#Associations

2024-01-18

Shape the future leadership of AATCC

AATCC is currently accepting nominations for open positions on its 2025-2026 Board of Directors. As a member-led organization, serving on the AATCC Board provides a valuable opportunity to guide the direction of the association while advancing your industry knowledge and professional relationships.

Board members are elected by their peers to represent the diverse interests of AATCC’s global membership. By bringing your unique perspective to the table, you can leave a positive mark on the textile industry while gaining skills and connections to boost your own career.

AATCC members will vote by emailed ballot this Fall. The new Board members will be announced in November and serve from January 2025 through December 2026.

President-elect

The AATCC President-elect serves in this role for two years before serving as President for two years, and then serves as Immediate Past President for another two years, serving six years in total as a member of the Board of Directors. In that time, he or she is a member of multiple administrative committees and helps set the strategy for the Association. Each President brings a new passion and focus.

Interest Group Officers

Each interest group is represented by an interest group Chair. Nominees must be a voting member of the interest group they represent.

+ Chemical Applications Interest Group

+ Concept 2 Consumer Interest Group

+ Materials Interest Group

+ Rising Professionals Interest Group

If you are interested in nominating yourself or someone else to join the AATCC leadership, please submit completed nomination forms by March 31, 2024. This is a volunteer-led commitment invested in shaping the future of textile knowledge exchange, research, and testing standardization.

To learn more about each role on the board, meet the current board, and submit a nomination, visit

http://www.aatcc.org/bod.

Get involved with AATCC and play an integral role in driving innovation for the wider industry. The organization needs engaged members who can offer their talents to further AATCC’s vision.

More information on membership at

http://www.aatcc.org/join

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.

New funding available for textile research

The AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Grant Program provides financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing textile-related projects. Students may submit proposals now for funding to be awarded January 2026. Applications must be submitted by October 1, 2025, to be considered.

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.

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.