Web Industries Chief Financial Officer Megan Glidden
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. — January 16, 2024 — Web Industries Inc., a global manufacturing partner in the aerospace, medical, personal and home care, and industrial markets, has named Megan Glidden, CPA, as CFO, effective January 15.
“Web Industries conducts business in some of the world’s most dynamic industries,” Glidden said. “I look forward to further advancing our financial functions in ways that not only benefit Web Industries, but also our customers, partners and suppliers.”
“Megan comes to Web Industries with a diverse background of foundational roles and business experiences, said Web Industries President and CEO John Madej. We look forward to her contribution to our team.”
Glidden comes to Web Industries from Shirley, Mass.-based Bemis Associates Inc., a privately owned manufacturer, where she most recently served as vice president of finance and global financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Before that, Glidden held finance roles of increasing responsibility at Boston-based McGladrey and Pullen (now RSM), iProspect and Schafer Corp.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance and accounting and a master’s degree in accountancy from Bentley University. She also attended the Senior Executive Chief Financial Officer program at Columbia University.
Glidden will be based at Web Industries’ corporate headquarters in Marlborough, reporting directly to Madej.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — January 15, 2024 — Southern California-based global lifestyle brand UGG® (a division of Deckers Brands unveils the next iteration of Regenerate by UGG™, a collection highlighting the brand’s dedication to crafting products that last.
The Regenerate by UGG Collection is a pinnacle expression of everything consumers love about the UGG icons but with a renewed focus on what it means to choose products that feel good, inside and out. With a commitment to exacting artisanship, precision cutting, and premium construction methods, the brand sourced materials from farms practicing regenerative agriculture, helping to reduce negative impacts while enhancing positive ones. By reimagining how consciously sourced and crafted styles look and feel, UGG refreshed the brand’s must-have styles with masterful craftsmanship.
The expansion of the brand’s regenerative offerings kicks off with the new Tasman Crafted Regenerate Slipper and the Ultra Mini Crafted Regenerate, both examples of how the brand’s dedication to regenerative sourcing only enhances the beauty and durability of the shoes.
Tasman Crafted Regenerate, $160: UGG has created the Tasman Crafted Regenerate as the latest evolution of the iconic Tasman. This iteration of the classic indoor-outdoor slipper is made from materials sourced from farms that practice regenerative agriculture. Creating comfort for today while prioritizing responsibility for tomorrow, this slipper features a sugarcane EVA outsole and UGGplush™ sock liner made from 60-percent upcycled wool. Designed with a suede upper sourced from farms that practice regenerative agriculture and finished with hand-stitched details and a woven leather strap.
Ultra Mini Crafted Regenerate, $190: The UGG Ultra Mini Crafted Regenerate is made with Premium Twinface sheepskin, from farms that practice regenerative agriculture — which helps impact soil, encourage wildlife diversity, capture carbon in the ground, and preserve the land for future generations. Cast in the same iconic silhouette, this version of the Ultra Mini is elevated with hand-stitched details and a bolder Twin Seam. Slip into comfort with UGGplush™ upcycled wool lining, and an EVA outsole made from fast-growing, renewable, and rainwater-nourished sugarcane.
Styles featured in the Regenerate by UGG Collection are available now for purchase at UGG.com, UGG stores, and select wholesale retailers nationwide.
INWOOD, NY. — January 15, 2024 — Apex Mills — an American specialty textile manufacturer — will display its high-performance 3D spacers, mesh/netting, elastics, and solid knit fabrics for application-specific needs of the military, police, and first responders at the SHOT Show Supplier Showcase, booth #51712, January 22-23 in Las Vegas.
Showcased will be representative textiles widely used by military and defense agencies for tactical gear, uniforms, safety apparel, footwear, padding/lining, tents, and concealment applications.
A fully compliant MIL-C-8061 fabric, style TP21 for MOLLE and other systems.
A booth highlight will be Apex Mills’ fully compliant MIL-C- 8061 fabric style TP21 used by the military and defense sector for MOLLE and other systems. The Berry-compliant TP21 fabric style is also available in a fire-resistant version that meets ASTMD-6413 and FAR 25.853 standards and is approved by the U.S. DOD vertical burn test methods.
Visitors to the booth will see technical textiles offering durability, breathability, comfort, and flexibility along with enhanced finishes and treatments that offer fire resistance, moisture management, temperature cooling, antimicrobial/odor reduction, and anti-abrasion properties.
For more information, speak with Apex Mills experts in booth #51712 at the SHOT Week Supplier Showcase, or visit https://www.apexmills.com/
BRUSSELS — January 11, 2024 — EURATEX and 22 industry associations sent a joint letter to the three EU presidents to call on the EU and Mercosur leaders to rapidly conclude the trade negotiations on the remaining open points.
Your excellency President Metsola, Your excellency President Michel, Your excellency President von der Leyen,
We are writing to you on behalf of 23 associations representing a wide array of European industries and other businesses based in the EU, ranging from manufacturing to food-related sectors. We call on the EU and Mercosur leaders to rapidly conclude the trade negotiations on the remaining open points. In short, there is no time to lose.
Having the EU-Mercosur agreement in place will boost the integration of our economies and help to diversify our value chains both for imports and exports. This is key for the competitiveness of our export-oriented sectors that create tens of millions of jobs in Europe and provide an essential contribution to the prosperity and standards of living of European citizens. It also helps to promote the EU’s open strategic autonomy in times of rising economic security concerns by partnering with like-minded countries.
The agreement offers Europe a unique and timely chance to seize its first-mover advantage to partner up with one of the world’s largest economies. A deal helps to significantly reduce both high tariff and non-tariff barriers that negatively affect European companies’ chances to compete on Mercosur’s relatively closed market with over 270 million consumers. It is important to recognise the huge opportunities the agreement offers, which will help maintaining a strong industrial structure in the EU, including in rural areas, and thereby to safeguard the jobs and well-being of millions of European citizens. Given that the EU lacks substantial reserves of key raw materials necessary for the green and digital transition and the fact that a substantial proportion of global growth is expected to come from outside of the EU in the next decade, our industries need open export markets to sell European goods and services and procure raw materials at a competitive prices. The agreement is therefore an economic, social, and geopolitical imperative.
Committed to free, fair, and sustainable trade, we understand the need to protect the unique ecosystems of the Mercosur region. We believe that the EU-Mercosur agreement provides a very strong incentive and the right tools for collaboration to maintain the region’s sustainable development pledges, including the halt of illegal deforestation.
We, therefore, call on European leaders to act now and conclude and ratify the EU-Mercosur agreement, without further delay.
LEEDS, England — January 15, 2024 — BTMA member Vickers Oils has marked a significant milestone in its partnership with knitting machinery leader Lonati by earning Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) approval for its VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 needle oil.
VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 is a mineral-based needle lubricant designed to meet the criteria for modern knitting machine technology. It provides a high standard of lubrication as well as holding very good stability properties and having a high resistance to oxidation. The product is readily scourable and holds a well-balanced additive system meaning that it is fully compatible with all machine components. It can also be used with machines producing any yarn type — including tricky elastanes — to produce the highest quality end product.
Vickerlube Sock 46 needle oil is now recommended by Lonati.
“The importance of specified and sustainable lubrication for modern textile machines — especially those for advanced knitting with so many needles and moving parts that need to work precisely and accurately over extended periods — should not be underestimated,” said BTMA CEO Jason Kent.
Lonati, headquartered in Brescia, Italy, has been a prominent name in knitting machines for over 70 years, designing and manufacturing an impressive average of 8,000 annually. It places a strong emphasis on delivering the highest quality textile machinery, underpinned by a commitment to research and development that ensures the use of cutting-edge products, technologies and processes in its machines.
Vickers Oils, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, shares these values, leading the industry in quality and assurance through its continuous focus on research and development, technological leadership, quality control and customer service. As it has done for almost two centuries – the company will mark its 200th anniversary in 2028.
Lonati is now officially recommending VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 for use in its single-cylinder GOAL series of knitting machines, marking a successful collaboration that required dedicated efforts from the teams of Lonati, Vickers Oils and its Italian representative Lubrogamma. Vickers Oils is committed to sustainable product development and VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 meets the clearly defined criteria set out by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and conforms to ZDHC MRSL Level 1 certification.
“After rigorous testing and trials of VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 on Lonati single-cylinder machines we have now received the much-anticipated approval,” said Vickers Oils chairman Peter Vickers. “Our latest lubricant has proven to reduce wear and deposit formation in the knitting elements by keeping the cylinder and needles running extremely cleanly, ensuring trouble free running and extended needle life. The well-balanced additive system in VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 also means that it is fully compatible with all machine components. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the teams at Vickers and Lonati, as well as our long-term Italian partner Lubrogamma, who played a pivotal role in securing the partnership.”
Teams from Lonati, Lubrogamma and Vickers during a recent meeting at the Vickers HQ in Leeds, UK.
“With the emphasis these days being on increased automation through software advances, it’s important to acknowledge that the customised lubricants of Vickers Oils are vital to the smooth running and longevity of machines, as well as reducing the need for maintenance,” concludes BTMA’s Jason Kent. “VICKERLUBE SOCK 46 is now ensuring that the needles and mechanical components of Lonati’s GOAL knitting machines move with the precision and synchronicity of Swiss watches.”
SOLNA, Sweden — January 15, 2024 — As of April 1, Robert Pletzin assumes the role of Head of Media Relations at Billerud. Robert brings extensive experience in leading press positions from companies with international operations, along with a background as a financial journalist.
“I am really looking forward to becoming part of Billerud and using my experience to contribute to the development of the company’s press communication. Billerud is an exciting company at the forefront of sustainability, which aligns perfectly with my interests”, says Robert Pletzin, the incoming Head of Media Relations at Billerud.
Robert joins from his previous position as the Head of Media Relations at Swedavia and also holds experience from leading press roles at Vattenfall. Additionally, he has worked as a financial reporter at Dagens Industri, Nyhetsbyrån Direkt and as a correspondent for the news agency Reuters.
Billerud is a globally leading company in high-performance paper and packaging materials made from wood fiber, with a strong commitment to sustainability, quality and customer value. The company operates nine production units in Sweden, the US, and in Finland, with approximately 6,100 employees across more than 13 countries and serving customers in over 100 countries. Billerud is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
HANNOVER, Germany — January 14, 2024 — DOMOTEX once again proved to be the most important and powerful driving force for business, trends and innovations in the industry. “DOMOTEX is not only the global meeting place for the industry, but also the home of the entire carpet and flooring world, thanks to its positive energy and its distinctly international character,” said Sonia Wedell-Castellano, Global director of DOMOTEX. During the four days of the show, about 18,000 visitors from 140 countries, met with around 1,000 exhibitors from more than 60 nations. “We are delighted that decision-makers from even more countries than before are coming to Hannover to learn about the latest trends and new products — including 170 debuts — and to make new business connections,” continued Wedell-Castellano. Some 71 percent of visitors come from abroad — 65 percent from Europe, 18 percent from Asia, 9 percent from America, 4 percent from the Middle East and the rest from Africa and Australia.
Visitors come to DOMOTEX to find out where the Industry’s heading
Oliver Ginestier, director of Communications at the European DIY Retail Association (EDRA), was delighted to “see the world of flooring meeting again in a vibrant atmosphere”. At this year’s show, he was able to meet many of the suppliers attending the association’s Global DIY Summit, as well as many of the association’s members. Martin Geiger, managing director of GEIGER, has been attending the world’s leading show for many years to get an overview of the market at the start of the business year. “I was particularly impressed by the increase in the number of exhibitors — in its second year after the pandemic, the show has already grown significantly again. This underlines the importance of DOMOTEX for our industry.” Jamie Metrick, president and chief product officer of the Toronto-based interior design company Elte appreciates the comprehensive market overview and addedd: “Here at DOMOTEX, I can meet important global business partners, easily discover potential suppliers and find out about the latest trends and developments in the industry”.
Carpets & Rugs and Flooring Exhibitors delighted with high level of Internationality & Visitor Quality
DOMOTEX offers the perfect opportunity to introduce new products to a global audience, says Theresa Paulig, shareholder and executive partner of Paulig. “It is difficult to present our entire range of products internationally by travelling alone. At DOMOTEX, we can display the entire range of innovations to our existing customers in a short amount of time, deepen our relationships and make contacts with new customers from all over the world. This is what makes DOMOTEX unique for us.” “Our main reason for exhibiting at DOMOTEX was to give our exports a boost — especially in Germany, the UK and Eastern-Europe. The first and second day were already excellent for us and we are happy about our decision to participate. We are pleased with the number, quality and internationality of the DOMOTEX visitors,” reported Cathérine Vandepoel, export manager at Floorify. Markus Oberbauer, managing director of Kronoflooring GmbH, was also delighted with the large number of customers: “DOMOTEX 2024 was a great success for us. We are very satisfied. All of our major customers were here, and the international participation was particularly high. In total, we welcomed around 500 different customer groups to our stand who were interested in our innovations and our new logistics concept.”
DOMOTEX goes vertical
Products for walls and ceilings were presented for the first time in the new RETAILERS’ PARK in Hall 19/20. “All of our visitors — from retailers to craftsmen and architects — have to consider spaces as a whole to create a coherent interior design. That’s why we’ve teamed up with DECOR UNION and the MEGA Gruppe to include paints, varnishes, wallpapers and more interior finishing and the premiere has already been a great success. The new special area for interior finishes, which is being organized in collaboration with DECOR UNION and MEGA, offers a genuine value for the trade and craft sector,” explained Wedell-Castellano. One in three participants is already specifically interested in the new special show as the visitor survey reveals. This is why the global director of DOMOTEX can imagine expanding the show’s portfolio to include more products for interior finishing in the future.
DOMOTEX is worth a visit
This year’s edition of DOMOTEX offered all participants inspiring special displays, a diverse supporting program with conferences, live presentations and award ceremonies as well as numerous opportunities for networking. The trade fair once again focused on the megatrends of sustainability and circular economy. Visitors were able to experience the keynote theme FLOORED BY NATURE in particular at THE GREEN COLLECTION in Hall 23. In its second year, the special display once again offered extraordinary presentations of sustainable and environmentally friendly products, a tactile presentation of sustainable materials by raumprobe | Materialbank and the latest research projects from the German Research Institute for Floor Systems (TFI) Aachen. The sustainable focus was also reflected in the exhibitors’ product ranges.
At DOMOTEX on Stage in Hall 23, speakers from the fields of architecture, interior design, the skilled trades, politics, associations, trade and trend scouts presented the latest market developments and trend topics. Other topics included the shortage of skilled workers and workplace culture. The conference program was complemented by the forums in the RETAILERS’ PARK , the Mood Spaces and the Carpet Design Awards .
“This is my first time at DOMOTEX and I’m really impressed. The Mood Spaces offer a lot of inspiration for my everyday work,” revealed Sophie Berger, interior designer at Rostock-based architecture office MZ Architektur Meier + Zeug. The trade fair also allows her to think “outside the box” and become familiar with new flooring solutions and suppliers in a short amount of time. Merle Queisner, architect at Bünenmann & Collegen, emphasizes the value of a live event: “Here at DOMOTEX, I don’t just get detailed information about carpets and floor coverings. I can also experience the quality of the products first hand. I can take a close look, touch and feel the surface. That’s simply not possible digitally.”
The next DOMOTEX – Carpets & Rugs in Hannover will take place from 16 to 19 January 2025.
MONTREAL — January 12, 2024 — The Board of Directors of Gildan Activewear Inc. is pleased to announce that Vince Tyra will assume the role of president and CEO on Monday, January 15, 2024. At the Board’s request, Tyra has made himself available to move the start date from February 12 to respond to requests to engage early with key stakeholders and bring needed stability and leadership to the company as it embarks on its next chapter of success.
“When the board began the external phase of the CEO search back in May of 2023, we knew that scaling the company in an increasingly complex and competitive environment demanded a hands-on CEO with fresh ideas, deep apparel experience, a keen understanding of manufacturing and expertise in areas like marketing, merchandising and product development. After a robust selection process that evaluated both internal and external candidates, we selected Vince as the next chief executive of Gildan Activewear,” said Donald C. Berg, chairman of the board.
Few people have had the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills across such an impressive range of industries and managerial challenges as Tyra. And while the experiences vary, the throughline of his career is using his financial acumen, sound management and ability to build teams and motivate people around a shared strategy and vision to improve the companies and organizations he has led.
Tyra has had a stellar career. He invested in and grew his own activewear business in his twenties utilizing Gildan as a key supplier. Based on that early success, he then joined Fruit of the Loom where the board of directors promoted him to president in the company’s darkest hour to develop and implement a restructuring plan that put Fruit of the Loom back on sound financial footing ahead of its eventual sale to Berkshire Hathaway.
Bain Capital noticed Tyra’s turnaround work at Fruit of the Loom and hired him to be CEO of Broder Bros., a leading apparel distributor, successfully following in the founder’s footsteps. In his six years as CEO of Broder, Tyra tripled revenue and made it an industry leader. Bain Capital later introduced Tyra to Southfield Capital, where he went on to a successful career in private equity. Tyra has served on the Board of Directors at 10 companies and stepped in as interim CEO at three to help each move toward successful financial exits.
Yoo Jin Kim was a principal at Bain Capital when Tyra was CEO of then Bain-owned Broder Bros. Kim later introduced Tyra to the founder of Southfield Capital.
“With almost 30 years of private equity investing experience, I have worked with countless CEOs in multiple industries. Vince was in the top-tier of those executives given his leadership strengths, ability to build strong teams and culture, financial performance, acquisition experience, and solid character … Gildan is very fortunate to have Vince as its next leader. I have tremendous confidence in the company’s future under his stewardship,” said Kim.
In 2017, Vince took on perhaps the most challenging turnaround of his career, fixing the scandal-plagued Athletics Program at the NCAA powerhouse University of Louisville. Under his leadership, Vince established a new culture of excellence and compliance while rebuilding the sports program. He led decisively to replace coaches, negotiate the stadium naming rights, set new fundraising records, oversee the highest graduation rate, stabilize the department’s finances and establish a respected Leadership Development Program at the Business School that has trained hundreds of senior executives.
J. David Grissom, the former vice chairman of PNC Financial, was chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Louisville when the Board hired Vince:
“Vince Tyra has an outstanding reputation as a leader. The Board of Trustees hired him to clean up the Athletics Program that had been tarnished by scandal and controversy. He quickly made a significant difference. Vince listened, evaluated the situation, and then made the hard decisions needed to restore the integrity of the program. Vince is a calm, confident and firm leader. He never looks for headlines. He started every meeting by asking ‘What’s the right thing to do here?’ His moral compass is in the right place. Gildan’s Board of Directors will never regret its decision to hire Vince Tyra as CEO.”
Most recently, Tyra led corporate strategy for Houchens Industries, a $4 billion revenue employee-owned holding company. Dion Houchins is the CEO and chairman of Houchens:
“In a short period of time, Vince proved himself to be an invaluable member of the Houchens executive leadership team. Vince’s experience as a leader in a variety of industries prior to joining Houchens made him a perfect fit for assessing and making strategic recommendations with regards to potential acquisitions as well as tweaking the direction and strategy for the existing Houchens portfolio. Vince’s ability to drill down into the complexities of a business and make a sound evaluation is a skill set honed by over 35 years of high-level business experience. Vince was the right person at the right time for Houchens, and we are a stronger company for having had him. Given the right tools and proper support, Gildan employees and shareholders will see similar benefits from his leadership. Vince is a business professional in every sense of the word.”
The board welcomes Tyra to Montreal and looks forward to working with him as he builds on Gildan’s strong foundation and positions the company for continued success in the future.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany— January 12, 2024 — New contacts with decision-makers, global business opportunities and worldwide streams of visitors: Heimtextil 2024 ended with 46,000 visitors1 from around 130 nations and 2,838 exhibitors from 60 nations with 25 per cent growth. With a plus in visitors, the show overcame difficult travel conditions due to nationwide rail strikes and regional demonstrations. The response from international buyers to the quality and variety of the new Carpets & Rugs product segment was overwhelming. In numerous talks, tours and workshops, Heimtextil as well focused on two of the most important key topics of the coming decades: sustainable production and action as well as artificial intelligence. At the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles, transformations could be experienced more intensively than ever before.
With intercontinental strength, Heimtextil 2024 laid the foundation for a record year for Messe Frankfurt. 46,000 buyers from around 130 nations took the opportunity to participate in the global textile market — from upholstery and decorative fabrics, bed and bathroom textiles, mattresses, functional textiles and carpets to wallpapers, outdoor fabrics, artificial leather, curtains, fibres, yarns, sleeping systems and decorative cushions. Despite nationwide rail strikes, this edition recorded a plus in visitor numbers and, with 2,838 exhibitors from 60 nations, a 25 per cent increase in exhibitor numbers compared to the previous year’s event: “Heimtextil ends with overwhelming participation. The increase in space, exhibitors and visitors in 2024 makes the following clear: the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles remains on course for growth – and sets new standards for a sustainable and AI-driven textile industry”, says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt.
Outstanding intercontinentality: participation grows nationally and internationally
Heimtextil achieved an increase in the level of internationality on the exhibitor side to 95 per cent. The top ten exhibiting countries were China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Great Britain and the Netherlands. There was an increase in the exhibitor numbers from Belgium, Bulgaria, China, India, Japan, Poland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the USA and Egypt. On the visitor side, more visitors came from China, Germany, India, Japan, Croatia, Macedonia, Pakistan, Slovakia and Cyprus. The number of German trade visitors increased by around ten per cent.
Significant increase in satisfaction and visitor quality
In 2024, visitor satisfaction rose to an average of 93 per cent both nationally and internationally – particularly with the breadth and depth of the offering. Among German trade visitors, overall satisfaction rose by seven percentage points to 88 per cent. Over 90 per cent of all visitors achieved their trade fair goals. Exhibitors were also impressed by the increased visitor quality and buying competence: the proportion of top decision-makers among buyers rose by six percentage points to 78 per cent. Around 80 per cent of exhibitors achieved their trade fair goals.
Brilliant start for new Carpets & Rugs product segment
The launch of the new Carpets & Rugs segment was a complete success. For the first time, the global carpet industry presented together in one hall, including numerous international market leaders who exhibited in Frankfurt for the first time or after a long time – with overwhelming satisfaction:
“For our debut here in Frankfurt, we deliberately presented our entire collection, which turned out to be the right strategy. The stand was well attended throughout and we made many new global contacts – from Europe to overseas, from Asia to Scandinavia,” said Katrien Vandenbroucke, CEO of Ragolle Rugs, one of Belgium’s leading brands.
“We came back because we saw potential in the new concept. And I have to say, we were more than pleasantly surprised,” summarises Raghav Gupta, Director of E-Commerce at the Indian company The Rug Republic, which stands for high-quality handmade rugs.
The wish for a new joint appearance came from the industry – and Frankfurt was convincing. Exhibitors such as the Egyptian Oriental Weavers Group are looking to the future: “We are completely convinced by the new concept. The hall has turned out beautifully from the very start, a perfect platform for our industry. Now it’s time to take it forward together. In any case, we already know that we will be at Carpets & Rugs in 2025 – and with a significantly larger stand,” says Ahmed El Gamal, Export Sales Manager of OWG subsidiary Mac Carpet.
From AI in textile product design to scalable sustainable solutions
Never before have transformations such as artificial intelligence and sustainability been so intensively at the center of Heimtextil and presented effective levers for a future-oriented approach to key technology. For the first time in 2024, the trade fair provided fascinating insights into the textile application of artificial intelligence and the use of AI-controlled sorting to refine recycled textile waste into new yarns. In the trend space, visitors’ textile design ideas were also brought to life at interactive stations using tools such as ChatGPT-4 and Midjourney.
In addition, Heimtextil once again made state-of-the-art sustainable production and action tangible. One of the main points of contact were the Heimtextil Trends with New Sensitivity: the concept focused on the ongoing transformation of the textile industry and presented numerous market-ready and scalable solutions. One example was the company Ever Dye, whose self-developed color pigments enable dyeing at room temperature. Variant 3D, on the other hand, offers AI-driven knitting software that can be used to produce even complex shapes such as lampshades without creating patterns. The Econogy program offered further central content formats, with Finder, Talks, Tours and the Econogy Hub demonstrating all the versatility of circular approaches, the relevance of certificates and possible applications for textile materials. The exhibitors listed in the Finder contributed to the holistic experience of sustainability:
“We have met many customers and are very happy with Heimtextil 2024. Almost all of our important business partners are here. Sustainability is a topic that is noticeably changing. People used to talk about recycling, but today it is being taken up as a holistic approach that extends from renewable energies deep into the processes to the raw materials and processing methods,” said Mevlut Baydar, chief sales officer, Vanelli Tekstil San.
“At Heimtextil 2024, we were able to present our new collections in an eye-catching way as part of the DecoTeam. Sustainability plays an important role for the Alfred Apelt GmbH. We are delighted that we were listed in the Econogy Finder at Heimtextil as a supplier of sustainable products,” said Sebastian Ihling, Sales Manager and Business Development at Alfred Apelt GmbH.
Strong response to textile range of bed, bathroom and sleep systems
From bedding, bed linen and bathroom textiles to mattresses and sleep systems – the broad Smart Bedding range for all forms of retail as well as the brands and private label excellence in the Bed & Bath segment met with a strong response:
“We are very satisfied and happy to be back at Heimtextil with the Herbert Neumeyer Group. Our concept of the three-sided open stand as a communicative concept has paid off. The exchange with our national and international customers is very important to us. We absolutely achieved this goal at Heimtextil and did so in a pleasant, informal, feel-good atmosphere on our stand. This enabled us to establish ourselves as a permanent focal point in the hall,” said Markus Ertel, managing director, Heinrich Häussling GmbH & Co.
“In a nutshell: Heimtextil has always been the guarantee of international strength and the global market for us,”said Roeland Smits, managing director, Essenza Home.
“We traveled here with many confirmed customer appointments and were also able to make new contacts. We were very pleasantly surprised by the numerous hospitality buyers who showed great interest in our high quality products and manufacturing processes – Heimtextil gave us access to the right markets,” said Tânia Lima, marketing manager, Lameirinho – Indústria Têxtil.
In 2024, the focus was once again on high-quality knowledge for the bed retail and hotel industry: international experts shared best practices, e.g. on the design of bedrooms and hotel rooms or the use of artificial intelligence in sleep analysis.
Asian Selection & Excellence: impressive range of high-quality large volumes
In the Asian Excellence & Selection halls, trade buyers of medium and large volumes found export-experienced partners and a unique range of high-quality manufactured textiles. The suppliers were very satisfied with the quality of the visitors and were able to open up new markets and contacts:
“We have been taking part in Heimtextil for 16 years and are very satisfied. The quality of visitors has increased again this year. We were able to do more order business. Our strongest markets are the UK, USA and Europe,” said Nishant Kumar Singh, Export sales manager, GM Syntex.
“What is noticeable this year is that, in addition to Europe and the USA, more visitors from the Middle East are here. We see great potential for our products here and believe that this market could become very relevant in the future,” said Muzzammil Kasumbi, senior general manager, Al-Karam Textile Mills.
International, innovative and sustainable: the offering for the contract business
The Interior.Architecture.Hospitality program at Heimtextil was more extensive and international than ever and brought architects and hospitality experts together with suppliers for the contract business. Whether focusing on health and care, outdoor, new work or sustainability — international manufacturers presented their functional innovations for a wide range of applications.
“Heimtextil 2024 was a successful start to the new business year for us. The Trevira CS brand was able to present itself to an international audience together with 17 top customers on a large joint stand. The sustainability topics such as fibres, yarns and fabrics obtained in various recycling processes, including chemical recycling, met with great visitor interest,” explained Anke Vollenbröker, director Marketing & Business Development Trevira CS at Indorama Ventures Fibres Germany.
In the LIBRARY, visitors were inspired by selected functional textiles. Highlights included a flame-retardant wallpaper, dirt-repellent upholstery fabric and light-resistant leather. The contract range was complemented by the Fibres & Yarns area for decorative and upholstery fabrics. In 2024, the preliminary stage was larger than before.
Outlook for 2025: partnership with Studio Urquiola announced
For 2025, Heimtextil is announcing a partnership with one of the most important and influential international design studios: Studio Urquiola. A pioneering installation is planned for the upcoming Heimtextil 2025, which will enable an immersive and unique design experience. With this collaboration, the Milan-based design studio and the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles are emphasizing their joint commitment to innovation, sustainability and design in the entire textile industry.
LONDON / SEATTLE, WA — January 12, 2024 — Footwear manufacturer Vivobarefoot and material science company Balena take the next step toward regenerative bare-footwear with an industry-first partnership which aims to deliver the world’s first 3D printed and made-to-measure footwear that is fully compostable. The partnership vision is footwear made-to-order, made-to-measure, made locally and made with Balena’s proprietary BioCir®flex — a compostable, biobased, recyclable, thermoplastic material for durable and high-performing products.
“The world doesn’t need new shoes. We need a new system and new materials. This future is literally at our feet and this footwear will enable us to reconnect to nature, move as nature intended and return footwear to nature when you’re done,” said Asher Clark.
Now, two companies have come together with a shared purpose of using technology and science as a force for good in a revolutionary next step towards regenerative bare- footwear. Balena (material science company) and Vivobarefoot are developing the world’s first 3D printed, made-to-measure and completely compostable footwear. Prototypes are being made using a patented scan to print computational design system that, if scalable, will enable them to make on-demand footwear for individuals not mass markets. Footwear manufacturer Vivobarefoot and material science company Balena take the next step toward regenerative bare-footwear with an industry-first partnership which aims to deliver the world’s first 3D printed and made-to-measure footwear that is fully compostable. This footwear will be made-to-order, made-to-measure, made locally and made with Balena BioCirflex — a biobased, compostable, thermoplastic material for durable and high-performing products.
Volumental Stylist: Camilla Perez
VIVOBIOME – a radical scan-to-print circular bare-footwear system
VivoBiome by Vivobarefoot derives from the term “biomimetic” – “bio” (meaning life or living organisms) and “mimetic” (meaning to imitate or mimic). Vivobarefoot, a barefoot footwear pioneer, has developed VivoBiome — ‘a radical scan-to-print circular bare-footwear system’. VivoBiome is not just another product; it’s a new way to completely redefine how footwear is made, used and experienced. The vision is to one day realise Vivobarefoot’s regenerative bare-foot-wear goal – a radical vision for a scan-to-print, circular, system that completely reimagines how footwear is created. In the future VivoBiome footwear will be made-to-order (on-demand) made to measure (bespoke fit), made locally (on-shore) and made to be remade (circular). Products that truly enable enhanced natural movement and will one day have a net-positive impact on not just human health but our planet too. It’s a digital, sustainable, and personalised approach to footwear that will fit for your feet and the future. Precise scans of a customer’s feet, which will be sent to 3D printers for local fabrication. VivoBiome will kick off with a hub in the UK, with Germany and the US to follow. Local manufacturing will reduce shipping, while 3D printing cuts down on manufacturing waste.
