MADRID, Spain — October 29, 2025 — Recover™ has signed a multi-year agreement with H&M to support the integration of its recycled cotton fiber, RCotton, for use in H&M’s products.
Since early 2024, H&M and Recover have collaborated on product development, which now enables scaled commercial introduction of Recover mechanically recycled cotton into H&M’s collections.
Recover combines more than 75 years of textile recycling expertise with advanced processes that deliver traceability and consistent quality at an industrial scale, operating five recycling hubs located at the heart of textile production streams in Europe, Asia and the Americas. These capabilities are essential for a global fashion player like H&M Group, where transparency, fiber performance, and reliable supply are crucial to integrating recycled materials.
“We are proud to enter into this partnership with H&M Group,” said Anders Sjöblom, CEO of Recover. “Reliable access to recycled fibers at scale, with full traceability and quality consistency, is vital for the industry’s transformation. Our collaboration demonstrates how innovators and leading global brands can work together to make circular fashion available to all.”
”At H&M Group, we want to grow our business decoupled from resource use and extraction, with products and materials circulating at their highest value,” noted Ulf Krigsman, head of Material & Components, H&M. “To increase the availability and affordability of recycled and sustainably sourced materials, we invest in, test, and scale innovative solutions and infrastructure. Recover’s expertise and proven ability to deliver recycled cotton at commercial scale make them a valuable partner as we work toward our goal of using only recycled or sustainably sourced materials by 2030. “
MEDINA, Ohio — October 29, 2025 — Fire investigators have long worked in a gray area of protection where full structural turnouts are overkill, but single-layer garments may not cover every single hazard they encounter. For decades, there hasn’t been gear built for the unique demands of post-fire scenes. But that’s about to change.
Fire-Dex, a global supplier of PPE for first responders, announced today that it is launching its new Fire Investigation PPE, the first protective ensemble designed specifically for fire investigators.
The patent-pending Fire Investigation PPE bridges the long-standing gap between heavy turnouts and imperfect alternatives by balancing protection, mobility and breathability in a way that finally gives fire investigators the right tool for the right job.
Built on Real Feedback
Most fire investigators are forced to wear gear made for the wrong environment. Fire-Dex, as part of its long-standing commitment to maximizing first responder safety through game-changing innovations, worked with some of the top fire investigators across the country to design gear from the ground up that doesn’t compromise.
Fire investigators asked for waterproofing, but not so much that the garment isn’t breathable. They asked for a solution that would help them stay cool during hot summer months. They asked for features that would give them easy access to the unique tools they use. The result? Purpose-built gear for fire investigators.
Fire-Dex built gear that moves like fire investigators move, protects where they need it most, limits the risk of heat stress on hot days and won’t weigh them down during long hours on a difficult scene.
“Everything we design at Fire-Dex is designed to help first responders be at their best,” said Todd Herring, Vice President, Product Innovation and Strategy at Fire-Dex. “Being at your best means that you are protected but free to do the work you need to do. For years, Fire-Dex has been at the forefront of PPE fit and function, innovating with unique patterns, radically redesigned garments and utilizing the latest in material science. We brought all that to this PPE to finally give fire investigators the gear they’ve been asking for.”
The Fire Investigation PPE rethinks what protective gear should actually do to make every investigation scene more manageable. This led Fire-Dex to incorporate key features like:
Smart waterproofing covers specific areas to provide protection where it’s needed and enhanced breathability where it’s not.
Integrated knee pads for long stretches spent kneeling and climbing.
Strategic venting panels, based on the same patent-pending technology found in Fire-Dex’s AeroFlex® turnouts, supercharge the garment’s breathability while still blocking particulates.
Pass-Through pockets for easy access to firearms, ID or any other tools fire investigators need to carry or display.
Phone Storage in a specialized waterproof pocket for easy, protected access.
Behind each of these accommodations is TECGEN51® fabric, Fire-Dex’s proven alternative PPE fabric that has been trusted by tens of thousands of first responders across the country for nearly two decades, and is exclusive to Fire-Dex. Lightweight, durable and breathable, it’s the backbone of the new Fire Investigation PPE.
Why It Matters Now
There are many pitfalls in a post-fire environment: sharp debris, soggy ashes, structural instability and hidden contaminants are present at nearly every scene. Fire-Dex acknowledged that reality and delivered a solution that finally aligns with both safety standards and the practical work of fire investigation.
The Fire Investigation PPE is also part of a larger non-structural PPE ecosystem. Paired with Dex-Rescue Gloves, FDXL90 Boots and particulate-blocking hoods from Fire-Dex, investigators can step into a scene with an integrated, lightweight ensemble designed to keep them safe, comfortable and focused on the task at hand.
Another first-of-its-kind innovation in fire gear from the fastest-growing manufacturer of head-to-toe PPE, the Fire Investigation PPE is now available for purchase by requesting a quote to be connected to a Fire-Dex distributor.
WEINHEIM, Germany — October 29, 2025 — With effect from January 1, 2026, the Freudenberg Performance Materials brand will replace the Filc brand, and the name of the company will also change from the same date.
The new brand presence concludes the successful integration of Filc in Freudenberg Performance Materials. For customers and suppliers, the only changes relate to the company address and the name of the bank account holder.
Filc joined Freudenberg Performance Materials in 2020 and this shared identity will now also be reflected in the joint brand presence: the Freudenberg Performance Materials brand will replace the Filc brand.
“The joint brand presence is the final step in the successful integration of Filc. It not only underscores our shared identity, but also brings a decisive advantage, in that Filc will be able to benefit even more from the strength of the Freudenberg brand. Our unchanged goal is to reinforce the sustainable success of our customers through innovative products,” Anže Manfreda, senior vice president at Filc, explained.
Change in the company’s name
The name of the company will also change effective January 1, 2026: “Filc d.o.o.” will in the future operate under the name of “Freudenberg Performance Materials Filc d.o.o.” For customers and suppliers, the only changes relate to the company’s address and the name of the bank account holder.
BALLY, Pa. — October 31, 2025 — Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) — a designer, developer, and manufacturer of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics — announces that it will showcase its high-quality, high-performance webbing designs at the Advanced Textiles Expo 2025 from November 5–7, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. At booth E1600, BRM experts will be available to discuss the company’s award-winning materials, tapes, webbings, and specialty textiles, including high-performance webbings, E-WEBBINGS®, and other narrow fabrics featuring the latest in advanced fiber technologies.
This year, BRM will proudly feature Kevlar® EXO™, a next-generation aramid fiber that redefines performance and comfort for demanding applications. The company has incorporated this revolutionary material into its narrow fabrics to enhance strength-to-weight ratio and deliver superior performance in defense, deep space, and parachute systems.
BRM’s fabrics feature custom weave designs and high-performance fibers or fiber combinations. These patterns are created for specific end-use applications and can be customized for various industries, including aerospace, medical, safety, and commercial sectors. The technology and capabilities can also be adapted for new applications.
Among the materials to be showcased are E-WEBBINGS, which are woven fabrics of traditional fibers combined with functional elements like conductivity, light transmission, and sensors. These narrow woven fabrics integrate embedded electronic components for power and data transmission and can be tailored to meet specific structural and conductive requirements. Composites, fabrics containing multiple unique fibers to leverage the different inherent properties of each component fiber, will also be featured. These multi-fiber fabrics are engineered for optimal performance in aerospace, defense, and industrial applications.
Tapes and Webbing with Superior Properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio, abrasion resistance, and low elongation will be on display. Additionally, BRM will highlight its Materials on Planet Mars, which includes engineered fibers and fabrics used by NASA, ESA, and commercial contractors for near and deep space applications. This includes the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material developed for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads, named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.
BRM continues to push the boundaries of textile innovation by designing custom weaves and combining high-performance fibers tailored to specific end-use needs. Whether developing standard solutions or one-of-a-kind textiles, the BRM team collaborates closely with customers to meet the most challenging requirements.
The Advanced Textiles Expo is the premier event for the textile industry, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and professionals to showcase cutting-edge products, technologies, and solutions. For more than a century, the Expo has been the industrial fabrics industry’s flagship event, where stakeholders and leaders connect, discover, and source to grow their businesses.
For more information, connect with experts at BRM booth E1600 at the Advanced Textiles Expo or visit https://www.ballyribbon.com/
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — October 29, 2025 — TRSA, the association for linen, uniform, and facility services, successfully wrapped up its 2025 Regional Production Summit series with the Northeast Production Summit, held October 22–23 in Philadelphia.
The two-day event brought together industry professionals for a robust program of education, networking and operational insight.
The summit featured a full day of educational sessions followed by a networking reception and concluded with a plant tour showcasing advanced automation in textile services.
Driving Operational Excellence
The event opened with a keynote by Lisa Ryan, CSP and founder of Grategy®, titled “The Fabric of Success: How Engaged Employees Drive Business Excellence in Textile Services.” Ryan emphasized the importance of building a workplace culture that values and motivates employees — key to improving productivity and reducing turnover.
Attendees explored a range of production-focused topics, including:
Employee engagement strategies;
Linen selection, handling, and maintenance;
Quality-assurance tools and techniques;
Dashboard-driven safety insights; amd
Trends in production automation and digitalization.
Facilitated roundtable discussions allowed participants to dive deeper into regional challenges and share best practices with peers, fostering collaboration and actionable takeaways.
Industry Leaders Endorse the Experience
Nick Palermo of Morgan Services praised the summit, saying: “This was a very informative and value-added program. I would definitely attend again and plan to send others from my plant.” His feedback reflects the summit’s impact on driving practical improvements and professional development across operations.
Facility Tour Showcases Innovation
The summit concluded with a tour of Single Source Plus Laundry’s 18,000-square-foot facility in Bellmawr, N.J. The plant processes more than 200,000 pounds of textiles weekly for luxury hospitality clients, utilizing advanced automation to ensure efficiency and quality.
President Brian Beere, who acquired Single Source Plus in 2013 when it served just six clients, welcomed attendees and shared the company’s growth journey. Under his leadership, the operation now processes over 10 million pounds of hotel laundry annually, exemplifying innovation and scalability in the industry.
Looking Ahead
The Northeast Production Summit capped off TRSA’s 2025 regional summit series, reinforcing the association’s commitment to advancing operational excellence through education, peer exchange, and industry innovation.
For more information on upcoming TRSA events and initiatives, visit https://www.trsa.org/events-education/.
Posted: October 31, 2025
Source: TRSA, The Association For Linen, Uniform, And Facility Services
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — October 30, 2025 — World Emblem, the world’s largest emblem and patch manufacturer, today announced the launch of Custom Genie to provide custom stickers, labels, pens, pencils, name badges, and other promotional products to clients under one unified brand. The new Custom Genie website features cutting-edge technology, offering clients an enhanced user experience.
Custom Genie encompasses the operations of World Emblem brands Stickers International, Fast Pens International, and Name Badges International. The combined company will manufacture close to 2 million products per year for clients throughout North America. As part of the restructuring, World Emblem has reshored all Custom Genie positions to its Norcross, Georgia plant to provide more flexible shipping options, improved package tracking, and faster delivery times.
Randy Carr
“Reshoring jobs to the U.S. and unifying the operations of Stickers International, Fast Pens, and Name Badges International under the Custom Genie brand and website will enable us to increase our product categories, improve the customer experience, and make our operations more efficient,” said Randy Carr, CEO of World Emblem. “Furthermore, we believe the enhanced delivery options available through our Georgia facility will lead to improved customer satisfaction along with significant cost savings for our company.”
Stickers International offers multiple types of stickers and labels to clients in a wide range of industries from hospitality, retail, personal, and professional services to medical offices and the travel industry. Fast Pens International provides pens, pencils, notebooks, and other writing tools to businesses in several industries including hospitality, retail, and education. Name Badges International features custom name badges made with polished metal or injection molded plastic for durability.
“Our customers are asking for a holistic, easy, and fast solution for promotional items to help bring their brands to life. With Custom Genie, we are replacing three separate sites with a new website that will provide improved design tools utilizing AI, simpler reordering, more payment and shipping options, better delivery notifications, and more products available for sale,” said Oz Barhama, Brand manager of Custom Genie and Senior Director of Ecommerce at World Emblem.
World Emblem recently announced plans to reshore 50 jobs to its new Houston factory opening in December. The company has 1,200 employees and 1 million square feet of manufacturing space at its plants located throughout Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
HELSINKI — October 29, 2025 — Suominen has appointed Francois Guetat, M.Eng., as COO, and member of Suominen Leadership Team effective November 3, 2025.
Francois Guetat
Guetat brings over two decades of global experience in operations, supply chain, and manufacturing excellence. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of Integrated Supply Chain at Kalmar, where he led business across sourcing, manufacturing, logistics and strategy. His leadership has been shaped by 22 years at Volvo, where he held key roles in Sweden, the United States and Poland.
“I’m pleased to welcome Francois to our team. He has consistently driven results through transformational programs, systematic continuous improvement deployment, strong commitment to total quality, safety and sustainability, and great people leadership skills”, said Charles Héaulmé, president and CEO of Suominen.
Suominen’s COO Darryl Fournier has decided to leave the company to pursue other professional endeavors. He will continue with Suominen until end of January 2026, focusing on strategic projects.
“I want to thank Darryl for his dedication and commitment to Suominen and wish him all the best going forward”, Héaulmé said.
LONDON — October 30, 2025 — Coats Group Plc, a Tier 2 supplier of critical components to the apparel and footwear industries, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of OrthoLite, a producer of footwear materials and premium insoles.
The acquisition marks a major milestone in the company’s long-term growth plans and strengthens its existing footwear division through expansion into the attractive, high-growth premium insole segment. Both companies already have a similar customer base, a complementary global footprint and a commitment to industry-leading innovation and sustainability practices.
“OrthoLite is one of the world’s most innovative manufacturers in footwear materials. With our combined capabilities, we’ll now be able to offer our customers more future-focused solutions for more of the shoe — without compromising on the trusted quality both companies stand for,” said David Paja, Group CEO. “We’re delighted to officially welcome Glenn and the OrthoLite team to the Coats family.”
Coats first announced its intention to purchase OrthoLite, and its sustainable materials brand, Cirql, on July 16, 2025, for an initial enterprise value of $770 million. Following previous footwear acquisitions, this is the latest step in the Company’s ambition to shape the future of the global apparel and footwear supply chain through innovation, sustainability, and digital technologies that improve quality, efficiency and performance.
“I’m confident this move will bring even more value and opportunity for our customers and our people, while still delivering the great partnership and collaboration we’ve taken pride in over the years,” said Glenn Barrett, founder and CEO of OrthoLite. “After 28 years leading the way in premium insoles, I look forward to this next era of growth with Coats.”
To better reflect its increased scale and expanded footwear capabilities, Coats will also move from a three-division organizational structure, previously Apparel, Footwear and Performance Materials, toward a simplified two‑division structure focused on Apparel and Footwear. Existing Performance Materials businesses will be folded into the two new divisions.
The divisions will be led by Pasquale Abruzzese, Footwear CEO and Group COO, and Adrian Elliott, Apparel CEO and Group chief commercial officer. Glenn Barrett will continue to lead the OrthoLite business. External reporting will transition to this structure for the financial year ending December 2026.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — October 30, 2025 — Anyone who wants to contribute to shaping the future of the textile industry can submit a presentation for the Techtextil and Texprocess Forum by December 15, 2025. Both stages represent innovation and practical solutions and promote exchange between research and industry. An international Programme Committee selects the contributions and curates a program on key future topics in the textile sector. From 21 to 24 April 2026, the two leading trade fairs will once again be the center of global business dialogue in Frankfurt.
Photo: Messe Frankfurt / Thomas Fedra
Progress happens where people share their knowledge and work together on new solutions. Those who present here play a part in shaping this progress — visibly, connected, with access to decision-makers and direct influence on the topics of tomorrow.
Textile developments are becoming more complex: research, application, and production are increasingly intertwined; production processes are changing, and aspects such as automation through AI and circular economy are gaining in importance. Formats that promote dialogue and connect different perspectives are particularly valuable. The Techtextil and Texprocess forums offer such a space, enabling networking and knowledge transfer on a global level.
“Those who participate not only help shape the program but also actively contribute to the professional exchange within the industry“, says Sabine Scharrer, director Brand Management Technical Textiles & Textile Processing at Messe Frankfurt. “The forums are among the content highlights of Techtextil and Texprocess, once again demonstrating how much textile expertise, innovative strength, and commitment drive this industry.“
The forums address key topics of the future textile industry — from material development and production to sustainability and digitalisation. This generates new insights and impulses that have an impact far beyond the days of the trade fair.
Programme Committee
Experts from industry, research, and development can submit their contributions now. An international Programme Committee of experienced experts will review the submissions for relevance and quality and compile a versatile range of presentations.
Manufacturing Intelligence – Digitalization, Automation, and AI
Resilient Textiles – Solutions for an unstable World
Pushing Boundaries – Interdisciplinary and disruptive Innovations
Submit your application: https://solutions.techtextil.com/
Categories Texprocess Forum 2026
Sustainable solutions
CAD/CAM
Digitalisierung und KI
Legal requirements
Design Tools
Submit your application: https://solutions.texprocess.com/
Participate now and submit your contributions by 15 December 2025
Participation in the Techtextil and Texprocess Forums 2026 is free of charge. Short presentations should be written in English and supplemented with visualisations. The selected speakers will be announced at the beginning of February 2026. Their contributions will be part of the four-day programme of Techtextil and Texprocess 2026.
Further information on the Techtextil Forum 2026:
Techtextil Forum – https://techtextil.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/programme-events/techtextil-forum.html
Further information on the Texprocess Forum 2026:
Texprocess Forum – https://texprocess.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/programme-events/texprocess-forum.html
Techtextil and Texprocess will be held from April 21 to 24, 2026
TORRANCE, CA — October 31, 2025 — Next Level Apparel — a family-founded compay in supplying premium, ethically sourced blank apparel — today announced Brett Bjorkman as its new CEO, following the retirement of the founder and former CEO Joe Simsoly.
Brett Bjorkman
Bjorkman brings 30 years of experience across brand and wholesale, including roles at Nike, Boardriders, Augusta Sportswear, and, most recently, as COO at Next Level Apparel, navigating everything from factory floors to boardrooms. His expertise spans operations, sourcing, risk management, and sustainability, with a track record of turning complex supply chains into lean, reliable, and ethical engines of growth.
“After decades of building Next Level Apparel, I’m proud to pass the baton to Brett, who brings the perfect balance of brand insight and operational rigor to this role,” said Simsoly. “Over the past 18 months, he has immersed himself in every part of the company and is ready to lead us forward — continuing our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and excellence. As I step into retirement, I do so knowing the company is in capable hands, and that Brett will honor our legacy while taking Next Level Apparel beyond what we ever imagined.”
Bjorkman has already made an impact at Next Level Apparel, strengthening operational efficiency, streamlining processes, and reinforcing the company’s commitment to quality and traceability. His focus ensures that every product meets the brand’s high standards — delivering consistency, reliability, and transparency to distributors and customers.
“Premium is a behavior,” added Bjorkman. “It’s about doing things right, making products that last, and proving it. That philosophy guides every part of Next Level Apparel — from sourcing fabrics responsibly to serving customers — and will continue to shape the company as it grows, ensuring it remains the most trusted and responsive platform for premium blank apparel worldwide.”
Under Bjorkman’s leadership, the company will continue expanding its footprint internationally, diversifying its supply chain for resilience, and strengthening partnerships with compliance and provenance organizations such as FLA, Altana, and Oritain.
With more than 500 employees across the U.S., Central America, the Dominican Republic, the EU, and Asia, Next Level Apparel has strengthened its leadership teams and operational capabilities, building a flexible, resilient supply chain and robust customer experience to support its global partners at every level.
MADRID, Spain — October 29, 2025 — Recover™ has signed a multi-year agreement with H&M to support the integration of its recycled cotton fiber, RCotton, for use in H&M’s products.
