Sustainable Athletic Wear Made from Bio-Based Polyethylene

Conventional sports textiles made from petroleum-based synthetic fibres are to be replaced in the future by sustainable, bio-based, cooling textiles. Polyethylene, previously used mainly in the packaging industry, is thus qualified for use in textiles and, as a bio-based drop-in solution, offers a cost-effective, sustainable alternative for the future.

TECNARO (Ilsfeld/Germany), BB Engineering (Remscheid/Germany), FALKE (Schmallenberg/Germany) and the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University have developed textiles from bio-based polyethylene (bioPE) in the bioPEtex project of the BIOTEXFUTURE Innovation Space.

TECNARO develops the bio-based PE compounds and handles their dyeing. ITA is concentrating on the process development for melt spinning (partially-oriented yarn, POY) and false-twist texturing (draw-textured yarn, DTY) of the bioPE yarns. BB Engineering implements the false-twist texturing on an industrial scale, and FALKE is developing the final T-shirt, which will be treated with a bio-based finish for improved elasticity.

Scoop: Parisian elegance in London

Returning to Olympia National from 8–10 February 2026, Scoop continues to celebrate the very best in international fashion discovery with a standout focus on French design. As the show marks its 15th anniversary, this curated French edit reinforces Scoop’s reputation as the UK’s most design-led and thoughtfully curated fashion platform, offering buyers access to collections defined by identity, quality and enduring appeal. 

Renowned for its effortless sophistication, attention to detail and deep-rooted design heritage, French fashion brings a distinctive voice to the February 2026 edition. This season’s French designers have been hand-selected by Founder and Curator Karen Radley for their ability to balance timeless elegance with modern sensibility, delivering collections that feel both relevant and refined for today’s international retail landscape.

Vibrant and Seamless Dye Sublimation Printing: Mimaki Upgrades TS330 Series

Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, announces enhancements to its dye sublimation TS330 Series, including the introduction of the TS330-1800. The entire TS330 Series is now compatible with Mimaki’s Sb411 inks in Orange, Violet, Fluorescent Pink and Fluorescent Yellow, enhancing colour flexibility and control, and offering improved vibrancy and colour accuracy. Complementing these upgrades, the new TS330-1800 is equipped with a larger print width to cater for a broader array of textile applications within fashion, sportswear, textile signage, and home décor.

The extended colour range – now totalling at 11 different inks – provides improved vibrancy and colour saturation, ideal for high-impact branding on sportswear, fabric signage and promotional merchandise. Opening up extensive ink configurations, applications can be produced with improved colour accuracy, fulfilling production needs for sectors where high colour fidelity is required.

Ontex: Laurent Nielly new CEO, Lorenzo Grabau co-opted to the Board

Ontex Group NV, a leading international developer and producer of personal care solutions, announces that, further to the announcement on December 11, 2025 regarding CEO succession, the Board has decided to accelerate Laurent Nielly’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer to January 13, 2026. This acceleration reflects the Board’s confidence in Nielly’s readiness to assume Ontex’s leadership, enabling him to take ownership of the 2026 plan from the outset of the financial year. Gustavo Calvo Paz will remain with Ontex through the end of January to ensure a seamless transition.

Eastman Naia™: All-Night Comfort at Heimtextil 2026

At Heimtextil 2026, Eastman Naia™ builds on its All-Night Comfort concept, a holistic sleep comfort platform that brings together bed sheets, comforter fill and sleepwear. This year, the concept expands with new fill solutions for comforters and the firstever Heimtextil showcase of sleepwear and loungewear made with Naia™ Renew staple fiber. Across sleep-focused home textile applications, these developments highlight the versatility and performance of Naia™ Renew circular fiber, produced from 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% GRS-certified recycled content.

Kornit Konnections 2026: Call for Speakers and Partners

Kornit Konnections is officially accepting speaker proposals and partner interest for what is set to be one of the most influential digital apparel industry gathering. 
 
Konnections 2026 is an immersive, invitation-driven community event bringing together brands, retailers, manufacturers, printers, technology leaders, analysts, and investors to shape the next chapter of the apparel economy. Building on the momentum of Evolve – the largest virtual apparel conference to date – Konnections 2026 will set new benchmarks for in-person engagement, insight, and industry alignment.
 
A Vibrant Community – Shaping What’s Next

AVK-Innovation Award 2026 open for submissions

The German Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK) is calling for entries for the prestigious AVK Innovation Award 2026. The association is looking for outstanding innovations in the field of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) / composites in the following categories:

• Innovative products/components or applications 
• Innovative procedures/processes 
• Research and science 

The aim of the AVK Innovation Award is to promote forward-looking products, components, and applications made from FRP, as well as innovative manufacturing methods and processes. Another focus is on recognizing excellent scientific work from universities, colleges, and research institutes.

Sustainability plays a central role in all categories. Awards are given not only to the innovations themselves, but also to the companies and institutions behind them. In this way, the AVK aims to highlight the performance, innovative strength, and future viability of the entire composites industry.

The submissions are evaluated by a high-caliber jury of proven experts from the composites industry.

Government of Tamil Nadu to launch Techtextil India Summit in Coimbatore

In a major step towards strengthening Tamil Nadu’s leadership in the global technical textiles value chain, Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Textiles and Guidance Tamil Nadu, Government of Tamil Nadu on 25th November 2025 in Coimbatore to launch Techtextil India Summit scheduled from 26 – 27 November 2026 at CODISSIA, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. 

The MoU formalises the launch of the Tamil Nadu edition of Techtextil India Summit, which will be held in Coimbatore every alternate year beginning 2026. The shared objective is to create a knowledge hub for exchanging expert and technical knowledge in the segment, given its vast growth potential. 

EcoVadis Sustainability Rating: Gold Medal for the CHT Group

The CHT Group has been awarded the Gold Medal in the latest EcoVadis sustainability rating, recognizing the newly aligned, more focused groupwide ESG performance.

The CHT Group is a globally active foundation-owned specialty chemicals manufacturer headquartered in Tübingen, Germany. They offer sustainable chemical solutions for numerous industries and have an international presence with around 2,500 employees and 26 production sites. In the financial year 2024, the CHT Group generated a group turnover of 614 million Euro.

The portfolio includes Textile Solutions (dyes and auxiliaries for the entire textile value chain), Industrial Solutions (specialty silicones, paper and pulp technologies, washing solutions, care ingredients), and Functional Chemicals (chemical additives for paints, coatings, construction, adhesives, leather, chemical producers, agrochemicals, mining, and release agents).

Textile Machinery: The Upcoming Colombiatex 2026 Speaks Italian

Numerous Italian textile machinery companies will be attending the upcoming Colombiatex, the premier trade fair for the Colombian textile supply chain, held in Medellin from January 27 to 29, 2026. This year’s edition further confirms the strong bond between local textile manufacturers and Italian technology providers.

Despite a contraction in demand from the Colombian textile sector during 2024, the South American country remains one of the region’s key markets for textile machinery manufacturers. The most recent data indicates a sharp trend reversal: in the first half of 2025, Italian sales in Colombia reached 6 million euros, marking a +48% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. Should this growth rate remain steady, the value of Italian exports could approach the record levels seen in 2022 (18 million euros).