From the Sector

Kornit Digital (Nasdaq: KRNT), a worldwide market leader in digital textile printing technology, announced UK textile printing company Rialto Designs has invested in a Kornit Presto S with Softener Solution to drive printed textile fashion innovation.

Founded 25 years ago by textile technologist brothers Riyaz and Mohsin Omarji, Rialto Designs has established a client base that includes many of the UK’s leading fashion brands.
In recent years, the company has downsized its analog screen production and adopted digital direct-to-garment capabilities. Two Kornit Avalanche HD6 systems for on-demand DTG production have streamlined operations and increased output to gain new market opportunities.

The latest single-step, eco-friendly Kornit Presto S helps align Rialto’s roll-to-roll workflow with commercial growth and delivers high-quality natural and synthetic pieces, in any quantity and in short order.

Kornit’s DTG technology supports Rialto to deliver a service that sets it apart on speed, sustainability, and high quality. Clients can now order printed samples across hundreds of fabric bases—polyester and natural—and receive their orders within 24 hours.

• Long-term partnership between the Austrian textile producer FEINJERSEY and the German textile machinery manufacturer BRÜCKNER

The Feinjersey Group is an internationally operating textile company and supplies the "global players" of the textile industry worldwide. The value chain of the company, which is based in Götzis, Austria, ranges from yarn processing to the finished product.

As a fully integrated production company, the internationally active textile company Feinjersey attaches great importance to a high quality standard and guarantees care at every step in the process chain. With approx. 250 employees and annual sales of around 45 million euros, the company knits, dyes and finishes top-quality knitted fabrics as well as elastic woven fabrics for a wide range of applications.

Products are made for the fashion, sports, workwear and technical textiles sectors. Among other things, fabrics for the automotive industry, laminating backings and coating substrate for artificial leather or foils, construction textiles or fabrics for medical technology are all produced.

The Austrian textile manufacturer has been certified with the Bluesign textile seal and ensures efficient use of resources with modern machinery. Water and energy consumption as well as pollutant emissions are to be reduced to a minimum.

In textile finishing in particular, the focus is on minimising energy consumption as this process is the most energy-intensive in the entire process chain. Feinjersey uses its own photovoltaic system for this purpose, as well as the heat recovery and exhaust air purification systems on the stenter frames. By using the waste heat from production, the company's buildings are heated. All six stenter frames at Feinjersey are made by BRÜCKNER and produce with three-stage heat recovery and exhaust air purification systems.

The latest BRÜCKNER line has a working width of 4.20 m and is mainly used for the finishing of high-ly elastic and extremely sensitive knitted fabric. In order to avoid yellowing on the fabric, the stenter is equipped with an indirect gas heating system. The knitting oil vapours coming from the fabric during the heat-setting process are extracted from the dryer and cleaned in a BRÜCK-NER ECO-AIR exhaust air cleaning system before being extracted to atmosphere. The complete exhaust air treat-ment on the newest stenter is carried out by a multistage BRÜCKNER ECO-HEAT and ECO-AIR system.

Instead of taking place from August 25-27 as originally planned, Asia's leading trade fair for fashion and lifestyle will now be held from October 9-11, 2021 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The fair has been taking place physically again since July 2020, always in compliance with strict safety and hygiene regulations. Various digital platforms are being set up in parallel.

The around 500 brands registered for CHIC (August) will now present themselves to the trade visitors in autumn on 62,000 sqm, including important industry players such as JINTIANSHI (menswear), VINI Bespoke (menswear), Zaijiu (womenswear), Jiebeidi (womenswear), COFNA (childrenswear), Laura Vita (shoes), Hattershub (headwear), MANNYLONQ (CHIC-Young Blood) and Dragon Heart (CHIC-Young Blood) and exciting up-and-coming designers such as KIMUSSO, Yujiantian and Wuma.

The expected 60,000 visitors are also able to attend seminars and workshops on current topics such as Recognition and new opportunities of new retail in AI Fashion or 2021 Maker of Silk Road & Innovation of Design Infinity -- The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition of China Textile & Apparel SME.

Next events:
CHIC Shenzhen | 3rd-5th November 2021 | Shenzhen
CHIC March 22 | 9-11 March 2022 | Shanghai

• "Optimizing the global strategy of its ROICA™ premium stretch fiber business"

Asahi Kasei Corporation markets premium stretch fiber (elastic polyurethane filament) under the brand of ROICA™ with superior performance features enabled by integrated production from raw material to finished yarn based on its advanced technology.

Asahi Kasei operates its global ROICA™ business having production sites in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, China, and Germany with numerous sales offices around the world. Asahi Kasei has now decided to restructure and optimize its global strategy in order to further improve the business performance and level of sales services.

As a part of this process, the production and sales of ROICA™ at its German subsidiary, Asahi Kasei Spandex Europe GmbH, will be discontinued by March 31, 2022.
Recognizing the importance of the European market as leading fashion market and in light of sustainable trends together with valued customers and supply chains, Asahi Kasei will continue sales, technical, and marketing services in Europe from Asahi Kasei Europe, the European regional headquarters of the Asahi Kasei Group, focusing on ROICA™ added value products manufactured at its global ROICA™ production sites.

ISKO, a global, leading premium denim ingredient brand, announced its participation in The Jeans Redesign – a project, established by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Make Fashion Circular initiative, to encourage and guide the denim industry to transform the way jeans are made and move towards a circular economy for fashion.

ISKO meets the requirements for participation set by The Jeans Redesign guidelines and has made a commitment that 85% of its entire fabric production will consist of recycled material content made from pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled materials. This production will be independently verified by Textile Exchange audit bodies.

This achievement is made possible using ISKO’s R-TWO™ technology which is created through a patented and exclusive yarn spinning technique that retains the unique properties and benefits found in ISKO’s statement fabrics. ISKO’s R-TWO™ is the embodiment of its Responsible Innovation™ mindset and aligns with the principles of a circular economy espoused by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – to ensure durability, material health, recyclability and traceability. R-TWO™ positions ISKO as a sustainability leader and enables it to exceed the project guidelines to create denim that is designed to be used more, made to be made again and made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs.

The Lenzing Group has been awarded Platinum status in EcoVadis’ CSR rating. The assessment comprehensively covers the four main CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) practices: the environment, fair working conditions and human rights, as well as ethics and sustainable procurement.

In the previous three years, Lenzing had already received outstanding ratings in all categories, and was awarded Gold status in 2018, 2019 and 2020. “We are very proud to have now achieved the step up to the Platinum level after several Gold ratings in the past few years. At Lenzing, we always think beyond fibres and take responsibility for our children and grandchildren – for whom we do our best in order to constantly improve ourselves. This attitude forms part of our strategic principles and we will continue to work hard to make a sustainable contribution to the environment and to society”, notes Stefan Doboczky, CEO of the Lenzing Group.

The Lenzing Group’s ambitious climate targets form an essential part of its strategy and responsibility to future generations. In 2019, Lenzing became one of the world’s first fiber manufacturers to commit to reducing CO2 emissions per ton of product by 50 percent by 2030, and even becoming climate-neutral by 2050. The Science Based Targets Initiative, a recognised organisation in the area of climate-relevant target-setting, has scientifically validated Lenzing’s climate targets.

This scientific validation also forms one of the essential criteria that EcoVadis highlights in its rating. In addition, the responsible procurement of raw materials – according to social and ecological aspects – was also highlighted as a further core element in the company’s sustainability strategy, as well as support for external environmental initiatives (Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action) and initiatives on labour and human rights issues (Sustainable Apparel Coalition).

• Am 24. Juli findet der „Shopping Day“ statt – zahlreiche Händleraktionen und verlängerte Öffnungszeiten machen Einkaufen zum Erlebnis
• Starke Resonanz: Mit 180 Akteuren aus Einzelhandel, Hotels, Galerien sowie der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft zelebrieren die Düsseldorf Fashion Days den Modestandort
• Düsseldorf erstrahlt in Violett, Grün und Gelb: Umfassende Werbemaßnahmen schmücken die Stadt – Händler bekennen (DFD-) Farbe

Diverse großformatige Plakate in Violett machen seit dem Wochenende aufmerksam auf ein neues Event: Das Düsseldorf Fashion Days (DFD) Festival. Düsseldorf positioniert sich damit als Standort, der verbindet: Einzelhandel, Kunst- und Kreativszene, Gastronomie, Hotellerie – eingebettet in die Tradition der Düsseldorfer Ordertage.  Angefangen von der fein kuratierten Mode-Boutique, über Galerien, bis hin zu den großen, namenhaften Fashion-Häusern, sind 180 Akteure vertreten. Hotels entwickeln spezielle Konzepte und machen mit Pop-Up-Flächen Raum für Mode und Kunst. Einzelhändler locken mit attraktiven Rabatten und Gewinnspielen; DJ-Sessions und sommerliche Drinks beleben den „Shopping Day“ am Samstag, den 24. Juli bis 22 Uhr.

Avery Dennison, a global leader in innovation, materials science, branding and manufacturing, and Shenzhou International Holdings Ltd., one of the world’s largest vertically-integrated knitwear manufacturers, hosted a grand opening event for the launch of ADX Lab Ningbo, an experience hub co-created by the two innovators, located in Ningbo, China.

Themed “Newness is the Name of Your Game,” the opening event brought together leading global apparel and footwear brands. Offering a bespoke lab experience, an insightful seminar, and a plant tour, Avery Dennison shared the cutting-edge fashion trends for seasons ahead and launched new design concepts and solutions. Industry stakeholders saw how ADX Lab Ningbo empowers global apparel and footwear brands with Avery Dennison’s end-to-end solutions, bringing their innovative ideas to life, telling their brands’ story, and helping them create cutting-edge, diverse products.

ADX, which stands for “Avery Dennison Experience,” offers a future-focused platform for apparel industry stakeholders to see innovative technology, materials and solutions, and explore how these breakthrough technologies can be put into development. At ADX Labs, Avery Dennison engages apparel and footwear brands around the globe, co-creating the next breakthrough solutions. ADX Labs will launch new collections and solutions biannually across digital production techniques, external embellishments, packaging, automation and more. The newly-launched ADX Lab Ningbo is Avery Dennison’s fourth ADX Lab across the globe, joining the innovation and experience hubs in Norway, Italy, and Panyu, China. Avery Dennison will expand its hub in the USA in January next year.

During the ADX Lab Ningbo launch event, Avery Dennison’s revealed its newest portfolio for external embellishments. The collection was inspired by seasonal trends and featured sustainable production techniques, materials and designs. From larger graphics to small details, different materials and technology were juxtaposed and brought to life in novel ways. The results are over 90 bespoke graphic technique combinations – covering heat transfer labels, woven, embroideries and more, spanning performance, lifestyle and team sports.

“Avery Dennison joined forces with Shenzhou International to introduce a broader vision for innovation to our global customers to help apparel and footwear brands stay ahead of industry trends and, ultimately, achieve their business goals,” said Michael Barton, vice president and general manager, global commercial, apparel solutions, Avery Dennison. “We believe that inspiration and innovation should never be limited by geographic location. Therefore, virtual experiences will be available at the ADX Lab Ningbo starting July 30. Our customers can be inspired by this immersive experience from the comfort of their own homes.”

“The partnership between Avery Dennison and Shenzhou International can be traced back to 2005. Over the past 16 years, the innovation driven by this important partnership has allowed both corporations to expand the scope of services in our businesses. By incorporating innovation throughout the process to product offerings, our customers are empowered to scale their businesses in more creative, diverse and personalized ways,” said Ally Feng, vice president and general manager, Greater China, Avery Dennison RBIS. “The launch of the ADX Lab Ningbo is another momentous step forward in our joint pursuit to drive innovation for the industry. Moving forward, we will continue to work together closely to serve the needs of apparel and footwear brands around the world, accelerating innovation and shaping the future of the industry at large.”

Frühjahr/Sommer, Herbst/Winter – die zwei Saison-Kollektionen pro Jahr sind in der Modebranche gelernt und etabliert. Brennet, der Schweizer Spezialist für individuelle Textil-Lösungen, möchte diese starren Strukturen flexibler gestalten und setzt mit einem neuen, digitalen Order Tool auf die permanente Präsentation kreativer Design-Ideen.

Mit dem neuen Kollektionsviewer hat Brennet ein innovatives Portal gelauncht, das es Kunden ab sofort ermöglicht, saisonübergreifend noch schneller und komfortabler die passenden Stoffe zu finden. Mittelfristig möchte das Unternehmen damit von einer saisonalen auf eine rollende Kollektion übergehen.

«Wir leben in einer schnelllebigen Welt, in der der Fokus auf das Set-up von zwei Saison-Kollektionen, Katalog Aussendungen und Messeauftritten längst nicht mehr zeitgemäß ist. Unsere Kunden sollen – unabhängig von Raum und Zeit – einfach und intuitiv die passenden Stoffe für ihre Bedürfnisse finden. Deshalb war es für uns nur logisch, an einer digitalen Lösung zu arbeiten», erklärt Marco Zhu-Schneider, CSO der Cilander-Gruppe, zur Idee hinter der Entwicklung des neuen Order Tools. Der Kollektionsviewer zeigt die E-Collection, in der alle Stoffmuster alphabetisch geordnet, mit colorierten Bildern, Namen und Referenzen aufgelistet sind. Per Klick auf das gewünschte Stoffmuster öffnet sich dieses in der Detailansicht inkl. der Angabe aller relevanter Daten, wie der Zusammensetzung, des Gewichts, der Maße, des Preises, der Bemusterung sowie der Lieferzeiten. So finden Kunden schnell und unkompliziert was sie suchen, oder können sich bei Bedarf von den vielen Design-Ideen inspirieren lassen.

Der Mehrwert für die Kunden liegt dabei für Zhu-Schneider klar auf der Hand: «Wir können schnell auf Trends reagieren und unseren Kunden eine kontinuierliche und saisonübergreifende Entwicklung von Design-Ideen als Inspirationsquelle bieten. Die Auswahl und Bestellung von Stoffmustern waren nie schneller und unkomplizierter».

Sateri, one of the world’s largest viscose producers and a member of the RGE group of companies, continues its collaboration with Infinited Fiber Company, a textile fibre technology group based out of Finland, and participated in the company’s latest EUR30 million funding round completed on 30 June 2021. In addition to existing investors like Sateri, Infinited Fiber Company has attracted new investors including adidas and BESTSELLER.

This securement of new funding follows Infinited Fiber Company’s April announcement of plans to build a flagship factory in Finland in response to the strong growth in demand from global fashion and textile brands for its regenerated textile fibre Infinna™. The factory, which will use household textile waste as raw material, is expected to be operational in 2024 and to have an annual production capacity of 30,000 metric tons. The new funding enables Infinited Fiber Company to carry out the work needed to prepare for the flagship factory investment and to increase production at its pilot facilities in the years leading to 2024. The engineering progress supported by the additional funds also accelerates Infinited Fiber Company’s ongoing collaboration and potential technology licensing with Sateri.

Sateri strategically contributes to RGE’s commitment and strategic business direction. Sateri has developed and produced a diverse range of circular and sustainable products including Lyocell and FINEX™, which is made from recycled textile waste. The in-house R&D efforts and the investment in Infinited Fiber Company are part of RGE’s $200 million investment commitment to advance next-generation textile fibre innovation and technology.