicles globally. He received his M.S. in Chemical Engineering with specialization in Material Science and Artificial Intelligence, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Polymer Science.