INDA Announces Transition Of Chief Market And Industry Analyst Mark Snider

CARY, N.C.— March 4, 2026 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announces that Mark Snider, Chief Market & Industry Analyst, will be transitioning from his role as he prepares for a move to France.

Mark Snider

Since joining INDA, Snider has served as a leading voice on market and industry dynamics, delivering data-driven insights and strategic analysis to support member decision-making and strengthen the association’s advocacy efforts. With more than 35 years of experience in nonwovens and engineered materials, he brought deep macroeconomic, industry, and segment-level expertise to the role, further enhancing INDA’s market intelligence capabilities.

“Mark has made a significant and lasting contribution to INDA and to the broader nonwovens industry,” said Tony Fragnito, President of INDA. “His analytical rigor, global perspective, and thoughtful interpretation of market forces have elevated the quality and relevance of the insights we provide to our members. Beyond his expertise, Mark has been a trusted colleague and valued member of our leadership team. We are deeply grateful for his impact and wish him continued success in this next chapter.”

Snider will continue to support the engineered fibers and fabrics sectors as a Technical Consultant, remaining actively engaged in the industry.

“While I am transitioning from my formal role at INDA, I am not stepping away from the industry that has been central to my professional life,” said Snider. “It has been a privilege to contribute to INDA’s mission and to collaborate with such a talented and dedicated community of professionals. I look forward to continuing to support industry growth and innovation in new capacities and to remaining connected with colleagues and partners around the world.”

Mark Snider can be reached at, marksnider@mindspring.com.

All INDA-related market research inquiries should be directed to Cindy Garcia, Sr. Market Research Analyst, cgarcia@inda.org

For more information about INDA and its market research initiatives, visit www.inda.org.

Posted: March 4, 2026

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Jockey Celebrates 150 Years Of Crafting Comfort

Jockey Celebrates 150 Years of Crafting Comfort

KENOSHA, Wis. — March 2, 2026 — In 1876, a small company, S.T. Cooper & Sons, set out with an ambitious mission: to “Satisfy the Human Need for Comfort.” One hundred fifty years later, Jockey International, Inc. (Jockey), the omnipresent brand synonymous with comfort, quality, innovation and trust, continues to deliver on that promise as one of America’s most enduring family owned innerwear and apparel brands.

Jockey Celebrates 150 Years of Crafting Comfort

Founded by Reverend Samuel T. Cooper, Jockey transformed the modern underwear category, reshaping how it is designed, manufactured and delivered. What began as a passion for crafting high-quality wool socks has evolved into a global brand sold in more than 120 countries. From American households to global markets, and the Hollywood big screen to world-class athletes, the Jockey brand has remained woven into daily life for generations.

Today, that innovative spirit is reflected in an impressive global patent and trademark portfolio, including the iconic men’s Y-Front® brief, Staycool+® technology, and women’s Skimmies® slipshorts and Seamfree® underwear. Across decades, the company has continued to advance fabric technologies, fit innovation and product design, reinforcing its role in shaping the category it helped establish.

“For 150 years, families have trusted Jockey to deliver comfort and quality they can depend on,” said Debra S. Waller, chairman and chief executive officer, Jockey. “As a family owned company shaped by generations of leadership — from Rev. Cooper to my grandfather, Harry H. Wolf Sr., and my mother, Donna Wolf Steigerwaldt — we approach this milestone with responsibility. Our focus has always been to deliver comfort and quality, serve families and communities, and design for the next generation.”

A Year of Celebration, Style and Cultural Relevance
To honor the brand’s 150-year legacy and set the foundation for its next era, Jockey is launching a yearlong anniversary celebration anchored by the limited-edition Jockey 1876 Collection, expanded brand media investment, experiential events and strategic partnerships with America250, Trackhouse Racing, Folds of Honor and New Zealand Rugby’s All Blacks, engaging consumers where sport, culture and community converge.

The limited-edition Jockey 1876 Collection draws inspiration from the brand’s vault, reviving signature silhouettes, craftsmanship details and archival design elements. Heritage inspiration has been thoughtfully reengineered using modern materials, refined fits and contemporary features for today’s consumer. Limited-edition drops will begin in March and continue throughout the year, with products available at Jockey.com, Jockey retail stores and the company’s flagship retail experience, Coopers 12South, located in the iconic 12South neighborhood of Nashville.

“Reaching 150 years is a remarkable achievement and one we do not take lightly,” said Mark Fedyk, president and chief operating officer, Jockey. “This milestone is about honoring the people and the passionate work that brought us here, celebrating something few organizations ever achieve, and introducing new audiences to who Jockey is today. As we celebrate our legacy, we are equally focused on building the next era of innovation and relationships.”

Impact extends beyond product into families and communities through longstanding philanthropic efforts and a culture rooted in serving others. Across generations, associates have carried forward a shared sense of responsibility, integrity and care.  As Jockey enters its next chapter, the brand honors its legacy while moving confidently forward with an unwavering commitment to earning the trust of generations to come.

To explore the 150th anniversary and experience comfort that endures, visit Jockey.com/ourstory.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source: Jockey

Former The North Face And Boardriders Executive Arne Arens Joins Unspun As CEO To Accelerate The Shift From Offshore Overproduction To U.S.-Based Manufacturing

unspun 3D weaving technology

SAN FRANCISCO — March 3, 2026 — unspun, a U.S.-founded, B Corp–certified apparel technology company, today announced the appointment of Arne Arens as Chief Executive Officer. Arens brings decades of experience leading global consumer apparel brands and will guide unspun’s next phase of growth as it scales automated, localized manufacturing infrastructure for the apparel industry.

Arne spent over a decade at The North Face, where, as Global Brand President, he led the brand through a period of significant global growth, cementing its position as one of the world’s leading outdoor companies. He later became CEO of Boardriders, the global action sports and lifestyle company behind Quiksilver, Billabong, and Roxy, leading the business through its acquisition by Authentic Brands Group for approximately $1.25 billion. He brings decades of experience operating and scaling global consumer brands, as well as firsthand knowledge of the inventory and supply chain inefficiencies that cost the industry billions each year.

“I have spent a good part of my career working with some of the world’s leading apparel and footwear brands and have seen firsthand the economic and environmental costs of excessively long lead times and chronic overproduction in the traditional supply chain,” said Arens. “unspun’s manufacturing model fundamentally transforms how and where products are made — unlocking meaningful financial benefits and significantly reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. I am honored to lead unspun at this pivotal moment and look forward to scaling our proven model into broad, lasting industry impact.”

unspun is rebuilding apparel manufacturing for speed and efficiency — replacing long, offshore production cycles with software and hardware-driven systems that enable garments to be produced closer to demand. Its proprietary 3D weaving technology, Vega™, weaves semi-finished products directly from yarn in minutes, dramatically shortening supply chains and reducing waste.

unspun’s technology is already being piloted with global retailers, including Walmart and Decathlon, demonstrating growing demand for localized, low-waste production solutions.

Today, most apparel is produced 6–12 months before it reaches shelves, forcing brands and retailers to guess demand far in advance and absorb the cost of being wrong. The result is chronic overproduction, heavy markdowns, and excess waste. unspun’s localized, automated approach turns manufacturing into responsive infrastructure, enabling production closer to when and where demand actually occurs. This speed-based model lowers inventory risk, reduces overproduction and the apparel supply chain’s carbon footprint, and can improve gross margins by 400–500 bps through fewer markdowns and write-offs.

“Arne is a proven industry leader who understands both brand building and the structural challenges of apparel supply chains,” said Kevin Martin, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of unspun. “His leadership will help us accelerate deployment of our technology and partner with more brands and manufacturers looking for a smarter way to produce.”

As the industry navigates increasing volatility, tariffs, and pressure to reduce excess inventory, unspun is positioning manufacturing as modern infrastructure — enabling apparel to be made faster, closer to demand, and with less waste.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source: unspun

ISM® February 2026 Manufacturing PMI® At 52.4%; Textile Mills Report Growth; Apparel, Leather & Allied Product And Furniture & Related Products Report Contraction

TEMPE, Ariz. — March 2, 2026 — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the second straight month but only the third time in 40 months, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report.

The report was issued today by Susan Spence, MBA, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

“The Manufacturing PMI® registered 52.4 percent in February, a 0.2-percentage point decrease compared to the reading of 52.6 in January. The overall economy continued in expansion for the 16th month. (A Manufacturing PMI® above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy.) The New Orders Index expanded for the second straight month after four straight readings in contraction, registering 55.8 percent, down 1.3 percentage points compared to January’s figure of 57.1 percent. The February reading of the Production Index (53.5 percent) is 2.4 percentage points lower than January’s reading of 55.9 percent. The Prices Index remained in expansion (or ‘increasing’ territory), registering 70.5 percent, an 11.5-percentage point jump from January’s reading of 59 percent and its highest reading since June 2022 (78.5 percent). The Backlog of Orders Index registered 56.6 percent, up 5 percentage points compared to the 51.6 percent recorded in January and its highest reading since May 2022 (58.7 percent). The Employment Index registered 48.8 percent, up 0.7 percentage point from January’s figure of 48.1 percent.

“The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated a further slowing for the third month in a row after one month in ‘faster’ territory. The reading of 55.1 percent is up 0.7 percentage point from the 54.4 percent recorded in January. (Supplier Deliveries is the only ISM® PMI® Reports index that is inversed; a reading of above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries, which is typical as the economy improves and customer demand increases.)

“The Inventories Index registered 48.8 percent, up 1.2 percentage points compared to January’s reading of 47.6 percent. The Customers’ Inventories Index reading of 38.8 percent is a 0.1-percentage point increase compared to January.

“The New Export Orders Index reading of 50.3 percent is 0.1 percentage point higher than the reading of 50.2 percent registered in January. The Imports Index registered 54.9 percent, 4.9 percentage points higher than January’s reading of 50 percent and the highest since February 2022 (55.4 percent).”

Spence continues, “In February, U.S. manufacturing activity remained in expansion territory, although growing at a slower pace than the month before. Of the five subindexes that make up the PMI®, two (New Orders and Production) indicated slower growth compared to the previous month, and the Employment and Inventories indexes remained in contraction.

“Three demand indicators (the New Orders, Backlog of Orders and New Export Orders indexes) are in expansion, and the Customers’ Inventories Index remains in ‘too low’ territory, contracting at a slightly slower rate. A ‘too low’ status for the Customers’ Inventories Index is usually considered positive for future production.

“Regarding output, the Production Index is in expansion for the fourth month in a row, and the Employment Index, though still in contraction, improved by 0.7-percentage point. However, 45 percent of panelists still indicate that managing head counts is the norm at their companies as opposed to hiring.

“Finally, inputs (defined as supplier deliveries, inventories, prices and imports) all increased since the previous month’s reading. The Supplier Deliveries Index indicated slower deliveries, Inventories Index contraction has slowed, and the Prices Index took a huge leap to 70.5 percent from 59 percent in January.

“Looking at the manufacturing economy, 21 percent of the sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted in February, compared to 20 percent in January, and the percentage of manufacturing GDP in strong contraction (defined as a composite PMI® of 45 percent or lower) decreased to 1 percent, compared to 12 percent in January. The share of sector GDP with a PMI® at or below 45 percent is a good metric to gauge overall manufacturing weakness. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, four (Chemical Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; and Computer & Electronic Products) expanded in February,” says Spence.

The 12 manufacturing industries reporting growth in February — listed in order — are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Textile Mills; Primary Metals; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Chemical Products; Machinery; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Computer & Electronic Products. The five industries reporting contraction in February are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Wood Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

WHAT RESPONDENTS ARE SAYING

  • “Today, American produced commodities like steel and aluminum are the highest priced in the world, by far. Hence, the Section 232 tariff policy is having the exact opposite effect of their intention on an American manufacturer like us: It is raising prices while lowering demand and profitability.” [Transportation Equipment]
  • “Economic activity seems to be also challenging for this year. Some recovery in certain sectors in the economy but still lot of cost pressures and soft demand. Cost discipline is the priority.” [Chemical Products]
  • “January sales continued to provide positive indications for growth opportunities. Data center, health care, and food and beverages remain positive growth areas. We continue to receive price increase notifications from suppliers based on unsupported tariff claims and are expanding corporate staff to support sales growth.” [Chemical Products]
  • “South American instability has begun to be a factor for our suppliers and inventory management.” [Petroleum & Coal Products]
  • “Pricing for outside purchases has stabilized. We are spending significant effort to work with our supply base to mitigate tariff impacts. Backlog is at a healthy level.” [Miscellaneous Manufacturing]
  • “Overall orders and supply footprint are improving. As we review customer demand, we are also taking several categories of established materials and supplies out to RFP for review and cost improvements — in particular, printed circuit assemblies, plastics, sheet metal assemblies and motorized assemblies. This will help ease the burden of tariff and customer impacts as we broaden our supplier base to a more regional footprint.” [Computer & Electronic Products]
  • “Continue to be impacted by tariffs. Seeing metals prices rise too. Business is steady, but domestic growth is slower than expected.” [Computer & Electronic Products]
  • “Business was slow in January. Many orders pulled into end of 2025 to meet revenue goals. Order book is strong going forward.” [Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components]
  • “Tariff policy changes affect total acquisition costs and purchasing source decisions. So far this year, tariff instability still exists. Due to the tariffs, most raw materials used in manufacturing, such as steel and wire, need to be sourced domestically, and the cost keeps going up.” [Machinery]
  • “Business is improving by the week. Backlog is growing, and new opportunities are everywhere. Monthly shipments are still lower than planned, but improving. Over the past five years, we spent thousands trying to attract new employees and had almost zero responses. In the last six months, however, we’ve been able to hire experienced engineers, computer numerical control (CNC) operators, and young people wanting to become CNC machinists.” [Fabricated Metal Products]
MANUFACTURING AT A GLANCE
February 2026
Index Series
Index
Feb		 Series
Index
Jan		 Percentage
Point
Change		 Direction Rate of
Change		 Trend*
(Months)
Manufacturing PMI® 52.4 52.6 -0.2 Growing Slower 2
New Orders 55.8 57.1 -1.3  

Growing

 Slower 2
Production 53.5 55.9 -2.4 Growing Slower 4
Employment 48.8 48.1 +0.7 Contracting Slower 29
Supplier
Deliveries		 55.1 54.4 +0.7 Slowing Faster 3
Inventories 48.8 47.6 +1.2 Contracting Slower 10
Customers’ Inventories 38.8 38.7 +0.1 Too Low Slower 17
Prices 70.5 59.0 +11.5 Increasing Faster 17
Backlog of Orders 56.6 51.6 +5.0 Growing Faster 2
New Export Orders 50.3 50.2 +0.1 Growing Faster 2
Imports 54.9 50.0 +4.9 Growing  From Unchanged 1
OVERALL ECONOMY Growing Slower 16
Manufacturing Sector Growing Slower 2

ISM® Manufacturing PMI® Report data is seasonally adjusted for the New Orders, Production, Employment and Inventories indexes.
*Number of months moving in current direction.

COMMODITIES REPORTED UP/DOWN IN PRICE AND IN SHORT SUPPLY

Commodities Up in Price
Aluminum (27); Brass (3); Copper (8); Copper Based Products (3); Critical Minerals (4); Electronic Components (2); Gold; Labor (2); Natural Gas; Polypropylene; Precious Metals (2); Resins; Silver; Steel (4); Steel — Hot Rolled (2); Steel — Stainless; Steel Products (3); and Tungsten Products.

Commodities Down in Price
Freight.

Commodities in Short Supply
Electrical Components (8); Electronic Components (12); Memory (2); and Rare Earth Components (4).

Note: The number of consecutive months the commodity is listed is indicated after each item.

FEBRUARY 2026 MANUFACTURING INDEX SUMMARIES

Manufacturing PMI®
The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in February for the second time since January 2025, registering 52.4 percent, a 0.2-percentage point decrease compared to January’s reading of 52.6 percent. Of the five subindexes that directly factor into the Manufacturing PMI®, three (New Orders, Production and Supplier Deliveries) are in expansion territory, the same as in January. The Employment and Inventories indexes stayed in contraction, though both improved compared to January. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, four (Chemical Products; Machinery; Transportation Equipment; and Computer & Electronic Products) expanded in February,” says Spence. A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing sector is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

A Manufacturing PMI® above 47.5 percent, over a period of time, generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. Therefore, the February Manufacturing PMI® indicates the overall economy grew for the 16th straight month. “The past relationship between the Manufacturing PMI® and the overall economy indicates that the February reading (52.4 percent) corresponds to a 1.7-percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) on an annualized basis,” says Spence.

THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Month Manufacturing
PMI®		 Month Manufacturing
PMI®
Feb 2026 52.4 Aug 2025 48.9
Jan 2026 52.6 Jul 2025 48.4
Dec 2025 47.9 Jun 2025 49.0
Nov 2025 48.0 May 2025 48.6
Oct 2025 48.8 Apr 2025 48.8
Sep 2025 48.9 Mar 2025 48.9
Average for 12 months – 49.3
High – 52.6
Low – 47.9

New Orders
ISM®‘s New Orders Index expanded in February with a reading of 55.8 percent, a decrease of 1.3 percentage points compared to January’s reading of 57.1 percent. “Of the six largest manufacturing industries, four (Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Machinery; and Transportation Equipment) reported increased new orders. As was the case in January, for every negative panelist comment about new orders, two comments indicated optimism about near-term demand. A New Orders Index above 51.9 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Census Bureau’s series on manufacturing orders (in constant 2000 dollars).

The 12 manufacturing industries that reported growth in new orders in February, in order, are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Primary Metals; Wood Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Transportation Equipment; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The two industries reporting a decline in new orders in February are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; and Furniture & Related Products.

New Orders %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 30.3 56.9 12.8 +17.5 55.8
Jan 2026 31.4 51.0 17.6 +13.8 57.1
Dec 2025 18.2 50.3 31.5 -13.3 47.4
Nov 2025 20.7 50.9 28.4 -7.7 47.3

Production
The Production Index expanded in February for the fourth month in a row, registering 53.5 percent, a 2.4 percentage point decrease compared to January’s reading of 55.9 percent. “Of the six largest manufacturing industries, three (Chemical Products; Machinery; and Computer & Electronic Products) reported increased production. Panelists had a 1-to-1.7 ratio of positive to negative comments regarding output,” says Spence. An index above 52 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Federal Reserve Board’s Industrial Production figures.

The nine industries reporting growth in production during the month of February — listed in order — are: Printing & Related Support Activities; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Machinery; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Plastics & Rubber Products; and Computer & Electronic Products. The four industries reporting a decrease in production in February are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Paper Products; Furniture & Related Products; and Nonmetallic Mineral Products.

Production %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 25.2 58.8 16.0 +9.2 53.5
Jan 2026 25.7 58.8 15.5 +10.2 55.9
Dec 2025 19.0 55.1 25.9 -6.9 50.7
Nov 2025 22.8 57.4 19.8 +3.0 51.1

Employment
ISM®‘s Employment Index registered 48.8 percent in February, 0.7 percentage point higher than January’s reading of 48.1 percent. “The index posted its 29th consecutive month of contraction after expanding in September 2023. Since January 2023, the Employment Index has contracted in 37 of 38 months. Of the six big manufacturing industries, two (Transportation Equipment; and Machinery) reported higher levels of employment in February. For every comment on hiring, there was 1.4 on reducing head counts. Companies continued to focus on accelerating staff reductions due to uncertain near- to mid-term demand. The main head-count management strategies continue to be holding off on filling open positions,” says Spence. An Employment Index above 50.3 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on manufacturing employment.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, seven reported employment growth in February in the following order: Printing & Related Support Activities; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The eight industries reporting a decrease in employment in February, in the following order, are: Wood Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Furniture & Related Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products.

Employment %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 18.8 60.8 20.4 -1.6 48.8
Jan 2026 13.7 68.0 18.3 -4.6 48.1
Dec 2025 9.0 69.9 21.1 -12.1 44.8
Nov 2025 10.8 64.1 25.1 -14.3 44.1

Supplier Deliveries†
Delivery performance of suppliers to manufacturing organizations was slower in February for the third consecutive month after one month of faster deliveries. “The Supplier Deliveries Index registered 55.1 percent, a 0.7-percentage point increase compared to the reading of 54.4 percent reported in January. Of the six big industries, four (Computer & Electronic Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; and Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products) reported slower supplier deliveries,” says Spence. A reading below 50 percent indicates faster deliveries, while a reading above 50 percent indicates slower deliveries.

The 11 manufacturing industries reporting slower supplier deliveries in February, in order, are: Textile Mills; Computer & Electronic Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Primary Metals; Paper Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Machinery; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The only industry reporting faster supplier deliveries in February is Wood Products. Six industries reported no change in supplier performance in February as compared to January.

Supplier Deliveries %Slower %Same %Faster Net Index
Feb 2026 14.0 82.2 3.8 +10.2 55.1
Jan 2026 12.7 83.3 4.0 +8.7 54.4
Dec 2025 10.4 80.8 8.8 +1.6 50.8
Nov 2025 6.1 86.3 7.6 -1.5 49.3

Inventories
The Inventories Index registered 48.8 percent in February, up 1.2 percentage points compared to the reading of 47.6 percent in January. “Two (Transportation Equipment; and Chemical Products) of the six big industries expanded inventories in February,” says Spence. An Inventories Index greater than 44.5 percent, over time, is generally consistent with expansion in the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) figures on overall manufacturing inventories (in chained 2000 dollars).

Of 18 manufacturing industries, the nine reporting higher inventories in February — in the following order — are: Textile Mills; Plastics & Rubber Products; Wood Products; Paper Products; Transportation Equipment; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Chemical Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing. The seven industries reporting lower inventories in February — listed in order — are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Furniture & Related Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Primary Metals; and Machinery.

Inventories %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 14.2 71.8 14.0 +0.2 48.8
Jan 2026 14.0 66.4 19.6 -5.6 47.6
Dec 2025 10.3 65.9 23.8 -13.5 45.7
Nov 2025 14.4 67.9 17.7 -3.3 48.5

Customers’ Inventories†
ISM®‘s Customers’ Inventories Index remained in “too low” territory in February; the reading of 38.8 percent is an increase of 0.1 percentage point compared to the 38.7 percent reported in January, and the second lowest point since June of 2022. (For more information about the Customers’ Inventories Index, see the “Data and Method of Presentation” section below.)

The only industry that reported customers’ inventories as too high in February is Textile Mills. The 14 industries reporting customers’ inventories as too low in February, in order, are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Primary Metals; Fabricated Metal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Wood Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; and Plastics & Rubber Products.

Customers’
Inventories		 %
Reporting		 %Too
High		 %About
Right		 %Too
Low		 Net Index
Feb 2026 76 5.7 66.1 28.2 -22.5 38.8
Jan 2026 69 5.5 66.3 28.2 -22.7 38.7
Dec 2025 76 11.3 64.0 24.7 -13.4 43.3
Nov 2025 73 8.8 71.8 19.4 -10.6 44.7

Prices†
The ISM® Prices Index registered 70.5 percent in February, an increase of 11.5 percentage point over its January reading (59 percent) and indicating raw materials prices increased for the 17th straight month. The last time the Prices Index registered a higher reading was June 2022 when the index registered 78.5 percent. Of the six largest manufacturing industries, all (Petroleum & Coal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Transportation Equipment; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; and Chemical Products) reported price increases in February. “The Prices Index reading continues to be driven by increases in steel and aluminum prices that impact the entire value chain, as well as tariffs applied to many imported goods. Higher prices were reported by 45.4 percent of respondents in February, up 16.4 percentage points from January’s 29 percent but lower compared to the 49.2 percent in April 2025, which was the highest share since June 2022 (65.2 percent),” says Spence. A Prices Index above 52.8 percent, over time, is generally consistent with an increase in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Producer Price Index for Intermediate Materials.

In February, the 14 industries that reported paying increased prices for raw materials, in order, are: Primary Metals; Petroleum & Coal Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Transportation Equipment; Furniture & Related Products; Machinery; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Chemical Products; and Paper Products. The only industry that reported paying decreased prices for raw materials in February was Textile Mills.

 

Prices

 %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 45.4 50.2 4.4 +41.0 70.5
Jan 2026 29.0 59.9 11.1 +17.9 59.0
Dec 2025 26.4 64.1 9.5 +16.9 58.5
Nov 2025 27.2 62.6 10.2 +17.0 58.5

Backlog of Orders†
ISM®‘s Backlog of Orders Index registered 56.6 percent, an increase of 5 percentage points compared to the January reading of 51.6 percent and the highest since May 2022 (58.7 percent). Of the six largest manufacturing industries, five (Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; Chemical Products; and Machinery) reported expansion in order backlogs in February.

The 11 industries reporting higher backlogs in February — listed in order — are: Wood Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Fabricated Metal Products; Computer & Electronic Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Transportation Equipment; Plastics & Rubber Products; Primary Metals; Chemical Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Machinery. The two industries reporting lower backlogs in February are: Furniture & Related Products; and Miscellaneous Manufacturing.

Backlog of
Orders		 %
Reporting		  

%Higher

  

%Same

  

%Lower

  

Net

  

Index
Feb 2026 90 26.8 59.5 13.7 +13.1 56.6
Jan 2026 90 22.2 58.8 19.0 +3.2 51.6
Dec 2025 90 17.2 57.1 25.7 -8.5 45.8
Nov 2025 90 13.9 60.2 25.9 -12.0 44.0

New Export Orders†
ISM®‘s New Export Orders Index expanded in February, registering 50.3 percent, up 0.1 percentage point from January’s reading of 50.2 percent. “Trade frictions still are a major concern: For every positive comment, there was also a negative comment,” says Spence.

Of the 18 manufacturing industries, the six that reported growth in new export orders in February, in order, are: Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Textile Mills; Machinery; Chemical Products; Fabricated Metal Products; and Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components. The eight industries that reported a decrease in new export orders in February — in the following order — are: Wood Products; Petroleum & Coal Products; Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Furniture & Related Products; Plastics & Rubber Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; and Transportation Equipment.

New Export
Orders		 %
Reporting		 %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 74 9.2 82.2 8.6 +0.6 50.3
Jan 2026 73 11.5 77.3 11.2 +0.3 50.2
Dec 2025 75 10.6 72.3 17.1 -6.5 46.8
Nov 2025 74 10.3 71.8 17.9 -7.6 46.2

Imports†
ISM®‘s Imports Index increased in February to 54.9 percent, a 4.9-percentage point increase compared to January’s reading of 50 percent and the highest since February 2022 (55.4 percent).

Eight industries reported higher imports in February — in the following order — are: Wood Products; Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Computer & Electronic Products; Chemical Products; Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products; Primary Metals; Transportation Equipment; and Fabricated Metal Products. The four industries that reported lower volumes in February are: Apparel, Leather & Allied Products; Nonmetallic Mineral Products; Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components; and Machinery. Six industries reported no change in imports in February as compared to January.

Imports %
Reporting		 %Higher %Same %Lower Net Index
Feb 2026 87 15.8 78.1 6.1 +9.7 54.9
Jan 2026 85 11.3 77.4 11.3 0.0 50.0
Dec 2025 84 9.5 70.1 20.4 -10.9 44.6
Nov 2025 84 13.4 71.0 15.6 -2.2 48.9

†The Supplier Deliveries, Customers’ Inventories, Prices, Backlog of Orders, New Export Orders, and Imports indexes do not meet the accepted criteria for seasonal adjustments.

Buying Policy
The average commitment lead time for Capital Expenditures in February was 179 days, an increase of 7 days compared to January. The average lead time in February for Production Materials was 79 days, the same as in January. The average lead time for Maintenance, Repair and Operating (MRO) Supplies was 46 days, an increase of five days compared to January.

Percent Reporting
Capital
Expenditures		 Hand-to-
Mouth		 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days 6 Months 1 Year+ Average
Days
Feb 2026 18 3 7 14 27 31 179
Jan 2026 18 5 9 10 30 28 172
Dec 2025 16 4 9 12 30 29 177
Nov 2025 16 5 8 14 30 27 171
Percent Reporting  
Production
Materials		 Hand-to-
Mouth		 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days 6 Months 1 Year+ Average
Days		  
Feb 2026 9 25 26 26 10 4 79  
Jan 2026 8 26 26 27 9 4 79  
Dec 2025 9 25 31 22 9 4 77  
Nov 2025 10 25 25 26 9 5 81  

 

Percent Reporting
MRO Supplies Hand-to-
Mouth		 30 Days 60 Days 90 Days 6 Months 1 Year+ Average
Days
Feb 2026 29 37 18 11 3 2 46
Jan 2026 31 37 15 12 5 0 41
Dec 2025 29 36 17 11 5 2 49
Nov 2025 28 36 16 14 5 1 47

 

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source: Institute for Supply Management

Albany Engineered Composites Highlights Production-Ready Composite Manufacturing At JEC World 2026

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — March 3, 2026 — Albany Engineered Composites (AEC), a subsidiary of Albany International Corp., highlights its industrialized composite manufacturing capabilities and strategic mission focus ahead of JEC World 2026, taking place March 10–12 in Paris, France.

AEC continues to expand its role as a production-ready composite solutions partner as aerospace and defense programs demand higher production rates, improved performance and resilient supply chains. The company’s integrated suite of state-of-the art composite technologies and high-rate production capabilities support customers across commercial aerospace, defense, space and emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) platforms.

AEC’s strategic mission focuses on three core areas: replacing legacy metallic components with high-performance composite structures; delivering composite solutions for extreme, high-temperature environments including turbine engines, solid rocket motors and hypersonic applications; and advancing sustainable aviation through next-generation composite blade, aeroengine and aerostructure technologies.

AEC exhibits at JEC World 2026 in Hall 6, Booth K24, where company leaders will discuss how industrialized composite manufacturing supports next-generation aerospace and defense programs.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source: Albany Engineered Composites (AEC), a subsidiary of Albany International Corp.

 

lululemon Launches Its First-Ever Sweat-Concealing Technology For High-Sweat Activities

VANCOUVER, B.C. — March 3, 2026 — lululemon today announced the launch of its first-ever sweat-concealing technology designed for high-sweat activities. The new technology, which will live under lululemon’s ShowZero™ platform, conceals higher volumes of sweat, while ensuring enhanced breathability, moisture management, and an incredibly lightweight feel, to support the most demanding, high-sweat activities.

Frances Tiafoe wears lululemon’s new sweat-concealing ShowZero technology, which he will introduce at the BNP Paribas Open this week.

The new ShowZero technology was developed in collaboration with lululemon Ambassador Frances Tiafoe and will be featured in his custom kit for the BNP Paribas Open. The kit features a Burgundy Bay colourway, with a vertical stripe design on the shorts.

“When I feel and look my best, it helps me perform my best,” said Frances Tiafoe. “For someone who sweats as much as I do, it’s amazing to have a kit that keeps me looking fresh from start to finish. ShowZero is a must have for those hot days on the court.”

lululemon’s Product Innovation team began developing the new ShowZero technology in 2024, using insights from extensive in-lab and on-court testing and feedback sessions with Tiafoe. By analyzing Tiafoe’s sweat rate, on-court movements, and competitive environments, lululemon identified an opportunity to solve for an unmet need by evolving its ShowZero technology platform and developing a sweat-concealing solution for high-sweat activities like tennis.

“Our Ambassadors play a critical role in how we innovate, which starts with understanding how we can best solve for their unique needs. Frances competes with relentless intensity at the highest level, which means he needs gear that helps him feel, look, and perform his best,” said Yuki Aihara, Senior Director, Product Innovation, lululemon. “We’ve combined advanced sweat-concealing technology with our feel-first design approach to develop a high-performance tennis kit to keep him feeling confident and focused through even the most intense matches.”

The new ShowZero is a yarn technology that changes how light interacts with the fabric and eliminates the absorption of light when wet, making sweat virtually invisible. In addition to concealing sweat, the technology offers enhanced comfort with its lightweight feel, breathability, and advanced wicking to facilitate quick drying.

lululemon plans to bring new ShowZero products to guests later this year.

The launch of ShowZero for high-sweat activities expands on lululemon’s sweat-concealing offerings. In summer 2024, lululemon introduced ShowZero for golf, in collaboration with PGA golfer and lululemon Ambassador Min Woo Lee.

Watch the video: Meet ShowZero™, Ft Frances Tiafoe : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB8whzMcgE8

In November, lululemon announced a multi-year partnership with the BNP Paribas Open, the largest combined ATP and WTA 1000 tennis tournament in the world, to become its official apparel and footwear outfitter. The collaboration will showcase lululemon’s athletic and lifestyle offerings at the BNP Paribas Open, including the company’s high performance, high style tennis gear that provide athletes with innovative on and off the court solutions.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source: lululemon athletica inc.

 

UNIFI®, Makers Of REPREVE®, Introduces Luxel™: A Linen-Inspired, Easy-Care Performance Yarn

GREENSBORO, N.C. — March 3, 2026 — Unifi, Inc., the makers of REPREVE® and one of the world’s leading innovators in recycled and synthetic yarns, today announced the launch of Luxel™, a groundbreaking yarn technology that combines the luxurious look and feel of linen with high-performance, easy-care, and textile-to-textile recycled materials.

UNIFI®, Makers of REPREVE®, Introduces Luxel™: A Linen-Inspired, Easy-Care Performance Yarn

Designed for brands and consumers who value comfort, style, and sustainability, Luxel captures the natural look and feel of linen while offering advanced performance features such as moisture-wicking, wrinkle resistance, and odor control. This innovative technology is built directly into the yarn, providing exceptional versatility across a wide range of fabric constructions ranging from apparel and footwear to home furnishings, work wear, and accessories, empowering material developers to innovate across multiple categories with ease.

Luxel is available globally and made with REPREVE recycled polyester yarn, including 30% REPREVE Takeback™, reinforcing UNIFI®’s commitment to sustainability and circularity in the textile industry. By incorporating recycled content, including textile waste, Luxel helps brands reduce environmental impact while delivering high-performance, stylish fabrics.

“Luxel represents a true innovation in textile performance,” said Eddie Ingle, CEO of UNIFI. “We developed this yarn to provide designers and manufacturers with a product that delivers the premium look and tactile appeal of linen but delivering on enhanced benefits of easy care, durability, and sustainability. Luxel allows brands to offer elevated, functional fabrics, made with REPREVE Takeback, and designed for premium functional performance, which is important to today’s consumers.”

Key Benefits of Luxel:

  • Luxurious feel and breathability: Delivers a natural, linen-inspired texture with a smooth finish.
  • Enhanced function and performance: Provides moisture management and built-in odor control for effortless maintenance.
  • Wrinkle resistance: Maintains a polished, fresh appearance with minimal effort.
  • Sustainable and traceable: Made with REPREVE recycled polyester including 30% REPREVE Takeback circular polyester embedded with our proprietary FiberPrint® tracer technology and verified by U-TRUST® to certify recycled content.

UNIFI continues to lead the textile industry in sustainable innovation, providing brands with products that combine functionality, style, and responsibility. With Luxel, the company takes another step forward in creating yarn solutions that meet both consumer expectations and environmental goals.

UNIFI will showcase Luxel at the Functional Textiles Shanghai by Performance Days (Booth Hall 3, G27) in Shanghai, China, March 5-6, the NW Materials Show (Booth #4015) in Portland, Oregon, March 11-12, and Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition (Hall 5.1, Econogy Hub).

For more information on Luxel and other UNIFI innovations, please visit www.unifi.com or www.repreve.com.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source: Unifi, Inc.

Textile‑To‑Textile Recycler Circulose Joins Spinnova’s Ecosystem To Accelerate Technology Scale‑Up

JYVÄSKYLÄ, Finland — March 3, 2026 — Textile‑to‑textile recycler Circulose joins Spinnova’s ecosystem (consortium) to help advance the scale‑up of Spinnova’s technology. Spinnova has actively sought partners to accelerate commercial scale‑up, and Circulose, as a key player in textile recycling, strengthens the ecosystem by providing a raw material that is in high demand across the industry.

As a pioneer in circularity within the fashion industry, Circulose recycles cellulosic‑rich textile waste using a patented process to convert discarded textiles into dissolving pulp. Produced entirely from pre‑ and post‑consumer textile waste, this pulp can be used to manufacture regenerated fibres such as viscose, lyocell, and viscose filament.

Through this collaboration, it is intended to integrate CIRCULOSE® pulp into Spinnova’s ecosystem as a feedstock for producing new textile fibres. Unlike the chemical regeneration processes used for traditional man‑made cellulosic fibres, Spinnova’s mechanical technology enables the partners to turn CIRCULOSE® into a new biobased textile fibre without harmful chemicals or dissolving in the fibre‑spinning process. In addition, CIRCULOSE® pulp can be integrated into Spinnova’s process at 100%, eliminating the need for blending with virgin pulp and enabling higher recycled content in the final fibre.

Spinnova has successfully trialled spinning CIRCULOSE® pulp into textile fibre already in 2023, and together the partners have explored its performance in yarn spinning and fabric weaving. With the now‑announced collaboration, Spinnova and Circulose will further integrate the pulp into Spinnova’s process, expanding the offering available to other partners within the ecosystem.

“We are excited to renew our partnership with Spinnova. We strongly believe that innovation will enable man-made cellulosic fibers to play a bigger role in textiles than it does today. Spinnova is a great example of this – it is not only a sustainably produced fiber but also offers attractive performance properties. We’re excited to support their scale-up by enabling SPINNOVA® fiber production to be not only natural and bio-based, but also circular”, comments Jonatan Janmark, the CEO at Circulose.

“We are happy to welcome Circulose into Spinnova’s ecosystem. Together, their textile waste‑based pulp and our patented process enable a unique circular solution and bring innovative fibre production closer to commercial scale. With our technology, CIRCULOSE® pulp can be turned into cotton‑like textile fibres instead of viscose. As demand for high‑quality textile waste‑based materials grows, this partnership allows Spinnova to secure valuable circular raw materials while supporting Circulose in expanding the use of its pulp into new, lower‑impact fibres”, says Spinnova’s CEO, Janne Poranen.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source SPINNOVA PLC

KARL MAYER (China) Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — March 3, 2026 — On February 6, KARL MAYER (China) celebrated the new year and its 30th anniversary. Employees and the management team at the Changzhou location, as well as representatives from management in Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong, were invited to the festivities. A special highlight was the visit by Lutz Wolf, CEO of KARL MAYER.

“Our subsidiary in China holds immense importance to our group. We are proud to operate in this key market with such a strong and dynamic location serving our customers. I am very impressed by the extraordinary drive, flexibility, and deep understanding of customer requirements shown by our employees,” said Lutz Wolf, commenting on the importance of KARL MAYER (China).

The establishment of a separate company in China in the mid-1990s was a bold and strategically consistent step. KARL MAYER focused on globalization early on and established production sites in its key markets in order to operate close to its customers. At that time, however, the idea that China would become the world’s most important market one day was still a vision of the future.

From belief in China as a location to fully localized series production

In the early 1980s, KARL MAYER collaborated with the Wujin Textile Machinery Factory in Changzhou for joint production and to promote knitting technology in China.

In 1995, the two partners joined forces with NIPPON MAYER to found KARL MAYER WUJIN Textile Machinery Co., Ltd. The joint venture was the first company with foreign roots in the Changzhou Wujin High-tech Zone. It started with 400 employees on a 70,000 m² plot of land and was completely taken over by KARL MAYER just four years later.

Building on its own Chinese organization named KARL MAYER Textile Machinery Co., Ltd., KARL MAYER (China) Ltd. was founded in 2005 and has been continuously expanded ever since. In 2008, the company moved into a new factory with an area of 175,000 m². In 2011, the production portfolio was expanded to include the manufacture of warp preparation equipment, and a further expansion of capacity took place the following year to increase the production of high-end models. The latest milestone in the success story of KARL MAYER’s Chinese location was the opening of a new showroom in October 2024, featuring an exclusive selection of textile highlights, trend themes, and innovative solutions from all business units. By 2025, KARL MAYER had invested over 150 million yuan in technological upgrades, including the introduction of fishbone production and SAP-networked intelligent logistics.

KARL MAYER (China) currently employs around 750 people in Changzhou. In February, they all celebrated 30 years of successful development together.

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source KARL MAYER Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

Preliminary Conference Program Announced For The 2026 World Of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference

CARY, N.C. — March 3, 2026 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, has released the preliminary conference program for the 2026 World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, to be held June 29–July 2 at the Grand Hyatt Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee.

Under the theme, “Redefining Wipes: Smart. Sustainable. Scalable,” this year’s program will bring together manufacturers, suppliers, brand owners, and thought leaders to examine the technologies, regulations, and market forces shaping the next generation of wipes.

The conference will explore sustainable packaging trends, evolving standards and regulations, substrate evaluation, formulation science, decarbonization strategies, household and baby wipes, and developments across the global market and value chain. Additional presentations will be announced in the coming weeks.

Preliminary Conference Presentations

Confirmed presentations to date include:

  • CHT USA, “From Use to Return: Degradable High-Performance Chemistries Transforming Wipe Formulations”
  • Clariant Corporation, “Impact of Formulation Complexity on Preservative System Robustness and Contamination Prevention in Wet Wipes”
  • The Clorox Company, “Navigating the Regulatory Landscape to Develop Antimicrobial Wipes Products”
  • David E. James Consultancy, “Beyond Plastic: The UK Plastics in Wet Wipes Ban and Its Implications for Products, Labelling, Flushability, and Europe: The end of the beginning—or the beginning of the end?”
  • Euromonitor International, “From Routine to Ritual: Capturing Growth in Wipes Through Proactive Skin Care, Experiential Elevate and Occasion Targeting”
  • INDA, “Navigating the Regulatory Storm: Tariffs, PFAS Bans, Plastics Restrictions, and the Fight for National Do Not Flush Labeling in 2026”
  • INDA, “The Evolving Landscape of Wipes Standards and Regulations”
  • The Pack Hub, “Wipe Packaging at a Crossroads: Navigating Sustainability, Regulation, and Performance”
  • Rockline Industries, “From Crisis Response to Daily Use: How COVID-19 Reshaped Household vs Disinfecting Wipe Requirements”
  • Sharon Personal Care, “New Product Development for Wet Wipes – A Holistic Approach for Today’s Sophisticated Essential”
  • Soane Technologies, “Strong When It Matters, Gone When It Counts: Advances in Flushable Nonwoven Design”
  • SPGPrints America, Inc., “Enhancing Consumer Wipe Performance Through Specialty MPS & NCS Screens for Spunlace Lines”
  • Strategic Packaging Partners, “The Future of Wipe Packaging Under EPR: Risks, Opportunities, and Engineering Solutions”

Additional Conference Highlights

Wipes Development Course – June 29–30
Led by Heidi Beatty, CEO of Crown Abbey, this 12-session course provides in-depth instruction spanning the wipes development process—from concept and fabric selection to formulation design and packaging considerations.

Exhibits & Lightning Talks – June 30 & July 1
Attendees can discover the latest products, innovations, and technologies from industry suppliers in the Exhibits. Select exhibitors will also deliver five-minute Lightning Talks, offering concise insights into new developments ahead of the networking receptions and new technology showcases.

Lunch Arounds – June 30 & July 1
These small-group lunch discussions offer an opportunity to connect with peers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders in an interactive setting designed to encourage dialogue and collaboration.

Pre-Conference Webinars
A series of webinars leading up to the event will provide additional insight into key industry topics.

World of Wipes Innovation Award® – June 30 & July 2
This annual award recognizes advances in nonwoven-based wipes that expand functionality and application. Finalists will present their innovations on June 30, and the winner will be announced on July 2.

For more information and to view the preliminary conference program, visit:
https://www.worldofwipes.org/conference-schedule

To register, reserve a tabletop exhibit, or become a sponsor, visit:
https://www.worldofwipes.org/

Posted: March 3, 2026

Source INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

 

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