From the Sector

Peter D. Dornier, member of the Executive Board of the VDMA Textile Machinery Federation and Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation for the Promotion of Young Engineers, honours five young talents. Numerous entrepreneurs and managers from the German textile machinery industry took part in the award ceremony at the Digital Capability Center (DCC) in Aachen, Germany.

The prizewinner in the dissertation category, Dr.- Ing. Benjamin Weise, comes from the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University (ITA). He has dealt with a complex production process for the manufacture of modified multifilament yarns, which offers new perspectives for the development and manufacture of textile charge carriers.

M.Sc. Susanne Fischer, winner of the Master's thesis category, has systematically and comprehensively solved the challenging task of integrating motion sensors into a finger glove at Reutlingen University.
The 2018 creativity award winners are team Mr. Jan Merlin Abram and Mr. Alon Tal from ITA Aachen as well as Mr. Eric Otto from the Institute for Textile Machinery and High-Performance Textile Materials Technology (ITM) in Dresden. The students Abram and Tal have developed a guideline for the design of hybrid morphing textiles. In addition to the classic functions in conventional and, in particular, composite applications, locally defined, functionally effective joint, torsion, expansion and compression mechanisms can be integrated into the textile.

The prizewinner Otto is awarded for a concept study for the development of a circular knitting machine with a variable diameter needle cylinder, which can lead to further flexibility in the circular knitting process.

Archroma, a global leader in color and specialty chemicals, has presented an aniline-free* denim indigo dye at the recent Planet Textiles 2018 Conference in Vancouver, Canada. The brand new dye provides a non-toxic way to produce the traditional, iconic indigo blue that consumers associate with denim and jeans.
Currently, aniline impurities are an unavoidable element of producing indigo-dyed denim. Unlike other chemical impurities, aniline is locked into the indigo pigment during the dyeing process and therefore cannot be washed off the fabric.

Scientific testing has shown that aniline impurities are toxic to humans, causing skin allergies, damage to major organs and genetic defects, as well as being linked to cancer. Aniline is also toxic to aquatic life, which is an issue as two thirds of the 400 metric tons of aniline waste on an annual basis ends up in the environment as wastewater discharge. The toxic chemical is therefore starting to feature on the restricted substance lists (RSL) of some major clothing brands and retailers. “We have tested denim garments and found that aniline concentrations are frequently higher than expected,” says Alexander Wessels, CEO, Archroma. “This could put some manufacturers over the limits agreed on their RSLs.”

True to its commitment to take on innovation challenges, Archroma decided to take a closer look at the issue with its R&D experts, and developed an alternative system that is aniline free*.
“At Archroma, we continuously challenge the status quo in the deep belief that we can make our industry sustainable,” continues Alexander Wessels. “By removing a hazardous impurity from the denim supply chain, we aim to protect the workers who create denim, the consumers who wear denim, and the environment with cleaner waterways.” The Denisol® Pure Indigo 30 dye is the latest in a long line of sustainable innovations for denim started in 2009. That year, Archroma introduced its ‘Advanced Denim’ technology which uses up to 90% less water during the dyeing process. “Being not indigo but sulfur based, ‘Advanced Denim’ itself was an aniline free solution too!”, adds Alexander Wessels. For designers and brand owners who long for authentic indigo inspiration, the new Denisol® Pure Indigo 30 now also makes it possible to produce indigo-dyed denim without high levels aniline impurities. Archroma successfully tested Denisol® Pure Indigo 30 at Absolute Denim mill in Thailand. “During the testing everything performed exactly the same as it would with conventional indigo,” says Vichai Phromvanich, Board Member, Absolute Denim. “There was just one important difference: no aniline.”

“We’ve had an overwhelming positive reaction from the industry in sneak previews and during the launch at Planet Textiles,” continues Alexander Wessels. “As a responsible industry leader, we believe it’s important to actively look for eco-advanced solutions that are attractive and at the same time cost-efficient for clothing brands, retailers and end-consumers.”

Archroma will make the Denisol® Pure Indigo 30 dye in the most sustainable way as possible. The new dye will be produced in Archroma’s facility in Pakistan, a plant that made the headlines in 2012 for being what Archroma believed to be the industry’s first zero liquid discharge plant.

Hutbranche als Star der Modewelt
GDH-Umfrage: Hutfacheinzelhandel schließt 2017 zum dritten Mal in Folge mit Umsatzplus ab.

Die Mitglieder der Gemeinschaft Deutscher Hutfachgeschäfte e.V. (GDH) starten mit viel Zuversicht in das neue Jahr. Die spezialisierten Fachgeschäfte  ̶  von München bis Norderney  ̶  erzielten 2017 ein Umsatzplus in Höhe von 4,0 Prozent. Zum dritten Mal in Folge konnten die Mitglieder Umsatzwachstum erzielen (2016: 1,6 Prozent, 2015: 2,5 Prozent). Das belegt die Jahresumfrage des Hutverbandes GDH (www.hut-mode.de), die während der GDH-Mitgliederversammlung Mitte Januar 2018 in Wiesbaden präsentiert wurde. Damit liegt die Hutbranche wieder über dem Modebranchendurchschnitt (2 Prozent Umsatzminus). „Der Umsatz war besser als das Wetter verheißen lies, ein Beleg, dass Hüte und Mützen modisch im Trend liegen“, zeigte sich der 1. Vorsitzender der GDH, Andreas Voigtländer, während der GDH-Mitgliederversammlung äußerst zufrieden. Die GDH-Umfrage belegt leider auch, dass sich die Kundenfrequenz nur um 0,5 Prozent verbesserte. „Sinkende Frequenz und die Konkurrenz durch Online-Shopping wird auch bei uns als die größten Probleme des Handels angesehen. Das Umsatzwachstum basiert auf höheren Kaufbeträgen pro Kunde und Bon (Durchschnitt 66,86 Euro; 2016: 60,06 € / 1,4 Teile pro Kunde; 2016: 1,3), weil wir als Spezialisten die Kunden bestens beraten können und eine tiefe und breite Auswahl bieten. Zudem sind auch einige von uns als Facheinzelhändler über alle Kanäle online unterwegs‟, betont Andreas Voigtländer.

Herren-Hüte und trendige Mützen sind mit 61 Prozent die stärkste Warengruppe; das liegt auch daran, dass Damen gerne Herrenformen kaufen, denn Trilby, Diamond oder Pork Pie sind im Trend. 37 Prozent des Umsatzes ging auf das Konto der Damen, vor allem mit weichen und legeren Kopfbedeckungen in Filz und Walk sowie Strick im Winter. Die restlichen 2 Prozent fallen auf Kinderkopfbedeckungen.
Der Hutfacheinzelhandel erwartet für 2018 ein Umsatzpari auf hoher Vorlage. Bei allen Kopfbedeckungen wird ein kleines Wachstum bei UV-Schutz prognostiziert. Gestärkt werden soll der Bereich Accessoires, also Schals, Tücher und Handschuhe, angesagt auch als Set für den abgestimmten Mode-Look.

Das Mega-Thema der Zukunft ist Funktion
GDH-Geschäftsführerin Kirsten Reinhardt wird 2018 zahlreiche Aktivitäten anstoßen, die der gesamten Hutbranche zu Gute kommen. Fester Aktionspunkt ist der `Tag des Hutes´ am 25. November, an dem die GDH-Mitglieder den Titel `Hutträger des Jahres´ an prominente Persönlichkeiten verleihen. Neues Projekt für den Frühling ist eine UV-Schutz-Kampagne mit Informations-Flyer für Verbraucher und Hautärzte sowie abgestimmtes Material für den PoS der GDH-Mitglieder. Denn auch das belegte die GDH-Umfrage: Das Mega-Thema der Zukunft ist Funktion, sei es UV-Schutz im Sommer, Wasser- und winddichte Materialien mit Ohrenklappen im Winter, reflektierende Signal-Elemente für die Nacht sowie weiche und knautschbare Materialien für die Tasche oder den Koffer.

Bei der Order auf die Textilkennzeichnung achten
Ein weiteres wichtiges Thema stand auf der Tagungsordnung: Das neue deutsche Textilkennzeichnungsgesetz vom 15.02.2016. Referent Thomas Lange, seit 2018 Hauptgeschäftsführer German Fashion, Modeverband Deutschland e.V., informierte über die Neuerungen. Das bedeutet praktisch: Auf einem fest angebrachten Etikett muss für die Verbraucher leicht lesbar die vollständigen europäischen Adresse des Inverkehrbringers (Importeur, Hersteller oder Händler) und die korrekt beschriebene Materialzusammensetzung in Prozent in deutscher Sprache stehen. Oftmals ist die Textilkennzeichnung aber unzureichend. „Das Gesetz scheint noch komplizierter und bedeutet Ärger und im schlimmsten Fall Bußgelder für den geprüften Händler; daher sollte jeder Einzelhändler auf die korrekte Textilkennzeichnung bereits bei der Order achten‟, so Voigtländer.

Berlin / Frankfurt am Main, 2 November 2017 – Ms. Regina Brückner, Managing Associate of Brückner Trockentechnik, is the new chairperson of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association. The businesswoman from Leonberg was elected at the members’ meeting of the Association in Berlin. The new executive board is completed with Ms. Verena Thies, Thies Textilmaschinen, and Mr. Fritz P. Mayer, Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik, who were elected as vice chairpersons.

After her election, Regina Brückner stated: „I am pleased to have Ms. Thies and Mr. Mayer by my side, the two chairpersons who complement each other very well. Mr. Mayer is an entrepreneurial personality with decades of experience which he is meanwhile bringing in as the president of CEMATEX, the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers.  Ms. Thies assumed responsibility in the family company early on and has been working for the traditional company Thies in international textile machinery business since 2009.”

The new executive board for the legislative period until 2021 is composed of:
Regina Brückner (Chairperson), Brückner Trockentechnik
Verena Thies (Vice Chairperson), Thies
Fritz P. Mayer (Vice Chairman), Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik
Johann Phillip Dilo, Oskar Dilo Maschinenfabrik
Peter D. Dornier, Lindauer Dornier
Arno Gärtner, Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik
Roland Hampel, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen
Dr. Janpeter Horn, Herzog
Markus Kleindorp, Memminger-Iro
Martin Küppers, Saurer Schlafhorst
Georg Stausberg, Oerlikon Textile
Andreas Lukas, Andritz Küsters
Benjamin Mayer, Mayer & Cie.     
Eric Schöller, Groz-Beckert
Heinrich Trützschler, Trützschler

ILUNA Group and ROICA™ continue their close partnership to present the most “advanced” and responsible innovations to the market today. ILUNA GREEN LABEL lace collections made with premium stretch thanks to the use of the unique ROICA ™ Eco Smart GRS certified family- now offer the next evolution: a new stretch Galloon lace to be combined with mesh and lace fabrics collections, now fully made with GRS certified materials. This new evolution offers the right choice to contemporary consumers in products that are beautiful, high quality and sustainable.
This is in addition to a decision last year when the ILUNA GROUP converted all their stretch yarn exclusively to the unique ROICA™ Eco Smart family for all of its top of the range jacquardtronic and Textronic articles.
To reinforce this commitment, ILUNA can also celebrate its new STeP (Sustainable Textile Production) certification by Oeko-Tex, a certification that clarifies and communicates the company’s sustainable production commitment regarding manufacturing and processing to all its partners and customers in a transparent, clear manner.
Fashion & ILUNA feature on the catwalk in Paris with the ‘Momenti Di Passione’ fashion show at the Interfiliere salon on 8th to 10th July. Here you will be able to enjoy a dazzling and exciting new range of bold ECO flocking beachwear & cover up.
And at the show, breakthrough fabric designs from ILUNA show a revolutionary quality in the new Burano collection: a range of decorative, macramé precious pattern effects that are diaphanous and semi-sheer styles that use at their heart the ROICA™ Eco Smart premium stretch family exclusively.

In partnership with IPSOS, GINETEX presents the outcomes of its European barometer: "Europeans and textile care labeling" 70% of Europeans follow the textile care instructions featured on the labels and 80% admit that they would not (or would rarely) buy clothes without any labels, While another 84% feel concerned by water and energy savings . GINETEX, the international Association for Textile Care Labeling, called upon the French market research company IPSOS, to evaluate the behavior of European Consumers with regards to textile product labels and care symbols. This study, carried out in December 2016, combines the results of six different countries, gathered from a sample of 6,000 people in Germany, England, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Sweden.
This IPSOS study reveals that 70% of Europeans follow the textile care instructions represented by the symbols. At a pan-European level, 57% even admit that they follow them 'often' and 13% do so 'always'. These figures illustrate the importance of care instructions in the minds of European consumers.
- 38% state that they follow these instructions in order to avoid washing problems such as shrinking, in the first place
- 31% follow them in order to preserve their clothes and keep them longer, as a second reason Overall, Europeans consider labels as too cumbersome and 62% admit cutting them out: for 74% of them, the labels itch and irritate their skin and for another 55%, they are often too long and uncomfortable. These results can differ from one European country to another.
However, the presence of the label is a real purchasing criterion since 80% of Europeans state that they would never or rarely buy a piece of clothing without a label.