From the Sector

From April 21 to 24, 2026, the Trützschler Group will present its future‑ready solutions at Techtextil in Frankfurt, Germany. Trützschler Nonwovens will showcase its latest developments for efficient nonwovens production, including comprehensive service and consulting solutions. Highlights include the fully upgraded X‑Series nonwoven cards suitable for spunlace, needle‑punching and air‑through bonding (ATB) processes, as well as the T‑ONE digital working environment enhanced with new features. Trützschler Card Clothing will complement the presentation with a new card wire designed with a specially engineered surface for high‑performance nonwoven applications. Visitors can also take a closer look at Trützschler’s complete solution for the recycling of textile waste, TRUECYCLED. 

Trützschler Nonwovens
The T-SUPREMA needle punching line has proven its performance in the market, with lines successfully operating at two customer sites since early this year. It demonstrates the exceptional versatility of needle-punched nonwovens, covering basis weights from below 50 gsm to above 2,000 gsm. New streamlined configurations featuring the compact NC-Xe card further reduce the footprint while ensuring high process stability and consistent product quality.

Beyond complete line solutions, Trützschler Nonwovens will showcase upgrades to its single machine portfolio, including the X-Series nonwovens cards (the high-speed card NCT-X, the versatile NC-X and the compact NC-Xe), the MPD high-performance dryer and the new compact AquaJet-X. These developments are designed to combine compact machine concepts with high operational reliability and outstanding performance.

At Techtextil 2026, Trützschler Nonwovens will also highlight its advanced ATB technology for hygiene applications. The process enables the reliable processing of ultra fine fibers down to 0.4 dtex, producing exceptionally soft nonwovens that meet the highest requirements for softness and performance in baby diaper applications.

T‑ONE, Trützschler Nonwovens’ digital working environment, serves as a powerful digital backbone for any nonwoven line. New enhancements include an energy management function for real‑time monitoring of electricity and gas consumption and CO₂ footprint calculation per time unit, roll or order, as well as camera‑based anomaly detection that identifies fiber migration and accumulations at an early stage. This helps to prevent unplanned downtime while improving process stability and production transparency.

With tailored modernization and development solutions, Trützschler Nonwovens supports manufacturers in optimizing existing installations and translating new product ideas into stable, industrial scale production. Application-specific consulting enables higher efficiency, increased output and longer service life – without compromising quality.

Trützschler Card Clothing (TCC): Next‑generation card clothing for demanding nonwovens applications
Visitors can experience top nonwovens performance with our high-efficiency card clothing. Our TCC experts will present our latest innovation: a new wire with special surface designed for Hygiene, Spunlace and ATB applications. It ensures cleaner operation, less contamination and reduced downtime - delivering maximum productivity for your line. More details will be revealed at the exhibition – don’t miss this opportunity to see it first hand. 

Trützschler Spinning: TRUECYCLED – the complete solution for textile recycling    
Visitors can also learn more about TRUECYCLED, Trützschler’s complete solution for the recycling of textile waste. It covers the complete process: from cutting and tearing textile waste to carding and drawing secondary fibers. Based on Trützschler’s technological recommendations and a Trützschler machinery line-up, it ensures the best possible quality of the end product. 

Nostalgia was king at the 42nd annual Cornell Fashion Collective (CFC) Spring Runway Show, complete with a crown.

Collections at the March 21 show in Barton Hall paid homage to well-loved storybooks and designers’ childhood memories and cultural backgrounds. A total of 42 students showed their work, including nine seniors who designed full collections.

“Nostalgia is my favorite feeling,” said Madison Feely ’26, a fashion design management major in the College of Human Ecology (CHE), who referenced childhood classics including “Where the Wild Things Are” (with an illustrated sweater and crocheted crown), “Little Women,” “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” in her collection, “Homebody.” “My designs celebrate a well-lived and well-loved childhood, honoring the authors and illustrators who allow me to relive it each time I open their books.”

For the past two years, Feely has been the student assistant for the Shima Seiki knitting machine, gaining experience with knit programming and knitwear design. She paired the machine knit pieces with labor-intensive crochet and hand-pieced quilting techniques. She also made matching earrings out of Shrinky Dink paper.

Meanwhile Ana Mocklar ’26, an information science major in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, took a page from Moe Willems’ series of pigeon books for “Don’t Let the Pigeon Design a Collection,” with eight whimsical looks each representing a city mishap, based on a trip to New York City. “The Puddle Pigeon” featured beads that portrayed rain falling off an umbrella skirt; “The Cat Attack Pigeon” had large slashes shown by red pleats on the jacket and pants; and “The Takeout Bag Pigeon,” had red lettering with the words “Thank you!” and “Have a Nice Day!” across the shoulders.

CHE fashion design major Lucy Jones ’26 reflected her experience growing up in Los Angeles in her collection, “Crosseyed and Painless.” T-shirts emblazoned with the words “Cable TV” and “Around Six PM” were juxtaposed with plaid shorts and minidresses.

Other collections took root in memories from across the globe. In “<Neighborhood>”, CHE fashion design major Andy (Seungjoo) Kim ’26 imagined what traditional Korean neighborhoods would look like if they had persisted today. “Mare,” by Julia Schanen ’26, a mathematics major in the College of Arts and Sciences, evoked her Romanian heritage, using natural fabrics like silk, leather and wool. The wool came from small farms in Ithaca and Michigan, and she sourced the silks from various locations, including a class trip to India and Sri Lanka in January. She purchased all the leather wholesale, because it was deemed too damaged to sell at retail, and used many upcycled and salvaged antique remnants. 

“I’m always so inspired by the past and incorporated antique trims and accessories into my collection,” she said. Every look required handwork, and the materials were delicate and required handling with a lot of care.

Kylie Gillen ’26, a fashion design major in CHE, blended her experience and cultural heritage to create her collection, which sought to preserve traditional Japanese practices through contemporary forms, materials and perspectives. Patterns resembling traditional woodblock prints graced long flowing trains. 

“Permanence is not about resisting change but about allowing tradition to evolve and stay meaningful in modern life,” she said. 

The Italian textile machinery industry is gearing up for a key event on the international trade fair calendar: Techtextil 2026, taking place from April 21–24 in Frankfurt, Germany. A prestigious representation of Italian companies will participate in the German exhibition—a global benchmark for technical and innovative textiles—to present cutting-edge technologies dedicated to an ever-expanding market.

Italy confirms its position among the world leaders in the textile machinery sector, thanks to a solid and highly specialized production system. The industry stands out for its strong international vocation, with a predominant share of production destined for foreign markets (86% of its sales) and a consolidated presence in over 130 countries. This places the country among the top global exporters of textile technology, renowned for its quality, innovation, and reliability.

In the first eleven months of 2025, sales in Germany have already reached 81 million euros. Among the most requested technologies, accessories stand out (36%), followed by finishing machinery (33%)—the latter being essential for the production processes of the most innovative textile sectors.

The strength of Italian textile machinery lies in its dynamic structure, composed of small-to-medium-sized companies that are heavily oriented toward Research & Development. This flexibility allows Italian manufacturers to collaborate closely with end-users, transforming customer needs into highly personalized and versatile technological solutions.

“The growing demand for innovative textiles across various industrial fields is further consolidating our manufacturers’ position,” emphasizes Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT. “At Techtextil 2026, the Italian offering will once again demonstrate how the combination of high technology and customization capabilities is the key to meeting the challenges of the technical textiles sector.”

Italian expertise, rooted in historic districts such as Bergamo, Biella, Brescia, Como, Milan, Prato, and Vicenza, continues to guarantee standards of quality and reliability that make Made in Italy a point of reference for the entire global industry.

The ACIMIT associate companies present in the Italy Pavilion include: Aeris S.r.l., Aigle S.r.l., Beschi S.r.l., Bettarini & Serafini S.r.l., Bonino S.r.l., Castello S.r.l., Ferraro S.p.A., Gemata S.p.A., Gualchieri e Gualchieri S.r.l., Guarneri Technology S.r.l., Idealtech S.r.l., IMA S.p.A., Lonati S.p.A., Mariplast S.p.A., MCS Officina Meccanica S.p.A., Monti-Mac S.r.l., M.T.V. S.r.l., Noseda S.r.l., OMMI S.r.l., Ramatex Italia S.r.l., Ramina S.r.l., Salvadè S.r.l., Simet S.r.l., S.R.S. Spindle Research & Service S.r.l., Stalam S.p.A., Tecnomeccanica Biellese S.r.l., Tecnorama S.r.l., Texera S.r.l., Ugolini S.r.l., Unitech Industries S.r.l., Zanfrini S.r.l..

The strength of the Italian presence is further confirmed by ACIMIT associate members exhibiting at individual stands or through local retailers, including:  A.Piovan S.r.l., Autefa Solutions Italy, Bianco S.p.A., Cormatex S.r.l., Dell’orco & Villani S.r.l., Emme S.r.l., Fadis S.p.A., Itema S.p.A., Lawer S.p.A., LGL Electronics S.p.A., Mesdan S.p.A., Monti Antonio S.p.A., O.M.R. S.r.l., Ratti Luino S.r.l., Siltex S.r.l., Texilmesa S.r.l., Texnology S.r.l., Toscana Spazzole Industriali S.r.l., Willy Italiana S.r.l., Zappa Macchine S.r.l..

Hexcel Corporation announced that James (Jamie) Coogan has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective May 1, 2026. He will report to Tom Gentile, Hexcel Chairman, CEO and President. Coogan succeeds Mike Lenz who has been serving as interim Chief Financial Officer.  Lenz will remain for a period of time when Coogan joins the company as a Senior Advisor to assist with the transition.

“Jamie brings the experience and the financial leadership that will help Hexcel build on our momentum as we enter a period of growth with rising commercial aircraft production rates and an expanding defense and space market,” said Tom Gentile, Chairman, CEO and President, Hexcel Corporation. “His experience in aerospace and defense companies and broader industrial manufacturing organizations will enable him to make a meaningful impact quickly on Hexcel’s strategic priorities.”

Coogan most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Axcelis Technologies, a supplier in the semiconductor industry, having joined the company in September 2023. Previously he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at Kaman Corporation (formerly traded on the NYSE under the symbol KAMN). During his 15 years at Kaman, he held various management positions including Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development, Assistant Vice President, External Reporting and SEC Compliance, and Director, External Reporting and SEC Compliance.

Coogan has more than 20 years of finance, accounting and investor relations experience across multiple industries, including aerospace and defense. After starting his career at PwC, he held several financial management roles at Ann Taylor Stores Corporation and Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority before joining Kaman. 

Coogan holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management, an M.S. in Accounting and a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Connecticut.

CHIC Spring 2026 (March 11–13, Shanghai) has successfully concluded, reaffirming its position as Asia’s leading fashion and lifestyle trade fair. Across 117,200 sqm, 1,291 exhibitors with 1,335 brands from eight countries and regions met more than 160,000 trade visitors at the National Exhibition & Convention Center in Shanghai  – highlighting the event’s role as a key international business platform.

Under the guiding theme “In Search of Spring,” CHIC reflected an industry in transition, shaped by structural change, new growth markets and evolving consumer demands. With 12 clearly structured segments covering the entire textile value chain, over 130 invited buyer groups from leading platforms such as JD.com, Douyin and Little Red Book, and more than 100 industry events, the fair offered targeted sourcing, high-level networking and strategic dialogue.

Key trends included the growing importance of sportswear, outdoor and lifestyle segments, the rise of culturally influenced design concepts and a continued shift towards quality, efficiency and brand identity. International participation is gradually returning, with 45 brands from eight countries and regions on site, among them Italy with 12 brands. 

ERWO Holding AG (“ERWO Holding”), holding company of the Südwolle Group, a leading manufacturer of worsted yarns, as well as main shareholder of Hoftex Group AG (“Hoftex Group”), a group of medium-sized companies in the textile industry, have announced the appointment of a new member to their Management Board: With effect from 1 April 2026, Dr David Meyer will become CFO on the Management Board of both companies. This position has recently been vacant, with the finance division being managed on an interim basis by CEO Manuela Spörl.

Dr David Meyer brings many years of industry experience to his role as CFO, having worked in both capital markets and a family-run SME environment. As a proven finance expert, David has a comprehensive knowledge across the entire spectrum of the finance department, ranging from accounting and controlling through the structuring of financing and M&A to IT transformation projects and investor relations. He comes from Hamberger Industriewerke (Stephanskirchen near Rosenheim), where, in addition to his role as CFO, he most recently also served as Head of Human Resources. Prior to that, he worked for over 12 years as CFO at Steico SE (Feldkirchen near Munich), a producer of timber building materials and wood fibre insulation listed on the OTC market. Dr Meyer holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering (University of Kaiserslautern).