The Italy-based Thermore Group recently introduced Freedom — a dynamic stretch insulation material suitable for a variety of applications including skiing, running, golfing, fishing and cycling, among other applications. According to the company, the insulation material, made using 50 percent post-consumer recycled polyester, exhibits “incredible” elasticity in dynamometer testing and repeatedly “recovers to 100 percent of its prestrech size.”
March/April 2024
SRTX, producer of the patent-pending Sheertex® Rip-Resistant knits — has opened a state-of-the-art facility in Montreal including in-house extrusion equipment for the fabric’s ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) polymer. The fully-vertical operation encom-passes 300,000 square feet and is more than twice the size of the com-pany’s previous manufacturing plant.
The UHMWPE currently is used in SRTX’s Sheertex tights, but the new facility gives the company the opportunity to expand the use of the polymer into other apparel applica-tions at mass market pricing. The company aims to take the polymer into areas beyond the fishing line, bullet proof vest, climbing equipment and other technical applications where it is most typically used.
March/April 2024
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — March 26, 2024 — Diversified global manufacturer Milliken & Company was again named to the America’s Most Innovative Companies list, an annual honor published by Fortune and Statista Inc., which recognizes U.S. organizations at the forefront of innovation. This is Milliken’s second year receiving the award, and it is one of 200 companies included among the 2024 honorees.
“At Milliken, we come to work each day ready to roll up our sleeves and take on big challenges,” shares Halsey Cook, president and CEO of Milliken & Company. “We use our materials science expertise to solve everyday problems that make a lasting positive impact across several industries and countless product applications.”
Statista Inc. teamed up with Fortune to establish a methodology that accounts for a holistic view of corporate innovation across three equally rated categories — product innovation, process innovation and innovation culture. Milliken is one of 12 industrial companies on the 2024 list.
Innovation guides Milliken’s global portfolio. The company manufactures thousands of products across textile, specialty chemical, flooring, and healthcare applications — and has accumulated more than 2,500 patents in the U.S. and more than 5,500 patents globally since 1927.
“Milliken associates develop everything from new molecules to new products that make people’s lives better,” added Allen Jacoby, senior vice president, innovation and chief strategy officer of Milliken & Company. “From protecting first responders and helping wounds heal faster to safeguarding our food and making environments healthier, we’re proud to be the science behind these innovations and so much more.”
Posted: March 27, 2024
Source: Milliken & Company
CHICAGO — March 27, 2024 — Registration for NeoCon 2024 programming opens on April 3. Held from June 10-12 at THE MART in Chicago, this year’s event promises an exceptional lineup of keynotes, featured presentations, special events and workshops as well as virtual and on-site CEU sessions. Recognized as a major global platform for influential thought leaders from diverse backgrounds, NeoCon’s stellar lineup (including an Academy Award-winning designer, a global art powerhouse and the leading entertainment design leader) offers inspiration that sparks vital discourse. Design will be explored from all angles; demonstrating how to harness creativity to enhance visual storytelling and truly affect how we work and live.
Gensler’s Global Entertainment Leader, Bob Weis, will headline Monday’s keynote presentation, titled “Leveraging the Power of Storytelling in the Places We Create” (presented by IIDA and sponsored by the Wall Street Journal). “I’m excited to be a keynote speaker at this year’s NeoCon, because this gathering of creators truly underscores the importance of communal experiences that inspire,” says Weis. “I’ll share insights from my tenures at Walt Disney Imagineering and Gensler to show how we, as designers, can uniquely provide that inspiration by transforming commercial environments into truly memorable experiences that spark emotion.”
British-Nigerian Multi-disciplinary Artist and Designer, Yinka Ilori will helm Tuesday’s keynote, presented by ASID and sponsored by Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering. In “The Power of Affirmation” ASID CEO Khoi Vo and IIDA’s Executive Vice President/CEO, Cheryl Durst will join Ilori for a “fireside chat” style presentation, covering topics from how design can celebrate cultural identities, to how it can elevate the individual while unifying the masses. Ilori remarks, “I am always looking for new ways to use art and design to tell new stories and bring communities together, all while highlighting my vibrant heritage. My textiles and wallcoverings collection with NeoCon exhibitor Momentum presented the opportunity to do this and expand my creativity into the modern workplace. I’m thrilled to be able to bring this collection to life and dive even deeper into my design perspective during the talk.”
Continuing the storytelling theme, 2x Academy Award-winning Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter will take the stage on Wednesday with a keynote presentation titled “Designing Afrofuturism: The Art of Storytelling through Costume Design,” presented by AIA Chicago. Known for her work on a number of Spike Lee films and for making history as the first Black person to win two Academy Awards in the Costume Design category for a film and its sequel (Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), Carter will share how she crafted narratives through the building of immersive worlds. “From concept to creation, designing is a passionate adventure in storytelling,” Carter remarks. “At NeoCon, I look forward to sharing my process of creating wearable art through the lens of Afrofuturism and bringing out the storyteller within us all,” she adds.
Complementing the impactful keynote presentations, NeoCon 2024’s Featured Presentations, running each afternoon, are headlined by a notable group of NeoCon thought leaders, designers, change-makers, and visionaries and feature distinguished speakers from leading design firms like Gensler, HKS, and CannonDesign, alongside industry partners. Each program is meticulously crafted to explore the latest trends in design and the workplace, while also delving into more technical and action-oriented topics, including AI and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
Below is the schedule and descriptions for the Keynotes & Featured Presentations. NeoCon will also offer more than 60 CEU-accredited programs and workshops accessible to registered NeoCon attendees. Virtual CEU programming will be available on demand through September 13. 2024 programming is available to explore at neocon.com.
Monday, June 10, 2024
Keynote: Leveraging the Power of Storytelling in Commercial Design 10:00 AM CDT
Keynote Speaker: Bob Weis, Global Entertainment Leader, Gensler
The last few years have tested the limits of our cities and built environments across the globe, leaving people and their communities with an urgent need for a return to vibrancy and experiences they can enjoy and remember together. Today, storytelling in design has become a top priority for clients and their stake holders, as well as our own aspirations as creators.
Featured Presentation: Collective Design LIVE: The Future of Experience
11:30 AM CDT
Moderator: Mark Bryan, IIDA, Senior Foresight Manager, Future Today Institute.
Panelists: Upali Nanda, Global Practice Director, Research, and Partner at HKS; Lauren Rottet, FIIDA, President and Founding Principal at Rottet Studios; Lori Mukoyama, Global Leader, Gensler Hospitality; and Brian Graham, IIDA, IDSA Founder and Creative Director, Graham Design
How is experiential design changing the face of design at large, and how will experience intersect and empower the future of design and designers? IIDA’s once-a-year live episode of our Collective Design series brings you top minds in design who approach experiential design through a variety of lenses, from neuroscience to hospitality to future forecasting — all in a thought-provoking, deep dive exploration of a topic that will shape not only our design work, but our lives. This roll-up-your-sleeves companion program to IIDA’s keynote will provide the ideas you need to embrace what’s next for design and your business.
Featured Presentation: Offices for the New Work Reality
1:30 PM CDT
Moderator: Jan Parr Contributor, Crain’s Chicago Business
Panelists: Eva Greene, Director of Client Experience, Cresset Capital; Kate Davis, Global Practice Director, Commercial Interiors; Sarah Silva, Vice President, Tenant Representation, JLL; Jason Hall, Creative Director, Charlie Green Studio; Paul Tokarz, Partner, WestPoint Financial Group
Occupancy in downtown Chicago offices is hovering at just over 55%. Hybrid models of work—with employees working from home part time and at an office part time—seem to be here to stay. They also present challenges in designing offices. Come hear from designers, executives in the trenches and leasing agents who have a bird’s-eye view into making (or remaking) spaces that reflect the nature of work today. Find out what has worked—and what hasn’t—in encouraging employees to come back to the office. (Hint: It’s more complicated than installing a ping-pong table.)
Featured Presentation: Meet Us On Monday: IIDA’s Celebration on the Stairs
3:00 PM CDT
Speaker: Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, IIDA
Join IIDA as we recognize design’s young talent on the MART Grand Stair with a high-energy afternoon that will include a mini-documentary screening featuring IIDA’s Design Your World pathway program and its success in building grassroots diversity in design; a “deconstructed” panel discussion with design leaders, IIDA scholarship winners, and plenty of audience participation; and IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst on the mic! We’re going bigger and better this year for a fun, surprising meet-up on the stairs that is the best way to spend an afternoon at NeoCon. (Hint: Join us afterward as we toast IIDA’s 30th Anniversary at Marshall’s Landing with THE MART!)
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Keynote: The Power of Affirmation: Yinka IIori in conversation with Khoi Vo and Cheryl Durst
10:00 AM CDT
Keynote Speaker: Yinka Ilori, British-Nigerian Multi-Disciplinary Artist and Designer
In conversation with: Khoi Vo, CEO, ASID and Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA, Executive Vice President and CEO, IIDA
British-Nigerian Multi-disciplinary Artist and Designer Yinka Ilori is known for his dynamic public installations and color-forward aesthetic. Behind his progressive work lies a philosophy grounded in design’s power to tell stories of identity, culture, and purpose. In an intimate “fireside chat” style keynote, Ilori will discuss how he harnesses diverse mediums of design as a catalyst to tell stories, using creativity as a language to celebrate cultural identities, and the power of design to elevate the individual while unifying the masses. Ilori will also give insight into how these tenets can be incorporated into the modern workplace, examining it through the lens of his electrifying new collection for Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering.
Featured Presentation: Diversity in Practice
11:30 AM CDT
Moderator: Joseph Cephas, Senior Vice President, Novità Communications
Panelists: Ronnie Belizaire, IIDA President, Studio Practice Leader, Principal, HKA and Jason Pugh, Global Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Design Manager and Principal at Gensler
Progressing from making public statements to enacting practical equity programs is essential in creating a more diverse environment. Novità Senior Vice President Joseph Cephas leads a panel of design leaders as they explore strategies that go beyond the rhetoric to make firms and the projects they produce more inclusive. With a focus on creating tangible, measurable results, the discussion will examine how diversity initiatives can lead to positive change.
Featured Presentation: How Generative AI is Changing Design
1:00 PM CDT
Moderator: Mark Wilson, Global Design Editor, Fast Company
Panelists: Lori Mukoyama, Global Leader, Gensler Hospitality, Chicago Design Principal; Scott Wilson, Founder, MNML
From Dall-E to Midjourney to Sora, a new wave of generative AI tools have arrived to shake up design. Panelists spanning architecture to industrial design will unpack how they’re using gen AI in their practice today, and how they see it impacting the industry within the next few years.
Featured Presentation: BIFMA + ACT | Fits Like a Glove: The Perfect Pairing of Textiles and Furniture
2:30 PM CDT
Moderator: Deborah Nemeth, Principal, Interior Design Discipline Leader, SmithGroup
Panelists: Andrea Nelson, Principal Designer, Colors, Materials, and Finishes, Industrial Design Studio, Haworth; Shantel McGowan, VP of Design, Textiles, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering; Maggie Keilhauer, Marketing Manager, Keilhauer Wallcovering
A moderated discussion among industry textile and furniture trend-setters focusing on textiles’ influential role in furniture product design and performance. These experts will explore textiles’ influential role in furniture product design and performance. Topics will include textile design inspiration; innovations in materials, technology, and sustainability; application considerations and challenges; and incorporating client expectations into the development process.
Featured Presentation: ASID | 2024 Trends Outlook
4:00 PM CDT
Moderator: Khoi Vo, CEO, ASID
Panelists: Margi Kaminski, Principal, Director of Health Interiors, CannonDesign, ASID Board of Directors; Julia Calabrese, Associate Director, Strategy & Design, IA Interior Architects; Leah Bauer, Global Director of Design and Sustainability, Workday; S. Dawn Haynie, Ph.D., Research Fellow, ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers has catalogued the latest ways we live, work, play, learn and heal. Join us for a discussion of the latest trends impacting interior design. Hear from Khoi Vo, ASID CEO and leading industry designers, as they discuss the impact of these current trends on commercial design – the hybrid workplace and the desire to encourage connection, cross-specialty and the interconnectedness of sustainability and wellness, adaptive re-use and the repositioning of older buildings, and new strategies in digital marketing given AI algorithms.
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Keynote: Designing Afrofuturism: The Art of Storytelling in Costume Design
10:00 AM CDT
Keynote Speaker: Ruth E. Carter, Two-Time Academy-Award Winning Costume Designer
The world witnessed history, in 2019, as Ruth E. Carter became the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Costume Design. As she graced the Dolby stage in Los Angeles to a standing ovation, Ruth Carter affirmed her voice and devotion to retraining the eye to see beauty through costume design and the creation of Afrofuturism. Igniting a cultural renaissance, Carter’s decades long work in film proves that diversity in design and representation in story matters to audiences. In this keynote, one of the most sought-after costume designers on the globe, takes us on a journey, from concept to creation, to design the Afrofuture and shares how the art of storytelling translates in costume design and the building of worlds.
Featured Presentation: Designing A Better Chicago: A Conversation with 2024 Grantees
11:30 AM CDT
Moderator: Monica Rickert-Bolter, Center for Natives Futures
Designing a Better Chicago shines a light on our city’s extraordinary design legacy — the local talent, assets and community that have long supported civic good through design. Launched in 2020, this initiative showcases individuals and organizations, public art and programs across the city, inviting residents and visitors to consider the many ways design improves civic life. Join the new 2024 grant winners (yet to be announced) as they discuss their work, the impact they are making on Chicago, and lessons they have learned along the way.
Posted: March 27, 2024
Source: NeoCon
CARY, N.C. — March 27, 2024 — INDA is warmly remembering CK Wong, a veteran of the nonwovens industry for more than five decades and long-time member of INDA’s board of directors and executive committee. Wong passed away on March 22, 2024 at the age of 86.
Wong recognized the importance of the emerging nonwovens industry in the early 1970s. He began his career in the 1980s as a marketing consultant and, one year later, Wong set up his corporate headquarters in Hong Kong to convert nonwoven roll goods into disposable medical and industrial protection products. Over the past 35 years, Wong’s business grew to include household, beauty salon, sports applications, and other value-added products.
In 1994 Wong’s company officially became U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Industry Ltd. His business expanded with a new converting plant in Dongguan, China, and in 2007 he invested in an adjacent building to handle his growing business. In 2018 Wong’s business broadened to include manufacturing PLA nonwovens. In addition to converted products, Wong’s business provided sales, service, and training for nonwovens equipment.
Wong was an active member at INDA since the late 90s. He served as vice chair of Finance on the board of directors for many years before becoming an Appointee on INDA’s Executive Committee. Wong was instrumental in helping INDA set up partnerships with key contacts and associations in China. He was also the Honorable Chairman for the Guangdong Nonwovens Association (GDNA) and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (Spunbond Division).
“INDA is saddened by the loss of an industry icon who gave so much to the nonwovens industry and INDA. We will remember CK for his thought leadership and strategic vision.” said Tony Fragnito, INDA president and CEO. “He was a tireless advocate for INDA and the entire nonwovens industry, dedicated to connecting the global community through his genuine enthusiasm and commitment,” he added.
Wong obtained his BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is survived by his wife, Sabrina, and his daughters, Lilian and Priscilla. His funeral will be held April 10-11 in Hong Kong.
Posted: March 27, 2024
Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
HOUSTON, Texas — March 27, 2024 — Fibre52 is one of 10 global fashion industry innovators accepted into the 2024 Fashion for Good Innovation Programme. Established in 2017, the program is dedicated to identifying and supporting new technologies that have the potential to significantly reduce pollution in the global textile industry supply chain.
Fibre52’s patent-pending technology removes harsh chemicals from the cotton Prepare for Dye (PFD) and dye processes. As part of the Fashion for Good Innovation Programme, Fibre52 will receive tailored support and increased access to brands, retailers, manufacturers, and investors.
“Fibre52 is honored to be part of the 2024 Fashion for Good Innovation Programme and that organization’s mission to build sustainable solutions in the textile industry,” said Laura Thornquist, President of Fibre52. “The Fibre52 process and chemistry for preparing and dyeing cotton is aligned with making real change by significantly reducing the amount of water and carbon emissions required during these specific manufacturing stages.”
Based in Amsterdam, Fashion for Good is affiliated with the Fashion for Good Foundation. Both organizations are dedicated to bringing sustainable manufacturing processes to the global fashion industry and in turn, providing consumers with clothing that is manufactured with attention to the potential impact on people and the planet. Fashion for Good’s corporate partners include Chanel, Patagonia, and PVH, among others.
“We are thrilled to unveil this year’s cohort of ten new innovators for our Innovation Programme,” said Katrin Ley, managing director, Fashion for Good, in an announcement made March 20. “These groundbreaking technologies epitomize our steadfast commitment to embedding new technologies within the fashion industry.”
This month’s announcement follows the news last October that Fibre52’s chemistries had been certified by the ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) Road to Zero Programme and included on the ZDHC list of approved chemistries. ZDHC is also based in the Netherlands.
With Fibre52’s ZDHC certification, mills and brands around the world now have a sustainable alternative to the traditional PFD and dye processes that use harsh chemicals, high heat, and vast amounts of water. Fibre52 produces a superior cotton product, while using up to 70 percent less water and up to 40 percent less energy.
Fibre52 recently partnered with Liberty Mills Limited in Pakistan and Graphics Textile Ltd. in Bangladesh. The company is also running full-scale trials with over a dozen mills and brands globally for potential adoption.
Posted: March 27, 2024
Source: Fibre52
3D sampling is an environmentally friendly way of reducing lead times and waste in the apparel industry.
By Garrett Gerson
The inexorable momentum of 3D digital sampling is reshaping the landscape of the textile industry, charting the trajectory toward an inevitable future. As the paradigm shift gains acceleration, enterprises find themselves at a crossroads, where prudent choices not only economize resources and time but also demonstrate a commitment to ecological responsibility in the face of climate imperatives. Overall, 3D digital design is a more efficient and lower-impact way of designing and prototyping not just clothing but textiles in general. For the apparel industry, it is critical to move forward. Simply put, the benefits of using 3D digital renderings, when integrated into the design process, yield dramatic results and play a major role in facilitating and reducing material waste.
Technological advancements and the adoption of 3D models have been prominent in manufacturing and engineering industries for decades, working with products such as furniture, automobiles, computer chips, planes and more. Yet 3D technology only recently has been adopted by the apparel industry as more benefits of its use are coming to light.
In the world of fashion design and clothing production, samples play a crucial role in the development process. However, the traditional method of prototyping and sampling is time-consuming and damaging to the environment. Physical samples can take weeks or even months to produce and require the use of materials and labor. In contrast, digital samples reduce the design approval time from weeks to hours.
The 3D clothing sampling process digitizes, corrects, and plots the pattern faster than manual setups. No water or chemicals are used for the creation or usage of digital fashion. The production of a digital garment, on average, generates 97-percent less carbon dioxide and no microplastic shedding or soil degradation compared to the production of a physical garment, according to the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion.
Over the past five years, lead times for garment production have shrunk in half. Yet traditional sampling methods have stayed the same, slowing the process and stretching teams. What’s more, 40 percent of sampling does not move forward in production, which is why traditional methods of sampling are a major source of waste in the garment industry.
3D software capabilities allow designers to create virtual clothing with different materials and textures, providing them with a realistic representation of how the final product will look. In turn, designers can experiment with various fabrics and patterns before committing to a particular layout and see how their designs will appear on a model before producing the garment, all while reducing waste and saving time in the process.
This review process helps to identify any design flaws or issues with the fabric, such as how it drapes on the body. Designers can also explore end-less color combinations by using a Pantone color bank or similar online shade bank in their 3D designs. It allows them to make accurate decisions before creating a final physical product. By making these adjustments before producing garments, costly mistakes can be avoided.
With features like real-time updates, virtual reality presentations, and drag-and-drop model creation, 3D sampling technology is pioneering a more efficient and environmentally conscious way of producing textiles. It’s evident textiles are pervasive in our lives, from automotive interiors to everyday clothing and footwear. The latest 3D digital sampling software advancements reshape the textile industry by expediting prototyping and enabling localized production, resulting in substantial waste reduction and minimized carbon footprints.
The advantages of incorporating virtual samples and digital twins into textile development are profound. By leveraging features such as real-time updates, immersive virtual reality presentations, and intuitive drag-and-drop model creation, 3D sampling technology is at the forefront of an efficient and environmentally conscientious textile production approach.
For suppliers and vendors, the ability to digitally review designs, even remotely, eliminates the necessity for global sample creation and shipping. Iterations for color, fabric, and shape adjustments can seamlessly occur online. This technology also streamlines content production, circumventing the need for teams to travel to various locations to photograph new collections.
Furthermore, emerging technologies like the Metaverse and augmented reality (AR) are revolutionizing how clothing items are accessed online. This simplifies the decision-making process for buyers, enabling them to make informed choices without physical representation. Consequently, manufacturers can curtail excessive production, aligning output more accurately with consumer demand. This confluence of virtual sampling and innovative technologies ushers in a new era of efficiency and enhanced customer experience within the textile industry.
CAD/CAM software is being used to design textile products and manufacture prototypes. For example, VARIANT3D has developed LOOP™, a web-based platform for the collaborative design of 3D knitted fabrics and products. It offers a hyper-realistic preview of the knitted fabric, providing designers and engineers with a clear preproduction simulation prior to committing to a sample. Another 3D software company in the field of fashion design is CLO. It has created a true-to-life garment visualization pro-gram that allows users to perfect their ideas before they go into cut-and-sew production. These emerging technologies result in a waste-reduced production process.
Often, garments require corrections or adjustments which involve a new version of the product to be cut, sewn, and shipped to the buyer. Virtual sampling takes care of any necessary changes that need to be made before the garment is sewn, saving on fabric costs, shipping costs, as well as fit-model costs.
Did you know that the fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water in the world? This is because many clothes are cotton-based, a very water-intensive plant. “The apparel industry uses enough fresh water to quench the thirst of five million people a year, produces 20 percent of global wastewater, and has a carbon intensity that exceeds aviation and shipping combined,” Morgan Stanley analysts wrote in a May 2022 report on the sector.
Some 85 percent of clothing made ends up in landfills each year, and 25 percent of those are samples that will never be seen more than once or twice. According to the EPA, landfills receive 11.3 million tons of textile waste annually. To minimize the adverse environmental impacts of production, brands must consider alternatives to traditional sampling methods.
Many brands currently using digital sampling ask for just one “top” physical sample before launching production, while some have done away with physical samples altogether. This dramatically reduces wasted fabric and eliminates the unnecessary logistics of getting the samples between the factory and designers, as well as reducing the time and costs involved: good news for businesses and the planet.
The push toward replacing physical samples with 3D samples stems from several driving factors. Recent supply chain disruptions illustrated how quickly best-laid plans can go awry. Additionally, challenged by the swing toward remote working, brands need a new approach.
Furthermore, the turnaround time to make and receive physical fabric samples — just to eliminate or change designs completely — is incredibly inefficient. The fashion industry has to react quickly when consumers are ready to spend. It’s not sensible to spend weeks spinning, programming, weaving/knitting, cutting, sewing, and shipping samples back and forth before production can even begin.
The visuals generated from the 3D simulations also are used to drive marketing and e-commerce. Marketing teams can showcase all the variations of a collection, and brands can easily see a photo-realistic version of product variations, eliminating the need for photo shoots. Brands can easily promote products through their website or social media channels, and customers can purchase them before physical products are produced.
3D technology can create virtual samples of an upcoming collection, which can be sent to buyers anywhere, with a much lower carbon footprint. The fashion industry is starting to make more environmentally conscious decisions, from materials choices, manufacturing processes, and the recycling of products at the end of their life cycle. The key feature in implementing all these processes? Technology.
The use of 3D software changes the design process and associated methodologies and permits better and faster communication among different departments and professionals. Importantly, digitally-driven whole-sale activities can track and archive the interactions between brands and buyers. The resulting data analytics and metrics provide valuable insights for developing customized and collaborative digital collections.
The application of 3D technologies allows for the optimization of digital made-to-measure and on-demand generation — swinging the balance of production back onshore to locally-based microfactories. This change is paramount.
Brands such as Under Armour, Coach, Victoria’s Secret, Hugo Boss, Maggy London, Phillip Van Heusen, Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch, and others already are using 3D virtual sampling technologies, with many more brands expected to do so in the near future.
Consumers invariably influence the fashion industry. Right now, they are demanding a paradigm shift to sustainable manufacturing, ethical practices and transparency being the standard. According to Heuritech Data, the social media hashtag #sustainablefashion, has skyrocketed in popularity, up 1,000 percent since 2018. The fashion industry is finally listening and is transitioning to this new standard to satisfy customers and earn their trust.
According to the Global Fashion Market Place sustainability report, 82 percent of brands believe that they need sustainable business development and innovation support. This transformation is neither simple nor quick to implement, and fashion brands have realized that marketing and vague statements are not enough, as consumers will call them out for greenwashing.
As for consumers, the pandemic accelerated their familiarity with digital platforms, virtual reality, and augmented reality tools. Increased digitization will be central to the post-pandemic future of fashion. This shift is happening, and brands must explore the opportunities to digitize their sampling processes now or risk being left behind.
With a rising number of returns and landfill waste, the fashion industry desperately needs technologies to help address poor fit. Recently, Google launched new artificial intelligence software that takes a clothing image and reflects how it drapes, folds, clings, and stretches on a diverse set of real models in various poses. In the fashion retail space, several fashion companies, including Macy’s and luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior, are exploring the potential of AR clothing try-on technology.
Embracing digital technology is a fundamental way to stop wasteful behaviors in the larger textile industry. As consumers grow more environmentally conscious, some of the most popular brands are moving away from the inefficient methods of the past and adopting new technology to help bring about significant improvements.
3D sampling is a vital tool in transforming the industry in endless ways. From design to production and marketing, it is enabling processes to become more efficient, considered, and customer-focused. It can positively impact all facets of the supply chain when implemented correctly.
As 3D technology continues to advance, it will redefine the future of the textile industry.
Editor’s Note: Garrett Gerson is the founder and CEO of VARIANT3D, a Malibu, Calif.-based company that offers rapid prototyping and product iteration for 3D knitted products.
March/April 2024
Germany-based Dietz-Motoren — a producer of electric motors, fans and blowers that supplies textile companies — has joined the Zurich-based International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) as a corporate member.
Orion S.A., Houston, reports it has maintained its EcoVadis Gold medal rating, ranking among the top 2 percent of the companies assessed in a wide range of sustainability areas.
The Germany-based Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University (ITA) has installed a new winder from Italy-based Comoli Fermo S.r.l. for elastic filament yarn development.
Marking the largest acquisition in its history, Westlake, Ohio-based Q-Lab Corp. reports it recently acquired Arizona Desert Testing LLC (AZTEST). The combined business — located at AZTEST’s current site in Wittmann, Ariz. — will be known as Q-Lab Arizona Desert Testing. Staff and equipment from a nearby Q-Lab operation in Buckeye, Ariz., will be transferred to Wittmann.
Trivantage®, Burlington, N.C., has introduced the Seamstick Taper, a tool designed to simplify adding seam tape to zippers, webbing and trim.
Houston-based Ascend Performance Materials recently announced price increases beginning March 1, where contracts allow, on a variety of products as follows: neat polyamide (PA) 66 polymer, PA6 and PA66 compounds, and hexamethylene diamine, 30 cents per kilogram (cents/kg); adipic acid, 25 cents/kg; FlexaTrac® DME, 10 to 25 cents/kg; FlexaTram™-BHM and FlexaTram-DAM, 10 to 50 cents/kg; and Hexatran™ and Prionil®, 5 to 30 cents/kg.
Florida firefighter Sean Conant recently launched a new company, FILO Apparel, that supplies affordable, fire-resistant clothing.
Sweden-based Eltex of Sweden AB is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
New York City-based Carnegie has introduced the Go-To Collection of more than 100 sustainable fabric styles made using biobased Xorel Strie.
Bemis Associates Inc., Shirley, Mass., has expanded its EverFit™ line of elastic replacement adhesives with the addition of 10 new options.
Atlas Material Testing Technology, Mount Prospect, Ill., has introduced the Atlas S3T system for continuously measuring the specific surface temperature of individual samples during live tests using the Weather-Ometer® C14400 and Ci5000 instruments.
Fire-Dex, Medina, Ohio, has introduced AeroFlex™ turnout firefighter gear designed to reduce the risk of heat stress and cardiac-related issues by using a one-way ventilation system that helps the body better regulate its core temperature.
Founded in 1974, Cygnet Texkimp, England — a composites technology company and custom machine builder — is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Seattle-based apparel brand Arvin Goods has introduced a new sock collection featuring
36-percent Recover™ recycled cotton fiber along with 43-percent recycled polyester.
New York City-based Informa Markets Fashion— owner of a variety of B2B fashion brands including Sourcing at MAGIC —announced a name change to MMGNET Group.
Laguna Beach, Calif.-based swimwear brand Vitamin A has introduced ReLux, a new swimwear collection that was made using a 100-percent recycled fabric developed by Korea-based Hyosung and Vietnam-based Hung Yen Knitting & Dyeing. The fabric is made using an 80-percent regen Ocean post-consumer nylon and 20-percent recycled regen spandex.
March/April 2024
Avery Dennison, Mentor, Ohio, has appointed Ryan Yost, president, Materials Group.
New Zealand-based TMC Ltd., owner of Nuyarn® and Herculan® textile technologies, has named Tim Liao International Footwear Account manager.
Spain-based Recover™ has named Hans Ploos Van Amstel to its board of directors.
President Biden recently named new appointees —including Amy Bircher Bruyn, founder and CEO of MMI Textiles — to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. The group provides policy advice to the United States Trade Representative on trade policy matters.
The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary, N.C., recently named Dan Noonan director of Memberships and Business Development. INDA, who elects one-third of its board each year for a three year term, also announced five new board members for 2024: Jaren J. Edwards, president, Stein Fibers; Edward McNally, sales director Nonwovens, Oerlikon Nonwoven; Thomas Olsen, senior vice president, Americas Business Area, Suominen; Patricia A. Sargeant, vice president, Glatfelter Corp.; and Paul Wood, president, Ontex North America.
Herculite Products Inc., Emigsville, Pa., has named Jake Ritchie new business manager for it Custom Engineered Solutions – Agricultural Barn Curtain division.
Jeff McKee has been promoted from CFO to president of X-Rite Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.
HeiQ AeoniQ Holding, Zurich — a subsidiary of HeiQ Group — has named Julien Born CEO.
Denver-based VF Corp. has appointed Caroline Brown to its board of directors. Brown has more than 30 years of experience with global companies in the apparel and fashion sector.
Lindsey Josepayt was promoted to the newly created position of vice president, Design and Marketing, for United Fabrics, Pennsauken, N.J.
Paige Seadler has joined Culp Inc., High Point, N.C., as director of Product Marketing for Culp Home Fashions, the company’s mattress fabrics division.
Atlanta-based Spanx LLC recently named Caroline “Cricket” Whitton CEO and Jeanne Jackson executive chair.
Milliken & Company has confirmed Bethany Smith as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. She had served as interim chief human resources officer since October 2023.
Lynsey Jones was named executive director of the Americas Apparel Producers’
Network (AAPN), Atlanta.
Unifi Inc., Greensboro, N.C., recently promoted the following people to leadership positions: A.J. Eaker to executive vice president and CFO; Meredith S. Boyd to executive vice president and chief product officer; Brian D. Moore to executive vice president and president of Unifi Manufacturing Inc.; and Gregory K. Sigmon to executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary with expanded responsibilities over Sustainability and Government Affairs.
Germany-based Sympatex has expanded its team with the addition of Eric Brendel and Leandra Reisner.
Zac Posen was named executive vice president and creative director of Gap Inc., San Francisco. He also was appointed chief creative officer of Old Navy.
Molly Kremidas has joined the business development team at Apex Mills, Inwood, N.Y. She is responsible for driving the growth of warp and circular knits, elastics, 3D spacer fabrics including enhanced finishes and treatments within the shapewear, activewear and intimate apparel sectors.
Michelle Gass is the new president of Levi Strauss & Co., San Fransisco.
March/April 2024
SAN FRANCISCO — March 27, 2024 — The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) announced the newest addition to its Board of Directors, Hasitha Premaratne. He will be the seventh member of the board, bringing the unique and critical supplier perspective to the boardroom.
“We’re excited to welcome Hasitha Premaratne to our board,” said Lewis Perkins, president and CEO of Aii. “His appointment underscores Aii’s ongoing commitment to supply chain solutions, and highlights the crucial role of suppliers in achieving Aii’s — and the industry’s — ambitious climate goals. Hasitha’s collaboration with Aii on our blended capital unlock strategy has laid a solid foundation for our partnership.”
Premaratne currently serves as the managing director of the Brandix Group, an apparel supply chain company. He drives the overall strategy and transformation journey of Brandix, while overlooking its Global Business. Premaratne is also the managing director of Brandix India, and sits in group subsidiaries and investment ventures that include Teejay Lanka PLC, Inqube Global, and Best Pacific Lanka Ltd.
Hasitha has an extensive background in the fields of capital markets, economics, strategic finance, and management. He is an Independent Director of leading listed companies in Sri Lanka, including John Keells Hotels and NDB Bank.
Other members of Aii’s Board of Directors include:
Posted: March 27, 2024
Source: Apparel Impact Institute (Aii)
