#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2025-10-23

Nike unites innovation, design and product teams to accelerate athlete-centered innovation

Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse are uniting their Innovation, Design and Product teams in a single, athlete-focused creation engine designed to accelerate innovation and drive growth as part of the new NIKE, Inc. Sport Offense © 2025 Nike

Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse are joining forces under a new, athlete-focused creation structure aimed at accelerating innovation and driving growth across NIKE, Inc. The new setup unites the Innovation, Design and Product teams from all three brands into a single “creation engine” that will enable greater sharing of insights, technology and manufacturing methods throughout the innovation process. This integration is part of Nike’s new Sport Offense strategy and is designed to enhance the creation of products that help athletes perform at their best.

At the same time, Nike unveiled four new innovation platforms that demonstrate its long-standing commitment to solving challenges for both elite and everyday athletes:

Aero-FIT – A new cooling technology that channels more than double the airflow of previous Nike apparel, supporting peak performance in extreme conditions.

Nike Mind – A neuroscience-based footwear platform over a decade in development, launching with the Mind 001 mule and Mind 002 sneaker, designed to help athletes focus before and after competition.

Project Amplify – The world’s first powered footwear system for running and walking, helping athletes go faster and farther with less effort.

Therma-FIT Air Milano – A performance outerwear platform using Nike Air technology to regulate temperature without changing layers, offering warmth levels from hoodie to mid-weight puffer.

According to Phil McCartney, Chief Innovation, Design and Product Officer at NIKE, Inc., the unified structure is rooted in Nike’s founding spirit and inspired by the challenge from Kobe Bryant to “create epic s--- and make athletes better.”

“Everything begins and ends with the athlete’s voice — their goals, their struggles, their drive,” McCartney said. “By uniting our creation organization across Nike, Jordan and Converse, we’re accelerating progress and leveraging our collective strengths to deliver products that make athletes better. It’s a new day in Innovation, Design and Product at Nike.”

The company emphasizes that its innovation culture is powered by nearly 1,000 designers and experts working across facilities such as the Serena Williams Building on the Philip H. Knight Campus, the LeBron James Innovation Center (home of the Nike Sport Research Lab), and the Bowerman Footwear Lab, supported by leading global manufacturing partners.

“We are a team of dreamers, designers and creators with a responsibility to make athlete dreams real,” McCartney added. “We start with the athlete, stay grounded in sport, and push what’s possible in innovation, design and product.”

Nike’s mission remains unchanged: to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world — and, as the company reminds, if you have a body, you are an athlete.

Nike and NFL launch Rivalries program with new uniforms and fan gear inspired by communities

Nike and the National Football League are announcing Rivalries, a new and exciting uniform and fan gear program that will give athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before. The program will elevate NFL rivalry games over the next four seasons with specially designed Nike uniforms and fan gear. Rivalries will drive fan engagement by celebrating storied traditions and uniting communities with unique and elevated product designs.

Fashion for Good launches DW(O)R-X to navigate the emerging landscape of PFAS-free finishes

Fashion for Good announced the launch of Project DW(O)R-X, a collaborative initiative designed to benchmark PFAS alternative durable water- and oil-repellent (DW(O)R) chemistries. Responding to growing market demand for alternatives to PFAS‑based finishes, the project aims to generate reliable, comparable data that can support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

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.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.