From the Sector

Bringing together India’s textile community under one roof, with a special focus on textile and garment manufacturing machinery and technology and innovations in fabrics, digital screen print, accessories, and trims, the Gartex Texprocess India Mumbai 2025 edition presents industry advancements.

With over 125 exhibitors from India, China, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan - the show features strong international participation and highlights from India’s growing role in the global textiles industry.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest, Shri Sanjay Savkare, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of Maharashtra stated: “Denims have become a major fashion trend, and the government has announced relief on import duty for machinery. However, the central government, in an endeavour to encourage local manufacturing in the country, has announced the Technical Textile Mission, which empowers companies to receive subsidies and start manufacturing. Maharashtra has launched its textile policy, which operates in a zonal format. Zone 1 can help you gain a 45% subsidy, Zone 2 offers 40%, Zone 3 provides 35%, and so on. We have announced Zero-Waste Fashion, which aims to control textile waste by recycling it and converting it into usable materials like carpets. For this, the private sector can benefit from an electricity subsidy of Rs 2 per unit, and Rs 3 per unit for co-operative societies, in addition to the previously mentioned subsidies. In Amravati, the PM Mitra Park will be launched soon, as most of the work is complete, with only final touch-ups pending. I thank the organisers for having me here and wish you all the very best.”

Shri Shashank Chaudhary (IAS), Additional CEO, Invest UP informed: “Under the PM Mitra Scheme, we are developing a mega-integrated textile park near Lucknow, covering 1,000 acres of land. It will be set up under the PPP model, which offers a great opportunity for investors. The state of Uttar Pradesh has been developing new portals for single-window clearance and approvals. We have successfully managed to attract good investors.”

Mr Gaurav Juneja, Director of MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd, shared: “Gartex Texprocess India as a show has only evolved consistently. This is reflected in our Mumbai and New Delhi editions each year. As India strengthens its position in global textile manufacturing, I believe that this show has become a platform to shape conversations and update the industry with innovations that will drive the next phase of growth for India’s textiles and fashion ecosystem. We are honoured to have Invest Uttar Pradesh as our State Partners at this edition and with the kind of innovations on the show floor in denim, fabrics, machinery and more - I am sure visitors have tremendous business opportunities through our platform.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director & Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd, expressed: “This show goes beyond exhibition; it is about enabling industry transformation. At a time when global supply chains are realigning, platforms like Gartex Texprocess India become crucial to connecting industry stakeholders. This also bridges Indian expertise with international demand and we are pleased to welcome the textile fraternity to the show and see the scale of innovations from the industry.”  

The expo is jointly organised by MEX Exhibitions Pvt Ltd and Messe Frankfurt Trade Fair India Pvt Ltd. Gartex Texprocess India Mumbai is scheduled from 22 – 24 May 2025 at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will take place from Septembre 15 to 17 2025 in Halls 2, 3 and 4 of the Paris-Le-Bourget Exhibition Center. Texworld Paris, Apparel Sourcing Paris, along with their dedicated sectors Avantex and Leatherworld, will showcase the global offering for fashion brands—from ready-to-wear to luxury.
 
Between 1,200 and 1,300 exhibitors expected in Paris in September  
Returning this September for the autumn edition, Apparel Sourcing & Texworld Paris and their key sectors Avantex and Leatherworld have chosen these dates to better align with buyers' calendars.

The event will follow the same layout as the February edition, whose dynamism was hailed by both manufacturers and fashion buyers. Halls 2, 3, and 4 will hence welcome nearly 1,300 exhibitors, in line with the target set by the Messe Frankfurt France teams.  

Major textile-producing countries have already confirmed their participation: weavers and manufacturers from China, India, Türkiye, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong will be present in Paris this September. Their willingness to attend once again highlights the central role of European markets in a global ecosystem disrupted by ongoing US-China trade tensions. Central European garment manufacturers are also showing considerable interest in this edition. Countries such as Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine are expected to make significant appearance at Apparel Sourcing Paris, with real know-how and remarkable levels of quality.
 
Organized by universe, with an Initiatives by Texworld zone
In terms of layout, Avantex will be located in Hall 2, alongside trend forums, conference, and service areas. As in February, thematic “universes” will be featured, focused on women’s clothing and activewear collections, to create synergies between raw materials and finished products and to enhance the sourcing experience for visitors.

Leatherworld will be in Hall 4, next to the Denim area, bridging Texworld and Apparel Sourcing to maintain proximity between materials and finished products. The Initiatives by Texworld zone, located at the entrance of Hall 4, will highlight the specific expertise of certain countries such as Türkiye which will present a trend area featuring its top weavers, and India which will showcase the remarkable work of its embroiderers.

On May 23 and 24 an Open Day will be held in Rome at the Centro Apostolato Liturgico Largo Brancaccio 57, run by the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master. The event will unveil the first collection of chasubles (vestments worn to celebrate Holy Mass) made with Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei.

The POPOLO IN CAMMINO – ON THE OCCASION OF THE JUBILEE 2025 – PELLEGRINI DI SPERANZA collection features liturgical vestments including chasubles, dalmatics and copes. During the event, Ettore Pellegrini, Marketing & Sales Manager of Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia, and Junshu Furusawa, Sales Manager & Board Member of Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia, will be present and will welcome all guests.

The choice of Bemberg™ - the brand of cupro fiber by Asahi Kasei, a regenerated cellulose fiber obtained from the closed-loop process using cotton linters -  was the result of a journey that began with a visit to Milano Unica (Italy’s premier textile trade fair) and continued with several presentations of the material in Rome. Bemberg™ stood out for its uniqueness and circular economy footprint. Thanks to its transparent and traceable supply chaih, it offers certified sustainability credentials and premium quality. The fiber respects form and drape, with a truly unique and precious feel: cool in summer, with excellent moisture control, offering superior comfort and a soft, impalpable touch on the skin.

The collection is a testimony to the Church’s commitment to sustainable conversion, made possible thanks to the work of the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master, a religious congregation of nuns who, with experience, skill, and creativity, design and craft liturgical vestments and a variety of  handcrafted items, including iconography, sculptures and ceramics. Their work is dedicated to serving the Church’s liturgy, guided by the principles of liturgical renewal: noble simplicity, dignity, and beauty in sobriety (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium 34; 122; 124).

The fabric used for the vestments in this collection was designed by the Sister Disciples themselves and produced with textiles supplied by Brunello.

The Sister Disciples of the Divine Master present their creations through the Apostolato Liturgico, a retail point with an online shop offering religious articles—from sacred vestments to other liturgical items. Following the launch on May 23, the Apostolato Liturgico stores in Milan, Bari, Palermo, Florence, Cagliari, Rome, and others will feature window displays dedicated to the collection for the next three months.

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, is set to showcase key innovations in denim color and processing to the global denim community at Denim Première Vision Milan on May 21 and 22 and Denimsandjeans Vietnam on June 25 and 26.

Denim has remained a staple in both mainstream and high-end fashion, but traditional manufacturing methods are under increasing scrutiny for their intensive use of water, energy and chemicals.

Archroma will demonstrate an array of denim innovations at Denim Première Vision Milan and Denimsandjeans Vietnam, headed by DENIM HALO – a pretreatment and dyeing process developed to empower mills to produce highly sought-after distressed denim looks with a significantly reduced environmental footprint.

DENIM HALO combines DIRSOL® RD p, a new product for a special/specific yarn pretreatment, with Archroma’s indigo, sulfur or biosynthetic dyes to produce laser-friendly denim with outstanding contrast on intense black and indigo shades – without modifying standard dye recipes or set up. Additionally, the solution reduces yarn shrinkage and improves garment tensile strength, while also saving water and energy, avoiding the use of potassium permanganate, and reducing the need for caustic soda in sulfur dyeing.

Archroma will also be showcasing a brand-new capsule collection at the shows. The collection will present Black Denim that utilizes Archroma’s DENIM HALO and DIRESUL® EVOLUTION BLACK and made with premium fabric from Kipas Denim and finished using Jeanologia’ s innovative washing technology. The result is a refined, modern take on black denim—combining elevated design with responsible production practices.

Adaptable insulation elements can ensure that the heat transfer through the building envelope can be adjusted as required. This saves heating or cooling energy and therefore costs. Intelligent systems can regulate heat transfer according to the outside temperature and the need for heating or cooling in the interior. In the ReVaD project, the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) and their partners are developing adaptive building envelopes that can also use concrete components as structural thermal energy storage units for temperature control in buildings.

The research project is developing adaptable insulation elements based on the Knudsen effect. The Knudsen effect describes the change in the thermal conductivity of porous structures with the prevailing gas pressure in the pore space. If there is a vacuum in the pore space, the thermal conductivity is low; if the pressure increases, the thermal conductivity also increases. In order to use the principle in an adjustable insulation element, the highest possible switching factor between the two states is required. To achieve this, the pore system and gas pressure range must be optimally matched. In the adaptable insulation panel, the pore system consists of a spacer fabric that is being developed at the DITF. A key challenge here is the compressive strength of the filling core, which must only allow minimal deformation at a surface pressure of 10 N/cm2 imprinted by a fine vacuum.

The research team at the Technology Center Knitting Technique at DITF has developed the corresponding pressure-resistant structures. Their pore size will be optimized in the next steps by inserting textured yarns into the pole thread space. The basic thermal conductivity of the structure should be increased as little as possible. With the knitted structures in the panel, a switching factor, i.e. the ratio of maximum to minimum thermal conductivity achieved, of 5 has already been demonstrated. Current work involves optimizing the spacer structures and setting up a demonstrator.

In the joint project, the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Stuttgart is developing a thermochemical reactor component that enables precise and energy-efficient gas pressure adjustment in the vacuum insulation panel. Metal hydride-hydrogen reaction systems are used, which allow the gas pressure in the insulation panel to be set through temperature control.

The Institute for Building Energetics, Thermal Engineering and Energy Storage (IGTE) at the University of Stuttgart is investigating the integration possibilities of the panels in the wall composite using simulations and experiments. The thermal-energetic simulations make it possible to assess the energy-saving potential of the technology in different scenarios and under different boundary conditions. A demonstrator is used to test the adaptable thermal insulation in an application-oriented manner.

The ReVaD project (development of adaptable vacuum insulation elements for the needs-based adaptation of heat transfer in building envelopes and structures as well as the thermal activation of storage masses) is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy as part of joint industrial research (IGF) (FKZ: 22617 N).

Leading computerized flat knitting innovator SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan is collaborating with Lonati S.p.A. of Brescia, Italy to promote digitalization and sustainable product development within the sock industry.

The partnership forms a synergy by leveraging software solutions offered by each company—APEXFiz® design software developed and sold by SHIMA SEIKI and ORION programming software developed and sold by Lonati. Together, they aim to help the industry shed ist dependence on traditional physical sample creation processes.

In the fashion industry, particularly in the sock sector, it is common practice to create physical samples for design consideration and production decisions. However, this process presents numerous challenges, including waste of resources and labor, economic burdens such as sampling costs and material expenses, as well as delays due to lead times before market launch.

To address these challenges, “3D Virtual Sampling” has gained attention as an effective method. This approach allows for design consideration without physical samples and enables rapid and efficient prototyping. As a result, companies can significantly reduce costs and time while minimizing their environmental impact. Additionally, developing products that meet market needs enhances competitiveness.

SHIMA SEIKI’s APEXFiz® is design software that is available with 3D virtual sampling capabilities for knitted products and has been adopted by many companies in the sock industry to high acclaim. By using this tool, designers can visualize sock designs in real-time and receive quick feedback. Moreover, specialized software dedicated to sock design—APEXFiz® Design-Sox—is in the works for future release. Meanwhile, ORION is Lonati's innovative programming software that is part of the UNLIMITEX® suite, and allows users to proactively verify data in 3D from a technical perspective, identifying and resolving potential issues in advance at each stage from programming to manufacturing. ORION and APEXFiz® Design-Sox are both scheduled for release in June of 2025.

Together, APEXFiz® and ORION further streamline virtual sampling by integrating the workflow from design to production. This integrated process enables companies to shorten time-to-market while efficiently delivering high-quality products. The innovative workflow developed through the partnership between SHIMA SEIKI and Lonati are set to revolutionize the sock industry and serve as a key driver for creating new business opportunities and competitive advantage.

The winners of the 2025 IDEA® Achievement Awards and FiltXPO™ Innovation Awards were announced during special ceremonies held April 29 and 30 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. Presented at the co-located IDEA®25 and FiltXPO™ 2025 events, the awards celebrate outstanding innovations driving progress in nonwovens and filtration. INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, collaborated with International Filtration News for the FiltXPO™ Awards and Nonwovens Industry magazine for the IDEA® Achievement Awards.

IDEA® Equipment Achievement Award
Dilo Systems GmbH – MicroPunch
The rising energy costs and water shortages have led to a re-evaluation of production methods, with a stronger focus on environmental impact. With MicroPunch, it is possible to reduce energy consumption by approximately 75 percent compared with other consolidation techniques that produce lightweight nonwovens. This technology enhances efficiency and reduces the manufacturing costs and the environmental footprint.

IDEA® Nonwoven Products Achievement Award
Innovatec Microfibre Technology GmbH & Co. KG – InnovaWipe® Water-Soluble Nonwoven
This water-soluble nonwoven is completely biodegradable under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. It offers excellent resistance to oils, greases and chemicals. It does not leave any microplastics behind, breaking down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. It also has no ecotoxic effects, is safe for the marine environment and does not cause fatbergs or blockages in wastewater systems – flushable and home compostable.

IDEA® Raw Materials Achievement Award
Woolchemy NZ Ltd. – neweFibre
Woolchemy’s neweFibre is the world’s first hygiene-grade wool, engineered for high-performance, sustainable hygiene products. This fully traceable, renewable fiber enhances moisture management, thermal comfort, and odor control. Seamlessly integrating into production, neweFibre powers innovations like neweFlex ADL for exceptional fluid distribution and skin dryness.

IDEA® Short-life Achievement Award
Egal Pads, Inc. – Egal™ Pads on a Roll
At Egal, we believe pads should be as common as toilet paper.  Our vision is that “pads on a roll” will be put in every toilet stall – where they are needed most – to ensure privacy and dignity to all who menstruate.  Egal pads are manufactured in roll form, 40 individually wrapped on each roll, so they can be mounted on existing toilet paper dispensers or in Egal’s custom-designed dispensers.

IDEA® Long-life Achievement Award
Magnera – Sontara® EcoRE Bag
EcoRE bags are produced entirely from cellulosic fibers, presenting a sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic materials. Made with Sontara fabric certified by OK compost HOME, these bags maintain their durability and strength without the need for added binders, addressing a common concern with compostable goods. With plastic bag bans now in place in many states, Sontara offers a timely and eco-friendly solution for the retail and shopping market.

IDEA® Sustainability Advancement Award
KINDCLOTH™ – PURA HEALTH Insect Repellent – Water Dissolvable Wipes
This wet wipe combines water-dissolvable Hydropol™ technology with a natural formula featuring lemongrass and citronella. Designed for eco-conscious consumers, this innovative wipe provides effective insect protection while leaving no waste behind. Certified biodegradable, flushable, and designed not to create harmful microplastics, it safeguards fragile ecosystems and supports sustainability goals.

IDEA® Entrepreneur Award
Dude Products, Inc.
In less than a decade, the Dude Wipes brand has grown from an entrepreneurial concept conceived in a bachelor’s post-college apartment to a more than $200 million global brand. These flushable wipes have flourished in flushable wipes industry, successfully going head to head against multinational consumer product companies Kimberly-Clark, S.C. Johnson, and Procter & Gamble.

FiltXPO Air/Gas Filtration Award
Greentech Environmental LLC – Greentech Filters with ODOGard®
ODOGard® technology deeply integrates odor-neutralizing polymers into nonwoven and nanofiber filters, offering an innovative, non-toxic approach to indoor air quality. ODOGard® significantly enhances filtration durability and performance.

FiltXPO Water/Liquid Filtration Award
Ahlstrom – BioProtect™
Ahlstrom’s sustainable BioProtect™ material offers superior dye-catching performance for laundry applications. Manufactured from 100 percent naturally derived fibers and OC-Biobinder®, BioProtect™ is both biobased and home compostable, combining premium performance with environmental responsibility.

FiltXPO Filtration Equipment Award
Filtration Advice Inc. – FA-TCO Software
This cutting-edge software provides comprehensive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis and predictive modeling for air filtration systems. FA-TCO enables data-driven decisions, extending filter lifespans, reducing operational costs, and enhancing overall sustainability in filtration management.

Mimaki Europe, a leading provider of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, has unveiled its new vision, structure and go-to-market strategy against a backdrop of new product innovations making their debut at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025.

Mimaki’s new technology and pioneering ink products represent over half of the company’s product line-up being demonstrated live on its FESPA stand. These latest solutions include the new Mimaki UJV300DTF-75 Printer, which leverages Mimaki’s UV printing expertise to deliver a reliable solution for object decoration, enabling high-quality, durable prints on surfaces that were previously unsuitable for direct UV printing.

Launched last week, the new Mimaki ELH and ELS inks are also being showcased for the very first time. These sustainable inks deliver the same high-standard functionality as equivalent Mimaki inks but have been formulated to be completely free of SVHC and, uniquely, CMR, therefore reducing the impact on human health and the environment.

Two new printers, the JV200-160 and Tx330-1800, will make their debut in EMEA. An easy-to-use roll-to-roll printer, the JV200-160 uses eco-solvent inks and offers reliable signage production with outstanding print quality. Created for the textile and apparel markets, the Tx330-1800 is equipped with a dual ink set capability to seamlessly switch between textile pigment inks and dye sublimation inks for a more diverse range of applications in one machine.

As Mimaki kicks off this innovation-packed FESPA, the company officially announces Arjen Evertse’s promotion to Director Sales, along with the landmark news that he is the first locally appointed member to join the Mimaki Europe Board of Directors.

Mimaki Europe will implement a new strategy that enables further ‘horizontal growth’, as Mimaki’s new product introductions continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and open up opportunities in new markets, and ‘vertical growth’ as it continues to support entry-level and industrial scale print production. Mimaki’s new ‘Print Different’ ethos underpins this approach. ‘Print Different’ not only encapsulates Mimaki’s legacy of breakthrough technologies but also highlights the company’s continuous commitment to driving creativity, differentiation and sustainability in the digital printing industry.

Rieter has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Barmag from OC Oerlikon for an upfront equity purchase price of CHF 713 million. The acquisition will create a globally leading player in natural and manmade fibers, headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, and is highly complementary to Rieter’s short-staple fiber business.

Barmag is a provider of filament spinning systems used for manufacturing manmade fibers, texturing machines, BCF1) systems, staple fiber spinning and nonwovens solutions and – as an engineering services provider – offers solutions along the textile value chain. In the financial year 2024, the company generated sales of CHF 734 million with around 2 600 employees.

Barmag comprises the established product brands Oerlikon Barmag, Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven. The main markets for the Barmag product portfolio are China, India, Türkiye and the United States of America. The innovative and technologically advanced products are developed in Remscheid and Neumünster (Germany) as well as Suzhou and Wuxi (China).

As fiber consumption is projected to rise, most of the growth is expected to come from manmade fibers. The increase of natural fibers such as cotton and linen is limited due to natural boundaries. Manmade fibers will help to meet expanding demand for clothing, technical and home textiles. The strategic acquisition of Barmag will transform Rieter into a leading supplier for converting natural and manmade fibers into yarn.

The transaction is fully in-line with Rieter’s strategy and follows previous acquisitions, where Rieter complemented its portfolio in short-staple fiber machinery and expanded its footprint in components and machinery for manmade fiber production. The combined platform allows to leverage the recovery of global filament and short staple fiber spinning markets and to reduce cyclicality due to diversification of end-markets. The acquisition will further enhance Rieter’s position in the important Asia-Pacific region and provide access to Barmag’s filament expertise, which will help to further scale Rieter’s own capabilities and improve digitization solutions and product sustainability.

Rieter’s largest shareholder, Peter Spuhler (c. 33% shareholding) is supportive of the transaction and committed to participating in the rights-issue pro-rata by exercising its subscription rights as well as investing additional capital through the non-pre-emptive capital raise. After the capital increase, PCS Holding AG is expected to retain a shareholding of c. 33%.

Additionally, Rieter’s second-largest shareholder, Martin Haefner (c. 10%), also supports the transaction and has committed to participating pro-rata in the rights-issue by exercising its subscription rights and investing additional capital through the non-pre-emptive capital raise.

CARBIOS, (Euronext Growth Paris:  ALCRB), a pioneer in the development and industrialization of biological technologies to reinvent the life cycle of plastic and textiles, announces to its shareholders and the financial community that its 2024 Universal Registration Document including the annual report, the management report and the report on corporate governance was filed with the French Financial Market Authority (Autorité des marchés financiers) on April 30, 2025 under the number D.25-0354.

Copies of the Universal Registration Document are available in French free of charge, pursuant to applicable law, and can be downloaded from the Company's website at www.carbios.com under the “Investors – Regulated information” section, as well as on www.amf-france.org. An English version will follow shortly.