FUNDÃO, Portugal — June 12, 2024 — Recognized as Pioneer in Sustainability in Garment Industry, Twintex from Portugal embraces the challenge of developing and industrialize a recyclable blazer.
Sustainable blazer
With its EcoLife Concept, Twintex has been a benchmark in sustainable solutions for the garment industry for more than a decade.
Endeavours in these fields come all the way from the photovoltaic Megawatt electricity production center or usage of natural gas for boilers; to the “ Crown Jewel” — the Twintex LifeCard, a Loyalty Program granting Twintex workers and direct relatives discounts in endless local services and commerce, from healthcare to petrol station, or swimming pools, embracing more than 1650 active beneficiaries.
It is now the moment to raise the bar and challenge Twintex ́s Research and Development Team to create a recyclable blazer.
With the support of the European Union through the PRR Program, Twintex is now ready to share with its stakeholders the wonderful solution achieved.
It is Twintex ́s certainty that this new step will positively change the way this matter was affecting the recycling of a blazer, and how the carbon foot print of this garment could be a barrier to a sustainability conscious consumer.
Now Twintex is presenting the solution to the world aiming that brands sign their DNA to the concept, seducing the modern consumer, and making a better planet for all.
OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — June 12, 2024 — KARL MAYER North America looks forward to welcoming a large number of trade visitors to its second Textile Innovation Conference. The top-class event will take place from June 25 to 27, 2024 in Greensboro, N.C., and is primarily aimed at brands, designers and manufacturers within the textile industry.
Textile supply chain partners and R&D specialists will also benefit from the conference topics, as the industry is in a state of transition, challenged by deeply intertwined overseas supply chains, limited domestic manufacturing capabilities, and sustainability constraint measures. Additionally, overseas companies that exploit the “de minimis” tax loophole, especially ultra-fast fashion players avoid U.S. taxes by dividing their shipments into many small packages of limited value. In doing so, they are driving many U.S. textile mills to permanently close their operations.
The Textile Innovation Conference’s approach to all these challenges is to meet with thought leaders who can share their industry insight and at the same time connect business partners who can collaborate to drive growth.
Mariano Amezcua, President of KARL MAYER North America
“The primary goal of the conference is to connect the US-based textile supply chain so brands can compete and win with American-made products. The success of the North American textile industry also depends on the ability to develop new talent and implement advanced technologies. The conference therefore provides a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and presentation of technological advances in the textile industry,“ said Mariano Amezcua, president of KARL MAYER North America.
The Textile Innovation Conference combines an exhibition of selected technologies with a first-class lecture program. The list of speakers includes representatives from fashion, sportswear, and footwear brands such as New Balance, Under Armour, Dillard’s and Myant as well as renowned educational and research institutions such as North Carolina State and Kent State universities. KM.ON, the software company of the KARL MAYER GROUP, will introduce its latest solutions for the warp knitting industry: Digital Production Management (DPM) for the massive simplification of management, leadership and planning; and, the Quality Monitoring System (QMS) as a revolutionary solution for quality management on warp knitting machines. CREATE DESIGN, a software solution to streamline the development and design process for knitwear, will also be presented.
The accompanying technology exhibition with machines from KARL MAYER and STOLL will also focus on the topics of increasing productivity, improving quality, and reducing operating costs.
By providing a platform for discussion and learning, while bringing together diverse stakeholders, our second Textile Innovation Conference will contribute to the overall advancement and sustainability of the textile industry,” Amezcua confirmed.
More information and registration at: https://www.karlmayergroup.com/en/news-events/events/textiles-innovation-conference/
JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland — June 12, 2024 — Luhta Sportswear Co.’s brand Rukka has released a t-shirt made using SPINNOVA® fibers. The shirt comes in two different colors — deep blue and white. The shirt is made from a blend of 29 percent wood-based SPINNOVA fiber, 68-percent cotton and 3-percent elastane. Luhta Sportswear’s brand Icepeak has previously launched an over-the-shoulder bag for the Finnish athlete’s Olympic Team’s outfit for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games. The t-shirt is part of Rukka’s 2024 Olympic collection and the first product containing SPINNOVA fibers available online for consumers by the brand.
“We have set as one of our sustainability goals circular economy compliant collections by 2040. We are therefore particularly interested in material innovations that support this goal and work very closely with our material partners to find these. Spinnova, a Finnish pioneer in this field, is a good example of innovative material development,” stated Luhta Sportswear Co.’s Sustainability Director Annamaria Väli-Klemelä.
“We are very proud to have been chosen by an important Finnish brand like Luhta to be the material of choice for their new product. This is a showcase that our fiber can be used in different applications and use cases. As we have mentioned before, while Spinnova’s core is to sell and deliver fiber production technology, we will continue important brand collaborations to help the market find increasing use cases for our fiber and to show what it can do,” said Tuomas Oijala, CEO of Spinnova.
T-shirt is available in Rukka’s online store in Finland.
BIELLA, Italy — June 12, 2024 — “Filo•Sophy, the concept of the creative proposals that we have developed for the 62nd edition of Filo is divided in three parts: Street-Tease, Wiki Filo and Filo-Logic.”
Gianni Bologna explained: “They can seem discordant and discontinuous, but they have been deliberately collected in this context to stress the underlying philosophy which re-assesses the “intermediate presence” keeping together limits by marking their distance. The rhapsodic style of the representation by images is the visual representation of the concept, as we keep reflecting on the fact that images already represent a shortcut of the surrounding world and its interpretation, a kind of synthetic grammar for comprehension (and acceptance) of what we define as “reality”, or at least for what we wish and hope the reality to be. And not always it is.”
The creative proposals that pass by one another at a fast pace in the video design an idea of aesthetics which accounts for transformation and challenges which cross our world, our way of being, and consequently, our style of dress. In doing so, they always remain faithful to what distinguished Filo from the very beginning, making it a unique exhibition within the international panorama: the focus on product and production processes, to offer to textile professionals an effective inspiration for creating their collections.
This approach is reflected in the words by Paolo Monfermoso, responsible for Filo, said: “Filo•Sophy, the title we have chosen for the creative proposals that we launch today, has a high creative and innovative content, as occurs with each edition of Filo, thanks to the excellent work done by Gianni Bologna. Indeed, every time our product development proposals succeed in attracting and expressing the idea of “creative dialogue” which is highly appreciated by our exhibitors. By emphasising the continuous research on product, and so the philosophy of “know-how” typical of our production, the creative proposals represent the flagship of Filo since they are designed, created and produced exactly to be “used” by the exhibitors in their daily work.” Paolo Monfermoso also says: “Rightly so, dealing with a content of great value, also the “composition” of the Filo•Sophy video is particularly refined: the choice of images, their rhythm, background music, and the direction make it a little great textile show made available by Filo to national and international professionals working in the textile-clothing system.”
The 62nd edition of Filo will be held on the 18th and 19th of September 2024 at Allianz MiCo Milan (via Gattamelata 5).
SEOUL, South Korea, and LOS ANGELES, Calif. — June 12, 2024 — Hyosung TNC has partnered with Ambercycle to become the first manufacturer in South Korea to introduce a textile-to-textile, circular polyester into supply chains.
The collaboration advances the partners’ shared vision of a circular textile ecosystem that repurposes end-of-life products into high-performing fibers for brands looking to curb their environmental impact.
The partnership will tap Hyosung’s 58 years of advanced fiber manufacturing capabilities and nearly two decades of experience producing high-quality, sustainable textiles to support the integration of Ambercycle’s circular polyester material, cycora®, into brand supply chains.
“Our collaboration with Ambercycle is another important step we are taking to help our customers meet their sustainability goals and scale solutions that both present and future generations can enjoy,” said Chi Hyung Kim, CEO, Hyosung TNC. “We’re impressed with cycora for its quality but also for its potential to divert tons of textile waste from landfills and incinerators and reduce the extraction of raw materials used in the production of virgin polyester.”
Based in Los Angeles, Ambercycle is rapidly scaling cycora, a regenerated polyester chip that meets the spinnability standards of virgin materials and outperforms other recycled materials, according to testing by the European Center for Innovative Textiles (CETI), a leading research institute. Ambercycle’s molecular regeneration technology will add to a growing portfolio of circular solutions manufactured by Hyosung TNC, the company behind regen™, a global premier recycled fiber brand.
Developed at its research and development center, Hyosung was the world’s first company to develop regen nylon from discarded fishing nets in 2007 and achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first company to globally receive the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification for its recycled regen polyester. The company was also the first to introduce RCS-certified 100-percent recycled regen spandex in 2020, and USDA, SGS-certified bio-based spandex made from partly renewable resources in 2021.
“The fashion industry is searching for accessible, high-quality circular solutions. This partnership is a testament to that demand and an important step to ramp up the production of cycora and make it easier for brands to source regenerated materials for their fashion lines. We’re closely aligned with Hyosung on both our high-quality standards and our commitment to circularity, so we are thrilled to have them as a partner in our commercialization journey,” said Shay Sethi, CEO of Ambercycle.
WASHINGTON — June 12, 2024 — Several National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) member companies hosted the newly named U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator Katherine White at their North Carolina facilities Tuesday and Wednesday as industry leaders provided insights into their state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and the impact of trade policies on this vital domestic supply chain and local communities.
During White’s inaugural visit to a key hub of American textile manufacturing, U.S. textile executives spanning the fiber, yarn, fabric and finished product textile and apparel industry demonstrated he industry’s innovations and advances in U.S. manufacturing and illustrated the industry’s important contribution to the U.S. economy.
White’s visit comes at a pivotal time for the U.S. textile supply chain, which produced $64.8 billion in output in 2023 and employed more than 500,000 workers. The industry is a key contributor to our national defense and supplies over 8,000 products a year to the U.S. military as well as critical personal protective equipment (PPE) items for national health and safety.
However, the industry is facing severe economic headwinds due to a multitude of economic factors, supercharged predatory trade practices by foreign competitors and insufficient enforcement of trade laws and free trade agreements.
Textile leaders helped provide context about the state of the industry and highlighted the opportunities and challenges confronting it. In total, White visited six U.S. textile plants, including American & Efird, Parkdale Mills/U.S. Cotton, TSG Finishing, Shuford Yarns, Schneider Mills and Unifi.
White also participated in an industry roundtable at Gaston College Textile Technology Center, at which executives discussed the competitiveness of the domestic industry and outlined urgent priority issues in Washington.
The industry continued to press for: increasing Section 301 China tariffs on finished textile and apparel imports; closing the de minimis loophole; expanding the Western Hemisphere co-production chain and maintaining the yarn forward rule of origin, stepped up customs enforcement of textile and free trade agreement enforcement and penalties, and ways to support domestic supply chains through Buy American and Berry Amendment policies that help to onshore production, spur investment, maintain the safety and security of U.S. armed forces and generate new jobs.
Chief Textiles and Apparel Negotiator White said: “I want to thank NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas for hosting USTR in North Carolina for a tour of domestic textile manufacturers. I look forward to hearing from textile companies about the challenges they face in their day-to-day operations as we seek ways to enhance the resilience of critical American industries.
“President Biden and Ambassador Tai are committed to a trade policy agenda that levels the playing field for our domestic industries and workers, so they have the tools they need to compete in today’s global economy,” she added.
NCTO President and CEO Kim Glas said: “We want to sincerely thank Katie, who is taking on the role as chief textiles and apparel negotiator at a critical time for this industry. We appreciate her first visit in the new role is to see and meet with our industry first-hand. The U.S. textile industry is one of the most dynamic, innovative industries in the U.S. economy and our co-production chain with our Western Hemisphere trade partners is essential. Trade policies are critical to this manufacturing sector and workforce.
“Predatory trade practices employed by China and other countries are harming the domestic textile supply chain and our Western Hemisphere trade partners, and our industry is calling for urgent action by our government to address them head on. We are in an urgent economic situation where these serious issues the industry is facing need to be resolved immediately. We believe USTR’s development of supply chain resilience policies is a strong step in the right direction for helping secure the U.S. textile supply chain into the future. We look forward to working closely with Katie and Ambassador Katherine Tai to advance policies that bolster our domestic production,” Glas added.
Posted: June 12, 2024
Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
WASHINGTON — June 12, 2024 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environments Safety (WIPPES) Act (H.R. 2964). The WIPPES Act, which creates national standards for “Do Not Flush” labeling for non-flushable wipes, passed out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in December of 2023, and today it cleared the House floor in a bipartisan vote. The bill now awaits consideration in the Senate Science, Commerce, and Energy Committee.
This bipartisan legislation is intended to address the growing problem of sewer system clogs caused by improper disposal of consumer wipes that are not intended to be disposed of in toilets. This federal solution is the result of a years-long industry collaboration with wastewater operators which has resulted in the passage of similar legislation in seven states. The WIPPES Act will create a national standard based on existing state laws to ensure non-flushable wipes will carry prominent “Do Not Flush” labeling on packaging.
“INDA has championed this legislation for the past two years and we are encouraged to see it pass out of the House. We extend our thanks to the bill sponsors, our industry and wastewater partners, and INDA members as we take another step forward to make “Do Not Flush” labeling nationwide,” said Wes Fisher, director of Government Affairs.
The WIPPES Act lead sponsors in the House are Representative Lisa McClain (R-Maine) and Representative Mary Peltola (D-Ark.) and the bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Posted: June 12, 2024
Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry
ADLINGTON, United Kingdom — June 12, 2024 — With a team boasting more than a century-and-a-half of combined experience in military textiles and state-of-the-art technology, Pincroft is a global leader in military fabric dyeing, finishing, and printing. Key figures within the company, such as Graham Dobson, Howard Martin, Ian Rawcliffe, Louise Sheridan and Roy Mellor, highlight Pincroft’s commitment to innovation and excellence in this specialized sector.
(Top Left- Right): Howard Martin, Louise Sheridan and Ian Rawcliffe. (Bottom Left-Right): Graham Dobson and Roy Mellor.
Graham Dobson – Head of Defence and Security Fabrics
Bringing 39 years of textiles experience, Graham Dobson’s career is a testament to his expertise in high-performance fabrics for military use. Dobson’s hands-on experience and deep understanding of the industry have been instrumental in his role. He points out the challenge of working with transient military requirements managers, stressing the need for patience and tenacity. Dobson’s creative solutions, such as integrating specific landmass patterns into camouflage designs, showcase Pincroft’s ability to deliver bespoke fabric printing.
Howard Martin – Dyehouse Manager
Howard Martin’s 36-year career at Pincroft, from his early days in lab work to his current role as Dyehouse Manager, highlights his deep expertise in textile dyeing and production. His education at Bolton Institute of Technology, a BSC in Textiles and extensive on-the-job training have equipped him to handle the diverse challenges of military fabric production. Martin points out the difficulties in sourcing specialist dyes and meeting strict specifications, but his team’s ability to continuously overcome these hurdles reinforces Pincroft’s global reputation for military textile excellence. Looking forward, Martin envisions advancements in fabrics offering complete concealment, including infrared and thermal capabilities, as well as lighter, more comfortable materials.
Ian Rawcliffe – Technical Manager
Ian Rawcliffe’s 38-year tenure in the textile industry, fueled by his early interest in science and technology, has seen him rise from Laboratory Technician to Technical Manager. His extensive education, including a degree in Textile Technology from Bolton University, combined with practical experience, provides a solid foundation for his role. Rawcliffe highlights the challenge of balancing performance, protection, and comfort in military fabrics. His team’s innovative work, such as introducing a single-sided anti-vector finish using novel spray technology, reflects Pincroft’s commitment to advancing military textile technology.
Louise Sheridan – Business Development Manager
With more than 20 years in the textile industry, Louise Sheridan’s journey from an Apprentice Textile technician to Business Development manager underscores her dedication and passion for textiles. Her extensive training, including multiple NVQ levels in Yarn Technology, Manufacturing Textiles and Technical Textiles, equips her with the knowledge to address the complex needs of military fabrics. Louise highlights the challenge of balancing comfort and protection in military uniforms, emphasizing the importance of lightweight, stretch fabrics, and textile solutions that progress faster than emerging AI software technologies for soldier detection.
Roy Mellor – Assistant Technical Manager
With 29 years in the textile industry, Roy Mellor’s career path, initially rooted in electrical engineering, shifted towards textiles due to an apprenticeship opportunity. Mellor’s comprehensive training during his apprenticeship and his mentorship experiences have been crucial in his professional development. He underscores the importance of adapting to changing military requirements and leveraging supplier relationships to drive innovation. Mellor’s focus on understanding technological advancements ensures that Pincroft remains at the cutting edge of military textile solutions.
Pincroft’s team of experts, with their wealth of experience and commitment to innovation, positions the company as a leader in the military textiles sector. By continually investing in technology and skill development, Pincroft ensures it meets the evolving needs of armed forces worldwide, providing fabrics that are both highly functional and protective.
LENZING, Austria — June 12, 2024 — The Lenzing Group, a supplier of regenerated cellulose fibers for the textile and nonwovens industries, learned today that Lenzing’s main shareholder B&C Group and the Brazilian pulp producer Suzano S/A have signed a long-term partnership in connection with the majority stake in Lenzing. As part of this agreement, Suzano S/A will take over a 15 percent stake in Lenzing AG from B&C Group. Suzano is the world’s largest pulp producer based in Sao Paolo and recently achieved annual sales of more than 7 billion euros.
Lenzing’s management welcomes the proposed transaction and looks forward working with another core shareholder.
CEO Stephan Sielaff, Lenzing AG – Photo: Franz Neumayr
Stephan Sielaff, CEO, Lenzing Group, said: “Lenzing and Suzano are two companies that have come to know and appreciate each other in recent years as relevant players on the international pulp market. Based on the core competencies in the area of pulp production and operational excellence, Suzano can make a valuable contribution to the successful implementation of our strategy. For us, the constellation of the two strong core shareholders B&C Group and Suzano S/A is definitely a win.”
VIENNA, Austria — June 12, 2024 — The Supervisory Board of Borealis today announced Stefan Doboczky as the new CEO of Borealis, effective July 1, 2024.
Stefan Doboczky
Daniela Vlad, chairwoman of the supervisory board of Borealis and executive vice presidnet, Chemicals of OMV, said: “Stefan Doboczky brings a wealth of experience with an impressive leadership track record in the chemicals industry spanning over 30 years. I am delighted to welcome him to Borealis with his in-depth knowledge of our industry and his strong commitment to further elevating Borealis’ market leadership through its proven innovation and technological capabilities. OMV and ADNOC — both companies represented in the Borealis Supervisory Board — are supportive of this appointment. I look forward to working with Stefan Doboczky in his new role, as he takes the helm of a world-class company which is one of OMV Group’s pivotal driver for future growth.”
“I would like to thank the Supervisory Board of Borealis for the trust and look forward to further advancing Borealis’ development in the evolving chemicals sector,” said Doboczky. “As a global leader in the area of polymers, Borealis is uniquely positioned in this market with its focus on innovation, sustainability and outstanding circular economy solutions. I look forward to exploring new strategic advancements with my new colleagues at Borealis and delivering sustained growth while tapping into new market opportunities internationally. I am looking forward to getting to know the Borealis community of customers and suppliers, but most of all its employees.”
Doboczky’s career started in 1992, culminating in executive board and CEO positions at listed chemicals companies internationally. He held a position on the OMV Supervisory Board since 2019, from which he stepped down due to his new role at Borealis. Stefan Doboczky holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Technical University Vienna and an MBA from IMD Lausanne.
FUNDÃO, Portugal — June 12, 2024 — Recognized as Pioneer in Sustainability in Garment Industry, Twintex from Portugal embraces the challenge of developing and industrialize a recyclable blazer.
