AEI reaps the benefits of all-electric new Monforts range

The impact of the rising cost of energy on the textile industry has been well documented, with some European countries paying up to seven times more to run their manufacturing operations than in other regions of the world.

In France, however, powering plants with electricity offers particular advantages, since the national energy system is already structured around low-carbon generation. With a large share of electricity produced from nuclear power alongside growing renewable capacity, French industry can also operate with a significantly lower emissions profile than in many other countries. 

Seeking to benefit as much as possible from this situation, AEI – Ateliers d’Ennoblissement d’Irigny – has recently installed a new six-chamber MONTEX stenter line from Monforts which is 100% electrically powered. 

ROICA™ at Functional Fabric Fair Portland

European and Asian textile partners present textile developments ranging from cycling and outdoor performance to innerwear, athleisure, and everyday mobility applications, powered by ROICA™ premium stretch fiber. 

ROICA™, the premium stretch fiber by Asahi Kasei, will make its debut appearance at Functional Fabric Fair Portland on October 27-28, 2026, at the Oregon Convention Center (Stand 256). 

Bringing together textile developments from partner companies across Europe and Asia, the ROICA™ booth will present a diverse collection of fabric solutions for performance, outdoor, mobility, swimwear, cy-cling, and lifestyle applications. Under the global brand message "STRETCH YOUR FUTURE," visitors are invited to discover how ROICA™ and its partners are expanding the possibilities of comfort, fit, functionality, and material innovation through global collaboration. 

European Partners Showcase Advanced Textile Developments 
ROICA™ will present a curated selection of textile developments created by European partners, demonstrating diverse approaches to comfort, fit, functionality, and material innovation. 

Italian Textile Machinery Orders in Q3 2026

Order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers increased by 7% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with the same period of 2025. Growth was driven by demand from international markets, where orders rose by 8%, while the domestic market remained weak, posting a 4% decline.

Compared with the previous quarter, overall order intake decreased by 4%, reflecting the uncertainty that continues to affect investment decisions across the global textile sector. The textile machinery orders index for the July-September period reached 44.6 points (base year 2021 = 100).

Italian manufacturers reported an average order backlog equivalent to 3.5 months of production, while capacity utilisation stood at 72.4%.

Sector-by-sector data show that order trends were generally stable or declining during the quarter, both in the domestic and export markets. Expectations for the final quarter of 2026 remain cautious, with most companies anticipating either stable or lower levels of order intake.

London Calling: Scoop Celebrates Britain’s Enduring Creative Cool

Scoop returns to Olympia National from Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 February 2027, with a newly extended three-day edition celebrating British design, London’s enduring creative influence and the unmistakable spirit of the capital.

Scoop has extended its February 2027 edition with the addition of Tuesday 16 February, giving buyers an extra day to discover its carefully curated collections, meet designers and make the most of their time in London. The show will now take place from Tuesday 16 – Thursday 18 February at Olympia National. The new three-day format places Scoop at an especially exciting point in London’s fashion calendar, as buyers, designers, media and the international fashion community turn their attention to the capital.

At the heart of the new season is a celebration of the extraordinary creative energy that has made Britain, and London in particular, a global reference point for fashion, design and culture for generations.

Girbau acquires German company Fintec

Girbau has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of FINTEC Textilpflegesysteme GmbH, a German company specialising in the development and manufacture of textile finishing, folding, sorting and internal transport systems. The acquisition will take effect on 1 January 2027.

The transaction is part of Girbau’s growth strategy and will expand its range of complete solutions for industrial laundries. Fintec’s technology, systems and expertise will increase the share of proprietary products in industrial projects and improve integration between the different stages of the laundry process. Girbau also aims to further strengthen its service to end customers with an offering that combines proximity and excellence.

“Fintec represents a major leap forward in our value proposition, vertically integrating the design, manufacture and marketing of garment solutions” says Martí Giralt, CEO of Girbau.

SMYTHE names new chief executive

Canadian womenswear label SMYTHE has appointed Ana Mihaljevic as chief executive officer. The company, known for its tailoring, presents the leadership change as part of its next phase of growth.

For specialist apparel brands, management transitions often coincide with decisions on distribution, product positioning and international development. The appointment is therefore relevant beyond the personnel announcement itself, although the release does not by itself establish specific future expansion targets. 

The new chief executive’s strategic priorities and their effect on sourcing, product development and wholesale relationships will become clearer through subsequent company communications.

Duluth Trading launches WD-40 workwear collaboration

Duluth Trading has introduced a limited-edition apparel and gear collaboration with the WD-40 brand.
The partnership brings together a workwear and outdoor-apparel retailer with a well-known industrial maintenance brand.

For the apparel market, the launch is an example of merchandising that draws on a brand’s associations with practical work and repair rather than on conventional fashion licensing. The combination can address both existing workwear customers and consumers attracted by industrial-inspired clothing and accessories. 

Product-level textile composition, performance certifications and sales expectations were not independently established in the material reviewed and should not be assumed.

Costikyan revives custom carpet business

Costikyan, a US company established in 1886, has announced the launch of Costikyan Custom Carpet. The move is presented as a return to the company’s roots in fine rugs and carpet products.

Custom floor textiles occupy a distinct position between textile manufacturing, interior design and contract furnishing. Bespoke specifications place particular demands on material selection, colour consistency, surface design and project execution. 

The company’s launch announcement confirms the new business direction, but detailed technical specifications, production capacities and project examples should be obtained directly from Costikyan before claims about performance or scale are published.

Bonobos upgrades omnichannel menswear retail

Menswear brand Bonobos has announced a redesigned e-commerce experience powered by Shopify. The launch is positioned as a step toward a more integrated shopping journey across the brand’s digital and physical retail channels.

The change illustrates how apparel companies are revisiting the technology architecture behind customer-facing retail. Product discovery, online purchasing and store interaction increasingly need to operate as connected elements of a single brand experience rather than separate sales channels.

The company’s announcement identifies the platform transition and omnichannel strategy as the central development. Any assessment of commercial success will depend on subsequent evidence such as conversion rates, customer retention, order economics and the integration of inventory and fulfilment. No such outcome should be inferred from the launch announcement alone.

adidas and Arte Antwerp design modular winterwear

adidas and Belgian label Arte Antwerp have completed their FW26 collaboration with a winter outerwear release built around layering and football supporter culture. The collection launches globally on 15 October in stores and online, with apparel priced between US$70 and US$400.

The central garment is a two-in-one puffer jacket with a detachable translucent shell and contrasting insulated inner layer. Both components can be worn together or separately. A second convertible piece reinterprets a long-sleeve football jersey with a removable outer layer, drawing on the South Africa 2002 national-team shirt.

The range also includes winter accessories made from 100% merino wool, among them a beanie, balaclava and scarf referencing Belgian football fanwear. A muted colour palette and adaptable silhouettes aim to connect streetwear styling with cold-weather functionality.

Although the collaboration is primarily a fashion and branding launch, its detachable garment constructions are relevant to designers examining modularity, product versatility and multi-season use. The release does not make a quantified environmental-performance claim for the collection.