(Photo: Nilit)NILIT positions SENSIL® for evolving workwear needs.
Textile World Special Report
Migdal Haemek, Israel-based NILIT is introducing a new collection of SENSIL® technical fabrics and garment concepts for the workwear sector, designed to address durability, comfort and wearer well-being, according to the company. SENSIL® is NILIT’s premium Nylon 6.6 brand for apparel.
According to NILIT, as job-site expectations evolve, workwear must do more than withstand wear and tear. Garments are increasingly expected to support productivity while improving physical and mental comfort. The company says it is leveraging its background in athleticwear, outerwear and fashion apparel to develop fabrics tailored for modern work environments.
“The workwear market requires well-designed, multifunctional apparel that not only handles the demands of the workplace but supports the wearer with technical features that contribute to productivity, mental and physical comfort, and overall wellness,” said Sagee Aran, NILIT’s chief commercial officer.
The new collection is marketed under NILIT’s SENSIL® brand, its premium Nylon 6.6 platform. Nylon 6.6 is widely recognized for its strength, resilience and abrasion resistance, characteristics that make it suitable for performance applications, including workwear.
Within the SENSIL® portfolio, the fabrics are said to incorporate technologies intended to address key industry needs. These include thermal regulation to help maintain body temperature, moisture management to wick perspiration and odor control to support hygiene during extended wear. Additional features such as muscle support — described by the company as providing light compression — and abrasion and tear resistance are intended to improve durability and wearer comfort.
NILIT says the SENSIL® products are manufactured with an emphasis on sustainability and are designed to support circularity, referring to efforts to reduce waste and extend material life cycles. According to the company, these attributes align with emerging global regulations focused on environmental impact and transparency.
“While NILIT has always served the workwear market, we are now leveraging our proven expertise in athleticwear and fashion apparel into new workwear concepts that truly stand out for excellent performance, aesthetics and durability,” Aran said.
The collection also reflects evolving expectations around workwear aesthetics, according to NILIT. In addition to performance, garments are increasingly expected to deliver a professional appearance, particularly in customer-facing roles. The company says its fabrics are designed to support both functional and branding requirements.
The fabrics and garment concepts were presented at Techtextil Frankfurt 2026 in NILIT’s booth and through mill partners including Pontetorto, Concordia, Getzner, Edelweiss, Alto Milanese, FOV, IBQ and Sofileta. NILIT says these partnerships are intended to support broader adoption across the textile supply chain.
Target applications include corporate uniforming, hospitality, food service, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, first responders and military, sectors with varying performance requirements ranging from durability to long-wear comfort.
Founded in 1974, NILIT is a global producer of Nylon 6.6 fibers with four vertically integrated manufacturing facilities and global offices serving customers in EMEA, Asia, Latin America and North America. Its SENSIL® brand spans multiple apparel categories, including intimate apparel, legwear, activewear, denim, outdoor wear and workwear.
Bristol, Va.-based Universal Fibers announced the appointment of Jay Brown as president, effective May 1, 2026. Brown brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across the flooring, fiber and building materials industries. He previously served as president and chief operating officer at Bentley Mills and executive vice president at Happy Floors.
Rolland
Carbon Appoints Jason Rolland Chief Technology Officer
Redwood City, Calif.-based Carbon, a product development and manufacturing technology company, announced the promotion of Jason Rolland, Ph.D., to chief technology officer. Rolland has been with Carbon for more than 12 years, built the materials team, and co-invented the company’s patented dual-cure resin platform. He holds over 60 issued U.S. patents.
Shipley
Lyle Shipley Joins Herculite As Innovation Director
Emigsville, Pa.-based Herculite Products announced that Lyle Shipley joined the company as director of innovation. Shipley brings more than 25 years of experience in the plastics industry with expertise in film formulation, product management and new product development. He most recently served as senior product manager at Continental AG.
Arens
Arne Arens Joins unspun As CEO
San Francisco-based unspun, a B Corp-certified apparel technology company, announced the appointment of Arne Arens as chief executive officer. Arens brings decades of experience leading global consumer apparel brands including The North Face, where he served as global brand president, and Boardriders, where he served as CEO. Arens will guide unspun’s next phase of growth as it scales automated, localized manufacturing infrastructure for the apparel industry.
Sakimon (left) and Frett (right)
Teruyuki Sakimon Named CEO Of Toray CMA
Tacoma, Wash.-based Toray Composite Materials America Inc., a manufacturer of advanced composite materials, announced the appointment of Teruyuki Sakimon as president and chief executive officer effective April 1, 2026. Sakimon has been with Toray CMA for more than 20 years and with Toray Industries’ advanced composites division for nearly 30 years. He succeeds Dennis Frett, who is retiring after more than 30 years with the company.
(clockwise from upper left) Tom Daugherty, Pricie Hanna, Carey Hobbs and CK Wong
INDA Honors Four With 2026 Lifetime Awards
Cary, N.C.-based INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the four recipients of the 2026 INDA Lifetime Service Award and Lifetime Technical Achievement Award.
Tom Daugherty, Pricie Hanna, Carey Hobbs, and CK Wong are being recognized for their leadership, innovation and contributions to advancing the nonwovens industry.
“These awards celebrate individuals whose careers have helped shape the growth and progress of the nonwovens industry,” said Tony Fragnito, INDA president and CEO.
Tom Daugherty’s career spans decades at Procter & Gamble and The Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University. He served on the INDA Board of Directors from 2007 to 2009 and the INDA Executive Committee from 2010 to 2016.
Pricie Hanna is managing partner of Price Hanna Consultants, specializing in nonwoven products and technologies. She was previously vice president of John R. Starr Inc. for 23 years.
Carey Hobbs joined Hobbs Bonded Fibers in 1963 and grew the company into a leader in the nonwoven industry until he sold it in 2015. He served two terms on INDA’s board of directors.
CK Wong was chairman and CEO of U.S. Pacific Nonwovens Industry Limited and served as INDA vice chairman.
Williamson
LYCRA Company Appoints Alistair Williamson Sustainability VP
Wilmington, Del.-based LYCRA Company appointed Alistair Williamson as vice president of product sustainability. Williamson brings four decades of experience in textile fibers and apparel, having held commercial, sales and marketing leadership roles across EMEA, North America and South Asia. He will guide the company’s sustainability strategy and oversee initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact across products, operations and innovation platforms. Williamson joined the predecessor of LYCRA Company in 2007.
Reichelt
Thermore Appoints Don Reichelt To North American Sales Team
Milan, Italy-based Thermore, a supplier of sustainable synthetic insulation, appointed Don Reichelt as North American sales representative. Reichelt brings experience across the outdoor and endurance sports industries and is the founder of Colorado-based Rocky Peak Marketing. He has worked with brands in the outdoor, run and active lifestyle spaces. In his new role, Reichelt will focus on expanding Thermore’s relationships with North American apparel partners.
McCracken
Trivantage Adds West Coast Furnishings Sales Representative
Burlington, N.C.-based Trivantage announced the appointment of Kate McCracken as a sales representative for the furnishings division. McCracken will strengthen customer relationships across the West Coast, focusing on outdoor furnishings and OEM segments. She brings nearly a decade of experience across textile sales, hospitality project management and the architectural industry.
Dr. Tambe
Nonwovenn Appoints Dr. Nisarg Tambe Innovation Director
Bridgwater, England-based Nonwovenn appointed Dr. Nisarg Tambe as director of innovation. Tambe brings more than a decade of experience in the nonwovens industry and most recently served as head of research and development for the Evolon product range at Freudenberg Performance Materials. Dave Hill will transition from innovations director to next gen products director, focusing on continuation and commercialization of existing product development activities.
Denes
Edd Denes Named CEO Of Accelerating Circularity
New York-based Accelerating Circularity announced the appointment of Edd Denes as chief executive officer. Denes previously served as board treasurer of Accelerating Circularity since 2021. He brings more than two decades of leadership experience spanning financial services, technology transformation and international operations. Accelerating Circularity works with brands, manufacturers, collectors, sorters, recyclers, and innovators to build systems for textile-to-textile recycling at scale.
Altmann-Morelli
Texcare Names Altmann-Morelli Director
Frankfurt Am Main, Germany-based Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH named Vivien Altmann-Morelli director of Texcare International, effective May 1, overseeing the global laundry, dry-cleaning and textile services trade fair and brand portfolio. She will also lead Food Technologies and report to Kerstin Horaczek. Altmann-Morelli succeeds Johannes Schmid-Wiedersheim.
Spence
Standard Fiber Names Spence Merchandising Chief
Henderson, Nev.-based Standard Fiber named Randy Spence chief merchandising officer, a new role overseeing merchandising, product development, marketing and sourcing. He will unify product and brand strategy and report to Brett Scharf. Spence brings 40 years of experience across consumer goods, including roles at Pillowtex and Springs Global, and founded pet bed manufacturer NVM Pet, sold in 2020.
John
Carters Names Sharon Price John CEO
ATLANTA-based Carter’s Inc. named Sharon Price John CEO and president, effective June 15, 2026, and a board member. CFO/COO Richard F. Westenberger will serve as interim CEO. John joins from Build-A-Bear, where she drove profitability, omnichannel growth and market expansion. Douglas C. Palladini departed; the company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 outlook.
AGY S-2 Glass non-crimp fabric using SAERTEX USA production process.Aiken, S.C.-based AGY, a global supplier of specialty glass fiber reinforcements, and Saerbeck, Germany-based SAERTEX, manufacturer of multiaxial non-crimp fabrics, announced a joint development focused on using AGY’s high-strength S-2 Glass fiber in SAERTEX engineered non-crimp fabric architectures.
The collaboration combines AGY’s S-2 Glass reinforcement with SAERTEX’s tailored multiaxial NCF technology to deliver lightweight, high-strength composite solutions for aerospace, defense, industrial and advanced mobility applications.
SAERTEX non-crimp fabrics are designed with precisely aligned fiber orientations and optimized surface weights to maximize load performance while reducing component weight and layer count.
“Combining S-2 Glass with SAERTEX’s advanced multiaxial fabric design enables lightweight solutions that can compete in applications traditionally reserved for higher-cost materials,” said Patrick Hunter, chief commercial officer and president of AGY.
“The integration of AGY’s S-2 Glass fiber allows us to offer customers enhanced mechanical performance while maintaining the processing advantages of non-crimp fabrics,” said Christian Beckmann, CEO of SAERTEX.
The companies are qualifying multiple multiaxial constructions for structural composite applications.
Putnam, Conn.-based Dimension-Polyant introduced X-Pac hyperTEC, a family of advanced performance fabrics engineered for mountaineering, climbing, skiing and bikepacking applications.
“What sets X-Pac hyperTEC fabrics apart is their high-modulus fiber architecture,” said Taylor North, Dimension-Polyant global head of technical fabrics. “Using advanced fibers allows us to produce laminates that are ultra-light and have a tremendous strength-to-weight ratio, while maintaining the durability and reliability that X-Pac is known for.”
X-Pac hyperTEC fabrics are built with high-modulus fibers, advanced reinforcement and technical constructions engineered for resilience and optimized load paths. The company’s lamination technology delivers stable fabrics at lightweight specifications with inherent waterproof performance.
X-Pac hyperTEC UX fabrics are made with a 100% Ultra-PE (UHMWPE) face fabric and Ultra-PE X-PLY reinforcement. The series includes UX10 (82 grams per square meter), UX10 ST (122 grams per square meter), and UX20 ST (154 grams per square meter), each engineered for different performance and durability requirements.
AeroVent® technology allows sweat vapor to escape without letting heat inside.Medina, Ohio-based Fire-Dex announced that UL Solutions verified particulate ingress results for its AeroFlex turnout system under UL Verification 1641. The verification confirms performance to NFPA Particle Inward Leakage testing requirements when the ensemble is worn in a specific configuration.
“Particulate barriers in pant/coat interfaces add protection from contaminants, but the trade-off is that they can limit breathability,” said Todd Herring, vice president of product innovation and strategy at Fire-Dex. “AeroFlex is designed differently, with vents that help hot air escape from inside turnouts but that also keep particulates out.”
The evaluated configuration included the AeroFlex coat with a properly engaged self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), along with AeroFlex pants equipped with the optional particulate-blocking barrier. According to UL Solutions, testing reported less than 1 microgram exposure on the wearer across the ensemble.
The AeroFlex turnout system places VaporLite breathable composite panels where heat and sweat concentrate and integrates AeroVent Technology to move warm humid air outward under pressure with an integrated particulate-blocking element.
According to the company, unspun technology enables in-season production, reduces excess inventory and can improve margins by 400–500 basis points.San Francisco-based unspun, backed by more than $50 million in venture funding, has secured letters of support from Walmart and REI to build U.S.-based automated apparel manufacturing hubs using AI-enabled 3D weaving technology.
Supply chain partners Bethel Industries, Peckham and PDS Ltd/ GSC Link will support development with initial production expected in the near term. The proprietary system produces semi-finished garments directly from yarn in minutes, replacing multiple cut-and-sew steps with a single automated process.
“We are not exploring whether domestic apparel manufacturing can work. We are building it,” said CEO Arne Arens.
According to the company, the technology enables in-season production, reduces excess inventory and can improve margins by 400–500 basis points.
“Our customers are proud to buy apparel made in America,” said Avisnash Bhasker, Walmart vice president of apparel production development.
unspun is evaluating U.S. sites and workforce training programs for deployment.
Cotton Incorporated released research showing consumer awareness of microplastics has climbed to 41%, up from 17% in 2017.Cary, N.C.-based Cotton Incorporated released research showing consumer awareness of microplastics has climbed to 41%, up from 17% in 2017, with growing concern about synthetic fibers in clothing.
According to the company’s 2026 Global Sustainability Survey of 1,022 U.S. consumers, 59% say they are likely to seek clothing made with microplastic-free fibers. Among those concerned about microplastics, 41% consider wearing clothing containing microplastics a major concern.
“Consumers overwhelmingly view cotton as environmentally safe compared with synthetic fibers, signaling that fiber perception is playing a larger role in how apparel sustainability is evaluated,” said Melissa Bastos, director of corporate strategy and insights at Cotton Incorporated.
Overall, environmental concern stands at 73%, while motivation-to-act sustainably rose to 76% in 2026 from 73% in 2023.
Consumers report taking action including limiting plastic purchases (37%), recycling (27%) and seeking natural materials (12%). However, 37% feel overwhelmed by unclear information and 36% are unsure what to do, creating opportunities for brands and mills to provide clearer guidance on natural-fiber options and anti-shedding innovations.
Ahmedabad, India-based Arvind Advanced Materials Limited (AAML), a wholly owned subsidiary of Arvind Limited, acquired a nearly 61% stake in Dalco-GFT, a U.S. manufacturer of specialized needle-punched nonwoven fabrics.
Dalco-GFT, established in 1988, operates two facilities in North and South Carolina with combined annual capacity of approximately 75 million pounds. The company serves automotive, industrial, construction and furniture sectors and reported revenue of approximately $100 million in calendar 2025.
“The acquisition of Dalco-GFT marks a transformational milestone in AAML’s growth journey,” said Punit Lalbhai, vice chairman of Arvind Limited. “Through this transaction, we are entering the world’s largest technical textile market — the United States.”
“Our customers can expect the same great service, relationships and product quality they’ve always known,” said Joey Duncan, CEO of Dalco-GFT.
AAML valued the transaction at 7.75 times EV/EBITDA. InCred Capital served as exclusive financial advisor.
Trenton, S.C.-based USFibers, a recycler and manufacturer of polyester staple fiber, announced a strategic investment from Glisco Partners and Orion Infrastructure Capital (OIC) to expand production capacity, enhance technical capabilities and reach new markets.
Founded in 1994, USFibers operates a vertically integrated recycling and production platform that converts post-industrial and post-consumer PET waste into fiber for automotive, filtration and geotextile markets.
“This investment strengthens our capacity, broadens our capabilities and allows us to continue delivering high-quality, customized solutions to our customers,” said Teddy Oh, CEO of USFibers.
“We look forward to this partnership, supporting USFibers’ expansion in a market with a growing demand for recycled polyester,” said Ethan Shoemaker, investment partner at OIC.
USFibers will continue operating under existing management. TM Capital served as exclusive financial advisor.
Alpharetta, Ga.-based Arclin has completed its approximately $1.8 billion acquisition of DuPont’s Aramids business, adding the Kevlar® and Nomex® brands and expanding its position in high-performance, life-critical materials.
“Kevlar® and Nomex® are the gold standard … and we are very excited to incorporate the Aramids platform,” said President Mark Glaspey. He said the deal adds manufacturing operations in Europe and Asia and about 1,800 employees, with a focus on operational continuity and investment in innovation.
The combined portfolio now spans aerospace, electrical infrastructure, electric vehicles, personal protection and defense, strengthening Arclin’s reach in advanced protective applications.
“We’re excited to join the Arclin family,” said Aramids Business Unit President Matt Reinhardt, citing expertise in aramid fiber, high-strength, heat-resistant materials.
CEO Bradley Bolduc said, “We’re focused on accelerating what these materials can do across performance-critical uses.”
