#ITMA 2015

2015-11-12

Rhodia launches biodegradable Amni® Soul Eco polyamide yarn worldwide at ITMA 2015

Rhodia, a Solvay Group company, will launch worldwide the world's first biodegradable polyamide yarn at the event, Amni Soul Eco®. The fiber is finalist of the Future Material Award, in the Best Innovation - Sustainable Textiles category promoted by the tradeshow.

Developed over five years of researches, Amni Soul Eco® is a polyamide 6.6 textile yarn whose formulation has been enhanced to allow garments made with this innovative technology to quickly decompose after being properly disposed of in landfills, making the articles environmentally friendly. Unlike other fibers which take decades to decompose, it only takes about three years for Amni Soul Eco® to be eliminated from the planet.

The yarn arrives at the tradeshow as a finalist of the ITMA 2015 Future Material Award, as the Best Innovation - Sustainable Textiles category. The ITMA award recognizes the best textile innovations and celebrates the essential work of these companies that encourage this industry. The winners will be announced on November 16th during a gala dinner for the world's major players in the industrial textile chain.

Amni Soul Eco® offers the many benefits of Rhodia's polyamide for consumers, such as its soft touch, extreme comfort, breathability, moisture management, easy-care, easy washing, and it is easily dyed in different colors so that industry can produce any kind of garment for all segments. The product is also internationally certified Oeko-Tex® (standard 100, class 1). This sustainable innovation has been recognized by two awards: the Kurt Pulitzer Prize, awarded by ABIQUIM (an association of chemical industries), and one from the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).

Rhodia is pioneer in the introduction of the FAR INFRARED technology with Emana® fiber and once again, it is pioneer in biodegradable technology. “Amni Soul Eco® reinforces our commitment to sustainability. We’re very excited with this worldwide launch. Besides being a recyclable fiber, it’s biodegradable, making it a sustainable solution for waste disposal and perfect for the environment. We believe that Amni Soul Eco® is a breakthrough, helping to make a better world for future generations”, says Renato Boaventura, CEO of the Solvay Group's Fibras Global Business Unit, adding that the company's growth strategy is based on offering technologies, processes and products with a strong, sustainable development footprint.

Emana® Rhodia will also present Emana® Denim, the new generation of Emana®. Besides skin care benefits, breathability, freshness and comfort for garments, the yarn brings to denim an exclusive and unique lightness and sophisticated visual, combining functionality, fashion and well-being. The yarn recently received the ICIS Innovation Award in the Best Product Innovation category.

ITMA 2015 visitors will find Rhodia in Hall 08 Stand D 105

Recover™ and Ünteks Group partner to scale recycled cotton in knitwear

Recover(TM), a global producer of low‐impact, high‐quality recycled cotton fiber, announces a new partnership with Ünteks Group, a vertically integrated textile manufacturer based in Turkey. The collaboration focuses on the development of circular knit fabrics and garments, combining Recover’s recycled cotton fiber with Ünteks Group’s integrated capabilities across knitting, dyeing, printing, and garment production.

STEELTOP®: A new benchmark in flat tops for spinning preparation

Modern carding generations achieve higher production performance, placing significantly greater stress on flat tops. Higher cylinder speeds and increased fiber density, combined with tighter carding gaps, create more demanding operating conditions. At the same time, poorer raw material quality and the increased use of recycled materials further intensify these challenges. With STEELTOP®, Trützschler introduces a new full steel flat top series developed for these demanding modern carding processes.

YKK develops concept EXCELLA® zipper tape using nonwoven fabric partially derived from used clothing

YKK Corporation has developed a concept version of its premium EXCELLA® zipper series made from nonwoven fabric sheets created by fiberizing used clothing and other textile materials. Based on a proposal by fashion designer Yuima Nakazato, this item was created as a result of collaboration between Nakazato, Seiko Epson Corporation and YKK. The concept zipper was incorporated as a material component for pieces in the newest YUIMA NAKAZATO Couture Collection, “INFERNO,” which was unveiled in Paris, France on July 8, 2026.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris highlights evolving global sourcing landscape

From 31 August to 2 September 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will bring together more than 1,000 international exhibitors at Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. This edition reflects the new global balance of textile and apparel sourcing, highlighting a strong diversity of sourcing countries — some unexpected.

Dedicated car seat model of SHIMA SEIKI’s P-CAM® R Cutting Machine unveiled

Leading Japanese textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, showed a special version of its P-CAM® R multi-ply computerized cutting machine dedicated to the production of car seats for the first time, at a private exhibition held over two days on Thursday, July 2nd and Friday, July 3rd at the Kariya City Industrial Promotion Center in Aichi Prefecture.

ALADIN paves the way for circular and demand-driven textile production in Europe

Textile production can be organized sustainably by utilizing short supply chains and preventing overproduction. This can already be achieved today by intelligently connecting and efficiently utilizing existing infrastructure. At the same time, production becomes circular when innovative technologies and materials are used that enable high-quality recycling. The ALADIN research project, launched in May 2026 and co-funded with five million euros under the EU Horizon Europe program, is creating the conditions for this.

Katharina Obergruber appointed to the Management Board of Sandler AG

The Supervisory Board of Sandler AG has appointed Katharina Obergruber to the company’s Management Board. Effective September 1, 2026, the Board will consist of Philipp Ebbinghaus (CEO), Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck (currently CCO, future COO), and Katharina Obergruber (CCO). Katharina Obergruber, currently Chief Sales Officer Hygiene and member of the Management Team of Sandler AG, will assume responsibility for all sales activities as Chief Commercial Officer. She will assume this role from Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck, who will focus primarily on production and supply chain topics.

Ence and ShareTex begin initial testing of the ATENEA innovation project to promote textile recycling in Spain

Ence and ShareTex are making progress on the Atenea R&D project, which aims to develop a complete value chain for textile recycling in Spain. Specifically, the goal of the ATENEA project—which is funded by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI)—is to connect all the necessary stages for the recovery of textile waste, from collection and management, through recycling and transformation into new raw materials, to their incorporation into new textile products.