In a significant development, GOTS has announced Lori Wyman as the new Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) representative for North America and Elif Yarasik is the new regional representative in Turkey.

Prior to joining GOTS, Wyman was Senior Auditor with Control Union Certifications and has served as an inspector to textile programs for over ten years. She had previously worked in the membership and marketing departments of the Organic Trade Association (OTA). She is excited to draw upon past partnerships with brands, retailers, regulatory agencies, NGOs, organic certification agencies, and educational textile programs to strengthen the visibility of the GOTS program. Wyman will be based in Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, Turkey is the country with the second most GOTS certified facilities worldwide (469 in 2015) which make it a very important sourcing market. Previously, Yarasik has worked in textile both in manufacturing and sourcing industry since 1993, among others for Turkey offices of Nike, Hanes brands, Next and Puma and for big vertical garment suppliers of Turkey. She has an extensive experience on understanding manufacturing and sourcing side of business in addition to technical side. Her main expertise is the implementation and managing the ecological, environmental, social compliance requirements of textile suppliers as per brand specific requirements which includes global legislations.