#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2024-02-29

The VF Foundation is bridging the gender gap in garment sector automation

Garment workers globally face potential widespread displacement due to the increase in automation. According to the International Labour Organization, sewing automation alone could displace 65 million workers globally.

With women making up 75 percent of the global garment workforce, the bulk of the loss of jobs will be roles held by women. Additionally, women in the garment industry often work in lower-tier roles, such as helpers and sewing machine operators, making them particularly vulnerable to displacement. When looking to find new jobs, women face challenges due to traditional gender roles and limited access to higher education acting as barriers for entry to higher-paying jobs within the garment sector and beyond.

To address this challenge, Shimmy Technologies, a women-owned social enterprise, was founded in 2016 to prepare women working in apparel supply chains for the future of work through upskilling and reskilling via digital, mobile and tablet-based trainings. Shimmy’s mobile-first training approach is more flexible than traditional, paper-based training curriculum, the latter which inadequately addresses the rapid changes in the market.

Shimmy’s focus on this technical training component acts as a key unlock to assist workers in developing skills and gradually increasing their income. The majority female-led Shimmy team serves as role models to empower female workers to enter advanced operator roles. Their approach aims to reshape the workforce from the ground up, challenging the current status quo.

In 2022, The VF Foundation supported Shimmy’s pilot program across Bangladesh to reach unemployed women and assess the effectiveness of new training solutions to upskill and reskill women to provide them with the opportunity to enter the ready-made garment (RMG) industry. The program identified technical training centers in different cities across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, and located near garment factories in the area.

In addition, Shimmy carried out its research project called the Apparel Automation Pulse to identify current and future machines used in factories. This information helped Shimmy create a demand curve for machine-based skills, which in turn, informed the content of the training programs to align with the specific needs of employers.

The pilot yielded positive results. Of the 500 people who went through the training, 452 were women, and over 55% were employed in the RMG supply chain within six months. Of those without jobs in the RMG industry, only 23.19% were looking for work after six months. The remaining trainees opted to stay home as homemakers, continue with other studies, or enter another industry.

As a result of the success of the pilot, The VF Foundation recently announced Shimmy as a 2024 grantee to expand the upskilling of 500 more workers through mobile phone-based training and an additional 800 within physical training centers. This growing partnership with Shimmy exemplifies the power of collaboration, that complements VF’s work to empower women in its supply chain, and drives forward a shared vision to ensure a more sustainable and equitable future for women in the apparel industry.

“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.