From the Sector

adidas Originals and Edison Chen present the next chapter of their collaboration with the debut of an updated CLOT Gazelle in linen khaki and blue. The ongoing collaboration debuts its first global apparel range with the CLOT August Collection by Edison Chen.

As Edison Chen continues to build bridges between East and West, Chen brings together renowned Spanish football players, Vicky Lopez and Mapi Leon, and Tino El Pingüino, an influential rapper in the Latin music scene, to celebrate this new collection through a campaign that opens the door to their own imaginations. Coming together as one, each collaborator invites to experience a taste of their daily reality and the adventurous paths they tread along the way, igniting creativity and inviting consumers to step into new realms through the creative lens of Edison. With this campaign, Edison Chen was inspired to bring together fashion and cultural impact through the sport of football and music, all inspired by Chen’s extensive travels throughout Europe. The campaign embarks on a journey to create something new out of a classic with an untraditional execution for sportswear.

The CLOT Gazelle by Edison Chen arrives with premium nubuck details on a jute upper and an espadrille sole now adorned with blue stripes. The espadrille gives the shoe a luxurious touch while the khaki coloring achieves a playful, relaxing tone. Derived from the study of traditional Espadrille-making and inspired by classic Espadrille artisans, the stitching was applied to the final construction of the CLOT Gazelle, with special attention given to how the upper is assembled to the bottom. The cotton tape is all custom engineered for the shoe and beaded using an intricate process inspired by Eastern influence. Finally, the midsole is custom engineered for maximum support, highlighting the new construction process.

Lohia Corp Limited (LCL) announced two milestones that mark their expansion in the global market.

The company has acquired J.J. Jenkins Inc., specialized in machine manufacturing for high-tech industries, through their US subsidiary, Leesona Corp, a pioneer in winding machines. This acquisition aligns with their strategic vision to expand their specialty yarns and tapes portfolio in medical and defence applications.

In addition, LCL has formed a strategic Joint Venture with Italy's O.M.G.M. sas, leading to the creation of OMGM Extrusiontechnik Srl. With LCL holding the majority stake. This JV represents a diversification of their product portfolio, introducing solutions in Extrusion and Winding systems for a variety of technical applications.

With effect from July 1, Eugen Friedel is leading the business of Reifenhäuser Blown Film as the new part of the dual management team alongside Dr. Andreas Neuss. Friedel succeeds Marcel Perrevort, who has moved to the Reifenhäuser Group holding company as Chief Sales Officer.

Friedel, who has a degree in business administration, has held various sales positions at Reifenhäuser Blown Film for over 25 years - most recently as Sales Director. In addition to focusing on sales, he is also responsible for product management and purchasing within the dual management team.

Neste is expanding its logistics infrastructure for liquefied recycled raw materials at its refinery in Porvoo, Finland, including materials such as liquefied waste plastic and liquefied rubber tires. This lays the foundation to handling larger amounts of liquefied raw materials to support Neste’s strategic aims to advance chemical recycling and transform the Porvoo refinery into a renewable and circular solutions hub.

The new logistics installations comprise dedicated unloading facilities: At the refinery’s harbor, Neste is building an unloading arm with a heating system as well as pipelines to connect the harbor with dedicated storage tanks. Unlike regular crude oil, liquefied waste plastic or discarded rubber tires require heating to stay liquid. At the same time, the systems need to come with higher resistance to corrosion. In addition to the unloading arm and pipelines, Neste is also building a vapor recovery unit, contributing to emission control of the operations.

The new logistics infrastructure is expected to be completed in 2024. It will, therefore, be available when Neste finishes construction of its liquefied waste plastic upgrading unit at the Porvoo refinery, which is currently being built as part of the project PULSE, planned to be finalized during 2025. At the upgrading unit, the liquefied raw materials are turned into high-quality feedstock for the plastics and chemicals industry.

Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, has published a white paper that details how the organization’s Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM) can help companies meet their regulatory reporting obligations under European Union (EU) law. The paper, titled “How the Higg BRM Supports CSRD Reporting Obligations,” speaks specifically to how the tool is continually evolving to support companies in meeting their regulatory reporting requirements under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

In the face of today’s challenging and ever-changing legislative landscape, brands and retailers require reliable tools to support them in meeting compliance requirements. The Higg BRM is the leading framework specific to the textile, apparel, and footwear industry designed for brands and retailers to evaluate, assess, and improve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. The tool assesses 11 critical impact areas along global value chains to foster a holistic approach to sustainability, and is available on Worldly, a sustainability data and insights platform.

The Higg BRM has evolved to assist brands and retailers in fulfilling reporting obligations, while also supporting companies in the development of consistent corporate sustainability strategies to streamline efforts and reduce redundancy across sustainability initiatives. Beginning in 2024, Cascale conducted a thorough analysis of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which provides specific guidance on how companies should report on sustainability. Cascale mapped how the standards align with the Higg BRM, offering a clear pathway for organizations aiming to comply with ESRS. As detailed in the white paper, there is a 65 percent content overlap between the ESRS and the Higg BRM.

While the Higg BRM aligns broadly with ESRS on sustainability topics, it also delves deeper into issues that are specific to the textile, apparel, and footwear sector. This focus on sector-specific material issues ensures Higg BRM users can expect a comprehensive tool that not only meets general reporting requirements but also emphasizes the nuances and priorities unique to the industry.

Cascale is currently hosting an ongoing webinar series titled “Navigating Legislation & the Higg Index,” which highlights how the Higg Index tools serve as a valuable resource and can offer specific guidance on reporting requirements. The most recent webinar, co-hosted by Cascale and Worldly, provided an in-depth discussion on how the Higg BRM intersects with key pieces of legislation at the EU level, such as the CSRD.

Cascale is committed to continuously evolving, updating, and refining the Higg Index to meet the needs of its members, Higg Index users, and the industry. In collaboration with Worldly, the Higg BRM will be further refined to enhance alignment with the CSRD and other relevant regulations. By identifying and bridging gaps, the Higg BRM continues to support stakeholders in achieving a more structured and transparent approach to sustainability reporting.

As of July 1, Marcel Perrevort has been appointed Chief Sales Officer (CSO) of the Reifenhäuser Group. He succeeds Ulrich Reifenhäuser, who had been in this position for more than 25 years. With this decision, the family-owned machinery and plant manufacturer is consistently continuing the already initiated generational transition in its management structure.

Perrevort has held various sales and management positions within the Reifenhäuser Group for over ten years - most recently as Managing Director of Reifenhäuser Blown Film. In his new role as CSO, he is primarily responsible for the Group's sales and service strategy and its alignment with the activities of the business units.

Ulrich Reifenhäuser will continue his work in associations and committees within the plastics industry and will remain at the disposal of the Reifenhäuser Group as a representative and consultant with adjusted work hours.

adidas announces the return of the iconic trefoil to the pitch, with the launch of the third jerseys for each of five European clubs (Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid).

Over the past few decades, the adidas trefoil has come to represent the latest in contemporary street style and, since 2000, has been used exclusively for adidas Originals collections and limited-edition jerseys designed for off-pitch wear. With the 75th anniversary of the brand approaching in 2025, adidas is bringing it back to the pitch, not only with a nod to its status in the history of the sport, but also in recognition of the increasing role fashion plays in the contemporary game.

The on-field version of the jersey is constructed with HEAT.RDY technology, using advanced materials to maximize air flow to keep players feeling cool, while the fan version features AEROREADY technology, which uses sweat-wicking or absorbent materials to keep the body feeling dry.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) reported a slight rise in quarterly performance, supported by a gradual recovery in sales volumes and as management executes the company’s IVL 2.0 strategy to optimize its manufacturing model, reduce costs, and enhance competitiveness.

Indorama Ventures’ reported Adjusted EBITDA  of $370 million in 2Q24, a 1% rise QoQ and a decline of 11% YoY. The company’s sales volumes increased 1% YoY due to subdued economic activity, but also signaling the end of a prolonged period of destocking that began in late 2022. Operating rates for the group increased from 74% to 76% in 1H24, although still at lower-than-average levels, signifying the weak global economic conditions. On a proforma basis, considering asset optimization actions, operating rates increase to 81%.

The Indovinya segment posted a robust performance on improved margins and rebounding demand for its high value-add downstream products. The packaging business, newly renamed ‘Indovida’, also performed well due to its leading footprint in emerging markets.

Looking ahead, Indorama Ventures is encouraged by the gradual improvement in the operating environment as customer inventory levels normalize, which is expected to spur further growth in volumes across all segments in 2H24. The company also expects to benefit in 2H24 from its shale gas advantage in the U.S, reflected in ethylene crack margins, positively impacting its integrated MEG business. Continued higher import prices in Western markets will enhance the company’s competitiveness as a leading local operator.

While the polyester industry manages the downcycle, Indorama Ventures’ experienced management team is working hard to deleverage and optimize the business under the company’s IVL 2.0 strategy to emerge stronger and drive enhanced earnings quality in an era of higher interest rates and a substantially changed industry landscape. As flagged at its Capital Markets Day on 6 March this year and reaffirmed in its Mid year strategic update on 24 July, the company is making substantial progress with IVL 2.0. In 2Q24, it recorded an impairment and expense provision of $666 million ($543 million is non cash) under its asset optimization program to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce fixed costs. The cost benefits will start from 3Q24 and amount to about $170 million in savings in 2025. The company expects that the remaining asset optimizations will not have material impairments.

Management is continuing its intense focus on managing costs and extracting efficiencies, including its Olympus 2.0 program. These efforts achieved $47 million in savings in 1H24 ($29 million in 2Q24). The company is continually optimizing its capital expenditure, with capex supporting investments in sustainability—such as recycling in India—and automation and digital technology, as well as ongoing projects.

A key part of Indorama Ventures’ transformation journey is the implementation of new digital and AI tools to drive operational excellence in key areas, including manufacturing, commercial, procurement, sales, supply chain, and finance excellence. A significant portion of operations now have the new SAP S/4HANA ERP platform as a digital core, while rollouts of other world-leading solutions are ongoing in a phased approach through to 2026.

Segment Performances
The Combined PET (CPET) with Intermediate Chemicals segment posted an Adjusted EBITDA of $234 million in 2Q24, a 6% decline QoQ and a 25% decrease YoY, due to a one-time upside impact from a campaign run of NDC campaign in 1Q24 and as reduced industry spreads weighed on the Integrated PET business. A cracker outage at Lake Charles in the U.S also resulted in a $17-18 million impact to EBITDA. The cracker is gradually up and running in 3Q24.

The Indovinya segment recorded a strong Adjusted EBITDA of $98 million, a 41% gain QoQ and 85% YoY on increased volumes as destocking eased, supported by demand for downstream chemical surfactants amid the U.S crops season.

The Fibers segment recorded Adjusted EBITDA of $39 million, a 2% rise QoQ and a 19% gain YoY amid improved sales strategies and a robust focus on cost management, even as volumes declined, particularly in the Lifestyle business.

Flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2024) between 20th - 23rd August 2024. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by the latest WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, conventional shaped knitting machines, glove knitting machine and design software.

The SWG-XR® WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine features the company's original SlideNeedle™ on four needle beds supporting a wide range of high-quality WHOLEGARMENT® knitting in all needles. MACH2®VS and N.SVR®183 are conventional V-bed machines capable of WHOLEGARMENT® knitting in every other needle. N.SIR®123SP features a special loop presser bed and is capable of producing woven-like hybrid fabrics as well as technical textiles. The SVR® and N.SSR® workhorse machines set the industry benchmark for shaping machines, with SVR®202 featuring tandem knitting capability for flexible operation. N.SSR®072 is a new machine that specializes in knitting of collars, shown for the first time in Brazil. The SFG® fully automatic glove knitting machine rounds out the comprehensive lineup.

APEXFiz® subscription-based design software supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual sampling is a digitized version of sample making, accurate enough to be used effectively as prototypes. By replacing physical samples, virtual samples reduce time, cost and material that otherwise go to waste. APEXFiz® thereby helps to realize sustainability and digitally transform the fashion supply chain.

From September 11 to 14, 2024, the Trützschler Group will present its latest innovations at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan - featuring machines and technologies in spinning, card clothing and nonwovens.

Trützschler Spinning
A highlight will be Trützschler’s next generation card, the TC 30i. In recent customer trials, the TC 30i has achieved up to 40 % higher productivity while reducing energy consumption by up to -18 %. In addition, the team will share insights about the Integrated Draw Frame IDF 3, which enables shortened processes that save resources, energy and production space. Visitors will also have the opportunity to discover the TCO 21XL, a 12-head comber. This comber makes it possible to increase productivity by 50 %, while requiring 25 % less space.

Visitors will also get the chance to learn about Trützschler’s new brand for textile recycling, TRUECYCLED. The company enables its customers to produce high quality tapes while turning waste into value.

Trützschler Card Clothing
Trützschler Card Clothing (TCC) will present a range of technologies from its card clothing portfolio, covering the full spectrum of applications in the spinning and nonwovens markets. A key feature will be the Flexible Bend Control (FBC), which ensures flat setting for all card models within a few seconds and guarantees optimum quality.

Trützschler Nonwovens
Trützschler Nonwovens will focus on solutions for the production of cotton nonwovens for wipes, pads and medical products from virgin fibers, comber noils or blends. In addition, the team will provide insights into T-SUPREMA needle-punching lines and show its solutions for the specific requirements of high-potential markets such as geotextiles, filter media, automotive textiles or other durable products.