#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2021-12-02

The Capsule Collection: Introducing the 100 Mile Jacket

The 2021 edition of the Campaign for Wool Capsule Collection at Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew featured exciting new pieces by local designers LINE, SMYTHE and ça va de soi. The Campaign for Wool was launched by HRH The Prince of Wales, as part of his global effort to promote the natural, sustainable benefits of wool. International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) puts the spotlight on one of the collection’s featured designs for 2021: SMYTHE’s 100 Mile Jacket.

The Campaign for Wool Capsule Collection

Wool month takes place every October throughout Canada, and features special events and collaborations with clothing designers, wool producers and retailers, aimed at showcasing the benefits of wool and advancing the aims of the Campaign for Wool. The 2021 edition featured a collaboration between retailer Holt Renfrew and three Canadian designers, each of which launched brand new creations made entirely from locally sourced wool.

“We look forward to Wool Month each year because it presents an opportunity to share the virtues of Canadian wool in a way that is fun and engaging”, says Matthew J. Rowe, CEO of the Campaign for Wool Canada. “This year, we’ve secured some exceptional partners who we think will turn some heads and get people excited about our favourite fibre.” Among these partners was Toronto-based fashion house SMYTHE, who launched their latest creation, the 100 Mile Jacket.

SMYTHE’s 100 Mile Jacket

Part of the 2021 Campaign for Wool Capsule Collection, the 100 Mile Jacket takes its name from the fact that it is produced from single-flock, Canadian wool that is spun, dyed, woven, combed, and sewn at mills and workshops within 100 miles of Toronto. It is conceived as a celebration of both Canadian design and artisanal talent and showcases the potential for Canadian wool.

SMYTHE’s contribution to the Capsule Collection also includes a blazer made using fabric from renowned UK mill Abraham Moon, another global partner of the Campaign for Wool. LINE and ça va de soi also made quite an impact with their additions to the collection: knitwear made with fully traceable Responsible Wool Standard yarns from the former, and a luxurious soft throw from the latter.

Alexandra Weston, Holt Renfrew’s Divisional Vice President, says of the Campaign and the collection: “Our commitment towards sustainability in retail is one we take very seriously. The collection showcases both the incredible natural characteristics of Canadian wool, and the wealth of design talent in this country. We are immensely proud to be able to curate a collection that we can stand behind as sustainably sourced, environmentally responsible, and beautiful.”

“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.

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

ATCO Hygienics, Uzbekistan, orders baby diaper production line from ANDRITZ

International technology group ANDRITZ has received an order from ATCO Hygienics to supply a new baby diaper production line for its plant in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The order is included in ANDRITZ’s order intake for the first quarter of 2026. Commissioning of the production line is scheduled for the end of 2026.

Nico Pedretti appointed as Managing Director Graf Group

As of June 1, 2026, Nico Pedretti has assumed the role of Managing Director Graf Group. With more than 20 years of international industrial experience and extensive expertise in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Finance and Controlling, he brings a broad range of leadership and business experience to support Graf’s continued success.