#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2022-10-20

Functional Fabric Fair: Sustainable apparel and footwear materials

Freudenberg´s apparel comfortemp® FIBERBALL WB Series - Source: © Freudenberg Performance Materials

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) is pleased to announce that its Apparel and Footwear divisions will jointly participate in the Functional Fabric Fair from October 26-27, 2022 in Portland, Oregon, US. Freudenberg Apparel and Footwear look forward to welcoming visitors to booth no. 345, where the two divisions will showcase a range of functional and sustainable materials for outdoor and active sportswear as well as footwear to meet brands’ and manufacturers’ sustainability goals with high-quality and reliable products.

This event will give visitors the opportunity to experience Freudenberg’s new materials, processes, and sustainability initiatives.

Sustainable and high performing apparel solutions on display

The Apparel division will present a range of certified, high-performance sustainable products from its House of Sustainability, Active Range, and its thermal insulation brand comfortemp® for outdoor and active sportswear that meet performance and environmental needs.

Sustainability is an integral part of Freudenberg’s business activities, and Freudenberg Apparel’s House of Sustainability will aid in minimizing the impact of production processes on the environment and help customers achieve their sustainability goals. This initiative is comprised of seven product pillars with over 500 sustainable solutions and leading-edge material innovations, including Recycled General Interlinings, Recyclable, Energy Saving, Biodegradable, Sustainable Cotton, Nature-based, and Recycled Thermal Insulations & Linings.

Freudenberg´s apparel XB Series - Source: © Freudenberg Performance Materials

In conjunction with its House of Sustainability, Freudenberg has also launched Active Range to power up the performance of customers’ garments. The Active Range includes a wide array of interlinings, tapes, linings, bonding solutions, and measuring tools for Stretch Active and Outdoor Active wear, with many products made from at least 70% recycled materials across a variety of functional areas.

These innovative products offer functional and environmental benefits in all seasons, such as thermal insulations made from recycled polyester (rPET) that keep wearers warm while protecting polar regions; lightweight down-proof linings made from rPET that offer increased product strength while supporting more resilient ecosystems; lightweight bi-elastic interlinings made from 100% rPET that can bond to super-smooth, coated fabrics and reduce landfill waste and support rich natural habitats; and super elastic interlinings made from 100% recycled thermoplastic elastomer (rTPE) that ensure a full range of motion for you and marine life.

Jonathan Oh, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel, said, “We are thrilled to connect with customers and present our products at this year’s Functional Fabric Fair. With our sustainable offerings, we can help brands advance their green agenda across a wide range of product lines in a meaningful way, while offering global services, innovative materials, and sustainable products and processes.”

Green initiatives among footwear

The Footwear division will present a wide range of solutions or tailor-made materials to customer, through diversified technologies such as spunbond, nonwoven, woven, and knitting. The high-tech footwear components meet the most critical demanding performance needs while complying with the latest environmental and industrial standards: No chemical emissions, solution dye without wastewater, and close loop production design.

Freudenberg Footwear supports the circular economy through its advanced sustainable initiatives of the "cradle to cradle" program, not only incorporating 100% recycled polyester into the manufacturing process, collecting and sorting scraps from shoe factories, recycling the waste generated in component production; but also including post-consumer wastes from food packaging, turning them into highly innovated footwear materials.

Innovative products like Freudenberg´s high-performance reinforcement, insole, lining, thermoplastics, drysole, and upper materials are low weight and use a high proportion of recycled raw materials, maximizing comfort and minimizing environmental impact.

Our materials set the foundation for footwear applications, and we are pleased to give customers an opportunity to experience these components while supporting environmental sustainability. Our high-quality product range of sustainable materials offer measurable advances in resource reduction, process improvement, and material recycling and reuse while spanning a range of budgets and footwear requirements,” stated Walter Tseng, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Freudenberg Performance Materials Carpet Filtration & Shoe APAC.

Freudenberg Performance Materials presents Mehlerheytex and Filc at Techtextil 2026

Freudenberg Performance Materials will showcase textile innovations that increase efficiency, performance and sustainability in industry and mobility at Techtextil 2026. For the first time since the merger of Mehler Texnologies and Heytex, the MehlerHeytex brand will make its debut as a leading expert in coated technical textiles. Moreover, Freudenberg Performance Materials Filc (Filc), specialist for advanced needlepunch nonwovens and laminated materials, will present its groundbreaking solutions for automotive applications. Filc customers can benefit from the perfect combination of functionality, comfort and sustainability. The Freudenberg Performance Materials experts are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the trade fair at Stand A11 in Hall 11.0 from April 21 – 24, 2026.

Freudenberg accelerates local production for apparel market by expanding its site in India

Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel (Freudenberg Apparel) celebrates the grand opening of a major expansion at its manufacturing facility in Chennai, India, on October 14, adding 20,000 square feet of production space and introducing new production lines tailored to the Indian apparel market. This strategic investment is aimed at significantly reducing lead times and enhancing the availability of high-quality, locally produced interlinings for the fast-evolving apparel sector in India and South Asia.

Freudenberg Performance Materials publishes first Sustainability Report

With the publication of its first sustainability report, Freudenberg Performance Materials has reached a major milestone on its path toward greater environmental responsibility and corporate transparency. Until now, information about the company’s sustainability performance was only included in the sustainability report of its parent company, the Freudenberg Group. The newly released report, however, focuses specifically on the business of technical textiles.

Freudenberg to exhibit for the first time at CAMX 2025

Freudenberg Performance Materials (Freudenberg) will be exhibiting for the first time at CAMX 2025 in Orlando, Florida, from September 9-11. This presence is a strong signal from the leading global supplier of technical textiles to support the North American composites industry with high-performance surfacing veils, flow media and spacers. Visitors can meet Freudenberg experts at booth D69 on the show floor.

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.

Coats to showcase innovative reinforcement and filler materials for leather goods and accessories at APLF 2026

Coats, a world-class Tier 2 manufacturer and trusted partner for the apparel and footwear industries, will be promoting four advanced materials from its ‘Lifestyle Solutions’ portfolio at APLF 2026 in Hong Kong in March. Each innovation has been specifically engineered to help luxury and premium brands elevate the craft, durability, sustainability and creative expression required in the manufacturing of handbags, purses, and other high-end designer accessories.

Design, innovation and sustainability propel VIATT 2026’s expanding role in ASEAN textile sourcing

At its third edition, the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles, and Textile Technologies (VIATT) further reinforced its role as a key sourcing and business platform for ASEAN’s textile industry. The three-day fair welcomed over 17,000 visits from 54 countries and regions, and featured over 460 exhibitors from 21 countries and regions across 18,000 sqm. The 2026 edition was marked by the introduction of new international pavilions and zones, broadening the fair’s sourcing scope across new geographies and product categories. The fringe programme, headlined by the debut Trend Forum, further distinguished VIATT as the region’s most integrated textile trade platform – uniquely spanning the entire value chain.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.