#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2025-05-09

International practical experience for textile students

As part of the European Erasmus+ project AddTex, the partner institutions organised several hackathons simultaneously from 15 to 17 May 2024 at the universities in Borås (Sweden), UPC (Spain), PIN (Italy) and TUS (Ireland). The aim was to develop practical solutions to real challenges facing the textile industry. The German family-owned company Schmitz Textiles, a specialist in complete textile solutions for indoor and outdoor use, challenged students at the University of PIN in Prato to increase the recycled content of yarns for awning production to 100 per cent.

Three Italian textile students developed an idea in the AddTex hackathon on how to increase the recycling content of yarns to 100%. Their reward: a short internship at Schmitz Textiles in Emsdetten! In the picture: from left to right: Iljara Ioja, Eleonora Boccherini, Giorgio Gacci and Ralf Bosse (Schmitz Textiles) © 2025 Photo IVGT

Short internship provides insights into production

As a prize for their innovative idea, the winning team completed a short internship at Schmitz Textiles in Emsdetten in March/April 2025. They carried out their own weaving experiments and got to know the company's production processes. This was supplemented by visits to Hch. Kettelhack, Güth & Wolf, Follmann and the Fulda felt factory, leading German suppliers of technical textile solutions.

Hannover Messe and technical textiles in focus

Another highlight was a visit to the Hannover Messe 2025 trade fair, particularly Hall 2, which was dedicated to digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainability and international cooperation. At the joint stand for technical textiles, the students learned about the innovations of the exhibiting companies AMOHR, VLNAP A.S., TITK and vombaur.

Technical Textiles, the students learned about the innovations of the exhibiting companies AMOHR, VLNAP A.S., TITK and vombaur. At the end of their stay, the team visited the IVGT in Frankfurt, which is supporting the project as a German partner.

Students also gathered information at the Technical Textiles joint stand in Hall 2 at the Hannover Messe 2025 trade fair, pictured here with Stefan Schmidt, IVGT (left). © 2025 Photo IVGT

European textile education networks

The IVGT has been a partner in the AddTex project since 2022. In addition to organising hackathons, training videos, webinar guides, MOOC manuals and training materials for continuing vocational training are being produced during the course of the project and are available for free download at www.addtex.eu. Even after the project ends in June 2025, the collaboration is set to be expanded with new initiatives for promoting young talent in an increasingly technology-driven sector.

Further information: www.addtex.eu www.ivgt.de

6th AddTex project partner meeting in Prague

On January 21 and 22, 2025, the 6th AddTex project partner meeting took place in Prague at the invitation of the Czech cluster for technical textiles CLUTEX. After an update on the activities of the eleven European partners, the IVGT presented a draft business model that will ensure sustainable activities beyond the end of the project.

Fifth transnational ADDTEX meeting in Prato

From 1 to 5 July 2024, the fifth member meeting of ADDTEX took place in Prato at PIN s.c.r.l. Educational and Scientific Services for the University of Florence. Parallel to the meeting of the project partners and in the same building in Piazza Giovanni Ciardi, 25, PIN organised a textile innovation boot camp with students from Sweden, Spain, Romania, Ireland, Italy and Portugal.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.

The Or Foundation, adidas, BESTSELLER, H&M Group, and Inditex launch Apparel Recovery Coalition, responding to impacts of post-consumer textile exports

adidas, BESTSELLER, H&M Group, Inditex and The Or Foundation, with support from Circle Economy, unveiled the Apparel Recovery Coalition (ARC). The coalition will explore how producer responsibility systems can support circular pathways such as reuse, upcycling, recycling, and responsible waste management in countries that receive large volumes of exported secondhand apparel.

YKK subsidiary Golden Hill Tower Limited marks 25 years of operations in Myanmar

Golden Hill Tower Limited, a subsidiary of YKK Corporation, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony in Myanmar on September 21, 2026. The event brought together approximately 230 guests, including senior executives from the YKK Group, to commemorate the company's development since the launch of its serviced apartment business in November 2000.

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

Textile performance for the global market: Heimtextil 2027 connects interior design, quality and global sourcing

With the new premium segment Carpets & Rugs Excellence, the Comfort & Connect area and the Heimtextil Trends 27/28, Heimtextil 2027 is sharpening its offering for a market under pressure. Today, textile products need to prove their quality, functionality and long-term value. From 12 to 15 January 2027, the leading trade fair for home and contract textiles and textile design showcases relevant innovations across the entire value chain: from fibres and yarns to designs by international studios and emerging talent, through to finished collections, functional contract textiles and complete interior solutions.

Blue Tomato accelerates agile retail apparel production with Kornit Digital

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT), a global pioneer in on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, is highlighting how Blue Tomato, Europe’s largest board sports retailer, is using two Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS systems to support a more agile approach to in-house apparel production. The systems are helping Blue Tomato respond faster to changing consumer trends, produce high-quality apparel for its network of 86 retail stores across Europe and reduce inventory by printing only what the market demands.