#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2022-11-10

ISPO 2022: Asahi Kasei Group celebrates 100 years featuring its key brands ECOSENSOR™, ROICA™ and RespiGard™

The Japanese textile brand ECOSENSOR™ by Asahi Kasei Advance continues its eco-high tech path and joins ISPO, the influential fashion and textile fair dedicated to sportwear and athleisure-wear, as part of an Asahi Kasei space within the ISPO Brandnew area, presenting its AW 2024/2025 & SS2024 collections, made of high-tech fabrics implementing new-generation values, with the aim of keeping nature, body and mind in harmony.

Sustainability oriented and technology based, ECOSENSOR™ AW 2024/2025 & SS2024 fabrics enriched this season by high-performance RespiGard™ membrane technology by Polypore

ISPO MUNICH, 28-30 November 2022, Asahi Kasei booth B2-102

2022 is a special time for Asahi Kasei as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. “Asahi Kasei has achieved growth by constantly transforming its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age, and proactively taking challenges in new fields leveraging its capability to change and its diversity. Asahi Kasei culture of open communication and challenging spirit are our precious heritage, embodied in our Group Values of Sincerity, Challenge, and Creativity”.

For the 2022 edition of ISPO Munich, Asahi Kasei Group present its innovation world featuring three of its brands: ECOSENSOR™, ROICA™ and RespiGard™.

ECOSENSOR™ presents 47 new references that meet the needs of the contemporary consumer, such as durability, wellbeing and performance. Being capable of combining active climate control, exquisite touch, lightness and comfort with sustainable values, ECOSENSOR™ stands out as a unique eco-high-tech performance proposition in its market. The collection covers the different market applications with 3 items for INNERWEAR, 1 for OUTERWEAR, 13 for SPORT KNIT and 30 for SPORT WOVENS.

New this season is the application of the RespiGard™ by Polypore unique membrane designed for outdoor apparel. Its innovative pore structure is too small for water droplets to penetrate but features high porosity that allows for airflow and moisture evaporation.

A proprietary and patented products and manufacturing process provide a membrane that:

Is naturally hydrophobic (repels water)

Has smooth and uniform pores too small for water droplets to penetrate

Features high porosity that allows for airflow and moisture evaporation

Is naturally lightweight due to its high porosity.

Is produced using a solvent-free manufacturing process with a low carbon footprint. The polypropylene-based membrane is recyclable and perfluorocarbon (PFC) free.

In order to show at best the performances and possible applications of the fabrics made with RespiGard™, ECOSENSOR™ will feature at its ISPO space an ad hoc created outfit by the outerwear brand ZEROBARRACENTO https://zerobarracento.com

Furthermore, the majority of ECOSENSOR™ fabrics are made with sustainable ingredients which are certified by international certifications such as GRS and RCS through a traceable and transparent production process and supply chain.

100% of the stretch articles (representing 35% of the collection) are made with ROICA™ EF by Asahi Kasei, the recycled stretch yarn made from pre-consumer materials.

Even the dyeing and finishing phases - key moments for performancewear - have been certified by international labels such as bluesign® or OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Focusing on a selection of the most interesting fabrics of the collection, we can find:

ESS1-04824-H3LR-W

3 layers woven fabric with great wind and water-resistance performances. Entirely made with GRS certified polyamide it has a very “velvet touch” and it’s an example on how our sustainability can match technical specifications

ES1-A7890-MAC

Crispy. Stretchy. Versatile. This outerwear fabric it’s made with 90% recycled polyamide and 10% ROICA™ EF, the recycled stretch yarn.

ESS2-13584

This knitted fabric emulate the famous “seersucker”. Bright colours and crispy hand complete the peculiarities of this item that is made by recycled polyester and SOLOTEX™*: a partially bio-based yarn that enhances the sustainable credentials of this fabric.

ESS2-23865

Circular knitted, this item is made with recycled polyester and it finds its major applications in “comfort sportwear”. Despite the super-soft touch and great aesthetics, this fabric has excellent anti-abrasion qualities achieving 30,000 times in the famous Martindale test.

ESS2-31440-2

Another 100% recycled polyester knitted fabrics by ECOSENSOR™ that has been realized using a very particular technique and machineries. It’s kntted by double raschel machine allowing to “split” and separate the two “faces” of the fabrics achieving a fake-brushed effect.

Behind the new collection stands an outstanding story of performance and responsibility. “Our global team is yet again determined to innovate with a responsible approach, in order to develop solutions that meet high-performance standards as well as the transparency and traceability of both the ingredients and the supply chain.” affirms Mr. Hashimoto, Senior Managing Director of Asahi Kasei Advance, the global materials innovator and manufacturer.

“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.

C&S strengthens its governance to support its evolution

C&S announces the appointment of Marco Lucietti to its Board of Directors. With extensive international experience across the textile and denim industries, Lucietti will work alongside CEO Federico Corneli, contributing to the company’s managerial development, organizational structure and long-term strategic direction.

Carrington Textiles publishes third Sustainability Report

Carrington Textiles has announced the publication of the third Sustainability Report from the RTS Textiles Group, highlighting another year of progress towards more responsible manufacturing across its global operations. The report outlines continued investment in technologies and initiatives designed to improve environmental performance and support long-term business resilience across the Group’s manufacturing facilities in the UK, Portugal and Pakistan.

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.

Rieter sees Barmag integration on track as orders and sales rise

The first half of 2026 was shaped by the successful completion of the largest acquisition in Rieter’s history. The Man-Made Fiber Division enables entry into the growth segment of man-made fibers and sustainably strengthens Rieter’s market position in the Asia region. The expanded Group is now the world’s leading system supplier for the processing of natural and man-made fibers. In the first half of the year, initial cost savings in material costs and operating expenses have already been realized. The targeted synergies are expected to amount to at least CHF 20 million by the end of the 2028 financial year. Due to the completion of the acquisition on February 2, 2026, the first half of the year for the Man-Made Fiber Division only amounts to five months.