#Associations

2024-09-19

IAF and ITMF unite global fashion and textile leaders

The joint ITMF Annual Conference and IAF World Fashion Convention was held on September 8-10 in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This year’s convention, co-organized by the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), and hosted by Uztextileprom, the Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association, and the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Uzbekistan highlighted the crucial interdependence of our sectors.

Uzbekistan was chosen as the host of this year’s convention due to its rapidly growing role in the global textile and apparel industries. With a strong tradition in cotton production, recent strong export growth of textiles and garments and ambitious plans for sustainable growth, Uzbekistan is evolving into a key player in the textile value chain.

The event attracted over 350 leaders from more than 30 countries from the entire fibre, textile and apparel value chain, highlighting also the broad awareness that, in the words of IAF President Cem Altan: “Apparel and textile manufacturers hold the keys to meaningful, positive change. Initiatives such as decarbonization, reducing overproduction, enhancing transparency, and driving digitalization are critical—and they rely heavily on the efforts and investments of manufacturers.”

Mr. K. V. Srinivasan, ITMF President, pointed out: “The textile and apparel industry is going through a perfect storm of high input costs and low demand squeezing profit margins and leaving more and more capacities idle. Nevertheless, the winners of the ITMF Awards 2024 in the categories ‘Start-up’, ‘Sustainability & Innovation’ and “International Cooperation’ highlighted the capability of the industry to innovate and work together.”

Furthermore, the increasing regulatory pressures on the industry around the world were highlighted, with a call for shared responsibility. Cem Altan: “We are all aware that the apparel and textile industries are increasingly subject to regulation. As meeting these sustainability standards can be costly, it is crucial that the financial burden is shared equitably among all supply chain partners, from raw material to end consumer.”

“It is important that industry leaders and experts from the entire value chain meet in-person to discuss and analyse the short- and long-term challenges and opportunities of the industry going forward like sustainability, compliance, digitalization, or AI”, Mr. Srinivasan added.

As the convention closes, ITMF and IAF are confident that the partnerships and insights emerging from this historic event will drive lasting, positive change across the apparel and textile industries.

Photo (from left to right): 1. Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Mister Davron Vakhabov, 2. Governer of Samarkand Region Mister Erkinjon Turdimov 3. ?Cem Altan, IAF President, 4. ?Deputy Prime Minister Mister Jamshid Khodjaev, 5.President ITMF, K.V. Srinivasan 6. ?Chairman UZTS, Mirmuhsin Sultanov.

IAF Position on tariffs

The International Apparel Federation (IAF) represents the apparel manufacturing community across more than 40 countries—a global industry comprising hundreds of thousands of companies and millions of employees. Apparel and textiles are among the most globalized industries, historically foundational to industrial development around the world.

Meadow Grove Research joins ITMF as Corporate Member

Meadow Grove Research is a commodity research firm specializing in supply, demand, and trade analysis in cotton and other soft commodities. Providing clarity to the complex nature of the global fiber supply chain is one of its most formidable services. The firm thrives on customer engagement and providing the best framework for critical decisions.

Sustainability: European industry calls on EU to keep Single-Use Plastics Directive unchanged

A broad coalition of European industry associations, including EDANA, Euratex and Plastics Europe, has urged EU institutions to maintain the current legal framework of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). In a joint statement, the organisations argue that reopening the Directive at this stage would create legal uncertainty, increase regulatory complexity and undermine investment, while its implementation across the European Union is still incomplete.

Textile machinery: Italian technology charts the course for revival

Operating in a scenario characterized by geopolitical instability, slowing industrial investments, and new protectionist pressures. This is the main challenge for the Italian textile machinery industry that emerged during the General Assembly of ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), held today in Milan at the Shareholders’ Hall of Palazzo Edison.

New skills for a circular textile economy

Based on the results of a comprehensive analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is developing three practical training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. The content of the first module, Recycling Technologies, has now been developed and validated together with industry representatives. The module provides participants with knowledge of regulatory requirements, material sorting and the preparation of textile waste for recycling.

Contactless measurement of coating for Technical Textiles with PLEVA AF 310 and AF 120

Textiles used for protection and defense must perform reliably – whether they are protective garments, tents, tarpaulins, covers, or technical carrier materials. Properties such as flame resistance, water repellency, weather resistance, or defined air permeability are often only achieved through precise coating, finishing, or printing processes.

EFI Reggiani and Danitech Group announce strategic multi-year agreement for Mezzera textile finishing machinery

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (EFI), through its subsidiary EFI Reggiani (Reggiani Macchine S.p.A.), together with Danitech Engineering and Solutions Srl (Italy) and Suzhou Danitech Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd (China), announces a multi-year license and manufacturing agreement covering the Mezzera and Jaeggli textile finishing machinery portfolio.