BEDFORD, MA — February 2,2026 — Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) today announced the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors.
New AFFOA Board Members
The new members bring a broad spectrum of expertise across defense, medical devices, public-private partnerships, venture investment, and nonprofit operations, reinforcing AFFOA’s commitment to accelerating textile technology and manufacturing breakthroughs that safeguard the nation, advance industry, and improve quality of life.
“We are excited about the growth and wide-ranging expertise of our board,” said Sasha Stolyarov, Ph.D., AFFOA CEO. “I am looking forward to working with each new board member in expanding our impact regionally and nationally.”
New AFFOA Board Members
Brian Johnson, President of MassMEDIC, leads a 300-member network of medical device companies, suppliers, research institutions, and academic health centers, and has shaped public policy engagement for New England’s medical device sector on Capitol Hill and Beacon Hill. His deep knowledge of the medical wearable device industry will be a valuable asset as AFFOA expands applications for advanced fabrics.
Francisco J. Martinez, Vice President of R&D for Bethel Industries, will guide AFFOA on product development and government relationships, drawing on decades of private-sector experience. His extensive background supporting defense applications and developing tactical and protective gear includes CTO roles at Protect The Force Inc. and Unifire Inc., engineering roles at U.S. Army DEVCOM Soldier, and founder at Mission Ready Solutions.
Stacy Swider, Vice President of Investments at MassVentures, leverages her technical and business acumen to source, mentor, and fund high-potential deep-tech startups. By identifying transformative ventures and drawing on investor-relations experience, she helps broaden the pipeline of technologies and collaboration opportunities AFFOA can access to accelerate smart materials and manufacturing solutions. Swider’s background includes leading the SBIR Center of Excellence at the UMass Lowell Research Institute and extensive materials science expertise across semiconductors, nuclear detection, and film.
Steven Tran, Executive Vice President of Finance and Contracts at Activate, brings a wealth of knowledge in financial planning, audits, contracting, and grant processes. His experience spans numerous roles at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and as Senior Director of Operations at AFFOA.
AFFOA remains at the forefront of uniting academia, industry, and government to accelerate advanced fiber and fabric development, manufacturing, and commercialization. These new board members strengthen a leadership team dedicated to protecting the Warfighter, bolstering America’s manufacturing base, and enhancing national resiliency.
Posted: February 2, 2026
Source: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA)
SHANGHAI — February 2,2026 — China’s pet economy is booming, especially amongst younger generations, and pet apparel – from designer outfits to functional garments – was a RMB 3.5 billion (over USD 500 million) market in 2024, growing more than 20% annually[1]. To help exhibitors harness this trend, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will launch the Pet Boutique, presenting a range of innovative, sustainable materials that prioritise both functionality and comfort for pets.
Pet fashion is a fast-growing trend in China – Lenzing’s display at the 2025 Autumn Edition showed the synergy between sustainability, functionality, people and pets. (Source: Messe Frankfurt)
The display area will be adjacent to a larger, restructured Functional Lab, with both that zone and Econogy Hub showcasing textiles that tie ‘eco’ with technical performance, a strong focus in the global market. This spring, over 3,000 exhibitors will unveil the season’s innovations across 190,000 sqm at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.
In China, pet ownership is on the rise, as is annual spending per pet, with both factors leading to astronomical growth and a pet market that could be worth RMB 1.15 trillion (over USD 164 billion) by 2028[2]. As such, Intertextile Apparel is set to launch the Pet Boutique display area at its upcoming edition from 11 – 13 March, allowing textile suppliers to feature a range of pet-ready fabrics, accessories and apparel for buyers to explore. Exhibitors with samples on show include Lenzing, showing how renewable wood-based fibres can be used for pet products; Idole, using SOLOTEX® to create textiles that blend fashion and function; as well as SilkİPEK Tekstil; Heng Li String and Braid; G.K Infinite; and more.
Younger generations born in the 1990s and 2000s are influencing market trends towards premium pet products[3], while functional garments, such as those with odour control and cold and wet weather protection, make up more than 60% of China’s pet apparel market[4] – hence the display area’s focus on superior, performance-related exhibitors and its positioning beside Functional Lab.
Functional Lab reimagined in 2026
The product zone will expand in scale by over 30% compared to the previous Spring Edition, reflecting Chinese consumers’ increasing participation in outdoor activities ranging from dog walking to trail running. Within the zone, THE CUBE will feature a new product presentation and display area – mirroring the integrated layout that has proven so effective at Econogy Hub. Key exhibitors who have confirmed their participation at the new-look Functional Lab include:
3M China: 3M will draw special attention to its Thinsulate™ Insulation, encompassing extremely fine microfibres with a high warmth-to-thickness ratio that enables garment design with less bulk and enhanced freedom of movement.
Hyosung: among other offerings, the world’s largest manufacturer of spandex will feature various CREORA® materials, with diverse applications spanning warming, cooling, weight and colour.
Other highlighted exhibitors within the zone include knitted fabric specialists such as Regen-tech Fashion (eco-functional), Henglun Textile (denim), and HiLite Textile (fashion and casualwear).
Innovation front and centre at Econogy Hub
Ideal for humans and their furry companions, sustainable textiles are increasingly being integrated with functional properties like UV resistance, insulation and antibacterial performance. At the fair, Econogy Hub – which has also grown in scale – will give a vital platform to industry players showcasing eco-friendly textiles covering both fashion and function, as well as certification and traceability solutions. Featured exhibitors include:
Ecocert (Pavilion): the certifier strives to enable production processes that respect the environment, quality and safety, and the Ecocert Pavilion will gather its downstream textile partners showcasing knitted fabrics, cashmere, and more.
PEELSPHERE: the company converts non-food agricultural waste into 100% bio-based plant fibre leather that combines performance with fashionable aesthetics, as well as providing sustainable fashion service solutions.
TextileGenesis, a Lectra company: provides a one stop traceability and market compliance solution for the apparel ecosystem, custom-built for premium and sustainable textiles such as wood-based fibres, premium cotton, specialty filaments, silk, wool and cashmere.
Buyers with ‘green’ sourcing requirements can filter eco-focused exhibitors through the Econogy Finder, a directory that draws attention to companies across the fairground whose sustainability has been further verified through the independent Econogy Check. In the apparel textile industry, numerous suppliers are treating sustainable materials as a non-negotiable element. Several will feature as prominent exhibitors at the upcoming fair and on its Econogy Finder, including notable cellulosic fibre producers Asahi Kasei, Eastman, and Grasim Industries, as well as eco-denim suppliers Burlington and Diamond Fabrics, both of which will be showcasing in Econogy Hub for the first time.
For fashion brands and other industry players, the ability to verify sustainability is crucial. When exhibiting at the previous Spring Edition, Ms Sun Rui, Sales Account Manager of Beijing Ecocert Certification Center Co Ltd, said: “Ecocert played a pivotal role at Econogy Hub, where we have gathered our partners to showcase their collections, presented our own certification solutions, and shared our vision for sustainability at Econogy Talks. This has enabled more buyers to recognise that a French certification body is actively advancing sustainability initiatives in China. We connected with apparel brands, garment manufacturers, yarn and fabric suppliers, and others. The zone’s focused display and seminar format provided an exceptional platform for industry exchange, helping both us and our clients better understand policies and development trends.”
The fair is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Textile Information Centre. It will take place alongside Yarn Expo Spring, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition, CHIC and PH Value at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). For more details on this fair, please visit: www.intertextileapparel.com.
Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition will be held from March 11 – 13, 2026.
LENZING , Austria / STOCKHOLM — February 2,2026 — The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB. This step strengthens Lenzing’s position as a leading provider of sustainable, wood‑based specialty fibers and expands its innovation pipeline with a highly scalable, patent‑protected technology platform. The transaction is executed through the issuance of new shares.
TreeToTextile represents the next major technological leap in cellulosic fiber production – following the development of viscose in the early 20th century and Lenzing’s own Lyocell technology in the 1990s.
The process offers a significantly improved sustainability profile, attractive cost advantages, and broad applicability across textile and nonwoven markets. With the majority acquisition, Lenzing underscores its commitment to consistently advancing its premiumization strategy and further expanding its leadership position in the global specialty fiber market.
Lenzing COO Georg Kasperkovitz
“TreeToTextile is among the world’s most advanced next‑generation fiber technologies and represents the most promising development on the market. Since our initial investment in 2025, the collaboration between the innovative TreeToTextile team and Lenzing’s fiber experts has enabled significant technological progress. We are fully committed to the joint scale‑up and commercialization. H&M Group, Inter IKEA Group, and Stora Enso, will continue to support this path as minority shareholders, contributing valuable market and consumer perspectives,” says Georg Kasperkovitz, COO of Lenzing Group. LSCS Invest also reaffirms its confidence in the joint technology platform through its long‑standing commitment since the foundation of the company and continued role as a shareholder.
“Innovation at industrial scale requires time, expertise, and strong partnerships. Lenzing Group’s increased ownership is a clear endorsement of our technology and our ambition to become a major player in the global fiber market,” says Dr. Roxana Barbieru, CEO of TreeToTextile.
The transaction enables an accelerated scaling of the new technology. Lenzing plans a significant increase in production output at the existing demonstration plant in Nymölla, Sweden, as well as the preparation of the first industrial‑scale facility. In addition, the company expects operational synergies from an even closer collaboration.
WINTERTHUR, Switzerland — February 2,2026 — Rieter has successfully completed the acquisition of Barmag as of February 2, 2026. This strategically important acquisition makes Rieter the world’s leading system provider for natural and synthetic fibers. Barmag will be consolidated as of February 2, 2026, and integrated into the Rieter Group as the “Man-Made Fiber” Division.
Thomas Oetterli
The management of Barmag will remain with the company. Georg Stausberg will continue to lead the division and report to Thomas Oetterli, CEO of Rieter. At the same time, he will join the Group Executive Committee.
The transaction is financed by the capital increase completed in October of last year as well as by long-term bank loans. In addition to substantial cash reserves in its operating units, Rieter also has a significantly increased revolving credit facility at its disposal.
Thomas Oetterli, CEO of Rieter: “Barmag’s know-how is a perfect fit for Rieter and will accelerate profitable growth as well as strengthen our market leadership in the important region of Asia. The acquired filament know-how will help to expand our areas of expertise as a system provider and further advance automation and digitization solutions”
“This is the start of a successful future together and an important milestone in the implementation of our corporate strategy.”
CARY, N.C.— February 2,2026 — Cotton Incorporated announces the appointment of Bev Sylvester as chief marketing officer. In this newly created role, Sylvester will oversee Cotton Incorporated’s marketing strategy, brand positioning, consumer engagement and global outreach to increase demand for cotton and strengthen its relevance in the marketplace.
Bev Sylvester
Sylvester brings more than 20 years of senior-level marketing and brand leadership experience across apparel, textiles, consumer goods, and branded materials. Her background spans private label and branded businesses, licensing, e-commerce, and integrated global storytelling with mills, manufacturers, brands and retailers.
Most recently, Sylvester served in a leadership capacity at Unifi Manufacturing, Inc., a global fiber manufacturer, where she led global marketing efforts for REPREVE, a branded recycled polyester fiber used by apparel and home brands worldwide.
In that role, she worked directly at the fiber level, engaging mills, manufacturers, sourcing teams, designers and retailers to drive adoption and preference — providing valuable insight into how fiber-level decisions are made and influenced across the supply chain.
“Bev brings a clear understanding of how fiber and material choices influence outcomes across the value chain and how those decisions ultimately shape market confidence and demand,” said William Kimbrell, president and CEO of Cotton Incorporated. “Her experience at the fiber level, paired with her work with brands and retailers, strengthens our ability to engage decision-makers at the points that matter most and support long-term demand for cotton.”
In this role, Sylvester will lead Cotton Incorporated’s marketing strategy and demand-building initiatives, shaping clear, compelling narratives around cotton’s value and aligning those efforts with the needs of mills, manufacturers, brands, and retailers to drive informed raw material decisions across the value chain, with pull-through to the consumer.
“Fiber choice is shaped by performance requirements, sustainability expectations, and increasing transparency across the supply chain,” said Sylvester. “I look forward to working across the value chain — from sourcing and manufacturing through brand, retail and consumer engagement — to ensure that cotton’s strong value-based proposition, and fiber benefits are clearly understood and connected to the decision-makers and end users who ultimately drive demand.”
Sylvester also brings extensive consulting experience launching and scaling brands across multiple apparel and lifestyle categories, along with a global perspective shaped by both corporate and advisory roles.
Her appointment aligns with Cotton Incorporated’s market-driven approach with a focus on strengthening engagement with midstream decision-makers, mills, manufacturers, brands and retailers while maintaining consumer demand-building strategies — ultimately strengthening cotton’s position in a highly competitive global fiber marketplace.
Saint Paul, MN— January 30, 2026 — Nalco Water, an Ecolab company, has entered a strategic three-year collaboration with international technology group ANDRITZ to support innovation and accelerate product development at the PrimeLineTIAC Tissue Innovation and Application Center (TIAC) in Graz, Austria.
Innovation is driving the future of the tissue and towel industry, meeting rising consumer expectations for softness, strength and sustainability while enabling manufacturers to optimize production.
As demand grows for eco-friendly, high-performance products, innovation delivers smarter solutions that reduce water, fiber, and energy use, enhance operational efficiency and support long-term environmental goals.
Nalco Water will be a strategic partner for Andritz on their state-of-the-art pilot tissue machine at TIAC, enabling the company to test and validate its advanced chemistries and digital and automation solutions in a controlled, industrial-scale environment. The collaboration will allow Nalco Water increased machine access to enable faster innovation cycles and speed to market for new tissue solutions.
“This partnership with ANDRITZ allows us to bring our solutions to life in a real-world setting, accelerating development timelines and enabling our customers to trial programs before implementation on their own machines,” said Ravi Raghavapudi, SVP & GM, Global Nalco Water Paper. “It is a significant milestone for Nalco Water and our tissue customers.”
The TIAC facility features a complete tissue production line with flexible configurations—including conventional, textured, and structured (TAD) tissue formats—along with advanced automation and monitoring systems. The collaboration also includes joint development opportunities with key global tissue producers and access to TIAC’s digital innovation platform, Metris, for enhanced process optimization.
Nalco Water secured this collaboration through a competitive process, with its chemistries demonstrating superior performance during evaluation.
TOKYO — January 30, 2026 — YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) held a groundbreaking ceremony on January 29 for the Phase 3 expansion of YKK Vietnam Co., Ltd.’s Nhon Trach Factory.
Yuji Furukawa
Approximately 40 people attended the ceremony, including Yoshimine Kobayashi, Executive Vice President and Head of the Manufacturing & Engineering Division of YKK Corporation, and Yuji Furukawa, President of YKK Vietnam Co., Ltd., along with other stakeholders.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
YKK Vietnam will construct a state‑of‑the‑art factory on the site adjacent to its existing Phase 1 and Phase 2 facilities in Nhon Trach. With the launch of the Nhon Trach Factory Phase 3 expansion, YKK Vietnam will increase production capacity and further enhance its product development capabilities, solidifying its position as a core technology hub within the ASEAN region.
By leveraging advanced automation technologies, the Phase 3 factory will establish a highly efficient production system capable of delivering products that meet the diverse needs of customers, including leading global brands.
Overview of factory expansion
Construction site: Lot 10, N2 Road, Nhon Trach 3 IP – Phase 2, Tho Commune, Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam
Amount invested: 83.6 million USD – (buildings, machinery and equipment, etc.)
Land area: 176,701m2
Building area: 110,460m2
Planned building completion date: May 2027
Company overview
Location : (Headquarters) Lot 10, N2 Road, Nhon Trach 3 IP – Phase 2, Phuoc An Commune, Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam
Factories: Bien Hoa, Nhon Trach, Dong Van
Offices: Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Company established: May 27, 1998
President: Yuji Furukawa
Capital stock: 16.8 million USD
Business description: Manufacturing and sales of fastening products
WASHINGTON, D.C. — January 30, 2026 — X The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), which represents the full U.S. textile supply chain from fiber and yarn to fabrics and finished sewn products, welcomed today’s announcement of a reciprocal trade agreement between the United States and Guatemala.
National Council of Textile Organizations President and CEO Kim Glas:
NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas
“The reciprocal trade agreement with Guatemala marks an important step toward strengthening the U.S. textile supply chain. We commend the administration for taking decisive action to remove reciprocal tariffs and provide preferential treatment to qualifying textile and apparel products from Guatemala under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
“NCTO and the broader U.S. textile industry are grateful to President Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, and the administration for concluding this agreement with Guatemala, following on the heels of the recently announced agreement with El Salvador.
“Guatemala is a key partner in the CAFTA-DR region, with $2 billion in two-way textile and apparel trade. Together, the region operates as an integrated co-production platform that is essential to the U.S. textile supply chain. In 2024, this production network generated $11.3 billion in two-way trade and supported more than 470,000 American jobs in the domestic textile industry alone.
“The U.S.–Western Hemisphere textile and apparel supply chain remains a critical strategic alternative to China and other Asian producers. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Trump administration to further solidify this vital regional partnership and appreciate this important announcement.”
Posted: January 30, 2026
Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — January 29 2026 — X-Rite Pantone, the global authority in color standards and color science, today announced the promotion of Cindy Cooperman to Vice President and General Manager of Pantone. In this role, Cooperman will lead Pantone as a distinct business unit within X-Rite Pantone.
Cindy Cooperman
Cooperman brings more than 25 years of experience supporting brands, designers, and manufacturers that rely on color authority and accuracy. Her background includes leading strategic color-consulting initiatives that help global brands translate color direction into product design, material decisions, and market-ready storytelling.
In her new position, she will strengthen Pantone’s role in shaping connected color workflows, aligning physical color standards, digital color workflows, and visualization to create a seamless customer journey from inspiration to final product realization.
“This is an exciting time for Pantone, and I look forward to helping shape the future of color innovation,” said Cooperman. “Today, color must move seamlessly from creative intent to production, supported by connected digital workflows and trusted physical standards. By uniting Pantone’s color authority with X-Rite’s color science, we can help customers tackle complex color challenges and develop color and design approaches that embrace emerging processes, technologies, and business needs.”
“Cindy has a proven track record of aligning innovation with customer needs in complex, fast-moving markets,” said Jeff McKee, President, X-Rite Pantone. “Her collaborative leadership, deep experience in graphic arts, and understanding of how brands depend on color standards throughout the production workflow make her the right leader to guide Pantone into the future.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — January 29 2026 — Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry leader in the design, development, and manufacture of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces it will highlight its 3-D weaving capabilities at JEC World 2026, which will be held on March 10-12, 2026, in Paris-Nord Villepinte, France, Booth #6K104. BRM will highlight its film infusion capabilities for 3-D woven joints; woven thermal protection systems (TPS); and advanced woven composite 3-D structures, including 3-D near-net shapes.
In BRM’s film infusion process, a frozen sheet or film of resin is infused onto the custom 3-D woven joint. Film-infused 3-D woven joints ship as pre-made assemblies, ensuring consistent quality control from the industry-leading experts in fabrication and saving customers the cost of infusing the resin themselves. BRM has perfected the science and art of 3-D continuous weaving to fabricate such structures as “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex shapes. Offering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, these complex woven structures are used primarily in aerospace applications, often in airframe structural components and subassemblies including stiffeners and joints.
Visitors to the booth will see lightweight 3-D woven fabrics and learn about BRM’s multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPS) designed for atmospheric re-entry applications. BRM has implemented innovative weaving technologies to develop advanced woven TPS materials, including the 3D orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material developed in partnership with NASA for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV).
This material is used in critical heat shield components and compression pads that help protect the spacecraft from extreme re-entry temperatures. The 3DMAT Quartz Material was named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.
Also on display will be lightweight, cost-effective, advanced woven 2-D and 3-D composite structures. Using a multi-dimensional continuous weaving method, BRM produces textiles that can be fabricated into near net-shape structures.
These advanced weaving capabilities provide customers with new solutions that reduce weight and cost by automatically weaving complex shapes and eliminating many costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive manufacturing processes.
BEDFORD, MA — February 2,2026 — Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) today announced the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors.
