#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2026-03-12

Coats to showcase innovative reinforcement and filler materials for leather goods and accessories at APLF 2026

Visit Coats at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre on 12-14 March 2026 in Hall 1E

Coats, a world-class Tier 2 manufacturer and trusted partner for the apparel and footwear industries, will be promoting four advanced materials from its ‘Lifestyle Solutions’ portfolio at APLF 2026 in Hong Kong in March. Each innovation has been specifically engineered to help luxury and premium brands elevate the craft, durability, sustainability and creative expression required in the manufacturing of handbags, purses, and other high-end designer accessories.

As a valued innovation partner to the world’s leading fashion houses, Coats will showcase novel reinforcement and filler materials with the power to help brands translate cutting-edge creative concepts into high-performance market-ready accessories, including:

Coats Aquiline – A high-quality, durable filler material for the main body of leather bags. This material is available in different colours and is impregnated with a thermo adhesive making it suitable for the production of complex designs or load bearing parts. Coats Aquiline features Tex2Tex fibres, which transform textile waste into a premium filler, to deliver a high-quality finish while reducing landfill impact and closing the loop in fashion.

Coats Pyroflex – A premium hot-melt reinforcement material engineered for modern handbag manufacturing. Pyroflex offers exceptional tear resistance and dimensional stability with minimal stretch and low weight and is ideal for demanding applications.

Coats RX V 5000 – An eco-friendly thermo-adhesive reinforcement solution made from high-level GRS-certified recycled wood and polymers. With a stable structure, Coats RX V 5000 can deliver lasting shape while helping to reduce the carbon footprint of luxury handbags.

Coats Ultrasoft – A high-density non-woven material designed for luxury handbag components where exceptional softness and lasting resilience are critical. Engineered to rival microfiber suppleness, while offering superior elasticity and durability, Ultrasoft ensures flexible parts maintain shape without permanent creasing or structural marks.

All featured products have been designed to help the global fashion and manufacturing community create goods that balance performance, artisan craftsmanship, heritage, and design-led innovation.

Explaining more, Nicoletta Baratta, Global Sales Director of Lifestyle at Coats, said: “In today’s dynamic fashion landscape, brands need materials that deliver exceptional performance and quality, while also supporting their environmental goals. Our commitment to sustainable innovation, evidenced by products like Aquiline, enables them to meet consumer expectations - without compromising design or functionality. Our presence at APLF reflects our long-standing partnership with key players in the fashion industry and our focus on creating cutting-edge materials that enable brands to bridge the gap between heritage, artisan, accessory production techniques and future-ready designs. We’re excited to show our latest innovations at APLF.”

APLF is recognised as one of the world’s leading leather and materials exhibitions, bringing together international leather, materials and fashion businesses to source materials, discover innovations, build partnerships, and connect with decision-makers across the leather, fashion, and manufacturing supply chain.

Coats’ Lifestyle Solutions portfolio includes a comprehensive range of high-quality threads, reinforcement materials and fillers designed specifically for the production of handbags and accessories. With a strong focus on both functional performance and visual appeal, the company is a trusted partner for brands creating luxury and premium products that are both beautiful and built to last.

Visit Coats at Booth B₂9 in Hall 1E to explore its latest material innovations, engage with technical experts, and discover how the company’s reinforcement and filler solutions can support the next generation of luxury lifestyle products.

For more information about Coats Lifestyle Solutions, visit: https://www.coats.com/en/info-hub/lifestyle-solutions/

Coats Digital appoints Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead next phase of cloud and AI-driven innovation

Coats Digital is delighted to announce the appointment of Himanshu Mehrotra as Managing Director to lead the company’s strategic direction, innovation agenda, and global growth as it accelerates the development of its cloud-native, AI-powered software solutions for the global apparel and footwear supply chain.

Tunicotex Group boosts OTDP to 85%, cuts planning time by 25% & expands production capacity by 40%

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that following the implementation of FastReactPlan, leading Tunisian premium knitwear manufacturer, Tunicotex Group, has significantly improved its on-time delivery performance from 75% to 85%, reduced planning time by 25%, minimised delays and penalty costs, and unlocked 40% additional capacity to take on more customer orders and support sustained business growth.

Suzhou Tianyuan boosts costing accuracy to 98% with Coats Digital’s GSDCost

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that Suzhou Tianyuan Garments Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of high-quality sportswear and functional apparel for global brands such as Adidas, FILA, ANTA, and The North Face, has achieved remarkable productivity and cost management improvements following the implementation of Coats Digital’s award-winning method-time-cost optimisation solution, GSDCost.

Première Vision Paris expands innovation focus across fashion and beauty

From September 1–3, 2026, Première Vision Paris will bring together more than 900 exhibitors from across the global fashion value chain. This year's edition places a strong emphasis on Innovation-Tech, highlighting technologies and materials that are reshaping product development, manufacturing and sustainability.

Intertextile Apparel opens next week with strengthened focus on performance, sustainability, and innovation

Opening 25 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2026 prepares to welcome thousands of global industry players for three days of sourcing, networking, and trend forecasting. Spanning 240,000 sqm, this edition will feature over 3,500 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions, providing a comprehensive platform for fairgoers to explore new products, market directions, and business opportunities across the entire apparel textile value chain – with high-potential segments noticeably magnified.

Asia's fashion extravaganza CENTRESTAGE returns in September

Asia’s premier annual fashion event CENTRESTAGE--organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 2 to 5 September. One of the flagship programmes of the third "Hong Kong Fashion Fest", CENTRESTAGE will bring together some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions and will feature more than 40 spectacular events, including over 30 fashion shows.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).

ICAC International Seminar in Taipei to explore strategic synergies across the textile supply chain

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) — together with the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), under the guidance of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan — will bring international cotton and textile leaders together in Taipei on September 10 for the ICAC International Seminar 2026.