#Associations

2023-02-02

IAF at OECD Forum

IAF and its partners in its global projects Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) and SCI (Standards Convergence Initiative) are active participants in the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector that will happen online February 13 – 15 and in hybrid form in Paris on February 16 and 17.

On Monday February 13, from 09:00 am to 10:00 am CET, IAF and ITMF will jointly give an online update on their work in the Standard Convergence Initiative (SCI). The SCI was set up by our organizations to keep pushing for a faster reduction for the audit and standard fatigue faced by garment manufacturers.

On Tuesday February 14, from 10:00 am to 11:10 am CET, IAF, through its STTI project, participates in an online session titled “Responsible Purchasing Practices: how can companies integrate them in their businesses? Learnings from the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices (CFRPP), the STTI White Paper and a community-based approach” This session explains how in practice better purchasing practices are currently being implemented. The session is organized by the MSI Working Group on Responsible Purchasing Practices and the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI).

Also on Tuesday February 14 from 16:00 pm to 17:00 pm CET, IAF (through STTI) and the Better Buying Institute (BBI) will jointly host an online session titled: “Commercial compliance – accelerating change, measuring progress.” In this session BBI and STTI will share findings of their data collection. Based on the data they will share what purchasing practice improvements suppliers want brands to prioritize. They will explain how data can show real purchasing practice progress in the form of true partnerships. And they will put the collection of data on commercial compliance/purchasing practices in a legislative context, making the link with mandatory due diligence.

Then on February 17, IAF is involved in two in person sessions at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Paris. First, IAF Secretary General Matthijs Crietee will speak in a panel taking place at 09:30 am to 11:00 am that is titled: “Implementing impactful due diligence: a practical perspective from Vietnam”. Later that day, from 2:30 to 4:00 pm CET, STTI spokesperson and BGMEA vice-president Miran Ali will speak in a panel called: “Due diligence costs and responsibilities: Collaborative approaches to buyer supplier relationships”

All online sessions can be accessed by going to https://www.oecd-events.org/garment/sessions?searchtext=&page=2. You will find the agenda there featuring all online side sessions and by clicking on a particular session you will reach the ‘register’ buttons. Upon registration you will receive the link to join online. To attend the OECD Forum in Paris, you may register through https://www.oecd-events.org/garment either to attend in person or to follow it live online.

“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.

EURATEX urges Member States to prioritise competitiveness in the next EU budget

Ahead of crucial discussions among EU Member States on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, calls on European leaders to safeguard ambitious funding for industrial competitiveness and ensure that these resources translate into concrete investment support in European companies.

Data and skills, not algorithms, hold back AI adoption in textiles, finds ITMF and ITA white paper

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University (ITA) have published a new white paper entitled AI in the Textile Value Chain: A Strategic Guide to Artificial Intelligence for the Global Textile Industry. The study concludes that the main barriers to artificial intelligence adoption in the textile and apparel industry are not technological limitations, but poor data integration, skills shortages and gaps in governance. According to the authors, further progress will depend on coordinated efforts to develop capabilities across the industry.

Mahlo introduces AI-supported Orthopac RVMC-20 plus at ITMA Asia 2026

From November 20 to 24, 2026, Mahlo GmbH + Co. KG will present its system portfolio for the textile industry at ITMA Asia in Shanghai. Together with its local sales and service partner Kuantex and Mahlo China, the Bavarian technology specialist will demonstrate at Booth C22 in Hall 7.1 how intelligent measurement and control technology can improve the quality and efficiency of textile production processes. The spotlight will be on the new Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, which combines precise weft straightening with fully integrated process control.

STFI showcases new Textile LAB Professional with focus on climate protection and sustainable technologies

The Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e. V. (STFI) in Chemnitz is organising a themed day on 3 December 2026, focusing on climate protection and the environment. As well as showcasing current applications for green cities and natural fibres for lightweight construction, the event will feature machine demonstrations in the new Textile LAB Professional. Under the motto ‘Design meets Technology’, this networking event will also provide an insight into artistic student projects, thereby facilitating a professional exchange on creative perspectives and modern technologies for climate protection and the environment.