#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2023-03-02

Compo-SiL® certified as cruelty-free vegan leather by PETA

General Silicones (GS), an expert manufacturer of silicone products with more than 50 years of experience, today announced that its Compo-SiL® vegan leather products received the certification as PETA-Approved Vegan product.

A Silicone Based Vegan Leather Suitable for Mass Production

The certificate by the American animal rights organization PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, indicates that none of the ingredients, formulations, or finished products of the Compo-SiL® vegan leather contains animal-derived ingredients.

Cruelty-free Is a Key Belief of Compo-SiL®’s Brand Mission

It is the fundamental conviction of General Silicones since its founding to "Helping improve our life quality and creating a pollution-free environment for our next generation," which is not only expressed in the company mission statement but strived for by management and staff.

"Receiving the PETA certification is an expression of our commitment to developing sustainable, non-toxic, non-hazardous, green, and environmentally friendly products to achieve the Group's sacred mission of helping improve our life quality and leave the next generation a pollution-free environment," said Michael Lin, President and CEO of GS.

A Silicone Vegan Leather Suitable for Many Applications

The Compo-SiL® silicone vegan leather is used in many sectors, including the automotive industry, vegan bags, sporting goods, medical and healthcare products, FHE, consumer products, and many more.

Manufacturers looking for PETA-Approved Vegan leather benefit from the unique properties of silicone rubber, which, combined with the unique patented Compo-SiL® technology, allow for easy adhesion integration of mass production processes.

Sourcing managers and manufacturers interested in Compo-SiL® vegan leather can reach the General Silicones sales team at compo-sil@gsweb.com.tw.

“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.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

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.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

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.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.