Textile Manufacturer Think Group Invests In New Talent To Accelerate Growth And Innovation

BRADFORD, England — September 22, 2025 — England-based textile manufacturer Think Group — formerly James Robinson Fibres/Texfelt — is celebrating one year since its successful major rebrand by announcing two new integral hires, Harriet Adams and Lance Bray, who will help maximize the opportunities created by the rebrand while building on the firm’s 150-year heritage and reputation as a pioneer in the fibers and nonwovens sector.

Harriet Adams and Lance Bray

Adams joins the organization’s senior leadership team as Development director. Her role will see her responsible for focusing on growth strategies and identifying new markets beyond existing channels. She brings 13 years of product development and operational experience from Camira and H & C Whitehead, and has worked in textiles for 18 years.

Adams commented: “I’m excited to be joining Think Group at such an exciting time for the company. What stood out to me about the firm is the team’s commitment to innovation and their focus on developing sustainable products and processes.”

Bray joins the group with a strong background in product development within the bedding and upholstery sectors, followed by more than a decade at one of the UK’s leading furniture retailers, SCS. The new key accounts manager will be responsible for strengthening customer partnerships and supporting the global expansion of the manufacturer’s non-woven portfolio.

Danny Shortall, managing director, comments: “These appointments demonstrate our commitment to innovation and growth, and Harriet and Lance will be integral in shaping Think Group’s future. Over the next few years, we will aim to build on the reputation of our non-wovens division, pushing the limits of our current production and developing bespoke solutions where necessary to enter new and exciting sectors.”

Posted: September 22, 2025

Source: Think: Group

Cooperation Between Germany And India (Tamil Nadu) In The Field Of AI-Supported Manufacturing, Robotics And Smart Textiles

DÜSSELDORF, Germany — September 1, 2025 — The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University are planning to cooperate in the future in the field of AI-supported manufacturing, robotics and smart textiles. At the same time, the aim is to promote talent exchange and a sustainable Indian-German partnership.

(left to right): Felix Neugart (CEO, NRW.Global Business), V. Arun Roy, I.A.S. (Principal Secretary, Department of Industry, Government of Tamil Nadu), Hon. M.K. Stalin (Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu), Hon. Dr TRB Rajaa (Minister of Industry, Investment Promotion and Trade, Government of Tamil Nadu), Dr Akram Idrissi (ITA – RWTH Aachen), Varqha Bagwan (ITA – RWTH Aachen) and Reinhold von Ungern-Sternberg (BVMW) Source: Guidance Tamil Nadu

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during the Tamil Nadu Rising Investment Conclave in Düsseldorf. M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and high-ranking representatives from government and industry were present at the signing.

The aim of the partnership is to create an open innovation ecosystem that combines dynamic industry with Germany’s excellent research. This partnership is strongly supported by Guidance Tamil Nadu and Hon. Dr TRB Rajaa, Minister for Industry, Investment Promotion and Trade of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Thiru V. Arun Roy, I.A.S., Principal Secretary, Department of Industry, Government of Tamil Nadu, exchanged the MoU on behalf of Sandeep Nanduri, I.A.S., Managing Director, TIDCO.

Dr Akram Idrissi, Head of Strategy & Business Development at ITA, exchanged the MoU on behalf of ITA Director Prof. Dr Thomas Gries.

Posted: September 22, 2025

Source: The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University

X-Rite Adds New Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) Color Library To PantoneLIVE Digital Color Ecosystem

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — September 22, 2025 — X-Rite Inc., a global supplier of color science and technology, today announced the addition of the Pantone TPG color library to its PantoneLIVE™ digital color ecosystem. Part of the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) system, the new library enables accurate digital visualization and communication of Pantone TPG colors across a variety of applications, including leather goods, ceramics, cosmetics, and other hard surfaces. This helps apparel and home goods brands maintain color consistency from design through production and assembly across a range of different substrates and materials.

Available through the PantoneLIVE Production – Plastics, Coatings & Textile subscription, the Pantone TPG (Textile Paper – Green) libraries are specifically designed for use on coated materials such as paints and leather as well as being used in cosmetics. These lacquer-coated color standards provide a visual reference that matches back to their corresponding TCX (Textile Cotton System) colors. This alignment ensures color consistency across materials, whether designing for textiles or hard goods, allowing brands and suppliers to ensure design intent is achieved and color is produced quickly and accurately.

As consumer product lifecycles shorten and the demand for speed and consistency grows, the new TPG libraries in PantoneLIVE help eliminate costly guesswork and delays in color development. Designers and manufacturers can preview achievable, production-ready color options digitally, reducing approvals, rework, and physical sampling. With over 4,000 Pantone FHI colors now accessible through PantoneLIVE, the expanded digital color library supports a wide range of applications across fashion, home furnishings, accessories, cosmetics, and ceramics.

“PantoneLIVE now extends its value to brand owners who rely on the FHI system to specify and manage color across both soft and hard materials,” said Pieter Mulder, director Global Brand Accounts, X-Rite and Pantone. “By digitizing Pantone TPG colors and aligning them with TCX textile standards, we’re giving designers and suppliers a unified, reliable approach to producing accurate color across materials while speeding up production.”

Digital Color Solutions for the Textile Industry

PantoneLIVE integrates with X-Rite’s portfolio of software and hardware solutions for the textile industry, including Textile Color Hub for brand color specification and approval, Color iMatch for formulation, Color iQC for quality control, and X-Rite spectrophotometers for precise color measurement. Together, these solutions create a connected workflow helping brands, dye houses, and manufacturers streamline communication, reduce color matching time, and improve time to market by up to 75 percent.

“These new PantoneLIVE libraries, combined with X-Rite’s measurement solutions, give brands and suppliers the ability to preview and deliver consistent color across the full production chain,” continued Mulder. “That means less guesswork — and more confidence that the final product will look exactly as intended.”

Learn more about X-Rite’s digital color management solutions at Fabricating the Future: AATCC and SEAMS 2025 Annual Conference, October 5–7 in Savannah, Ga.

For more information on digital color workflow solutions for textile brands and manufacturers, visit https://www.xrite.com/industry-solutions/cpg-textiles

Posted: September 22, 2025

Source: X-Rite Incorporated

SDL Atlas Launches Upgraded Scorch/Sublimation Tester For Heat And Pressure Fabric Testing

ROCK HILL, S.C. — September 22, 2025 — SDL Atlas announces the release of its newly upgraded Scorch/Sublimation Tester, engineered for greater accuracy, efficiency, and operator safety in evaluating fabrics under heat and pressure.

The instrument precisely measures ironing color fastness, dimensional stability under dry heat, and sublimation fastness, ensuring consistent and reliable results across applications.

SDL Atlas Scorch/Sublimation

A unique feature of the SDL Atlas Scorch/Sublimation Tester is its specially engineered lower hotplate system. Rather than depending on the upper plate’s weight for accuracy across different test methods, pressure is applied via a precision load cell beneath the lower hotplate. This design ensures pressure can be precisely adjusted to meet specific test standards, all easily controlled through the intuitive touch screen interface. It also enables a single instrument to perform both large plate and small plate tests with ease.

Other Key Upgrades:

  • Flexible Configuration — Standard large plate with optional small plate for special samples.
  • Built-In Standards — Preloaded international/domestic test methods with multi-language support.
  • Enhanced Safety — Insulated shell to reduce the risk of heat exposure
  • Higher Precision — Improved temperature and timing systems for accurate, repeatable testing.
  • Touch-Screen Controls — Intuitive interface for quick test setup.

Fully compliant with AATCC 92/114 and BS1006 UK-LA, the upgraded tester provides a reliable and safe solution for global textile laboratories.

The upgraded SDL Atlas Scorch/Sublimation Tester is now available worldwide.

Posted: September 22, 2025

Source: SDL Atlas

NCTO Signs Letter To President Trump With Several Business, Law Enforcement And Fentanyl Victims Groups Applauding His Action Closing De Minimis Globally

WASHINGTON — September 19, 2025 — Business, law enforcement, and families of fentanyl victims groups commend President Trump for taking decisive action to close the de minimis tariff loophole for all global commercial shipments, while countering misconceptions fueled by supporters, and urging the president to ensure the repeal remains in place if court rulings weaken it.

In a joint letter sent today, the groups state the president’s executive actions have “helped to level the playing field, restoring fairness for U.S. manufacturers and laying the groundwork for reinvestment and job creation in the United States,” while closing “a dangerous gateway used by bad actors seeking to illegally funnel fentanyl and precursor chemicals and other illicit goods into the United States, contributing to the drug epidemic ravaging our communities.”

As equally important, the groups urged the administration to ensure the closure of de minimis cannot be undone: “Insofar as recent or future court rulings overturn, nullify or introduce any uncertainty … we urge you to use existing executive authorities without hesitation to ensure that the de minimis loophole remains closed for good,” the letter states.

Further, the groups challenged defenders of de minimis who have raised alarms about the reforms, countering “the price surges, supply chain collapses, and delivery delays…have not come to pass.” They added when de minimis shipments from China, which accounted for the vast majority of all de minimis shipments into the United States, ended on May 2, “no significant disruptions” followed, and major carriers quickly adapted.

“We stand ready to continue challenging misconceptions about the end of de minimis being promoted by de minimis supporters and others, knowing how important closing this loophole has been for our economy and for the safety of our communities,” the letter states.

See a link to today’s full letter here: https://www.closedeminimis.com/letters/sept-19-2025-letter

The letter was signed by:

  • Achieve Greatness
  • Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA)
  • Facing Fentanyl
  • Families Against Fentanyl (FAF)
  • Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina
  • Kelsie’s Cause
  • Lost Voices of Fentanyl (LVOF)
  • National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)
  • National Bike Dealers Association (NBDA)
  • National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)
  • Reshoring Initiative
  • Shatterproof
  • Sherrill Manufacturing
  • United Against Fentanyl
  • Victims of Illicit Drugs (VOID)
  • Voices for Awareness

Posted: September 19, 2025

Source: The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

AATCC Honors Leaders in Textile Science and Service with 2025 Olney Medal and Harold C. Chapin Award

DURHAM, N.C. — September 19, 2025 — The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) proudly announce two distinguished award recipients for 2025: DR. Karen K. Leonas, recipient of the Olney Medal, and Barry P. Brady, recipient of the Harold C. Chapin Award. These honors celebrate remarkable achievements in textile science, sustainability, and dedicated service to the Association.

Karen K. Leonas Receives 2025 Olney Medal

Karen K. Leonas

Karen K. Leonas, professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management at North Carolina State University, is the 2025 recipient of AATCC’s prestigious Olney Medal. She is recognized for prolific contributions to textile sciences — particularly sustainable processes and practices across the supply chain, including textile processing, recycling, closed-loop manufacturing, circular economy methods, life-cycle analysis, and social justice. Her expertise also extends to weathering and degradation of polymeric materials; protective apparel material design for small particle and liquid penetration; and surface and chemical modifications of textiles and polymeric materials.

Leonas’s research outcomes appear in peer-reviewed publications, books, and presentations, and she has mentored dozens of graduate and undergraduate students. She has earned multiple honors from universities and professional societies, including the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA). A member of AATCC since 1978, Leonas has contributed through numerous committees, student chapter advising, and conference presentations.

The Olney Medal — established in 1944 to recognize outstanding achievement in textile or polymer chemistry or related fields — will be presented during Fabricating the Future: AATCC and SEAMS Annual Conference, October 6–8, 2025, at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa in Savannah, Georgia. Leonas will deliver the traditional Olney Medal Address, “Textile Chemistry: What a Wonderful World,” on October 6 at 4:15 p.m.

Barry P. Brady Honored with Harold C. Chapin Award

Barry P. Brady

AATCC also announces Barry P. Brady as the 2025 recipient of the Harold C. Chapin Award, given in grateful recognition of years of dedicated service to the Association. Brady has been a member of AATCC since 1979 and currently serves on both the AATCC and AATCC Foundation Boards of Directors. Since 2023, he has held the roles of 13th Treasurer of AATCC and 6th Treasurer of the Foundation, guiding financial growth and stability.

Brady chairs the Committee on Conferences and contributes to several administrative committees, including the Study Committee of Employee Benefits, Building and Grounds Committee, and Appropriations Committee. Previously, he chaired and moderated sessions for the Yarn Dyeing Technology Research Committee (1993–2008) and organized Yarn Dyeing and Jet Dyeing symposia. An enthusiastic advocate for education, he has judged student competitions, evaluated scholarships, and inspired countless members to engage in AATCC programs.

Brady’s award will also be presented during the Fabricating the Future: AATCC and SEAMS Annual Conference on October 6, 2025, in Savannah, Georgia.

Posted: September 19, 2025

Source: The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC)

Artistic Milliners Acquires Majority Stake In Cone Denim

LOS ANGELES & GREENSBORO, N.C. — September 18, 2025 —  Artistic Milliners, a global denim innovator, announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Cone Denim from Elevate Textiles.

The new multi-national company will operate under the historic Cone Denim name. Artistic Milliners’ Pakistan operations and business will continue to operate independently. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.

Cone Denim will offer fully vertical, end-to-end solutions – ranging from premium denim fabric to expertly finished garments. “We are committed to bringing the full breadth of our expertise to help unlock Cone’s competitive strengths. Cone Denim will preserve its unique identity while continuing to drive its own business strategy. Our goal is to collaborate closely with the Cone Denim team, building on the legacy and achievements of more than 130 years,” said Murtaza Ahmed and Omer Ahmed of Artistic Milliners in a joint statement.

Cone Denim and Artistic Milliners leadership at signing ceremony. Left to right: Steve Maggard, Murtaza Ahmed, Jeffrey P Pritchett, Omer Ahmed.

The new entity will operate a global platform spanning both hemispheres and will be comprised of a combination of selected assets from each organization. Cone Denim will now operate its existing mills in Parras and Yecapixtla, Mexico and its facility in Jiaxing, China; as well as Artistic Milliners’ recently inaugurated garment facility in Parras, Mexico; and its Star Fades International (SFI) laundry and development center in Los Angeles.

The Ahmeds continued: “Cone Denim’s distinctive position as the iconic American manufacturer joins Artistic Milliners’ global portfolio, creating an international organization that leverages our collective infrastructure and expertise to offer customers unparalleled service and flexibility. Our multinational manufacturing locations will offer speed, scale and surety of supply.”

Cone Denim will continue to operate as a standalone portfolio company under Artistic Milliners. Steve Maggard, President of Cone Denim, will lead the new entity, reporting to the Board of Directors, which includes Omer Ahmed, Murtaza Ahmed, and Jeffrey P. Pritchett alongside to-be-determined directors.

Pritchett, CEO and member of the Board of Directors, Elevate Textiles, added: “We are excited to unite two global denim leaders with shared values furthering the Cone Denim name and legacy. Cone Denim and Artistic Milliners both possess long-standing textile heritage and are recognized worldwide for their commitment to innovation, traceability, and sustainability. They are both well respected, responsible, and ethical manufacturers. As the new Cone Denim, we are able to better leverage synergies across our brands, operations, and global footprint including the return of Cone Denim production capabilities in the US and expansion into new global regions.”

Cone Denim and Artistic Milliners customers will continue to interact with their existing product and sales representatives and can anticipate the same high standard of service, delivery, and quality to be upheld.

“We remain committed to providing enhanced fabric variety, design innovation, and comprehensive garment services to our customers — this includes our planned expansion into North Africa,” Maggard added.

Posted: September 18, 2025

Source: Elevate Textiles

Itema Lays The First Stone Of The New Manufacturing Site Of Ponte Nossa, Italy

PONTE NOSSA/BERGAMO, Itay— September 18, 2025 — The ceremony for the laying of the First Stone of the new Itema Site in Ponte Nossa took place on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

The area, which once accommodated Cotonificio Cantoni, has lied unused since 2004. In July 2022, Itema concluded the acquisition of the site with the goals counteracting the abandonment of mountain areas and giving new life to an area that for many years in the past was the flagship of the industrial reality of the Seriana Valley, and of creating a new world-class production hub for the world of weaving machinery and solutions.

The Group of Colzate has then worked on an industrial requalification plan for the area, which is divided in multiple steps, and aimed to have new innovative spaces in terms of sustainability and circularity to accommodate efficiency enhancements in the production and engineering activities of Itema Group companies.

The laying of the First Stone marked the beginning of the construction works of Step 1 which is expected to be completed during 2027. This first step is dedicated to building a new manufacturing plant to improve the efficiency of the production capacity of the Itema weaving core business.

Ground breaking remarks at the new Ponte Nossa manufacturing site

The CEO of Itema Group, Ugo Ghilardi, said: “In 2022 we took the decision to begin a journey that would lead Itema Group to have a position adapted to the turbulent changes taking place and at the same time strengthen our brand, which is recognized throughout the textile world as an ambassador of “Made in Italy”.

“One step of this journey involves both process and production, and product assets, which find a home in this new manufacturing site in Ponte Nossa. A completion of our industrial presence in Bergamo, in Seriana Valley, that will also allow our historical site in Colzate to further develop. Our ambition is to create value in this territory in order to compete in the global textile industry”.

“In fact, the new plant will be built according to the most innovative principles of productive and logistic efficiency, while implementing the latest technologies in terms of manufacturing.”

Maurizio Radici, Itema Group’s president of the Board of Directors, added: “We are proud to continue our textile journey in Seriana Valley, the cradle of our history, with a project in which vision, innovation, and sustainability converge. Our roots are here. This new manufacturing hub represents our investment in a cutting-edge and prosperous future for our territory”.

The investment in the new manufacturing hub of Ponte Nossa, that will also involve a future development for Lamiflex S.p.A. in the following steps, testifies to the Itema Group’s desire to continue to represent a solid industrial entity for Bergamo and whole Italy, as well as a partner that looks at the future for all the weaving mills of the world.

Posted: September 18, 2025

Source: Itema S.p.A.

Exhibit Space Reservations Now Open for FiltXPO™ 2026 in Minneapolis

CARY, N.C. — September 18, 2025 —  Exhibit space reservations are now open for FiltXPO™ 2026, North America’s leading technical conference and exhibition dedicated to filtration. INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that the event will be held October 28–29, 2026, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis.

Held every 18 months, FiltXPO attracts 1,200+ global filtration leaders and features 120+ exhibitors showcasing their technologies, equipment, and solutions to end product manufacturers and brand owners.

“FiltXPO is where technologies, industry leaders, and business opportunities converge,” said Tony Fragnito, president & CEO, INDA. “This is the leading filtration event for companies looking to grow their business and engage with decision-makers who are shaping the future of filtration.”

“FiltXPO delivers not just visibility, but real business opportunities,” said Dan Noonan, director of Business Development & Membership, INDA. “Our exhibitors consistently tell us that the quality of attendees, such as CEOs, presidents, and vice presidents, sets FiltXPO apart.”

AFS to Partner with the Advances in Filtration Conference at FiltXPO 2026

INDA is proud to share that AFS, the American Filtration and Separations Society, has agreed to once again co-organize the Advances in Filtration Conference. The first edition of the conference in 2025 was met with great enthusiasm and attendance, and the second edition in 2026 looks to build upon that success with more industrial and technical topics. Exhibitors and attendees alike will enjoy a packed conference which will include multiple panel discussions, which were a big hit at the first edition.

Reserve your exhibit space today for FiltXPO™ 2026. For exhibit details, visit www.filtxpo.co

Posted: September 18, 2025

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

Arclin Enters Into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Aramids Business, Including Kevlar® And Nomex® Brands, From Dupont™

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — August 29, 2025 —   Arclin announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire DuPont’s Aramids business, which includes the Kevlar® and Nomex® brands, for approximately $1.8 billion. The planned acquisition will expand Arclin’s portfolio to include aerospace, electrical infrastructure, electric vehicles, personal protection, and defense, while building on its strong positions in construction, infrastructure, weather and fire protection, and transportation. Arclin’s cutting-edge technologies are mission critical and drive essential products that protect and enhance everyday life. The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Arclin is a portfolio company of an affiliate of TJC L.P.

“The Kevlar and Nomex brands have long been known for their innovation and protective qualities,” said Bradley Bolduc, president and CEO of Arclin. “With this planned acquisition, Arclin will unlock the potential for these brands, ushering in a new era of advanced materials that can make homes, workplaces and communities stronger, safer and more resilient.

“DuPont is proud of the legacy of the Kevlar and Nomex brands,” said Lori Koch, CEO of DuPont. “We are confident that under Arclin’s leadership, these businesses will continue to thrive and expand their impact in new industries and applications.”

“The global footprint of the Kevlar and Nomex businesses presents a unique opportunity for Arclin to expand into new markets both geographically and through new products and technologies,” said Mark Glaspey, COO of Arclin. “We are focused on unlocking opportunities across facilities, partners, and markets.”

“We are thrilled to add these iconic and trusted brands to the Arclin portfolio,” said Jana Wright, Arclin’s vice president of Brand & Marketing. “The Kevlar and Nomex brands align with our commitment to transform protective technologies, and we are excited about the potential to further innovate and serve a broader audience with these brands.”

Transaction Highlights:

  • Arclin has entered into an agreement to acquire DuPont’s Aramids business, including the Kevlar and Nomex brands.
  • Expands Arclin’s portfolio with proven protective technologies trusted in personal and first responder safety.
  • Enables Arclin to leverage the highly innovative products and technologies of Kevlar®, Nomex® and Arclin.
  • Positions Arclin to create technologies and develop new products that set industry standards.
  • The acquisition includes approximately 1,900 employees who will bring decades of technical experience to Arclin.
  • Strengthens Arclin’s global market presence and accelerates entry into new geographies.
  • Transaction expected to close in Q1 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Piper Sandler & Company is serving as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to Arclin and TJC. Centerview Partners and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and are serving as DuPont’s financial advisor and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel.

Posted: September 17, 2025

Source: Arclin

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