LYCRA: New fibre technologies for performance, stretch and renewable content

The LYCRA Company is presenting several fibre technologies in commercial apparel applications at Intertextile Shanghai. COOLMAX CloakFX for woven fabrics is designed to mask the appearance of sweat, improve wet and dry opacity and provide moisture management; the company says the fibre is made from 100% recycled PET and certified to the Global Recycled Standard. LYCRA FiT400 is being shown for knits and wovens, combining non-spandex mechanical stretch with cooling functionality. RENEWABLE LYCRA fibre contains 70% renewable content derived in part from field corn grown in the US Midwest. The technologies are presented in a 356-square-metre co-creation district with Asian textile partners, illustrating how ingredient-brand technologies are translated into workwear, denim, performance and everyday apparel.

Better Cotton and Avalo use AI to accelerate climate-resilient cotton breeding

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has partnered with agricultural technology company Avalo to accelerate the breeding of more climate-resilient cotton. Avalo uses an AI-enabled platform to identify genetic traits relevant to locally adapted plants that require less water and fertiliser. According to BCI, the approach can shorten the time needed to develop new varieties, an increasingly important factor as heat, water scarcity and shifting rainfall patterns affect cotton-growing regions. Avalo has already worked with BCI to enrol a significant number of new producers for the 2026 season and has tested a digital platform for collecting and reporting programme data. The partnership therefore connects plant breeding, digital data management and the requirements of an international cotton standard.

Valmet and Metsä scale 3D fibre forming to commercial production

Metsä Group has selected Valmet to supply what the companies describe as the world’s first commercial-scale production line for Valmet’s 3D Fiber technology. The line will be installed in Äänekoski and is scheduled to start up in 2028, with a nominal capacity of more than 100 million three-dimensional fibre products per year.

The process converts cellulose fibres directly into lightweight yet rigid end products. Valmet combines fibre processing, forming, automation and final packing in an integrated production chain. The technology has been co-developed with Metsä Spring since 2020 and was initially validated in a demonstration plant.

Although packaging is the primary target market, the development is relevant to the textile and fibre sector because it demonstrates how fibre-based structures and forming technologies are moving into three-dimensional industrial applications.

Naia™ from Eastman: First appearance at Apparel Sourcing Show Guatemala

At Booth 50, Eastman will present U.S.-produced Naia™ staple fibers and filament yarns for casualwear and activewear, supporting closer collaboration across the regional value chain.

As brands and retailers explore more diversified and responsive sourcing networks, the Naia™ from Eastman brand is strengthening its engagement with the textile and apparel value chain across the western hemisphere. From August 18 to 20, the company will participate for the first time in Apparel Sourcing Show Guatemala, a regional meeting point for apparel sourcing, manufacturing and nearshoring.

Produced in the United States, Naia™ offers regional manufacturers, brands and sourcing teams a cellulosic fiber option within the western hemisphere, creating opportunities for direct dialogue and new collaborations across the regional textile and apparel supply chain.

World of Wipes®: Call for Abstracts for the 2027 International Conference

Wipes industry professionals are invited to share their expertise, June 7-10 in Indianapolis: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, is now accepting abstracts for the 2027 World of Wipes® (WOW) International Conference, taking place June 7-10, 2027, in Indianapolis, IN.

Professionals from across the wipes supply chain are invited to submit abstracts highlighting new products, technologies, materials, market developments, research, and other insights shaping the future of the wipes industry. Abstracts are due January 22, 2027.

Prospective presenters should submit a concise abstract of one to two paragraphs describing their proposed presentation and its relevance to wipes, wipe manufacturing, or the broader wipes marketplace. Abstracts may be submitted online through the WOW website at https://www.worldofwipes.org/call-for-papers.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

INDA: Hygienix™ 2026 Conference Program

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced that the conference program is now available for Hygienix™ 2026, the premier global event for the absorbent hygiene and personal care markets. Hygienix will take place Nov. 16–19 at the Hyatt Regency Houston in Houston, Texas.

Conference Program
The conference program will feature the future of absorbent hygiene products, materials, manufacturing, and consumer care. Key topics include:

Fashion Trends 2026: Between minimalism and maximalism

From premium basics to fringes and sequins, right through to the return of capri pants and 90s-style denim: all the trends and price trends in the United States & Europe, according to data from Retviews by Lectra.

• Premium basics take center stage in Spring/Summer 2026 
• The 90s effect: capri pants (+62%) and flip-flops (+73%) lead the return to minimalism  However, maximalism persists: sequins (+40%) and fringe (+34%) are becoming increasingly widespread  
• Rising prices and premiumization strategies, with a new balance between value and aspiration 

As the summer season unfolds, the fashion industry is confirming a structural transformation that is already underway: the definitive shift towards ‘premiumization’. But what will be the key garments, the dominant trends, and how are prices evolving? 

Indorama Ventures: Strong first-half 2026 earnings

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemical producer, reported significantly stronger first-half 2026 earnings, reflecting favorable market conditions together with continued progress in strengthening the Company’s operating fundamentals. 

For the first half of 2026, the Company reported revenue of THB 245.3 billion, up 4% year-on-year, and EBITDA of THB 29.7 billion, up 61%. Second-quarter EBITDA was particularly strong, with all four business segments delivering year-on-year improvement. Operating cash flow after maintenance capital expenditure increased 78% to THB 25.9 billion. Strong cash generation supported further deleveraging, with Net Debt-to-Equity improving to 1.56x, reaching the Company's Capital Markets Day target for 2026 ahead of schedule. 

Moving Beyond PFAS: Fashion for Good Launches New Project

Fashion for Good announced the launch of Project DW(O)R-X, a collaborative initiative designed to benchmark PFAS alternative durable water- and oil-repellent (DW(O)R) chemistries. Responding to growing market demand for alternatives to PFAS based finishes, the project aims to generate reliable, comparable data that can support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

Historically, durable water- and oil-repellent (DW(O)R) finishes have been used to help materials stay dry, clean and durable over time. Some formulations have contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of chemicals characterised by their high persistence. As a result, PFAS can remain in the environment for extended periods, bioaccumulate in humans and ecosystems, and have been associated with adverse health effects when exposure exceeds established thresholds. 

SUPREME WOMEN&MEN: Düsseldorf reaffirms position as a fashion destination

Fully booked schedules, focused conversations and an in-dustry clearly embracing face-to-face exchange once again: the latest edition of SUPREME WOMEN&MEN Düsseldorf, held from 24 to 27 July 2026, demonstrated the importance of focused order platforms, particularly in a challenging market environment. 

International collections, established agencies and new exhibitors came together at KWS 117–119, connecting with buyers and retail partners from across the DACH region. Yet the four days were about more than placing orders for the upcoming season. They were about new ideas, shared plans and, above all, the question of how brands and retailers can successfully shape the market going forward.