From the Sector

Source Fashion, a European leading fashion sourcing show, will once again champion the power of collaboration at its upcoming 2026 edition opening 13-15 January at Olympia London. Building on its strong partnerships with WRAP, Products of Change, and now Euromonitor International, the show will unite sustainability leaders, innovators, and analysts to inspire meaningful industry progress. Through expert-led sessions, actionable insight, and shared initiatives, Source Fashion will spotlight practical steps towards a more responsible, circular, and insight-driven global sourcing ecosystem.

Championing Circularity with WRAP
Continuing its close collaboration with leading climate action NGO WRAP, Source Fashion will highlight the organisation’s pivotal work in driving circularity and sustainability across the global textiles sector. Ahead of and during the January show, WRAP specialists will contribute a series of expert guest blogs and articles, offering valuable insight from their latest research, including the Durability in Focus report, the Textiles EPR report, and the UK Textiles Pact Roadmap. 

At the event itself, WRAP will take to the stage for a thought-provoking debate session, bringing together industry leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping a more circular future for fashion. Mark Sumner, Programme Lead at WRAP said, “WRAP’s continued collaboration with Source Fashion demonstrates how we are working with organisations to inspire meaningful climate action. The union takes our expertise beyond the sustainability circles to direct the sector towards Circular Living. Through the UK Textiles Pact and our recently refreshed UK Textiles Pact Roadmap, we’ve seen game-changing advances in the technologies and business models of the future, with new collaborations challenging old assumptions and turning what was niche into mainstream consumer behaviour. Source Fashion is a proven platform for bold, challenging conversations so we are proud to bring our insights to these important discussions to help propel the industry.

Driving Inclusion and Innovation with Products of Change
Source Fashion will also partner with Products of Change, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to inclusion, equity, and sustainable innovation across the fashion supply chain. Products of Change case studies and content will be featured in the show’s newsletter and content hub, offering practical examples of how inclusive practices can drive positive change within the industry.

At the January show, Products of Change representatives will share their expertise on stage, engaging in discussions around inclusive and responsible business practices. In addition, Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO Products of Change will further support the show by joining its advisory board, helping to guide programming and initiatives that reflect the sector’s evolving sustainability and inclusion priorities. Helena Mansell-Stopher said, "At Products of Change, we believe that meaningful progress in sustainability and inclusion can only be achieved through shared commitment and collective action. Our continued collaboration with Source Fashion enables us to continue to engage directly with brands, manufacturers, and industry leaders, particularly in the fashion space, who are ready to challenge norms and embrace responsible business practices. By working together and showcasing real-world examples of positive change, we can inspire a more equitable, innovative, and future-fit fashion supply chain."

Driving Market Insight with Euromonitor International
Source Fashion is also delighted to announce a new partnership with Euromonitor International, the world’s leading provider of strategic market research. Through this collaboration, Euromonitor will deliver exclusive insight sessions on commodity shifts and pricing trends across the next two editions of the show, as well as host a senior sourcing leaders’ breakfast briefing on 14 January. Beyond the event, Euromonitor will also contribute bi-monthly digital content, providing Source Fashion’s community with ongoing analysis of global sourcing and market dynamics. 

Marguerite LeRolland, Senior Global Insight Manager at Euromonitor International said, “Global sourcing is going through one of its most unpredictable periods in recent memory, and access to reliable insights is critical. By partnering with Source Fashion, we can help retailers and brands forecast more confidently and build resilience into their supply chains and business models -sharing our latest data, commodities analysis and market intelligence directly to sourcing and buying teams.”

The Source Fashion January 2026 show at London Olympia, 13–15 January, will continue to champion collaboration as a driving force for progress in fashion. Through expert-led sessions, in-depth case studies, and cross-industry debates, the event promises to equip attendees with the knowledge, tools, and inspiration to build a more sustainable, circular, and inclusive future.

Indorama Ventures’ Fibers business, a global supplier of recycled technical textiles, polyester fibers and yarns, and Jiaren Chemical Recycling, a technology leader in chemical polyester recycling, form a joint venture to accelerate circularity in the global textile industry. The partnership is backed by Indorama Ventures’ double-digit m$ investment in Jiaren’s recycling capacity. 

Both partners plan to leverage the joint venture to unlock up to 100,000 tonnes of textile-recycled PET spinning capacity annually, thereby enhancing the resilience and transparency of the global textile supply chain and optimizing the value both partners deliver to the industry. 

Indorama Ventures’ global manufacturing footprint across APAC, EMEA, and the Americas along with the company’s proven ability to build efficient regional supply chains enable brand owners to establish local sourcing hubs where they need them. Jiaren Chemical Recyling’s ability to source, sort, de-color, de- and re-polymerize textile waste makes chemical textile recycling available at scale. That means fibers and yarns from this recycled feedstock allow brand owners to realize their climate targets and reduce textile waste at scale, while maintaining well-known material performance for consumers. 

Mr. Diego Boeri, Executive President of Indorama Ventures’ Fibers business, said: “Mismanaged textile waste as well as the next generation’s expectations regarding climate protection cannot be solved by one company alone. It requires significant investment in infrastructure, technology and operations. Only together, all value chain players can build circular business models. Regulators need to help nurture the appetite for required investments, in particular in Europe, and consumers need to understand a lot better what happens in today’s global material flows to make educated buying choices. At Indorama Ventures, we strongly believe in the power of tightly woven relationships, with our customers and all other parties. We aim to lead the shift towards a circular textile economy. That’s why we back this joint venture with a double-digit million $ equity investment in Jiaren’s recycling capacity. We consider Jiaren Chemical Recycling the most advanced technology player in chemical textile recycling today. This strategic partnership is our next significant contribution to making our ambition of a circular textile industry real.” 

Mr. Fang Jiayu, Chief Commercial Officer (International Market) of Jiaren, confirmed the goal to lead from the front: “Already today, Jiaren Chemical Recycling is among the biggest PET textile chemical recyclers globally, and we are continuously expanding our capacity. Partnering with a global powerhouse like Indorama Ventures is an opportunity for us to expand reach, helping to solve the world’s textile waste crisis, and secure diverse stable supply chains for brand owners and customers worldwide.” The closing of the joint venture is subject to relevant regulatory approvals.

Scientists have unlocked a way to dye polyester using 90% fewer chemicals and 40% less water. 

Fizzy water was the key to making polyester dye less harmful to the environment in the creation of a new method developed by an interdisciplinary team at the University of Leeds spin-out company, SwitchDye.  

Polyester makes up more than half of all global fibre output, with production increasing each year – but it takes centuries to decompose and it can be difficult to recycle from garment-to-garment. Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution, largely due to chemicals released in the wastewater from dyeing.  

The startup aims to tackle these challenges at the dyeing stage by reducing harmful chemicals, water waste and costs. This could also make it easier and safer to recycle polyester garments, according to researchers and co-founders Dr Nathaniel Crompton, Dr Harrison Oates, Professor Richard Blackburn and Professor Chris Rayner.  

The concept was invented by Professors Blackburn and Rayner, and Dr Crompton developed the SwitchDye technique as his PhD project in the Schools of Chemistry and Design. Now Chief Executive Officer of the startup, Dr Crompton said: “SwitchDye could transform the textile industry by reducing its huge water use footprint and its pollution problem.   

“Not many people know that even more toxic chemicals are used to turn brightly coloured wastewater into transparent liquid. When released into freshwater, this is a secret killer that harms people, animals and the environment.   

“We can't solve this problem without the backing of industry, investors and policymakers, so we’re excited to share SwitchDye publicly as we aim to scale up.”  

Collaboration
Born from an ongoing collaboration between the Schools of Design and Chemistry at Leeds, SwitchDye makes it easier to insert and remove dyes from the fibre by injecting a small amount of carbonated water into the dye bath. This triggers the dyes’ unique switching behaviour within the polyester fibres.  

SwitchDye, which is based at the University’s innovation community, Nexus, also works on other synthetic fibres, such as nylon and elastane, and is just as effective as widely used dye, without compromising on colour. Importantly, it uses all the same equipment that manufacturers already have.   

Dr Oates, SwitchDye’s Chief Technology Officer, who carried out his PhD as part of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, said: “Polyester is highly durable, and straightforward to recycle, however the main issue is the colour in the fabric.   

“SwitchDye can be more easily removed from the fibre, making the clothes much more recyclable. Ultimately, SwitchDye helps to make the textile industry more circular and sustainable, in both the dyeing and recycling stages."  

Dr Crompton and Dr Oates met while carrying out PhDs in the Wolfson CO2 Chemistry lab, a unique facility for developing novel carbon dioxide-based processes in the School of Chemistry, where they quickly became friends and then business partners.   

Industry standards
Using facilities at the University’s School of Design and the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC) the researchers have rigorously tested the dyes over many years, making sure they meet or exceed industry standards for colour fastness.  

Chris Rayner, Professor of Organic Chemistry in the School of Chemistry, said: “Richard and I have collaborated together for nearly 25 years on sustainability and green chemistry for coloration and textiles, combining our individual expertise. We are proud of how our multidisciplinary approach continues to pioneer innovative solutions to solve real-world problems.”  

Richard Blackburn, Professor of Sustainable Materials in the School of Design, added: “It’s been really exciting to see how the technology has developed, and we are especially grateful to The Clothworkers’ Foundation for funding our initial concept that was the subject of Nat's PhD, and to The Clothworkers’ Company for continuing to support the commercialisation of the technology through LITAC.”   

To date, the project has received funding from organisations including The Clothworkers’ Foundation, The Dyers' Company, LITAC, The John Lewis Partnership Circular Future Fund in collaboration with Hubbub, the Northern Triangle Talent Project (led by the University of Sheffield), and the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).  

Jane Nicholson, Executive Director of Research at EPSRC said: “Sustainable approaches to polyester dyeing are paving the way to a cleaner, more circular textile industry. This startup company is an excellent example of how EPSRC investment in training, specifically in sustainable chemistry, is not only developing leaders of tomorrow but leading to new discoveries that fuel innovation.”  

Over the next six months, the team aims to close its first investment round, scale up dye synthesis and begin trials of its dyeing process on commercial scale machines.

Source Fashion, the UK’s leading responsible sourcing show, returns to Olympia London from 13 -15 January 2026, introducing Fashion Deconstructed, an immersive, hands-on feature designed to give buyers and visitors an unprecedented look behind the scenes of fashion production. From upcycling and denim workshops to live factory production line and expert repair sessions, attendees will have the chance to explore the craft, quality, and construction that define great fashion. Whether it’s learning how to create a high-end garment in an hour or understanding the properties of premium fabrics, Fashion Deconstructed brings the making of fashion to life, offering practical insights and interactive experiences with some of the industry’s top experts.

Attendees can take part in a variety of hands-on workshops led by some of the industry’s most respected names. Stuart Trevor, Fashion Designer and Founder of All Saints, will host upcycling sessions, while Ross Barry Founder of Reskinned will deconstruct denim to reveal its fibres and fabric properties. A mini production line, brought to life in partnership with Apparel TASKER, the innovative East London-based garment development and sustainable production unit, will showcase machinists creating garments in real time, demonstrating both volume production and the techniques needed to construct high-quality pieces efficiently. 

Additional workshops will teach participants how to produce multiple T-shirts in an hour and explore high-end construction with small teams. Leather repair sessions and practical demonstrations will be running throughout the show, offering plenty of opportunities for visitors to learn, experiment, and network with peers and industry experts. With a lively, interactive atmosphere, Fashion Deconstructed promises not just insight, but a chance to connect, share ideas, and have fun while exploring what makes fashion truly well-made.

Suzanne Ellingham, Director of Source Fashion says, “Fashion Deconstructed is about showing what good looks like in the most practical way. It’s also about showing how human fashion still is.  We want visitors to see and understand the skill, care, and craft that go into every garment, experiment with techniques, and connect with the people behind the industry. It’s hands-on, it’s interactive, and it’s fun."

A new chapter for circular plastics in Europe began November, 5 with the official opening of Områ, Norway’s new national facility for sorting all types of plastic packaging waste—including plastic that previously had no other option than to go to incineration.

Jointly owned by TOMRA (65%) and Plastretur (35%), the state-of-the-art facility has the capacity to process 90,000 tonnes of plastic per year, transforming plastic packaging waste into uniform polymer fractions ready for recycling.

Områ uses advanced sensor-based technology to sort mixed plastic waste into ten separate monofractions— including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), and others — enabling improved recovery and increased recycling rates. This innovation closes the loop for plastics and represents one of the most advanced installations of its kind globally.

“Områ is more than a facility — it’s a missing link in Europe’s circular economy,” said Tove Andersen, President and CEO of TOMRA. “This facility has the capacity to receive and transform all of Norway’s household plastic packaging waste into recyclable fractions, essentially closing the loop for plastics. It is a cornerstone piece of infrastructure providing reliable offtake for mixed waste sorting facilities, and can help recover more resources from source separated material.”

The new facility, located at Holtskogen, just outside Oslo, will serve as a reliable offtake solution for municipalities and waste management companies considering the introduction of automated mixed waste sorting (MWS), a crucial step for increasing recycling rates without depending solely on household source separation.

By 2030 the EU requires minimum 55% of plastic packaging waste to be recycled (i.e., collected and recycled at scale) under the forthcoming PPWR. Today, approximately one-third of Norway’s plastic packaging waste is recycled; the rest is mostly incinerated. 

“Områ gives municipalities and the entire value chain a clear signal: there is now a scalable, high-quality route for plastic packaging,” said Karl Johan Ingvaldsen, CEO of Plastretur. “It provides the infrastructure needed to meet EU recycling targets and supports our shared ambition to build a truly circular plastics economy.”
 
About Områ
Områ is a joint venture between TOMRA Systems ASA (65%) and Plastretur AS (35%), established to develop and operate Norway’s first national fine-sorting facility for plastic packaging waste. The facility is located at Holtskogen, approx. 45 min outside Oslo, and has an annual processing capacity of 90,000 tonnes. Using TOMRA’s world-leading sensor-based sorting technology, Områ separates mixed plastic streams into up to ten distinct polymer fractions for high-value recycling.

Girbau, a leader in complete textile care solutions, has been awarded the Gold Medal by EcoVadis, an international authority on business sustainability ratings. 

This new recognition marks a major step forward from last year’s Bronze Medal and reinforces Girbau’s ongoing commitment to integrating sustainability across all areas of its business. The award places Girbau among the top 4% of companies worldwide evaluated by EcoVadis and underscores the company’s leadership in Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. 

Girbau’s sustainability strategy is built on a foundation of continuous improvement, transparency, and responsible practices throughout its value chain. The company focuses on developing resource-efficient technologies, such as water reuse and treatment systems, implementing zero-waste production processes, and promoting durable, low-emission equipment. 

As part of its environmental commitment, Girbau aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and has already reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 35% since 2021 — a significant milestone on its journey toward decarbonization. 

“Moving from Bronze to Gold in just one year is an extraordinary achievement,” said Joan Vilaseca, Sustainability Officer at Girbau. “It recognizes our continuous effort to embed sustainability into every aspect of our operations and business, creating a positive impact across our extended value chain. It also validates our progress toward becoming a global benchmark for responsible industrial innovation.” 

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, has won the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) 2025 Sustainability & Innovation Award for DENIM HALO, an innovated denim pretreatment and dyeing process. It gives brands and mills a simple way to produce highly sought-after distressed denim looks with a significantly reduced environmental footprint and cleaner chemistries.

The ITMF Awards celebrate achievements in two categories: Sustainability & Innovation and International Cooperation. Winners were honored at the ITMF Annual Conference, held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from October 24-25, 2025.

A consumer favorite for decades, distressed denim is more popular than ever. But achieving the coveted worn and faded look remains problematic, involving manual scraping, hazardous potassium permanganate sprays or energy-intensive stone-washing. Traditional indigo and sulfur dyeing processes add to the burden, with high water and energy consumption and significant effluent discharge.

DENIM HALO is an alternative. It draws on a unique new chemistry, DIRSOL® RD, and a broad portfolio of textile dyes based on decades of advanced research to produce laser-friendly denim with outstanding contrast on intense black and indigo shades.

DIRSOL® RD p is a new viscosity-modifying and patented pretreatment that enables superficial dyeing while also reducing water, energy, and greenhouse gas emissions in processing and wash-off. In DENIM HALO, it is combined with a tailored Archroma dye solution according to mill-specific production needs:

• DENISOL® pre-reduced indigo dyes, including an innovative aniline-free formulation;
• DIRESUL® pre-reduced sulfur dyes, including an energy-saving black formulation; and
• EarthColors®, biosynthetic earth-tone dyes made from agricultural waste.

Impact assessments using Archroma's ONE WAY Impact Calculator demonstrate substantial environmental benefits for DENIM HALO versus standard processes with ZDHC Level 3 MRSL compliance. Results include water savings of 40-56%, energy reductions of 30-36%, and CO2 emission cuts of 33-34% depending on the dye formulation used. [See infographic: DENIM HALO Environmental Impact Results]

The benefits extend beyond sustainability to safety, and economics. Mills can produce distressed effects without modifying standard dye recipes or equipment setup. The process enhances worker safety by enabling high-contrast laser etching, eliminating potassium permanganate and manual scraping. DENIM HALO also reduces caustic soda consumption in sulfur mercerizing and enables easier washdown. Technical advantages include reduced yarn shrinkage and improved garment tensile strength, especially on black denim, with lower chemical use in dyeing and finishing.

International technology group ANDRITZ has entered into a collaboration with Tandem Repeat Technologies, a pioneering biotechnology company, to bring to the market industrial-scale solutions for producing ProcellTM, a new sustainable fiber for textiles and nonwovens.

The collaboration brings together Tandem Repeat’s expertise in advanced biotechnology and ANDRITZ’s extensive experience as a supplier of solutions and plants for the production of nonwovens and manmade cellulosic fibers. The two companies aim to support the textile industry’s transition toward more sustainable production and alternatives to conventional synthetic fibers.

Procell, developed and patented by Tandem Repeat, is a biomanufactured fiber made from proteins. Its wool-like softness, exceptional strength, durability, and versatility make it well-suited for a broad range of applications.

The partners will focus on offering industrial-scale solutions for fiber manufacturers in the textiles and nonwovens sectors to produce Procell. These solutions will utilize ANDRITZ’s proven process equipment, adapted to the specific requirements of Procell, while Tandem Repeat will partner on the development of Procell technology.

Dr. Sergey Malkov, VP Manmade Cellulosic Fibers at ANDRITZ, said: “We are pleased to collaborate with Tandem Repeat on this exciting product. Procell fiber has the potential to be a true breakthrough in sustainable materials.” 

Dr. Melik Demirel, co-founder of Tandem Repeat, added: “By partnering with ANDRITZ, we can bring our revolutionary fiber to market on a commercial scale. This will support industries in achieving sustainable production and supply chain resilience.”

EDANA, the international association representing the nonwovens and related industries, considers the European Commission’s recent U-turn on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) a missed opportunity to deliver a clear and effective framework to help effectively fight global deforestation. 

The recent announcement adds unnecessary complexity where simplification was needed. Instead of offering certainty, it introduces confusion amongst operators, disrupts already intricate supply chains, and risks undermining Europe’s competitiveness. 

„Our members are committed to supporting global efforts to prevent deforestation, however, the Regulation in its current format - supported by an IT system still unfit for purpose - presents fundamental challenges, including issues around polygon geolocation and excessive due diligence requirements that remain unresolved“, stated the association. 

EDANA emphasizes that the Regulation must not be pushed through prematurely: The European Commission should maintain its original proposal to the European Parliament and delay implementation by 12 months. Such a step would allow sufficient time to ensure the system is workable and fair for all operators. 

Frequent changes in direction erode business confidence and create uncertainty across global markets. The latest developments have already led to confusion on both sides of the Atlantic, with some countries calling for an accelerated timeline while others urge delay.

A closed-loop recycling project has successfully transformed 24 tons of post-consumer textiles into nearly 50,000 garments for Dutch retailer Zeeman, with each product containing a high-rate of 70% recycled content. This achievement represents a major milestone in accelerating textile-to-textile recycling in Europe.  

The project was initiated by the Boer Group, with financing support from Refashion, both active partners of ReHubs. The entire value chain was established within Europe. Textiles were collected and sorted in France, before being prepared by mechanical recycling specialist Frankenhuis (part of the Boer Group) in the Netherlands, where colour sorting and defibration took place. Blue and white textiles were selected to naturally influence the colour of the final yarn. The feedstock was then transferred to Italy, where Spinaker spun the yarn and Stella Sky knitted the fabric. Zeeman, as the final customer, played a vital role by defining the type of product to be created and ensuring it aligned with consumer expectations. 
 
The project, which ran over eight months, was designed to test both the technical and financial feasibility of producing garments with high levels of recycled content in Europe. The project successfully showcases that post-consumer textiles can be transformed into high-quality yarns and garments, as well that a circular value chain with collaboration across collection, sorting, recycling, spinning, and manufacturing can be achieved within Europe. An accompanying environmental impact report confirmed the benefits of this approach by replacing conventional yarn with the yarn developed in this project, the environmental footprint of the product is significantly reduced, including lower GHG emissions, reduced water use, and decreased energy consumption. 

ReHubs’ recently updated strategy aims to break the supply-demand deadlock in which recyclers struggle to scale without brand commitments, and brands are lacking access to cost-competitive, reliable recycled fibers. This project shows how collaboration across the value chain from collection and sorting to recycling, spinning, and retail can deliver real products to the market.  

This project’s success highlights the power of collective action in transforming Europe’s textile waste into valuable new products. By uniting stakeholders with a shared vision, it has proven that closed-loop recycling is both technically possible and commercially viable. With a circular European value chain now demonstrated, this project sets a benchmark for future initiatives and strengthens momentum towards scaling textile-totextile recycling across Europe.