#Associations

2020-11-12

Taiwan’s functional textiles thrive on innovation to define new epidemic prevention lifestyles

The world continues to be under the threat of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has brought fundamental changes to our daily lives.

Despite the decline in apparel buying in the first half of this year due to confinements, buyers have looked forward to soaring demand for outdoor and leisure lifestyle products in the post-epidemic era. This new trend has again tested the innovative capabilities of Taiwan’s textile industry, according to the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF).

In order to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Textile Export Promotion Project (TEPP) has integrated software and hardware for better video conferencing while providing tailor-made solutions that have created a new benchmark for business matchmaking.

When it comes to epidemic prevention textiles, the Taiwan Textile Federation has recommended four manufacturers, including Asiatic Fiber Co. which is known for developing special fibers and high-performance yarns. This year, the company is promoting products from the AFC Functional Protection Series and iQmax Functional Intelligence Series.

The AFC Functional Protection Series replaces disposable products with reusable fabrics that can be used in operation rooms and for personal protective equipment. Products from the iQmax Functional Intelligence Series also feature functional textiles – the first fabric that can be used with a mobile device to increase an apparel’s function.

Official Website:

https://www.asiatic.com.tw

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Singtex® Industrial and its subsidiary, Magictex, have also joined the national epidemic prevention textile team. Singtex’s functional fabric can be used for personal protective equipment. Thanks to its waterproof and breathable technology, these protective products can maintain their protective performance even after 30 washes.

Official Website:

http://www.Singtex.com/en-global/home; http://www.scafefabrics.com/en-global

Grandetex Development Co., Ltd. has further collaborated with yarn mills to develop the RICH-y® multi-functional yarn, which combines masterbatch and RICH-y® elements to effectively reduce energy consumption and waste during dyeing and finishing. such fabric has long-lasting anti-bacterial and deodorizing properties, as well as UV and environmental protection capabilities, making RICH-y® the most effective mask available on the market.

RICH-y®-made masks can be provided to buyers to help them better understand the effectiveness of RICH-y® through “Experiential Marketing” of proper epidemic prevention.

Official Website:

http://www.grandetex.com.tw

Kuen Long Textile Co., Ltd. is a professional textile fabric manufacturer with 44 years of experience in the industry. the company has joined hands with Grandetex Development to promote home furnishing fabrics, urban fashion leisure fabrics, and outdoor sports fabrics boasting eco-friendly functional antibacterial materials. Thanks to its one-stop-shop production model, Kuen Long Textile offers a variety of product combinations featuring RICH-y® and more.

Official website:

http://www.kuenlong.com.tw

Sustainable Textiles Online New Product Launch – Taiwan Textile Federation

Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) will be broadcasting a two-day online new product launch event on the 11th and 12th of November @ 9AM CET via TTF YouTube and Facebook platform. This is a great opportunity to learn the latest development on sustainable textiles from Taiwan!

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

Italian textile machinery orders show quarterly recovery in Q2 2026

In the period between April and June 2026, order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers showed mixed but encouraging signals for the second half of the year. The order index at constant prices stood at 46.6 points (taking 2021=100 as the base year), showing a slight decrease of 3% compared to the same quarter of 2025. This trend was largely due to the contraction recorded in the domestic market, which fell by 25% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

PERFORMANCE DAYS announces new focus topic & forums for October 2026

With its upcoming October 13–14, 2026 edition, PERFORMANCE DAYS is placing the spotlight on one of the textile industry’s most important transformations: “Bio-Based Materials – From Fiber to Fabric”, a two-part Focus Topic exploring the future of bio-based innovation across the textile value chain. Part 1, presented in October 2026, will focus on fibers and next-generation material developments, while Part 2 at the March 2027 edition will shift the perspective toward dyeing, finishing, additives, and processing technologies.

Febratex 2026 to be the largest edition of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas with 10 exhibition halls

Febratex 2026 will be the largest edition in the history of the leading textile trade fair in the Americas. Dedicated to the textile and apparel manufacturing industries, the event will take place from August 18–21, 2026, in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with a strong focus on technology, sustainability, and business generation.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues field trip brings international stakeholders closer to Brazil’s cotton production chain

How do you build trust across the global textile value chain? By opening the farm gates. This is the principle behind the Cotton Brazil Dialogues. At the end of July, the programme welcomed its first group of international participants for a five-day immersion into Brazilian cotton production, combining field visits with technical workshops to showcase the quality, sustainability, innovation and traceability behind one of the world’s leading cotton origins.