#Sustainability

2021-04-29

Esquel signs the Women’s Empowerment Principles

Esquel Group is now listed on the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) website as a signatory, among seven other companies from Hong Kong (as of April 2021). The group signed the WEPs at the end of last year, in a pivotal step towards the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, in line with the Group’s commitment in that area.

Established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact (UNGC), WEPs are a set of seven principles providing guidance for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace. Esquel supported the WEPs following a joint campaign launched by UN Woman and China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), through which top executives from over 90 textile and apparel companies in China signed The CEO Statement of Support for the WEPs, pledging c-suite support to gender inclusion and diversity at work.

Becoming a signatory to the WEPs not only solidifies Esquel’s determination towards women’s empowerment practices within the Company but conveys its enduring belief in diversity and inclusion as an integral part of Esquel’s people-centric culture. Over the years, the Group has made continuous efforts facilitating female employees to upskill, transform themselves, and lead. One of the more recent initiatives includes the participation of an Esquel Vietnam site in the GEAR (Gender Equality and Returns) program, which equips female employees with the skills required to advance their careers by providing training for manufacturing and processing, quality control and lean management, among other areas.

By joining the WEPs community, Esquel intends to enhance its sustained work in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and driving positive social changes as a member of the community.

The seven Women’s Empowerment Principles:

1. High-Level Corporate Leadership

2. Treat all Women and Men Fairly at Work without Discrimination?

3. Employee Health, Well-Being and Safety?

4. Education and Training for Career Advancement?

5. Enterprise Development, Supply Chain and Marketing Practices?

6. Community Initiatives and Advocacy

7. Measurement and Reporting

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“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

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

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.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.

EFI and Agfa’s DPS Business to combine andform a global, full-service industrial inkjet company

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (“EFI”), a leading industrial inkjet business and portfolio company of Siris, and Agfa-Gevaert (“Agfa”) today announced a definitive agreement to combine Agfa’s Digital Printing Solutions business (“Agfa DPS”) with EFI. An affiliate of Siris will hold a 60% interest and Agfa will hold a 40% interest in the jointly held company, which will bring together the operating capabilities of EFI and Agfa DPS under a governance structure whereby Siris and Agfa will act as equal partners.

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.