Los Angeles-based BELLA+CANVAS and Cleveland-based Stakes Manufacturing have formed a strategic partnership to offer domestic and near-shore supply chain solutions for global brands and major retailers. The collaboration comes as shifting trade policies and tariffs push companies to reconsider offshore production. BELLA+CANVAS offers premium apparel manufacturing, while Stakes delivers on-demand printing and fulfillment. The partnership will prioritize speed, quality, sustainability, cost efficiency and U.S. job creation.
“Our goal is to support the evolving global landscape and help our partners navigate the challenges stemming from tariffs, while also unlocking new opportunities to optimize for a more balanced and resilient supply chain”said Stakes Manufacturing Co-Founder Jed Seifert.
“Our partnership with Stakes enables retail-quality digital printing at scale, empowering brands to stay competitive and nimble in today’s volatile global market” added Megan Spire, vice president of BELLA+CANVAS.
GenuTrace LLC, Brightwaters, N.Y., has officially launched to provide science-based traceability solutions that verify product origin, protect brands, and ensure supply chain transparency.
Founded by MeiLin Wan, formerly an executive with Applied DNA Sciences, GenuTrace combines stable isotope analysis, chemical tracers, and material fingerprinting using blockchain, with digital product passports and AI-powered mapping to help companies meet global regulations. The company’s core services include origin verification, full supply chain traceability, and strategic communication support.
“At GenuTrace, we ask one powerful question: If you claim it, can you prove it? Paper trails aren’t enough,” Wan said. “We help brands back their claims with science — and build real transparency from farm to finished product.”
Turbulent times call for increased communication and open dialogue among colleagues and competitors and, luckily enough, Techtextil North America (TTNA) 2025 in Atlanta offered just that.
Sharing the show floor with exhibitors and visitors from a broad array of industry sectors, from various parts of the country — and world— presented a chance to get up-close with the industry and hear what was affecting them, their businesses and their view of the future.
By and large, taking place during sweeping changes in U.S. tariffs, a ferociously fast news cycle, and economic implications that welcomed broad speculation, TTNA was perfectly timed.
Two themes seemed to emerge — one for machinery and technology companies, and one for textile manufacturers.
Nothing was concrete, but machinery companies seemed frustrated that the current business climate had stalled capital equipment investments. Not all, but many had projects technically approved and ready to go, but manufacturers have been hesitant to pull the trigger. Some suppliers said they had been sidelined for more than a year awaiting the final go ahead.
Even so, there was an optimism regarding interest in new technology and upgrading, with some companies quietly sharing good news.
Many of the manufacturers commented that business was very strong. One even said that a lack of packing materials prevented a shipment of goods the company had rushed to produce.
But even with that good news, there was serious confusion about what the future holds. Was this just a front-end loading of orders to get ahead of the chaos that may ensue? Was this the proverbial devil-you-know reaction to locking in orders and inventory to smooth out future supply chain bumps?
This was simply not a typical show, or the typical TTNA atmosphere. It was interesting to see the way international trade questions were affecting people differently. The USMCA-focused supply chain participants were uneasy, but optimistic that business would continue as trade issues settle down. Many of the European machinery producers were really scratching their heads — wondering about serious cost increases to supply U.S. manufacturers if tariffs take hold and are here to stay.
For an industry full of participants who usually — rightly or wrongly — have a strong awareness of how their businesses are performing and a confident view of their the future — all bets were off.
Beyond tariffs, the possibility of a tax bill that would allow for immediate expensing of research and development, full depreciation of capital equipment expenses, and other business friendly components was a positive, but lingering consideration in the mix.
Beyond that, there were exhibitors who were in gear, moving forward, with seemingly no time to be sidetracked by navel gazing.
It was kind of refreshing, but there were people at the show who really felt like this was just another chapter. They have been kicked around, hung out to dry, and counted among the dead before and it really didn’t matter — they are survivors. But trying to figure out the issues while they are in motion is like trying to putt a golf ball in a tornado. “Just tell me the rules when you figure them out, and I’ll chart a course to navigate those waters,” someone said.
So, without any half-baked predictions or tired if-then scenarios, the survivors have a point. Set the rules, and U.S. Textiles will chart a course — but there’s still not much time for putting.
Designer Neyla Coronel utilized biobased Balena.Filaflex to create a 3D printed, custom bra that adapts to the body.
By Rachael S. Davis, Executive Editor
Thinking outside the box and beyond the sewing machine, designer Neyla Coronel set to create a custom-made bra that would be produced in a whole new way during her postgraduate studies at Fabricademy. The Textile and Technology academy offers six-month intensive programs at a variety of labs worldwide that explore the intersection of digital production, textiles and biology with a mission “to (re)shape and (re)define the implications and applications of technology in the textile and clothing industry, from the fashion sector to the upcoming wearable market.”
And reshape Coronel did. Her concept was to make a garment that adapted to the woman instead of a woman having to make do with the limited offerings in the marketplace. She combined parametric modeling, 3D scanning and auxetic geometries with 3D printing techniques to create a fully compostable, biobased bra. The bra’s design is adapted to body dimensions, movement and change over time; and the auxetic pattern was engineered to expand and contract in sync with the wearer.
Once the design was conceived, Coronel had to find the right material to use and eventually settled on Balena.Filaflex, a compostable, 3D printing filament that Israel-based material science company Balena co-developed with Spain-based Recreus. Balena focuses on biobased materials for extrusion, injection molding and 3D printing that can replace non-compostable plastics used in many industries. Recreus, the creator of Filaflex filaments for 3D printing, focuses on flexible materials to reimagine what is possible with additive manufacturing technology. Together, Balena and Recreus took Balena’s BioCir®flex3D material and created the biobased, fully circular and recyclable Balena.Filaflex 3D printing filament.
The softness and elasticity of the material offered many possibilities. “Working with Balena.Filaflex was a breakthrough,” Coronel said. “Its flexibility is essential for something worn so close to the body. But beyond that, it’s biobased, compostable and recyclable. It made the piece not just wearable, but meaningful.
“It invites designers to rethink what is possible,” Coronel stressed. “It expands what 3D printing can do in fashion — especially in pieces that need to move and respond to the human body.”
“We’re proud to support projects like Neyla’s — it’s designers like her who show what’s possible when material innovation meets personal vision,” Balena said.
This experience has motivated Coronel to look at other applications for Balena.Filaflex. including other intimate wear, footwear and even furniture. “Each new material brings a new learning curve,” she said.
“But Balena.Filaflex showed me how material science can support designs that are truly human and sustainable.”
Perhaps not broadly market-ready yet, at the very least, the bra represents a unique and interesting idea. It illustrates what’s currently possible and perhaps provides some insight to the future of garment making. According to Balena, the intimate garment “demonstrates how [Balena.Filaflex] material can bridge performance and purpose: offering comfort, adaptability and a radically reduced environmental footprint.”
For more information, visit the balena.science and recreus.com websites.
The Supervisory Board of Austria-based Lenzing AG named Georg Kasperkovitz COO and a member of the Managing Board. He is responsible for managing the company-wide fiber production sites.
Carey
Tricia Carey has joined Avalo as chief commercial officer to bring its new low-input cotton to market.
Andrew Dailey was promoted at Jones Family of Companies, Charlotte, N.C., to general manager of Jones Sustainable Packaging.
Bernard
Glen Raven, Burlington, N.C., has promoted Andrew Bernard to vice president and general manager of the Shade & Marine Business Unit. Bernard has been with the company for 17 years.
Darn Tough Vermont®, Northfield, Vt., promoted Emily Corley from senior director of marketing to vice president of marketing. She is the first person to hold the position at the company.
Kathrin and Stephan Pleva were named managing directors of family-owned company Pleva GmbH, Germany. They will work with their father, Dr. Ralf Pleva, to lead the company.
Botero
Miami-based Avantex has appointed Carlos Botero president for Latin America.
Bianca Mannini has joined the Brussels-based Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) as a Trade and Environment officer. In addition, Daniela Waizel Rule was named a communications officer at BIR.
Westerterp
Israel-based Avgol, an Indorama Ventures company, has appointed Jelle Westerterp chief commercial officer.
S&S Activewear, Bolingbrook, Ill., has named Jim Sturgell senior vice president of sales, Nick Blannin senior vice president of merchandising, Bill Top senior vice president of commercial strategy and operations, and Kendall Whitley vice president of team sales.
Agrawal
Abhi Agrawal was announced as CEO of Greensboro, N.C.-based QTI Fibers and its portfolio of companies including Quantum Materials, Twitchell Technical Products and Infinity Woven Products.
The Lycra Co., Wilmington, Del., promoted Melissa Riggs to chief marketing officer.
McRae
Germany-based Puma has named Tara McRae president of PUMA North America.
During the Americas Apparel Producers’ Network’s (AAPN’s) annual meeting, JillColeman was announced as president of the organization. She takes over from Tony Anzovino.
Craig
Universal Fiber SystemsSM LLC, Bristol, Va., has appointed Jonathan Craig CEO. He succeeds Marc Ammen who is retiring after 25 years.
Crowley, Jacksonville, Fla., has named Jenny Fuss CFO.
Baltimore-based Under Armour recently named Dawn N. Fitzpatrick, Eugene D. Smith and Robert Sweeney to its Board of Directors.
Five new executives recently joined Paris-based Chargeurs PCC: Riccardo Cossu as general manager, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Laure Sénéquier-Crozet as general manager of the Senfa Cliander division; Dmitry Fedorov as deputy chief information officer; and Claudia Rovati as global sales director, and Elisabetta Nicoli as supply chain manager of the Shirting Division.
Reinig
Jens Reinig was named CFO of Germany-based Freudenberg Performance Materials.
Samsara Eco, Australia, has appointed Brock Thomas as chief innovation officer and Isaac Iverson as executive product director.
The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA), Cary. N.C., named four new people to its board for 2025: Maria-giovanna Ramini Vetere, vice president of sustainability and public affairs, NatureWorks; Aleksandra Kruszewska, director of R&D and business development, Reckitt; Mark Tumelty, senior vice president and general manager, Nice-Pak Products Inc.; and Ginny Casstevens, director of sales & marketing, Fibertex Nonwovens Inc.
Kevin Whiteside was promoted to president of Vandewiele Inc., Chattanooga, Tenn. He succeeds Bob Harding who was promoted to chairman of the board. Harding will continue to serve as managing director of Vandewiele’s operation in the United Kingdom.
Santa Monica, Calif.-based Figs Inc. has launched FORMx™ scrubs featuring five times the stretch found in traditional scrubs. The garments, made using 81-percent nylon/19-percent spandex, offer four-way elasticity of approximately 70 percent in both directions. FORMx scrubs also are antimicrobial, moisture wicking and antistatic. Figs also recently introduced a year-round, medical apparel recycling program in partnership with SuperCircle. Scrubs may be recycled by mail or at Figs’ Community Hub locations in exchange for a store credit.
DUER, Vancouver, British Columbia, has introduced Performance Denim Lite, a warm-weather denim option that is 25-percent lighter than the brand’s traditional Performance Denim. The Lite version is a 74-percent cotton/24-percent COOLMAX® All Season EcoMade Polyester/2-percent elastane blend for comfort as well as temperature regulation.
Trivantage®, Burlington, N.C., has introduced a revamped version of its Gore® Tenara sewing thread. The new variant is a three-ply, polytetrafluoroethylene thread designed for high-speed sewing.
Switzerland-based Uster Technologies has released the Uster AFIS 6 fiber process control system. This next-generation laboratory instrument tests man-made-fiber properties in addition to cotton, offering critical data for cotton, blended and man-made yarns.
England-based James Heal has devised a new nine station Martindale abrasion and pilling tester called the Martindale Motion. Engineered with individual lifting heads, each station may be run independently allowing different fabrics to be tested at the same time.
EMIGSVILLE, PA — June 12, 2025 — Herculite Products Inc., an innovator and manufacturer of high-performance and custom fabrics, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Stephenson as the new Director of Manufacturing
Mike Stephenson
Mike joined Herculite in 2010 and has served in progressively responsible roles within manufacturing for the past 15 years. In his most recent role as Production Manager, he has played a key role in enhancing efficiency and productivity throughout the manufacturing process. Mike has also been instrumental in Herculite’s safety efforts, taking the lead on implementing building-wide safety improvement initiatives. His deep understanding of our production processes, commitment to quality, and passion for continuous improvement will make him an ideal fit for this new role.
Vice President of Operations Gary Harrelson said, “This promotion comes as no surprise to me. Mike is an extremely hardworking, focused, and driven individual who always provides positive results. I have worked closely with Mike over the past few years and have seen these outstanding results firsthand. He has increased efficiencies in many areas, provided cost-saving insights, and possesses an innovative mindset. There is no doubt that he is very deserving of this role and will excel while in the Director’s Chair. “
In this new role, Mike will continue to support Herculite in its mission to help customers grow their businesses by delivering products and services of exceptional value, distinguished by their quality and innovation, on time, every day.
ZÜRICH, Switzerland — June 12, 2025 — The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) released findings from its 32nd Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted May 12-22, 2025, revealing sharp regional variations across the global textile industry.
Regional Performance Varies Dramatically
The survey shows a challenging global business situation with a -20 percentage point balance, but regional performance differs significantly. Africa emerges as the standout performer with a positive +23 pp balance, followed by South America at +6 pp. In contrast, East Asia faces significant challenges with a -48 pp balance. Looking ahead, the industry shows cautious optimism (+24 pp), with North America leading confidence at +65 pp and Africa at +54 pp, while East Asia remains negative at -18 pp.
Orders and Capacity Show Mixed Signals
Global order intake declined for four consecutive months since January, reaching -21 pp in May. Africa again leads with positive intake (+18 pp), while Europe (-45 pp) and East Asia (-41 pp) struggle most. Despite order challenges, global backlogs show modest recovery at 2.3 months. Textile capacity utilization reached 72% in May 2025. Asian markets continue to lead utilization rates, while upstream segments like spinning significantly outperform downstream operations.
Demand Concerns Dominate
Weak demand remains the primary concern for 61% of global participants over the next six months, with trade tensions and operational costs as secondary issues. Order cancellation rates remain stable and low across all regions.
For more information, please see www.itmf.org or contact secretariat@itmf.org.
Posted: June 12, 2025
Source: International Textile Manufacturers Federation
Richard Smith, Operations Manager at Atkinson Dyeing
KEIGHLEY, WEST YORKSHIRE, UK — June 12, 2025 — Atkinson Dyeing, a specialist yarn dyeing facility established in 1978 and acquired by woollen mill AW Hainsworth in 2019, has undergone significant transformation to improve environmental performance and modernize operations. The centerpiece of this transformation is the installation of a state-of-the-art heat recovery system, which captures 60°C wastewater and uses it to preheat incoming cold water to 50°C. This system is designed to reduce the site’s reliance on gas, delivering a major reduction in carbon emissions. At its full potential, this is projected to lower the facility’s gas bill by 20% and electricity by 10%.
This investment builds on a range of infrastructure and operational improvements made across the Atkinson Dyeing site in Keighley. The winding area has been upgraded to increase efficiency, featuring the installation of 3D fans to reduce dust and improve air quality, a new insulated roof, upgraded LED lighting, and new windows that increase natural light. Reusable cones continue to reduce plastic waste, while new, in-house-engineered yarn-stripping machines have improved speed and process control. The site also introduced computer-controlled dyeing machines, which reduce water consumption compared to traditional methods.
Water and chemical management has also been a priority. The site utilises river abstraction rights to reduce its reliance on mains water and ensures that all used water is treated offsite, with no discharge returning to the river. To mitigate environmental risks, bunds have been installed beneath chemical storage areas to contain any potential leaks. There has also been a focus on recycling and reuse efforts, with all cardboard, plastic, and wood being recycled and repurposed where possible.
On the technical side, Atkinson Dyeing has implemented an OrgaTEXcloud-based planning system to enhance production traceability and scheduling across departments.
Richard Smith, Operations Manager at Atkinson Dyeing, commented: “In previous years, we’ve installed power-saving inverters on our machinery, switched to an electric forklift truck, and converted the oil powered boiler to a more efficient gas burner, which reduced energy usage by 64%.
“We still have a long way to go, but we’re proud of the progress made at Atkinson Dyeing. From facility upgrades to innovative technology and sustainable practices, we are continuously investing in our long-term vision for growth, environmental responsibility, and workplace wellbeing.”
The facility’s progress is closely monitored using a carbon intensity model that tracks emissions per kilogram of yarn processed. This method allows the team to maintain high levels of transparency and accountability while setting a clear baseline for future reductions. The improvements at Atkinson Dyeing form part of AW Hainsworth’s broader sustainability strategy, which is supported through Planet Mark certification and a formal roadmap towards reaching Net Zero.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — June 12, 2025 — lululemon and Samsara Eco have announced they will collaborate on a 10-year offtake agreement to source recycled raw materials, underscoring lululemon’s long-term commitment to help build a circular ecosystem for its high-performance products. This multi-year agreement could see Samsara Eco’s materials support approximately 20% of lululemon’s overall fibers portfolio and advance its progress towards making more products with preferred materials by 2030.
The announcement builds on a long-standing collaboration between lululemon and Samsara Eco. Together last year, the companies brought to market the world’s first enzymatically recycled nylon 6,6 product sample, as well as introduced lululemon’s first enzymatically recycled polyester product to market with a limited-edition Packable Anorak. These garments demonstrate the capabilities for enzymatically recycled textiles to deliver the same look, feel, and high-performance qualities guests expect and love from lululemon.
Ted Dagnese, Chief Supply Chain Officer at lululemon and Paul Riley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Samsara Eco.
“Scaling circular materials requires bold partnerships and a shared commitment to rethinking how our industry operates. Our partnership with Samsara Eco is a powerful example of what’s possible when innovation meets collaboration,” said Ted Dagnese, Chief Supply Chain Officer at lululemon. “As we work toward our 2030 impact goals, we’re taking a diversified approach—investing in multiple partnerships to advance solutions and help reduce our reliance on fossil-fuel derived resources. Together with our partners, including Samsara Eco, we’re helping to turn our vision of a circular model into a reality.”
Polyester and nylon are two widely used fibers in textiles, accounting for approximately 60% of the world’s total fibers production. To strengthen the recycling capabilities of these textiles, Samsara Eco became the first company to enzymatically recycle nylon 6,6 products in this way. Samsara Eco also recycles polyester, including mixed plastics and fibers, with its engineered enzymes, which break down plastic into its original building blocks so they can be seamlessly reintegrated into existing manufacturing processes to create new products.
“Our expanded partnership with lululemon represents a strong step forward to help create a fully circular ecosystem and further highlights the industry’s commitment to transition to more circular materials,” said Paul Riley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Samsara Eco. “The technology to make circular materials is not a pipe dream – it is here, ready for adoption by forward-thinking companies. I’m incredibly optimistic about how we will help fuel circular apparel over the next decade with lululemon.”
To support commercialization efforts, Samsara Eco will soon open a new plant in Jerrabomberra, New South Wales. This facility will increase production volumes and advance its engineered enzyme technology, EosEco™. Additionally, Samsara Eco will be opening an international commercial facility in 2028.
To learn more about lululemon’s material innovation and sustainability commitments here.
