#Knitting & Hosiery

2021-06-16

Two brands – one objective: Innovations for the creative process

Opening up a whole new world of pattern creation with significantly simplified development and accelerated programming – these are the benefits of CREATE, a new design software for flat knitted fabrics. And this makes CREATE another great contribution to the digitisation of the entire knitwear design and development process.

Synergies between STOLL and KM.ON for the benefit of customers

STOLL and KM.ON – two successful KARL MAYER Group brands – combined their expertise and creativity for the new offering CREATE to maximise the benefits for their customers. STOLL is a pioneer in flat knitting technology and brings unique process knowledge to its business, which results in perfect flat knitting solutions and excellent customer support. KM.ON is an agile specialist in innovative software products, as well as digital solutions and services for the textile industry.

CREATE belongs to the k.innovation category of KM.ON solutions that focus on an accelerated design-to-market workflow.

CREATE’s key features

With a well-thought-out shape and grading tool, CREATE offers the possibility to create shapes and to implement customised adaptations or size adjustments just as easily. An important part of the tool is a shape library with numerous presets.

For the creation of knitted fabrics, an integrated yarn library offers a first selection of standard and fancy yarns, that will be continuously updated. Additionally, there is the possibility to create your own yarns.

The software includes an extensive library with different stitch constructions that can be used for the design. Additionally, the customer can create own digital stitch constructions with simultaneous stitch simulation and to run technical design checks.

The virtual fabric views have a true-to-life imitation of the stitches and their distortions, which makes it possible to conceptualise and plan a collection with fewer or no physical sample pieces. With a colourway generator, different colour combinations can also be tried out.

Last but not least, the design program can be used as a basis for the knitting programme. Once a technician has completed various checks, the knitting process can then be started immediately.

More information about CREATE will be available on the KARL MAYER Group’s exhibition stand at ITMA ASIA + CITME, 12 to 16 June, A 35/Hall 4 at the NECC Shanghai and also on the STOLL website:

https://www.stoll.com/en/software/kinnovation-create/

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

ITM 2026: Mayer & Cie. Global presents itself successfully at international industry trade fair

Mayer & Cie. Global has used ITM 2026 in Istanbul for its first major international appearance since the restart. Together with the Turkish representative Mayer Mümessillik, the company presented its premium circular knitting machines "Made in Germany", explained its future positioning within the group of companies and held talks with customers and representatives from numerous markets. The response to the restart was positive. The clear orientation of the company, the reliable worldwide network of representatives and the resumption of service and spare parts supply were welcomed by customers.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.

Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026 closes doors, advancing sustainable and innovative sourcing in South China

Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026 served as a strategically positioned mid-year sourcing platform for the Greater Bay Area, highlighting Shenzhen’s role in connecting regional demand, supply and innovation exchange across the textile value chain. During the three-day fair, over 20,000 visits were drawn from 74 countries and regions[1], as exhibitors and buyers engaged with new developments in greener, performance-led, and value-added yarn and fibre solutions. Held in conjunction with Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and PH Value, the fair underscored the benefits of closer synergy and new materials across yarn, fabric and apparel platforms for the South China market.