#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2025-03-01

Filo 63 highlights sustainability and innovation with C.L.A.S.S.

At the 63rd edition of Filo, the initiative “Sustainability from A to Z”, developed in collaboration with C.L.A.S.S., focuses on responsible innovation and expanding knowledge through technical insights, case studies, and direct industry testimonials. This initiative aims to guide companies through the complexities of sustainability while aligning with the evolving market landscape. The proposals presented by C.L.A.S.S. as part of this initiative closely relate to discussions within “Dialoghi di Confronto”, offering further opportunities for industry insights.

The C.L.A.S.S. exhibition space at Filo 63 showcases projects and solutions implemented by selected organizations and companies. This season, the focus is on “green chemistry” and the role of advanced natural fibers, particularly cotton and linen, where companies have adopted comprehensive innovation strategies, making traceability an essential requirement.

In the cotton segment, Supima®, a premium cotton grown in the United States and accounting for less than 1% of global cotton production, is featured. Renowned for its extra-long staple, Supima® offers exceptional strength, softness, and long-lasting color retention. To ensure authenticity and traceability, Supima® has introduced the AQRe™ Project (Authenticated Quality and Responsible Engagement), a blockchain-based digital platform developed in collaboration with TextileGenesis™, allowing real-time supply chain monitoring. Additionally, Oritain™ forensic testing verifies the cotton’s origin at every production stage, ensuring that all SUPIMA®-branded products meet the industry's increasing demands for transparency and sustainability.

For linen, the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp, representing the European agro-industrial supply chain, plays a crucial role. In 2025, the organization accelerates its sustainable transformation with key initiatives, including:

+ + + Evolution of Flax-Linen certifications

+ + + Launch of a digital Flax-Linen traceability platform (developed with TextileGenesis - Lectra, set to debut in May 2025)

+ + + Publication of environmental footprint datasets and development of B2B calculation tools

+ + + Scientific validation of Flax-Linen's functional properties

+ + + New sourcing platform for innovative materials and textile solutions

A notable Italian innovation in green chemistry is also highlighted at C.L.A.S.S., featuring REVECOL® by ERCA Textile Chemical Solutions. This 100% Made in Italy breakthrough transforms waste materials, such as used vegetable cooking oil, into high-performance textile auxiliaries, reducing CO? emissions by up to 72% compared to traditional chemical processes. With certifications including GRS, RCS, ZDHC, bluesign®, and GOTS, REVECOL® is setting new industry standards in sustainability, circularity, and performance.

Throughout Filo 63, the C.L.A.S.S. team is available to discuss these innovations with professionals interested in sustainability, traceability, and technological advancements in textiles.

Additionally, two key discussions within Dialoghi di Confronto further explore these themes:

+ + + On February 26 at 3:30 PM, Giusy Bettoni, CEO & Founder of C.L.A.S.S., interviews Roberto Ghioldi, Sales Director of ERCA TCS, about REVECOL®'s role in sustainable textile chemistry.

+ + + At 4:00 PM, a panel discussion on advanced natural fibers highlights traceability and innovation opportunities, featuring industry experts and TextileGenesis™ representatives.

Paolo Monfermoso, General Manager of Filo, emphasizes that this collaboration with C.L.A.S.S. has reached a new qualitative level, particularly in its focus on natural fibers. He highlights the high level of research and innovation demonstrated by producers of wool, linen, cotton, and silk and reaffirms Filo’s commitment to offering tangible solutions to real industry challenges.

Giusy Bettoni, CEO & Founder of C.L.A.S.S., states that this edition further strengthens Filo and C.L.A.S.S.'s shared vision of promoting responsible innovation. She underscores the importance of linking projects within the C.L.A.S.S. space with discussions in Dialoghi di Confronto, ensuring that sustainability remains at the forefront of the textile industry. This edition particularly focuses on “green chemistry” and natural fibers, reinforcing their timeless value and their promising future in sustainable fashion.

The 63rd edition of Filo closed with positive results

The 63rd edition of Filo, the International Yarns and Fibres Exhibition, closed today in Milan by performing very positive results. Despite the current economic downturn, buyers have appreciated highly valuable collections proposed by the exhibitors, which have shown the ability in innovation and research for sustainability of Italian and foreign textile producers.

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.

A Penteadora starts up ANDRITZ textile recycling and needlepunch nonwoven lines in Portugal

A Penteadora SA has successfully started up a complete mechanical textile recycling line and a needlepunch nonwoven line supplied by ANDRITZ at its production site in Unhais da Serra, Portugal. This investment enables A Penteadora to expand its industrial capabilities and develop a new generation of solutions based on pre- and post-consumer recycled textiles. The input materials originate from its own production waste and other textile waste streams. Both lines are fully operational, and the first products are expected to reach the market in July.

ReHubs elects new Board of Directors to lead the next phase of ReHubs’ strategy to recycle 2.7 million tonnes of textile waste annually by 2035

ReHubs has elected its new Board of Directors, marking an important milestone as the industry alliance continues to accelerate the industrial scale-up of textile-to-textile recycling across Europe. The election took place during the ReHubs Annual Event in Brussels on June 23rd, held alongside the Textile Recycling Expo and Future Fabrics Expo. The newly elected Board combines expertise from across the textile value chain, reflecting ReHubs' collaborative approach to solving the industry’s textile waste crises.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.