HENDERSON, Nev. — January 16, 2026 — Global home textiles supplier Standard Fiber has promoted two long-tenured leaders to president roles, reflecting the company’s evolution and continued commitment to customer partnership.
Pankaj Rawat
Stepping into the role of president of wholesale, Pankaj Rawat, a 13-year veteran of Standard Fiber, brings deep industry expertise and a proven track record of execution and customer-focused leadership.
Johnson Kao, who has been with Standard Fiber for 14 years and previously co-led the company’s Shanghai sourcing operations, now serves as president of the company’s U.S.-based manufacturing business. Kao will be based in Las Vegas where the company has its headquarters and flagship pillow and pet bed filling operations.
Johnson Kao
“These promotions will sharpen leadership focus across the organization,” said Kao. “Pankaj and I have worked side by side for more than a decade, and this structure allows us to move faster while building a stronger foundation for the future of the business.”
Rawat emphasized execution and continuity, adding, “This company has always succeeded by investing in its people and delivering for customers. Johnson and I share a deep understanding of our customers, and this will allow us to operate with greater focus.”
Standard Fiber will be at Las Vegas Market in showroom B1301, January 24-28.
Since 1998, Standard Fiber has been delivering the innovative and exciting comfort products at unmatched value. A US-based company supported by a global manufacturing footprint, Standard Fiber services over 160 customers worldwide. Standard Fiber’s team of experts across its offices in the US, China, India, and Europe are dedicated to developing and manufacturing an inspiring range of home textiles products. The company proudly owns and operates two US manufacturing facilities that enhance the ability to meet the needs of its growing customer base.
AACHEN, Germany — January 15, 2026 — Conventional sports textiles made from petroleum-based synthetic fibres are to be replaced in the future by sustainable, bio-based, cooling textiles. Polyethylene, previously used mainly in the packaging industry, is thus qualified for use in textiles and, as a bio-based drop-in solution, offers a cost-effective, sustainable alternative for the future.
(a) bioPE granule, source: FALKE; (b) bioPE-POY and bioPE-DTY, source: FALKE; (c) REM image of bioPE-POY, source: ITA; (d) REM image of bioPE-DTY, source: ITA; (e) T-shirt made primarily from bioPE yarns (front), source: FALKE; (f) Back of the T-shirt, source: FALKE; (g) Close-up of the T-shirt, source: FALKE
TECNARO (Ilsfeld/Germany), BB Engineering (Remscheid/Germany), FALKE (Schmallenberg/Germany) and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University have developed textiles from bio-based polyethylene (bioPE) in the bioPEtex project of the BIOTEXFUTURE Innovation Space.
TECNARO develops the bio-based PE compounds and handles their dyeing. ITA is concentrating on the process development for melt spinning (partially-oriented yarn, POY) and false-twist texturing (draw-textured yarn, DTY) of the bioPE yarns. BB Engineering implements the false-twist texturing on an industrial scale, and FALKE is developing the final T-shirt, which will be treated with a bio-based finish for improved elasticity.
The successful creation of a first T-shirt from the yarns developed in this project underscores their promising characteristics. This represents a key milestone and forms the basis for investigating potential market readiness in subsequent phases. Above all, the white BioPE T-shirt impresses with its pleasantly cool and soft touch. However, additional development, characterisation, and optimisation steps are necessary to make a market introduction possible.
Posted: January 16, 2026
Source: The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University
LOS ANGELES, CA — January 12, 2026 — As the Las Vegas Winter Market 2026 approaches, Hologenix, a leader in infrared textile innovation and the company behind CELLIANT®, will be an exhibitor, introducing infrared wellness technology to a more mainstream audience.
According to the CDC, more than a third of adults report that they are experiencing insufficient sleep. A good night’s rest impacts your mood, energy throughout the day, cognitive abilities and so much more, meaning that sleep hygiene is crucial to daily lives – products with a focus on restorative sleep are poised for success as we move into a new year and consumers set new health goals.
The Hologenix team will be on site January 25-29 to meet with bedding, home, and sleep retailers seeking differentiated health and wellness offerings. CELLIANT’s proprietary infrared technology is available as an ingredient for potential partners interested in a licensing opportunity to incorporate the textile technology into their product line, and the company also now offers finished soft goods wholesale options for rapid speed to market.
The Celestial Sleep Sheets, powered by CELLIANT, are Hologenix’s latest product offering, which improves local circulation and increases cellular oxygenation, providing consumers with restorative sleep.
The sheets are crafted in a luxurious sateen weave made from a premium blend of long-staple cotton and CELLIANT-infused fibers, creating a soft, breathable performance fabric. Las Vegas Market attendees will be some of the first to experience the sheets following the official launch in early January.
Seth Casden
“The tremendous health value that our infrared-infused textiles bring to the sleep market is undeniable,” said Seth Casden, CEO and co-founder of Hologenix. “CELLIANT’s goal has always been to support consumers’ wellness, and by expanding our offerings to both B2B ingredients and finished products, retailers can now offer consumers a new level of functional sleep wellness and an effortless way to incorporate better health into their lives.”
In addition to added wellness benefits and a competitive advantage for partner brands, CELLIANT sleep products are also now eligible as HSA/FSA approved products. This new payment option increases accessibility for consumers and is a strong consideration for future partners and retailers.
To learn more about CELLIANT at the Las Vegas Market show, please visit Booth C-1565 #27 in the Speciality Sleep Association or visit www.celliant.com. For on-site meetings at the Market, contact Martina Corona at martina@notablypr.com.
CLOVER, S.C. — January 16, 2026 — Clover Knits, Inc. (CK), a trusted, family-owned supplier of 100% Made in the USA quality knit fabrics for more than four decades, announces the appointment of textile industry veteran Stacey Bridges to the newly created position of Vice President of Sales and Operations.
Stacey Bridges
With more than 30 years of textile experience, Mr. Bridges brings deep industry expertise to his new role at CK. He most recently served as VP of Sales at Hanes Dye & Finishing and held a variety of production and sales management roles during his 30 years with the former Carolina Cotton Works (CCW). Bridges holds a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science from Clemson University.
“Stacey’s vast experience makes him the perfect fit to drive sales growth and optimize our operations to best meet customer needs,” said CK President Kevin McCarter. “Widely recognized for his industry knowledge and customer focus, we look forward to Stacey playing a strategic role as we expand on the innovation that distinguishes CK in the market.”
“I am excited to be joining the Clover Knits team,” said Bridges. “I look forward to helping new and existing customers achieve their product and production goals by leveraging the innovation that CK is widely recognized for across the industry.”
MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany — January 15, 2026 — Effective from January 1, 2026, Volker Gingter, has been appointed the new Managing Director of A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and will steer the fortunes of the leading dyeing and finishing technology company going forward.
Volker Gingter
Gunnar Meyer stepped down as Managing Director on December 31, 2025, and will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until his well-earned retirement in July 2026.
“All at Monforts would like to thank Gunnar Meyer for his dedication and his great engagement in endeavouring to keep Monforts competitive and defend its position as a world market leader,” said Marketing Manager Nicole Croonenbroek. “We wish him all the best for the next exciting chapter of his life.”
Mr Gingter started his career as an electrician in 1997 at Sucker-Müller-Hacoba, also headquartered in Mönchengladbach, and first joined Monforts in 2000 as an inhouse commissioning engineer. Between 2010 and 2013 he worked at Esprit on a new European warehouse before rejoining Monforts as Engineering Service Manager. He became Head of the Service Department in 2020 and in 2025 also took charge of the Spare Parts Department.
He is now looking forward to meeting the worldwide Monforts network of customers and suppliers personally at the forthcoming Techtextil 2026 exhibition in Frankfurt.
“Today’s volatile worldwide market situation will be a challenge, but I am ready to navigate Monforts through this demanding time,” he said. “The Techtextil exhibition serves as an excellent platform for networking and meeting with key players and provides a great opportunity to meet many customers and potential new ones. Keeping good relationships with customers is essential and it is our aim to fulfil their expectations when investing in our products.”
A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1884 and today is a leading supplier of textile dyeing and finishing machines as well as coating devices. The company is a market leader in stenters, continuous dyeing ranges, sanforising ranges and special executions for denim and for the finishing of technical textiles.
At its Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Mönchengladbach, customers can undertake fabric trials on the latest Monforts equipment under real production conditions. For over 40 years, the company’s production site has been in St. Stefan, Austria. Monforts is a member of CHTC Fong’s Group.
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany — January 15, 2026 — Innovations are the textile industry’s response to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and continued restraint in investment. Today, this became clear at the press conference of the leading international trade fairs Techtextil and Texprocess.
PHoto — Messe Frankfurt / Pietro Sutera
In a panel discussion, industry representatives explored how innovation is accelerating the transformation of the textile sector – from artificial intelligence to sustainable materials and new production models. This innovative strength is concentrated in the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards, which showcase pioneering solutions driving the textile transformation.
“Especially in times of restrained investment, it becomes clear just how crucial innovative strength is,” emphasized Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt.
“Techtextil and Texprocess are the places where ideas are not only presented but further developed into market-ready solutions. The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards make this innovative strength tangible – giving new technologies visibility, credibility and often the decisive impetus needed to turn research into concrete industrial applications and partnerships.”
The discussion also focused on how companies can remain competitive in the view of global challenges. Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, made it clear: “Today, innovation serves both as a lever for efficiency and a driver of growth. Digitalisation, automation and AI enable companies to conserve resources, produce flexibly and reposition themselves more effectively and competitively.”
The extent to which digital processes are already transforming development and production was illustrated by insights from industry practice. Walter Wählt, Chairman of the Texprocess Innovation Award and Senior Director Advanced Creation at adidas, explained: “3D design, virtual prototyping and AI drastically shorten development cycles and reduce material use. Yet despite all the technological momentum, people remain decisive – creativity, experience and judgment cannot be automated.”
António Braz Costa, Chairman of the Techtextil Innovation Award and General Manager at CITEVE, underlined the central role of research and advanced materials in making sustainability viable:
“Sustainability, particularly when applied to high-performance materials and products, only becomes economically viable through a virtuous tandem of research and innovation. Recycling technologies, circular solutions or entirely new materials are meaningless if they remain confined to the lab. What matters is their translation into real industrial processes. Trade fairs such as Techtextil and Texprocess – and the Innovation Awards themselves – are critical in bridging research and the market.”
The Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards bring these developments together into a clear vision of the industry’s future. They demonstrate how technical textiles, nonwovens and textile processing are evolving through AI, new materials and sustainable production methods – and why innovation is becoming a decisive competitive factor. The award-winning solutions exemplify the ambition of the two leading trade fairs: to bring research, technology and application together in a way that turns ideas into market-ready answers to global challenges.
Techtextil and Texprocess will take place from April 21-24, 2026.
The winners of the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards will be announced starting on April 14, 2026.
MINNEAPOLIS — January 15, 2026 — Storm Creek has announced a meaningful sustainability milestone: the company has achieved bluesign® PRODUCT status: becoming the first US-based supplier in the promotional products industry to earn this globally respected certification.
While this marks an industry first, for Storm Creek, it represents something far more important: a continuation of doing what they believe is right. bluesign® PRODUCT is one of the most rigorous and transparent systems in the apparel industry, verifying responsible chemical management, reduced environmental impact, and safer working conditions across the supply chain – standards Storm Creek chose to pursue to lead by example, not headlines.
Today, 75 Storm Creek pullover and quarter-zip styles are officially certified as bluesign® PRODUCT, reflecting a significant investment in verified materials, trusted supplier partnerships, and responsible production practices.
This achievement represents more than a single product win – it demonstrates a scalable, measurable commitment embedded throughout Storm Creek’s assortment, reinforcing the company’s belief that meaningful sustainability requires accountability, transparency, and long-term follow-through.
What does bluesign® PRODUCT mean?
To qualify, a garment must contain at least 90% bluesign® approved fabrics and 40% bluesign® approved components and be produced in facilities that meet strict environmental and social responsibility criteria. Every step, from raw materials to finished product, is evaluated to ensure safer chemistry, responsible resource use, and reduced impact on both people and the planet.
“I was impressed that the Storm Creek team had bluesign and bluesign® PRODUCT as a goal even before joining as a System Partner,” said Jenn Sugiyama, Brand Services Manager at bluesign. “It was one of the ways they were already ‘seeking better’ – looking to increase sustainability across their systems, suppliers, and products. Achieving bluesign® PRODUCT is not an easy task, as it requires brands and suppliers to meet strict criteria to create products with minimal impact on workers and the environment, responsible use of resources, and the highest level of consumer safety.”
“This achievement isn’t about being first, it’s about being accountable,” said Laura Smith, Sustainability & Compliance Manager at Storm Creek. “Having 75 products officially recognized as bluesign® PRODUCT shows that this work is built into our design and sourcing process, not treated as a one-off. It validates the care we put into selecting materials, partners, and processes that protect people, conserve resources, and raise the bar for our industry.”
Storm Creek’s sustainability journey has never been about shortcuts or surface-level claims. As a Certified B Corporation with an EcoVadis Gold rating, the company has long believed that sustainability must be measurable, credible, and embedded into everyday decisions, not treated as a marketing moment.
We didn’t pursue bluesign® PRODUCT to check a box or claim a title,” said Teresa Fudenberg, CEO of Storm Creek. “We did it because it aligns with our values and our responsibility as a supplier our partners trust. If we expect our industry to move forward, we have to be willing to put in the hard work. This is simply us staying true to who we are.
MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois — January 15, 2026 — The global shift away from PFAS is accelerating. PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a large class of synthetic fluorinated chemicals numbering in the thousands.
Used for decades in coatings, textiles, packaging, and other materials, they provide water and oil repellency, chemical resistance, and durability. Their persistence in the environment and increasing regulatory scrutiny are driving a rapid move toward PFAS-free formulations.
In the United States, the FDA has overseen a voluntary phase-out of PFAS-containing grease-proofing agents in paper food packaging. In Europe, regulators are advancing targeted PFAS restrictions in applications such as firefighting foams and consumer textiles.
Behind these policy actions lies a technical challenge: PFAS-enabled properties are not single functions but combinations of repellency, stability, and barrier performance. As companies reformulate, the question is not only whether PFAS-free materials can match performance, but how they behave after environmental stress.
To address those durability questions, manufacturers are turning to accelerated weathering for insight into long-term performance, and can rely on Atlas to provide the exposure conditions required. The global leader in weathering durability testing, Atlas enables comparisons of PFAS-based and PFAS-free formulations under controlled cycles of full-spectrum light, temperature, humidity, and water. Atlas platforms – including its Weather-Ometers®, Xenotest®, and SUNTEST® instruments – compress stress into weeks of laboratory exposure designed to represent end-use environments, giving R&D teams earlier visibility into long-term performance.
Durability at the Center of PFAS-Free Reformulation
Across sectors, PFAS alternatives are emerging. Yet for applications exposed to the elements, many studies focus on short-term performance, leaving questions about how PFAS-free chemistries respond to prolonged UV, heat, and moisture.
Atlas durability data helps clarify how performance may shift over time, supporting material selection decisions that account for environmental exposure. Many industrial, electronic, and medical applications face tighter performance margins and fewer proven replacements, while research shows that PFAS-based treatments can change under extended UV and moisture exposure. Field and outdoor exposure – including testing at Atlas laboratory sites – can further validate how repellency, appearance, and surface character evolve under natural sun, rain, and heat.
Standards-Based Weathering for Faster Answers
Accelerated weathering provides a pathway to more comparable data. Atlas instruments emulate environmental stressors while supporting internationally recognized methods such as ISO 4892-2 xenon-arc exposure for plastics, ISO 16474-2 for coatings, and ISO 105-B10 for textiles, and related ASTM procedures. These standards help ensure that test conditions are consistent and relevant, critical for decision-making in textiles, Atlas xenon-arc weathering instruments are used to evaluate whether durable water repellents retain performance after UV and humidity cycles. In coatings, weathered panels reveal how appearance and barrier properties change over time. Post-exposure evaluation and chemical analysis then follow, informed by weathering data from Atlas platforms.
“Companies are moving quickly to replace PFAS chemistry, and they need durability data they can trust,” said Dr. Oliver Rahäuser, senior product manager at Atlas Material Testing Technology. “Weathering gives teams a way to compare new and established formulations under realistic stress conditions.”
To learn more about Atlas weathering solutions for PFAS-free formulations, visit https://www.atlas-mts.com/
MARIETTA, GA — January 15, 2026 — Atomic-6, a manufacturer of advanced mobility composites, today announced that Portal Space Systems has selected Space Armor® tiles as the primary Micrometeoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) protection system for its upcoming spacecraft. The tiles will be installed prior to integration on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 Rideshare mission, scheduled to launch in October 2026 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
The mission marks the first operational orbital deployment of Space Armor® tiles, validating the technology for broader commercial and national security applications.
Key Facts
Customer: Portal Space Systems
Product: Atomic-6 Space Armor® tiles
Application: Primary MMOD protection for critical spacecraft systems
Mission: SpaceX Transporter-18 Rideshare
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9
Launch Window: October 2026
Deployment Purpose: On-orbit performance evaluation, installation validation, and integration best practices
Portal has purchased newly announced Space Armor® tiles to protect mission-critical systems from potentially mission-ending debris strikes. During the flight, Portal will evaluate installation procedures, assess on-orbit performance, and establish best practices for integrating Space Armor® technology across future spacecraft designs.
“Portal is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in orbit, and they need protection that keeps up with their ambitions,” said Atomic-6 CEO, Trevor Smith. “These flights move Space Armor® tiles from operational testing to real commercial use, and they demonstrate how quickly the industry can adopt better ways to survive in the harshest, most debris-filled operating environment while simultaneously helping to reduce the risk of Kessler syndrome.”
Trevor Smith
The demonstration mission represents the first orbital validation of Space Armor® tiles’ resilience under real operational conditions.
“Our customers rely on Portal spacecraft to remain maneuverable over extended mission timelines,” said Jeff Thornburg, CEO of Portal Space Systems. “That means protecting critical systems in a way that supports, rather than limits, on-orbit performance. By incorporating Atomic-6’s Space Armor® tiles into our spacecraft, we’re expanding our ability to offer customers sustained maneuverability and longer operational time on orbit. We’re pleased to have Atomic-6 as part of the Starburst-1 mission.”
Why MMOD Protection Matters
Spacecraft routinely encounter millions of untrackable debris particles traveling faster than 7 kilometers per second (16,000 mph)—a speed that would carry an aircraft from Los Angeles to New York City in just nine minutes. Even millimeter-scale debris can puncture fuel tanks, destroy batteries, or disable spacecraft electronics.
Traditional MMOD mitigation systems, such as metallic Whipple shields, add mass, block RF signals, and often create additional debris upon impact.
Space Armor® Tiles
Space Armor® tiles are:
Fragmentation resistant, stopping debris without creating harmful secondary ejecta
Lighter and thinner than traditional Whipple shields
Easy to install, supporting scalable spacecraft architectures
In this side-by-side demonstration against aluminum, Space Armor® tiles successfully stopped a projectile traveling faster than 7 km/s while producing virtually no secondary debris. Comparable aluminum shielding generated fragments larger than the original projectile, increasing risk to both the spacecraft and surrounding orbital assets.
Scalable Protection Options
Space Armor® tiles come in two configurations, each offered in RF-permeable or RF-blocking variants:
Space Armor® Lite:
Withstands impacts up to 3 mm, covering all untrackable debris and more than 90% of LEO debris.
Space Armor® Max:
Withstands impacts up to 12.5 mm and is rated for human space station protection.
Both configurations minimize shielding mass, stowage volume, post-impact ejecta, and overall mission risk.
Space Armor® Lite Tile Availability
Space Armor® lite tiles are available now, and Atomic-6 is currently accepting requests for quotes.
With the upcoming Portal mission, Atomic-6 continues to expand its portfolio of advanced technologies, including the Light WingTM solar array to deliver next-generation power and protection solutions for military, government, and commercial operators.
Atomic-6
Atomic-6 designs, engineers, and manufactures advanced composite materials for aerospace, hypersonics, and defense applications. The company’s proprietary manufacturing process optimizes fiber-to-resin ratios, reduces porosity, and accelerates production cycle times. Learn more at atomic-6.com.
Portal Space Systems
Portal Space Systems is a next-generation spacecraft company building highly maneuverable, reconfigurable spacecraft for defense, civil, and commercial missions. Its Starburst and Supernova vehicles operate across and between orbital regimes, delivering responsive on-orbit mobility. Portal emerged from stealth in 2024, earned STRATFI support, raised one of the largest publicly announced seed rounds in the sector, and was named a Via Satellite “Top 10 Startup to Watch.”
CLEVELAND, OH — January 12, 2026 — MMI Textiles, a leading U.S.-based textile manufacturer known for innovation, quality, and service, today announced two important leadership updates that further position the company for continued growth and operational excellence.
Kathleen Wagner has joined MMI Textiles as Director of Sales, bringing more than 15 years of proven sales and customer leadership experience.
Kathleen Wagner
Based in MMI’s Brooklyn, Ohio headquarters, Wagner will lead the company’s sales organization with a focus on sales team development, customer growth, new market expansion, and strategic alignment across the business.
Wagner joins MMI Textiles from Hyland Software, where she held multiple senior leadership roles spanning sales management and customer success. Throughout her career, she has built and led high-performing teams, driven meaningful revenue growth, and fostered strong customer partnerships. MMI intentionally sought a leader outside the textile industry to bring fresh perspective, strong sales leadership discipline, and scalable management experience to support the company’s next phase of growth.
MMI Textiles also announced that Scott Roubic has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer, effective January 5, 2026. Roubic succeeds longtime CFO Kathy Stevens, who is retiring from her full-time role after years of dedicated service. Stevens will remain with MMI Textiles in a part-time capacity to support a smooth transition and provide continuity.
Scott Roubic
Roubic brings more than 30 years of senior financial leadership experience across public, private, and private-equity-backed organizations. His background includes financial strategy, treasury, M&A, enterprise risk management, and operational finance within multi-site and complex operating environments. Prior to joining MMI Textiles, Roubic held executive finance leadership roles at TravelCenters of America, JOANN Stores, and Wholesome International.
As CFO, Roubic will oversee all financial functions, including strategic planning, financial reporting, treasury, and operational finance, supporting MMI Textiles’ continued investment in innovation, domestic manufacturing, and long-term growth initiatives.
“We are thrilled to welcome both Kathleen and Scott to the MMI leadership team,” said Amy Bircher Bruyn, CEO and Owner of MMI Textiles. “Kathleen brings the sales leadership, structure, and people development experience that will help elevate our commercial organization, while Scott’s financial expertise and strategic mindset will be instrumental as we continue to grow and invest in the future of U.S. textiles. We are also deeply grateful to Kathy Stevens for her many contributions and are pleased she will continue supporting the business during this transition.”
These leadership appointments reflect MMI Textiles’ continued commitment to building a strong, experienced executive team capable of supporting customers, partners, and employees while advancing innovation and growth across its diverse markets.
HENDERSON, Nev. — January 16, 2026 — Global home textiles supplier Standard Fiber has promoted two long-tenured leaders to president roles, reflecting the company’s evolution and continued commitment to customer partnership.
