#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.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

Texhibition Istanbul signals stability and global connectivity

From 4 to 6 March 2026, Texhibition Istanbul once again brought together the international textile industry at the Istanbul Expo Center. Organized by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), the fair confirmed its role as one of the most important international sourcing platforms for fabrics and textile innovation. With 500+ exhibitors across 5 halls on 42,850 sqm, the trade fair attracted 19,325 visitors. Among them, 5.565 international visitors represented Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, North America, and other regions, underlining the show’s expanding global reach.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

Savio Macchine Tessili will exhibit at ITM Istanbul 2026 presenting its flagship technologies

Savio Macchine Tessili will participate in ITM Istanbul 2026 in a corporate booth of Vandewiele Group, showcasing a selection of its most advanced winding and spinning solutions designed to support textile mills in achieving higher efficiency, flexibility and yarn quality. The company will bring to the show three flagship solutions: Proxima Smartconer®, Lybra Smartspinner® and the Phoenix Assembly Winder.

Rieter at ITM 2026: Spinning Redefined with Automation and Intelligence

Spinning mills need solutions that deliver stability, efficiency and future-proof performance. Rieter has put together a powerful portfolio for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. These innovations give customers the tools to enhance cost efficiency, improve responsiveness and actively develop their competitive edge. Step-by-step, Rieter is moving closer to its Vision 2027 – the fully automated spinning mill. With each new technology, Rieter enables spinning mills worldwide to operate with greater precision and reliability, ensuring they remain at the forefront of an increasingly demanding global market.

Experience Trützschler’s leading fiber processing technologies at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, the Trützschler Group will present its latest machinery, service expertise and digital solutions at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Visitors are invited to explore innovations across Spinning, Card Clothing, and Nonwovens at Hall 7, Booth 714A at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center. They can experience modern fiber processing with Trützschler!