#Associations

2024-11-01

IVGT on tour in Albstadt

For the second edition of the Albstadt ID industry event on 10 October 2024, more than 300 school students from all over Germany and around 200 other interested parties from the industry came to Albstadt to find out about new training and employment opportunities in the textile and clothing industry through numerous presentations. The IVGT was also there! In room 205-141, Iris Schlomski reported on the current status of the ADDTEX Erasmus+ project and explained in particular the content of the ADDTEX Academy and the Hackathon and Bootcamp programmes that have now been successfully implemented.

Iris Schlomski during her lecture © 2024 Iris Schlomski

ADDTEX project presented at the university

In her presentation, Iris Schlomski also addressed the current shortage of labour and skilled workers in the textile industry. According to the Association of German Engineers (April 2024), nine out of ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) state that they can no longer find new employees in Germany. At the same time, 25% of all European technical textiles are produced in Germany and their export share has been growing steadily for years, currently at 40% and a value of goods of over 12 billion euros. In light of this and the fact that more than 60% of German textile manufacturers have already switched their portfolio to technical textiles, she emphasised that training formats need to be adapted accordingly.

Adapting training formats to the needs

Germany urgently needs well-trained creative employees in the still growing and innovative future market of technical textiles! In addition to the more than 40 presentations on various topics, participants had the opportunity to gain a non-binding but detailed insight and overview of innovation topics in the industry and the textile degree programmes at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences by taking part in guided tours of the laboratory.

Rector Dr Ingeborg Mühldorfer and Prof. Dr Ing Christian Kaiser during the welcoming speech at the 2nd Albstadt ID © 2024 Iris Schlomski

The aim of the Albstadt ID is to strengthen the links between industry and the university and at the same time to generate enthusiasm for the exciting world of the textile and clothing industry - across all generations. An offer that was very well received and also made the 2nd Albstadt ID a very special event.

www.ivgt.de

www.addtex.eu

www.hs-albsig.de

Eco-design as the foundation of circular textiles

Based on the results of an extensive European analysis, the Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity is currently developing three practice-based training modules covering recycling technologies, eco-design for the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. This was preceded by a comprehensive company survey and a joint analysis conducted by the project partners under the leadership of IVGT. The results show that the greatest challenges lie not so much in a lack of technology as in skills gaps.

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.

The textile industry in transition

Recycling, traceability, eco-design and digitalisation are among the key future challenges facing the European textile industry. The Erasmus+ project Skills4Circularity, involving 21 partners from twelve countries, is investigating the skills required to address these challenges. As the German industry partner, the Industry Association for Finishing – Yarns – Fabrics – Technical Textiles (IVGT) is bringing the industry’s perspective to the project.

VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board

At the general meeting of VDMA Textile Machinery held in Hanover at the end of September, Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, was re-elected as Chairman of the trade association. Regina Brückner, managing partner of Brückner Trockentechnik, and Verena Thies, managing partner of Thies Textilmaschinen, will once again serve as vice-chairs for the next four years.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

YKK subsidiary Golden Hill Tower Limited marks 25 years of operations in Myanmar

Golden Hill Tower Limited, a subsidiary of YKK Corporation, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony in Myanmar on September 21, 2026. The event brought together approximately 230 guests, including senior executives from the YKK Group, to commemorate the company's development since the launch of its serviced apartment business in November 2000.

SHIMA SEIKI to showcase digital product creation at Apparel Sourcing Week

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Apparel Sourcing Week 2026 in Bengaluru, India next month. The exhibition provides a platform for the entire apparel value chain, bringing together manufacturers, brands, suppliers and solution providers in one location.

SNA GZ accelerates its on-demand production strategy with Kornit Digital

SNA GZ is leveraging the Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS to expand its music merchandise production, streamline e-commerce order fulfillment, and grow its print-on-demand business across Europe. This investment increases SNA GZ's textile production capacity by 150% (2.5×), enabling the company to meet growing demand and support its continued expansion.

NEUMÜHLE launches mono-material hoodie designed for textile recycling

With the Circular Mono Hoodie, Zurich-based label NEUMÜHLE introduces a new essential designed around a single-material principle. The textile construction is cotton throughout, right down to the sewing thread. Entirely free from elastane, the hoodie launches as a Limited Drop for CHF 139. Take-back, collection and existing recycling partnerships complement its circular design.