SPARTANBURG, S.C. — February 22, 2023 — The Textile Business of global manufacturer Milliken & Company announced it has successfully eliminated all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, from its textile fibers and finishes portfolio, becoming the first U.S.-based multi-market textile manufacturer to remove PFAS.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment and tribute to our team who worked around the clock to develop solutions that meet our customers’ performance requirements and reflect our purpose to positively impact the world for future generations,” said David Smith, executive vice president, Milliken & Company, and president, Milliken’s Textile Business.
The manufacturer announced in February 2022 an aggressive plan to eliminate PFAS as an ingredient in its textile portfolio by the end of the year. As of December 31, 2022, the Textile Business at Milliken had removed PFAS-based finishes and fibers, which spans multiple industries including flame-resistant, military, uniform and decor fabrics.
Milliken’s Textile Business began evaluating its portfolio in 2020 and segmented its evaluation efforts between three areas of focus: durable water repellency (DWR), soil release and oil repellency. Alternative DWR solutions were readily available in the market through accredited organizations such as bluesign®. The Milliken research team assessed and implemented appropriate alternatives to maintain the performance and quality standards customers expect for DWR.
Soil repellency proved to be both a challenge and an opportunity for the Textile Business. Working with Milliken’s internal research team, a new soil release technology was developed and integrated into suitable textile applications without PFAS as an ingredient. The new technology, proprietary to Milliken & Company, has shown equivalent and, in some cases, superior performance to previous PFAS-containing finishes. Currently, the new technology is not an alternative to every soil-repellent finish application. After an extensive search and vetting process for alternative oil repellency, no alternative was found, and the company exited those lines of business as a result.
“Our work was intricate, and our team, including research and development, sourcing, compliance, sales, and many other functions, approached this initiative thoughtfully and with great care for our customers,” added Dr. Jeff Strahan, director of sustainability, compliance and research for the Textile Business. “We’re thrilled to be leading the industry in taking meaningful action that will have an immediate impact.”
Effective January 1, 2023, Milliken no longer treats textiles with PFAS chemistry. This achievement follows Milliken’s recent announcement that its science-based net-zero targets were approved by the U.N.-backed Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
MILAN — February 22, 2023 — From April 18-21, 2023, nonwovens exhibition INDEX will take place in Geneva. About 90 Italian exhibitors will be present at this edition, including more than 40 machinery manufacturers. As in past editions, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in cooperation with the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), has organized an exhibition space reserved for companies manufacturing machinery for the sector. There will be 12 exhibiting companies in the Italian pavilion (Hall nr. 4, booths nr. 4131 & 4137). Of these, the ACIMIT members are: Bematic, Bombi, Bonino, Dell’Orco & Villani, Ferraro, Loptex, Ommi, Rf Systems, Texera, Zappa Macchine. Other ACIMIT member companies will exhibit fair with their own booths
The nonwovens sector has grown significantly in recent years. According to EDANA, the association grouping European companies operating in the sector, after the impressive growth in the previous year, the production volume of nonwovens grew by 2 percent in 2021, exceeding 3 million metric tons.
“The growth in nonwovens production has also driven the demand of machinery for nonwovens,” said Alessandro Zucchi, president of ACIMIT. The Italian technological supply has consequently expanded. At the 2023 INDEX edition, the presence of a significant number of Italian machinery manufacturers testifies their desire to play a leading role also in the production of machinery for nonwovens”.
The trend of Italian exports testifies the strong increase in production of nonwovens machinery. Indeed in 2021 Italian sales abroad reached a value of 102 million euro (+77 percent over the previous year) and in the first nine months of 2022, the value of Italian exports stood at 92 million euro.
Visit the Italian Pavilion @INDEX2023, Hall nr. 4, booths nr. 4131 & 4137
Posted: February 22, 2023
Source: ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers
CINCINNATI — February 2,1 2023 — Michelman is very excited to announce that Dr. Portia Yarborough has joined the company as chief science & sustainability officer (CSSO), effective February 6, 2023.
Portia is a dynamic leader with over two decades of experience creating value at DuPont. She has expertise in delivering innovative solutions using high-performance engineered materials, elastomers, composites, and sealing technologies. Portia has helped customers excel in a diverse range of markets including aerospace, electronics, and protective apparel. She has a track record of building and delivering innovation pipelines to sustain growth of multimillion-dollar portfolios. Portia is a strategic change champion with a strong focus on differentiated risk management, sustainability, and innovating safer by design.
Rick Michelman, president and CEO at Michelman, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Portia to our team. Her leadership expertise and industry knowledge will help us accelerate our sustainabilityinitiatives throughout Michelman and the industries we serve. Her passion for community and professional involvement – from advocating for trails and scenic byways with Delaware Greenways to sparking curiosity with educational experiences through Hope Academy Fund – aligns perfectly with Michelman’s values of focusing on people and communities. We are very excited to see how Portia will serve as a catalyst for Michelman’s continued growth as a sustainability leader.”
Portia is excited to join the Michelman team and has said: “I am thrilled to join the Executive Leadership team at Michelman and look forward to working with talented team members to create a positive impact on the triple bottom line – people, planet and profit. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply my experience and help advance Michelman’s efforts of Innovating A Sustainable Future.”
ATLANTA — February 21, 2023 — Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas will once again be reunited for one large, collocated industry event in May 2023. The platform presents an amazing opportunity for visitors to gain essential industry insight, reinforce B2B connections, and become equipped with solutions needed to optimize their production.
“The disruptions caused due to the pandemic have created the need for more flexible sourcing and automated technologies that allow the industry to efficiently scale up production,” says Kristy Meade, Vice President of Technical Shows. “Development in future-oriented fields such as 3D design, blockchain, and advanced processes are providing multi-faceted insights for businesses to upgrade their shop floors, and Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas will serve as the ideal industry meeting point to see these advancements in person. At the 2023 edition, visitors can expect to find the most relevant, on-trend innovations and can discover for themselves how new R&D developments and technologies are revolutionizing all kinds of industries from apparel to upholstery to agriculture to construction — opening doors for the industry’s diverse sourcing needs.”
Attendee registration is live. Attendee registration is live. Companies interested in visiting can register at www.techtextilna.link/reg23 to attend Techtextil North America or www.texprocessam.link/reg23 to attend Texprocess Americas, to get access to both shows. Likewise, companies interested in exhibiting can check out the information and latest floorplans and reserve a booth for Techtextil North America at www.techtextilna.link/exhibit23 and for Texprocess Americas at www.texprocessam.link/exhibit23
“This is a significant year for the sewn product industry to rebuild supply chains and optimize efficiency,” says Michael McDonald, president of SPESA. “The synergy created through these co-located shows will generate a business environment that encourages the exchange of knowledge, resources, and technology that not only benefits the companies that participate in the show but also strengthens our collective industries. We are extremely excited to bring the latest advancements of sewn product industry suppliers to live audiences in 2023 and provide a platform in which they can instantly engage with and respond to the information they are being presented.”
The organizers — Messe Frankfurt Inc. and SPESA — have also confirmed the addition of several new features to the show floor for the 2023 editions of the exhibitions to elevate the exhibitor and attendee business experience. The exclusive Tech Zone is a new area dedicated to recognizing ground-breaking technology that is currently being implemented in the technical textile, nonwoven, and sewn product sectors. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to meet with top innovators who will be showcasing and discussing the ways in which their products are utilizing new technology to revolutionize their respective fields. Additionally, qualifying smaller companies looking to gain exposure will have the opportunity to present their products in front of thousands of attendees at the new Startup Area.
Covering trending topics and the most pressing industry challenges, the Symposium will feature a series of educational sessions about new technologies, through which attendees will also be able to gain in-depth business insights. At these highly acclaimed sessions, industry experts will discuss some of the most pivotal advancements being made in technical textile, nonwoven, and sewn product technology and will highlight ways in which these advancements are changing the industry landscape.
Techtextil North America’s versatile range of displays will target agriculture, construction, furniture, apparel, and more. The technologies on display at Techtextil North America can be applied across diverse industry sectors, making it a must-visit platform for visitors to make sourcing decisions. Similarly, Texprocess Americas is the perfect business platform for all professionals involved in the sewn products industry — including retail, brand, and manufacturing executives — to meet with leading international manufacturers and distributors of machinery, equipment, parts, supplies, systems, technology, supply chain solutions, and other products and services used for the development of sewn products.
Together, the Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas platforms aim to empower attendees to integrate technology and fuel innovation that will drive the textile and sewn product industries forward and will be a pivotal meeting point in 2023!
FORT SMITH, Arkansas — February 21, 2023 — Andrew Gregory has joined ABB as CFO for the company’s NEMA Motors Division. In this role, he is responsible for supporting the division’s financial long-range plan and ensuring the financial feasibility of the division’s strategy and its implementation. Gregory joins ABB after more than 20 years in the pool, filtration and industrial products industry, most recently with the second-largest distributor of pool equipment and supplies in the U.S. Gregory succeeds Larry Johnston who has assumed the role of controller for the division’s U.S. region.
“As global industry increases its focus on efficiency and sustainability, we must ensure that we have forward-thinking business leaders who fully understand the emerging needs of the market,” said Jesse Henson, NEMA Motors Division president. “Andrew’s experience in manufacturing and history of driving results will ensure ABB’s NEMA Motors Division is well positioned for growth while continuing to provide quality and value for our customers.”
Andrew has a bachelor’s degree in finance and international business from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Connecticut. He is a Certified Management Accountant and will be based in Fort Smith, Ark.
OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — February 21, 2023 — Close cooperation between educational institutions and industry is vital in today’s world: they can inspire young students to new ideas, offer them future opportunities and awaken new passions. With this in mind, the KNIT COUTURE upcycling project was initiated between STOLL — part of the KARL MAYER GROUP — and the TEXOVERSUM Faculty of Textiles at Reutlingen University as part of the 3rd semester for fashion design. Both partners are leading the way in their industry. The results are clear to see.
Both the supervising professor Natalie Seng and project partners at STOLL have been impressed by the students’ creative achievements. “The works are evidence of extraordinary creativity and diversity. It is not a given that students in the 3rd semester are already able to demonstrate such creative achievement. We are excited to see how the students will develop throughout their studies and of course hope that we have been able to spark an interest in flat knitting as part of this project,” says Ellen Judith Müller, 3D designer at STOLL.
Cooperating with the best
STOLL is a producer of flat knitting machine technology and has a wide range of knitted swatches, as well as in-shape and seamless knitted garment products that make the possibilities afforded by flat knitting technology tactile. Regular trend collections constantly symbolise new technological possibilities.
Reutlingen University was recently named as Top University in Baden-Württemberg by the ratings portal Study-Check. It is second in the nationwide rankings for universities of applied sciences. As part of their fashion design studies, the students at TEXOVERSUM in Reutlingen focus on future issues facing the fashion industry, such as sustainability and digitization, where there are conflicts between handicrafts and consumer society.
A lens on sustainability
The joint KNIT COUTURE project also primarily focused on the topic of sustainability. A total of 13 students were asked to draw inspiration from historical knitting patterns donated by STOLL and to create new looks that brought old materials into a modern context, thereby giving them a new value. The young creatives developed mood boards, colour and collection concepts, and subsequently extended them into a compilation of at least ten different looks. The final piece included four outfits with two real-life models and two digital 3D simulations. These resultant diverse creations breathed new life into STOLL’s historic knitting patterns.
Figure 1: “Old is the new new” collection by Lisa Bassot
Turning Old Into New And Beyond
Lisa Bassot, for example, wants to appeal to a young target audience with her “Old is the new new” collection, featuring a modern design language. She is focusing on youngsters who want to get to grips with the production, personalisation and possible combinations of their clothes. Lisa Bassot wants to encourage people to wear clothes for several years and to value their wardrobe. These outfits – made from what already exists – stand out thanks to their creativity: knitted trousers were stuffed and knotted into novel tops. Tops were turned into a multi-layered skirt with lacing, and two jumpers were transformed into accessories.
Figure 2: “Break the system” collection by Janna Sautter and Özgenur Kesimal
Group work by Janna Sautter and Özgenur Kesimal also demonstrates a feel for current trends: The two designers’ “Break the System” collection reflects how modern upcycling can look through street-style-inspired outfits. Their designs not only reflect knitted STOLL patterns but also include their packing materials. In this case, novel knitwear creations have been combined with filled plastic puffer garments. As such, both designers are making a statement that no material is beyond upcycling.
Figure 3 “Selfesque” collection by Kirsten Hippmann and Klara Mahn
Packaging also inspired Kirsten Hippmann and Klara Mahn to create their “Selfesque” collection. The students stuffed real waste material with cut-up knitting pattern snippets and used them to make corsages and a cape. They also used excess yarn to develop new knitting patterns on the university’s own STOLL warp knitting machine. The new creations were combined with historical pattern pieces, satin, borders and feather accessories.
In contrast, Karina Gaus placed nature at the very heart of her collection: “Tails of the forest”. The budding designer explains that she believes nature is a magical place that needs to be protected. Stylistically, she was inspired by fairy-tale creatures. As part of her collection, she transformed a variety of STOLL knitting patterns into fantastic new creatures using smocking techniques, layering, crimping and embroidery.
Figure 4 “Tails of the forest” collection by Karina Gaus
Bilgen Colak also focuses on nature with her work “Contamination”. With polluted and deconstructed models, she is creatively denouncing the current environmental and marine pollution. To do so, she distorted knitting patterns that were originally colourful using dyeing techniques and foil printing to visualise how nature is being contaminated.
Figure 5: “Contamination” collection by Bilgen ColakFigure 6: “Change.org” collection by Sophia Heinisch
Sophia Heinisch refers to current social issues in her collection, including the latest women’s movement in Iran, and demands for upholding human rights. “Through my ‘CHANGE.org’ collection, I want to pay tribute and express my admiration to those who are courageous enough to stand up and fight for a better future,” says Sophia Heinisch. Her collection represents empowerment: the courage to express oneself freely and individually. With skilled craftsmanship, she has combined different techniques, such as patchwork, crochet, screen-printing and classic pattern construction, to create expressive models.
CLERMONT-FERRAND, France — February 18, 2023 — Carbios has signed an agreement with PVH Corp. to join its fiber-to-fiber consortium founded with On, Patagonia, PUMA, and Salomon*. Committed to accelerating the transition of the textile industry toward a circular economy. Carbios, On, Patagonia, PUMA, PVH Corp., and Salomon collaborate to test and enhance Carbios’ breakthrough biological recycling technology on their own products. The ultimate aim is to prove fiber-to-fiber closed circularity using Carbios’ biorecycling process at an industrial scale in support of the Consortium members’ ambitious sustainability commitments.
During the two-year collaboration, Carbios and its partners collaborate to deliver the biological recycling of polyester items at industrial-scale, including thorough sorting and dismantling technologies for complex textile waste. The existing members voted unanimously for PVH Corp. to join the Consortium stating : “The aim of our consortium is to support the development of actionable solutions that address the fashion industry’s contribution to climate change and PVH Corp. can bring a broader perspective to the project, which is always welcome.”
Carbios has developed a unique and sustainable technology using highly selective enzymes that can recycle blended feedstocks, therefore reducing extensive sorting required by current thermomechanical recycling methods. For mixed fiber textile materials, Carbios’ patented enzyme acts solely on the PET polyester found within. This innovative process creates recycled PET (r-PET), equivalent in quality to virgin PET, that can be used to produce new textile fibers: a major breakthrough for the textile industry.
Treatment of textile waste and recycling
Globally, only 13 percent of textile waste is currently recycled and mainly in lower quality applications such as padding, insulation or rags**. The remaining 87 percent is destined for landfill or incineration. In order to work on improving textile recycling technologies, Consortium members will supply feedstock in the form of apparel, underwear, footwear and sportswear. In 2023, a new line for textile PET waste will be operational at Carbios’ demonstration facility via notably the “LIFE Cycle of PET” project co-funded by the European Union. This comes in anticipation of future regulations, such as the separate collection of textile waste to be made mandatory in Europe from January 1, 2025.
Fiber-to-fiber : circularity of textiles
To produce fibers and fabrics, today’s textile industry largely relies on non-renewable resources, and in part on recycled PET bottles for recycled polyester fiber. This resource, however, will become scarce as PET bottles will be destined exclusively to produce new bottles within the Food & Beverage Industry. In a circular economy, the materials used to produce textiles are sourced from recycled or renewable feedstocks produced through regenerative practices. As well as supplying feedstock for the demonstrator, Consortium members aim to create new products from Carbios’ r-PET fibers produced using its biorecycling process.
“Partnering with Carbios and its consortium members demonstrates our ongoing commitment to including more circular materials in our collections,” said Esther Verburg, executive vice president, Sustainable Business and Innovation, Tommy Hilfiger Global and PVH Europe. “We are excited to support the development of Carbios’ enzymatic recycling technology, leveraging new solutions that can help us to drive fashion forward for good.”
“The Carbios belief is that we can achieve more as a collective. That’s why we rally forces with our Consortiums to advance our unique technology, and ultimately switch to a more sustainable industry, benefiting citizens and the environment,” commented Emmanuel LADENT, CEO of Carbios. “We are delighted to welcome PVH Corp. to join our Consortium with other prestigious brands to advance our shared vision of true circularity for the textile industry.”
GASTONIA, N.C. — February 17, 2023 — Champion Thread Co. (CTC) — a manufacturer and marketer of industrial sewing threads, engineered yarns, and other textile and sewn products accessories — has opened a new thread and yarn dyeing facility in Clover, S.C. Located in close proximity to its Gastonia, N.C.-based headquarters, the domestic manufacturing investment bolsters CTC’s customer service capabilities, product and operational sustainability, vertical capacity, and local workforce.
According to CTC President Matt Poovey: “At a time when global supply chain disruptions and uncertainties abound, we are strengthening our capacity as the go-to, on-time supplier that our textile and sewn products customers need to meet fast-changing market needs. In addition to boosting our service, this investment supports our ongoing focus on building lean, flexible manufacturing operations and environmentally sustainable products and operations. Our teams’ impressive commitment to seeing us through the pandemic made this investment in the American textile workforce a simple decision for us.”
The new facility is one of only a few such dyehouses built in the United States in a generation. The new facility enables CTC to quickly, efficiently, and locally dye its yarns and threads to speed deliveries, expand scheduling flexibility, reduce costs and ensure color accuracy.
The new dyehouse comprises many highly efficient and sustainable technologies. Key among these is low liquor ratio dyeing equipment that significantly reduces water usage and energy-efficient, on-demand boilers that substantially reduce dyehouse emissions. The CTC facility also has a state-of-the-industry dye lab, process automation, monitoring and control systems. The operation also increases local finish winding, twisting, and packaging capacity for threads and yarns.
To optimize all these innovative technology and processes, CTC is actively retraining existing team members and recruiting for new positions created as the new facility ramps-up production.
BRUSSELS — February 21, 2023 — Today, 43 partners of the RegioGreenTex project met in Brussels to kick start a three year project that should change the way we manage textile recycling.
Regions for Green Textiles – known as RegioGreenTex – is a quadruple-helix partnership initiative aiming at mapping and reducing the difficulties, which currently exist in the implementation of a circular economy model within the textile ecosystem across the EU.
RegioGreenTex will support tangible solutions at SME level, where textile waste becomes a value. The project will contribute to maintain and develop jobs in the EU textile sector, reshoring the production in Europe and making the EU textile value chain more competitive and resilient. It will contribute to the EU Green Deal objectives of reducing carbon footprint, energy and water consumption.
Led by EURATEX, the project brings together 43 partners from 11 European regions, with 24 SMEs pioneering innovative solutions to recycle textile waste. Together the SMEs cover various value chain segments of circular textiles (sorting, recycling from material to fibre, removal of contaminants, processing of recycled fibres to new textile materials) and provide concrete solutions to EU value chain bottlenecks but also seizes upon market opportunities. The project will also promote the development of 5 regional ReHubs in some of the most important textile regions in the EU.
RegioGreenTex is supported by the European Commission through the Interregional Innovation Investments Instrument – I3, and will be coordinated by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).
As part of the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF), the I3 instrument aims at supporting interregional innovation projects in their commercialisation and scale-up phases giving them the tools to bring their project to investment level. This instrument focuses on strengthening economic cohesion in the EU by helping businesses work with innovation actors in other regions.
Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of EURATEX, welcomes the project: “RegioGreenTex will support our companies in making this transition towards a new sustainable business model. We’re happy to have 24 SMEs involved, who will directly benefit from the action. The project should also mobilise regional authorities to engage in textile waste recycling, which can give a new dynamic to the textile industry at large.”
BOENNIGHEIM, Germany — February 20, 2023 — Testing service provider Hohenstein has worked with partners to create a new standardized test method for detecting and classifying the environmental effects of textiles during washing. DIN SPEC 4872 combines analysis of fiber release, biodegradability and ecotoxicity.
The test method according to DIN SPEC 4872 shows how many fibers are released during textile laundering, how well these fibers degrade in wastewater and how harmful the fiber residues are to the environment.
Studies have shown that washing textiles releases microfibers into the wash water, which cannot be sufficiently retained by wastewater treatment plants. Synthetic fibers pose the greatest risk to the environment because of their longevity and inability to biodegrade. However, Hohenstein project manager Juliane Alberts does not give the all-clear for biodegradable fibers and natural fibers: “Biodegradability alone does not mean that pure natural fibers, for example, are completely harmless to the environment. They, too, remain in ecosystems until they completely degrade and can also have a negative impact. In addition, additives, auxiliaries or finishes used in textile production can further slow the degradation process and leach into the environment.”
The new standard enables textile producers and suppliers to test, evaluate and compare products for fiber release during washing and environmental impact. Juliane Alberts sees this systematic evaluation as an opportunity for the textile industry to take the initiative on environmental impact: “Our reliable data can be used as a basis for more targeted product development. This is a way to actively and consciously control further environmental pollution.”
