#Associations

2025-11-06

Elections of the ITMF Board for the term 2025-2027

Mr. Juan Parès (Spain) elected as new ITMF President

On October 24th, 2025, during the ITMF Annual Conference & IAF World Fashion Convention 2025 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the Committee of Management of the ITMF elected the members of the ITMF Board for the period 2025-2027.

Mr. Juan Parès (Spain) was unanimously elected as the new ITMF President of the Federation.

Juan Parés born in Cantabria-Spain in 1960, is Chairman of Textil Santanderina Group, a leading European textile industry group with a complete, traceable, vertical production system: Spinning, Design, Weaving Finishing, Coating, Printing and making up. Degree in Business administration and management at the University of Cantabria, he started at Textil Santanderina SA in 1980, where he worked as Quality Manager (1985-1989), Product & Marketing Manager (1989-1993) and was appointed Managing Director & CEO in 1994, and Chairman of Textil Santanderina Group in 2007.

Mr. Mustafa Denizer (Türkiye) was re-elected, and Ms. Yan Yan (China) was elected as new Vice Presidents of the Federation.

Mr. Ernesto Maurer (Switzerland) was re-elected as Honorary Treasurer. The following persons were re-elected as Non-executive Board Members:

• Mr. Salman Ispahani (Bangladesh)

• Mr. Yingxin Xu (China)

• Ms. Suchita Jain Oswal (India)

• Mr. Tae Jin Kang (Korea)

• Mr. Anees Khawaja (Pakistan)

• Mr. Stefan Hutter (Singapore)

• Mr. Uday Gill (Thailand)

The following persons were elected as new Non-executive Board Members:

• Mr. Ernst Grimmelt (Germany)

• Mr. Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu (India)

Mr. Rafael Cervone (Brazil), Mr. Mohammad Kassem (Egypt), Mrs. Michelle Tjokrosaputro (Indonesia), Mr. Loek de Vries (Netherlands), and Mr. Muharrem Kayhan (Türkiye) were co-opted to the Board.

Mr. K. V. Srinivasan (India) was appointed Honorary Life Member of the Federation in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Federation as Vice President (2018- 2023) and as President (2023-2025).

ITMF and IAF conclude successful Joint Convention 2025 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) have successfully concluded their second joint convention, held this year in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In close collaboration with the host Indonesian Textile Association (API), the event gathered over 400 delegates from around the world from across the entire textile and apparel value chain.

Businesses urge European Commission to allow continued sale of products already lawfully placed on the market before the Empowering Consumers Directive’s application to avoid unnecessary waste and costs

EDANA, the voice of nonwovens, alongside a coalition of leading European business associations, has issued a joint statement urging the European Commission to introduce a "grandfathering clause" to the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive. The coalition warns that without transitional provisions for products already lawfully placed on the market, the new rules could inadvertently lead to massive waste and economic disruption.

Joint Statement: Urgent clarification needed on scope of Textiles EPR for PPE and Medical Devices

EDANA, the voice of nonwovens, alongside fellow industry associations CIRFS (European Man-Made Fibres Association), EURATEX (The European Apparel and Textile Confederation), ESF (European Safety Federation), and EuroCommerce (Retail & Wholesale), has issued a joint statement raising critical concerns regarding the transposition of Directive (EU) 2025/1892, the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive.

Young researchers recognised for cutting-edge work in recycling, fibre technology and textile mechanics

At the Aachen-Dresden-Denkendorf International Textile Conference held in Aachen at the end of November, Peter D. Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation of the VDMA, honoured five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability prizes were awarded in the categories bachelor/project theses and diploma/master theses. Academic theses that develop solutions for resource-saving products and technologies, for example, are eligible for the sustainability awards.

Level playing field at stake: Europe’s textile industry demands decisive action

Yesterday, the European Parliament took a welcomed and necessary step by voting a resolution calling for stronger market surveillance, reinforced customs controls and faster enforcement of the Digital Services Act in case of infringements. For Europe’s textile and clothing manufacturers, this is the first political acknowledgement that the system is broken — and that enforcement must finally match the scale of the problem.

Happy Holidays!

Dear reader, the year 2025 is drawing to a close. We are entering what we hope will be a peaceful holiday season, spending time with our families and taking a moment to pause and reflect. We hope we have been able to support you once again this year with relevant news and articles, and we look forward to surprising you with many innovations in the coming year. Enjoy the festive season, stay healthy, and we wish you a happy and joyful holiday season.

Texpertise Focus AI: Messe Frankfurt puts Artificial Intelligence centre stage at its international textile and apparel trade fairs

Under the banner 'Texpertise Focus AI, Messe Frankfurt will place a strong emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its international textile and apparel trade fairs from 2026 onwards, setting a future-shaping signal for the industry. The initiative highlights the responsible use of AI along the entire textile value chain, from fibre production to the point of sale. The programme will launch at Heimtextil in Frankfurt in January 2026.

Autoneum and Polestar set new benchmarks for passenger experience and sustainability

As the global market leader in sustainable acoustic and thermal management, Autoneum is a key supplier of interior and exterior components for the highly anticipated Polestar 5 model. The successful collaboration between Autoneum and Polestar marks a significant milestone in sustainable automotive engineering: the electric grand tourer sports car features several innovations in lightweight, fully recyclable polyester-based components that ensure a superior driving experience. Polestar 5 was revealed at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich and is available in 24 markets.