From the Sector

Identiv, Inc. a global leader in RFID- and BLE-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Narravero GmbH., a global Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and supply chain transparency. This collaboration expects to accelerate the commercialization of integrated solutions for EU-compliant DPP deployments. By combining Identiv's NFC inlays for dynamic product data with Narravero's robust data management platform, this partnership offers a comprehensive, integrated solution that streamlines DPP deployment for companies.

Driving DPP Innovation Ahead of EU Regulations
Both Identiv and Narravero are pioneers in connecting physical products with the digital world. Narravero’s core offering allows businesses to create and manage DPPs that provide comprehensive product lifecycle information, including origin, sustainability data, and end-of-life instructions. Beginning in 2027, these DPPs will be required under new European Union sustainability rules. DPPs also present a significant opportunity for enhanced supply chain efficiency and customer engagement. Narravero's platform has already seen substantial growth, reaching 135 million visits as of February 2025.

"We are thrilled about our agreement with Narravero and working collaboratively on the DPP solutions we're bringing to market," said Kirsten Newquist, CEO at Identiv. "This partnership will help companies comply with EU regulations and empower them with new opportunities for sustainability, transparency, and consumer engagement." 

Thomas Rödding, CEO of Narravero, said, "Our partnership with Identiv is a significant step forward in making DPPs accessible and actionable for businesses globally. Identiv's expertise in secure, connected physical identities complements our robust DPP platform, creating a powerful, end-to-end solution.”

This partnership positions Identiv and Narravero at the forefront of DPP innovation, providing a full-circle integrated solution to meet EU regulatory demands and empower businesses with enhanced supply chain transparency, sustainability, and customer engagement.

Source Fashion, a leading responsible sourcing show in Europe, returns to Olympia London from 8–10 July 2025 with the highly anticipated return of its Source Debates Stage, a bold and unfiltered platform tackling fashion’s most urgent challenges and exploring the ideas shaping its future.

Building on the success of its debut, the Source Debates Stage returns this season with a fresh line-up of thought-provoking sessions designed to challenge assumptions, spark honest conversation, and explore new thinking across sustainability, sourcing, innovation, and ethics. Each session invites attendees to engage with real-world issues and bold ideas, offering a dynamic space for collective insight and practical discussion.

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director of Source Fashion, comments, “The Source Debates Stage is designed to ask difficult questions and encourage collective problem-solving. As businesses are being tested like never before, these sessions are a call to arms provoking honest discussion about what needs to change, and how we get there together.”

Each session on the Debates Stage is interactive by design, encouraging attendees to engage directly with expert speakers. Highlights include:

• AI - Just because we can, does it mean we should? Jade McSorley, Head of Knowledge Exchange (Sustainability) - Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF) explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and human-led design. How do we ensure ethics, ownership, and creativity stay intact? 
• Can we decouple profit from volume - or is that a fantasy?  With industry pressures mounting, Simon Platts, Founder - SP&KO Consultancy, discusses whether reducing output can sharpen commercial strategy and increase brand value.
• Rethinking the rules - what would a smarter fashion system look like? Mark Sumner, Textiles Programme Lead – WRAP reimagines fashion’s supply chain from the ground up, asking what it would look like if we priced for reality, not just margins.
• Can luxury fashion really be sustainable? Dax Lovegrove, Consultant - Planet Positive, former Director of Sustainability, Versace, confronts the contradictions at the heart of high-end fashion, examining whether true sustainability can exist amid exclusivity, global supply chains, and opacity.

Set against the backdrop of this season’s overarching theme, ‘Thriving in a Volatile World’, the Source Debates programme is a vital forum for confronting the contradictions and complexities of modern fashion. From navigating uncertain economic conditions to rethinking consumption and innovation under pressure, these sessions are crafted to help businesses move beyond survival mode and uncover bold, practical strategies for long-term resilience. 

A journey into Warli’s world, timeless and multifaceted: ‘La lune sous le chapeau’, designed by Man Ray and the Dots indoor rug program, by Paolo Zani evoke the simplicity of design.

In an exciting fusion of art and design, Warli’s latest collection embarks on a journey that celebrates essentiality as a core aesthetic and design value. This philosophy shines through in two key offerings: ‘La lune sous le chapeau’, a lamp designed by Man Ray, and the Dots indoor rug program by Paolo Zani. Both pieces, while distinct in their origins and expressions, are united by a shared pursuit of authenticity and lightness of form, embodying a vision where formal simplicity, rich materiality, and artisanal craftsmanship converge.

Dots, indoor rug program – designed by Paolo Zani
For years, Dots has been a bestseller in Warli’s indoor collections, lauded for its versatility and customization that make it a seamless fit for top hospitality and residential projects. In 2025, Dots evolves from a single product into a comprehensive work program. This expansion allows for unparalleled customization through the combination of 10 weft colors and 10 warp colors, ensuring that every project’s unique requirements can be met. Hand-woven from a blend of wool and tencel, Dots creates a soft, continuous surface, finely crafted with twisted wool elements. The distinctive dotted pattern in various color shades is achieved through a specialized dyeing and twisting technique applied to the wool.

‘La lune sous le chapeau’ – designed by Man Ray
‘La lune sous le chapeau’ is an ‘objet trouvé’ in its essence, re-evaluating simple materials, low technology, and formal simplicity. The lampshade was conceived by Man Ray in 1974 on a flat sheet of cardboard, and quickly, along with sketches for the base, evolved into the iconic lamp we know today. This piece, seemingly anonymous and anti-design, is provocatively poetic, featuring the most minimal of lampshades supported by the most elementary of bases. This re-edition faithfully reproduces the original design, not just in form but also in spirit.

Outlast Technologies, a global pioneer in temperature regulation, announces the launch of a next-generation fabric developed in collaboration with Reggiani Group, Italy’s renowned innovator in luxury textiles. This latest advancement is designed to elevate thermal com-fort across fashion, casualwear, and performance apparel - offering intelligent climate con-trol without compromise.

The new fabrics are the result of an intense collaboration between the two companies, combining Outlast’s patented temperature regulating technology with Reggiani’s heritage of textile excellence. At its core is a system of microcapsules filled with natural wax that absorb, store, and release heat as needed - constantly adapting to changes in body activity and ambient temperature. The result is a dynamic textile that keeps wearers in their com-fort zone, regardless of climate or activity level.

Engineered for discerning brands in high-end fashion, luxury athleisure, and technical sportswear, the fabric meets the evolving expectations of today’s consumers - who demand both advanced performance and responsible production. Developed using sustainable pro-cesses and carefully selected materials, the fabric reflects both companies’ deep commit-ment to innovation with purpose.

With this launch, Outlast and Reggiani Group are redefining what premium fabrics can achieve - fusing functionality, sustainability, and elegance into a single textile platform tailored for the next generation of apparel.

“This collaboration is a natural step in our Group’s ongoing pursuit of cutting-edge textile solutions,” says Giovanni Reggiani, CEO of Reggiani Group. “By combining Outlast’s tech-nological expertise with our tradition of material innovation, we have created a fabric that anticipates the needs of the future,” ads Marco Spola, General Manager of the Group.

“In a world of constant temperature shifts - from climate-controlled offices to parked cars baking in the sun - these fabrics allow wearers to stay comfortable without a second thought,” said Luca Nicolo, Outlast Sales Agent for Italy and France. “Our collaboration with Reggiani represents the perfect synergy between breakthrough technology and textile craftsmanship, and we’re proud to introduce this innovation to Europe and beyond.”

In a constantly evolving fashion landscape, where aesthetics meets awareness and luxury evolves beyond simple beauty, where materials are called to embody wellbeing, responsibility and versatility, Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei stands as a rare material: precious in its origin, essential to the experience.

Rare because it is produced exclusively by Asahi Kasei in Japan through a highly specialized, and closed-loop process. Rare because it originates from cotton linters — a natural derived pre-consumer material — and accounts for only 0.02% of global fiber production. Rare because it offers a one-of-a-kind aesthetic, sensorial and functional identity, recognized and valued by designers and brands worldwide.

But Bemberg™ is not simply rare — IT IS A FIBER TO LIVE. Its true value unfolds through experience: worn, touched, and explored across diverse lifestyles and when the occasion arises. With its silky softness, fluid drape, luminous appearance, moisture management and skin-friendly comfort, Bemberg™ offers an unparalleled sense of wellbeing to the wearer — ensuring freshness in summer, warmth in winter (especially when blended with other fibers), and a constant feeling of ease, elegance and comfort. This is why Bemberg™ represents not only a technical fiber, but a true partner for those who seek comfort in motion, sophistication in simplicity, and responsible elegance in every moment.

Born 94 years ago in Japan by Asahi Kasei, Bemberg™ has evolved far beyond its origins, becoming a versatile material for multiple categories and hybrid wardrobes: from high-end outerwear to intimate apparel, from fluid knitwear to athleisure and lifestyle collections. Whether in luxury tailoring, couture surfaces, performance wear or modern ceremonial dressing, Bemberg™ elevates each garment through its distinctive touch and graceful adaptability. It is a fiber that opens new creative doors, allowing designers to build collections where design, innovation and responsibility coexist harmoniously. As fashion enters a new era of fluid silhouettes, sensorial materials, and conscious luxury, Bemberg™ offers an exclusive creative platform for brands that seek not just beauty, but meaning and elevated values.

In addition, Bemberg™ carries a prestigious heritage rooted in circular economy values. Produced exclusively in Japan from cotton linters — a natural, pre-consumer material — Bemberg™ embodies a unique form of RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION. Regenerated cellulose obtained from the manufacturing process of cottonseed oil through a closed-loop process ensures transparency and traceability, delivering certified sustainability credentials, including RCS, OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, ISO 14001, and biodegradability certification (OK biodegradable MARINE certification by TÜV Austria).

At the heart of Bemberg™’s journey is a collaborative network of European partners: spinners, weavers, knitters, and finishers. Partnerships that are essential to ACTIVATE the values and the potential of the fiber, transforming it into high-end fabrics that respond to the needs of a contemporary, conscious and sophisticated wardrobe. Bemberg™ IS NOT SIMPLY  meant to be WORN, but  to be  LIVED.  

At Milano Unica, Première Vision, A Fabric Affair NYC and Feel The Yarn, Bemberg™ partners present their latest developments for Fall/Winter 2026-2027 — a collective journey where smart fiber, design, and craftsmanship converge to redefine the future of premium fashion.

Scoop continues to be the UK’s leading premium womenswear show, offering a curated, inspiring space where both emerging and established designers can showcase their collections to top-tier retailers. As the only show of its kind in the UK, and increasingly a destination for European buyers, Scoop plays a vital role in launching brands, forging retail partnerships, and setting the tone for the season ahead.

Curated by Founder and Event Director Karen Radley, this season’s show features a dynamic edit of British and international designers. Newcomers making their debut include CAHU PARIS, NINEMOO, TETI MILANO, MAISON LECOMTE, RIVERPEACE, PROSPHIA, BOND EYE, BEALONI, V DE VINSTER, BELLE MAIS PAS QUE, TENNE THE LABEL, NOIRNINE, MA PETITE CAPSULE, and more.

Leading agents confirm Scoop's impact on brand growth and visibility. Daniel Morris of Morris Fyfe Agency calls it, “one of the most relevant shows in Europe,” crediting its thoughtful curation and strong buyer turnout for driving real business results. David Smith of Level One Showroom highlights Scoop’s fair, beautifully styled layout and its influence in elevating brands like Desigual, Grace & Mila, and Chicosoleil. Ian Campbell Smith of Palladio Associates, now showing for the 24th time, describes Scoop as “visually an assault on the senses,” and a key factor in his agency’s commercial success.

More than a trade event, Scoop is a creative and commercial catalyst. From high-profile launches like Psophia to retail connections with Selfridges and Anthropologie, designers benefit from unmatched visibility and access to influential buyers. As Campbell Smith puts it, “Scoop changed our business in a hugely positive way.” With its growing international reach and commitment to nurturing new talent, Scoop remains an unmissable platform for the fashion industry.

For agents and showrooms, Scoop’s value lies not just in exposure but in the consistent return on investment it delivers. “The brand and exhibitor mix ensures the right buyers come through the door,” says Daniel Morris, who notes that brands like Devotion Twins and Sorena have seen season-on-season growth since launching at the show. David Smith adds, “It’s the consistency and quality of visitors that make Scoop invaluable. Our designers gain visibility with buyers we simply wouldn’t reach elsewhere.” Ian Campbell Smith agrees, highlighting the show's broader reach: “Scoop has opened doors to international markets—including the Caribbean—that we’d never have accessed otherwise.”

Radley, said, “Each season, our goal is to create an inspiring and elevated environment where brands feel proud to present their collections and buyers are excited to discover what’s next. Scoop is about more than just fashion, it’s about storytelling, creativity, and connection. We’re thrilled to welcome such a dynamic mix of new and returning designers this July and to continue evolving as a key destination for both UK and international buyers.”

The Spring/Summer ’26 edition returns to Olympia National, Kensington from 13–15 July 2025, showcasing a vibrant celebration of style, innovation, and emerging design talent.

Sparxell, the Cambridge-based colour platform technology company founded by University of Cambridge scientists Dr Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini, has announced the launch of its first textile ink derived from its revolutionary dye-free pigments in partnership with Positive Materials, marking a pivotal moment in making sustainable colour technology accessible to fashion brands worldwide.

Sparxell’s textile ink represents the world's first commercially available plant-based, biodegradable colouring solution that is bioinspired, eliminating toxic dyes, synthetic plastics and mined metals and minerals whilst delivering exceptional performance standards.

Launching in Sparxell’s signature blue, the ink is available in matte and shimmer finishes – enabling brands to integrate the breakthrough technology through standard orders rather than bespoke projects. 

This milestone represents a significant step towards democratising access to sustainable colour innovation across the fashion industry, from emerging designers to established high-end houses and mass-market brands.

Sparxell’s textile ink is available from the end of June 2025, with printing orders processed through Positive Materials. Partnership rollout includes an all-over printed cotton jersey featuring Sparxell's breakthrough technology, available from September 2025 in European markets.

The initial blue colour launch represents the first of multiple colours planned for release throughout 2025, with Sparxell's bio-inspired platform enabling virtually unlimited colour variations.

Sparxell's textile ink harnesses the same structural colour principles found in nature such as in Morpho butterfly wings, engineering plant-based cellulose at the microscale to create vibrant colours through light manipulation rather than chemical formulas. This bio-inspired approach eliminates toxic dyes, mined metals and minerals, and petroleum-based materials whilst delivering superior colour vibrancy and durability.

Launch textile production is powered by Sparxell's partnership with Positive Materials, a leading textile company operating at the intersection of design, technology, and manufacturing.

Positive Materials supports the validation and scale-up of Sparxell's breakthrough by integrating it into its existing production infrastructure, providing the manufacturing expertise and operational capacity needed to take the technology from prototype to production-ready. 

The partnership enables Sparxell to scale production whilst maintaining strict sustainability standards throughout the manufacturing process.

Dr Benjamin Droguet, Founder and CEO of Sparxell, said:
"This textile ink launch transforms how brands can access our breakthrough technology. For too long, the textile industry had no choice other than to accept that vibrant colours meant environmental damage. Sparxell's bio-inspired technology shatters that assumption, delivering exceptional results from plant-based cellulose.

“This is just the beginning - our vision is to make bio-inspired colour technology the new standard across fashion, proving that high performance and working in harmony with nature are perfectly aligned."
Elsa Parente, Co-CEO and CTO of Positive Materials, said: 
"Rather than requiring custom development projects, fashion designers and procurement teams can now order the most sustainable colourant options out there as easily as conventional alternatives, but with the added benefit of containing 100% biodegradable pigments that are free from toxic chemicals.

“Our collaboration with Sparxell represents exactly the kind of innovation the textile industry needs, aligning perfectly with our mission to create low-impact textiles that don't compromise on performance."

The textile ink launch addresses growing industry demand for sustainable alternatives as the global textile industry currently uses over 10,000 different chemicals in colouration processes, releasing 1.5 million tonnes of toxic dyes into the environment annually contributing up to 2% of global GHG emissions.[1][2] Sparxell's plant-based solution significantly reduces energy need and water consumption whilst eliminating harmful chemical pollution.

The launch builds on Sparxell's recent commercial momentum, including a €1.9 million grant from the European Innovation Council and participation in LVMH's prestigious La Maison des Startups accelerator programme.

Dr. Roshan Paul, Ph.D., has been awarded with two Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Awards 2025, for his contributions as an Editor of the Cellulose journal on 29 May 2025. 

With the "Editorial Contribution Award", Springer Nature recognises his meticulous assessment of submissions and rigorous management of the peer review process, safeguarding the scientific accuracy of the published record. 

Springer Nature also pays tribute to Dr. Paul with the "Author Service Award", by recognising his exceptional service in improving the author experience and ensuring the peer review process is efficient, constructive and fair. 

Roshan Paul works as Senior Programme Manager and Platform Leader of the Smart Finishing Group at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University.

Dr Ritu Dhand, Chief Scientific Officer at Springer Nature comments:
We are proud to recognise Dr Paul's remarkable contributions through the Editor of Distinction Awards. By rewarding him, we acknowledge the vital role he plays in managing the peer review process. We greatly appreciate the time and expertise he dedicates to helping authors improve their manuscripts. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to the advancement of scientific research.

Patrick McDowell, the renowned British brand at the forefront of sustainable luxury fashion, has announced a new collaboration with Sparxell, the world-first, nature-inspired colour platform technology company founded by University of Cambridge scientists Dr Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini. The company creates high-performance, biodegradable colourants that are free from plastic and toxic chemicals using plant-based cellulose. This collaboration will unveil a couture printed gown and a commercially available shirt dress, marking a defining moment as Patrick McDowell becomes the first brand to integrate Sparxell’s cutting-edge innovations into fashion.

Known for advancing the boundaries of circular and eco-conscious design, McDowell continues to reinforce his brand’s commitment to a more responsible fashion industry. This collaboration showcases the potential for innovation to redefine luxury, with the collection making its debut at Future Fabrics Expo 2025, the world’s leading platform for sustainable materials for the fashion industry. The launch signals a broader industry shift toward forward-thinking practices that will shape the future of luxury as well as mainstream fashion.

“This is about making sustainability tangible. One piece shows what’s possible at the highest level of craft, the other makes that possibility part of everyday life,” said Patrick McDowell, Creative Director and Founder.
 
Unlike conventional synthetic materials, Sparxell’s bio-inspired approach creates natural yet high-performance products. The company pioneers the world’s first 100% biodegradable pigments, inks and embellishments such as sequins and foils inspired by nature. Sparxell eliminates fossil-derived synthetic finishes and their associated excessive water consumption and carbon emissions, offering an alternative capable of achieving vivid colours and luxurious effects from plants. By emulating natural colour processes known as photonic colours widely seen in nature, their products deliver rich hues and durable textures with the lowest environmental harm, allowing brands to create consciously without compromise. 
 
“What excites me about Sparxell is how they're advancing what's possible in responsible luxury. Their plant-based pigments and plastic-free sequins are exceptionally vibrant yet completely non-toxic and biodegradable. It opens up entirely new creative possibilities,” said Patrick McDowell, Creative Director and Founder.
 
The collection showcases Sparxell's innovative colour technology across multiple applications. McDowell’s couture gown features two distinct shades of Sparxell's signature blue - a sophisticated matte finish and a brilliant shimmery effect that captures light through structural colour rather than traditional sparkle materials, otherwise derived from synthetic dyed plastics or mined metals and minerals. The collection also includes a bag crafted from NUVI's next-gen material made with a coating containing Sparxell's shimmers.

These represent the first commercial shades that Sparxell is launching to market, with additional colours already available for early adopter brands. Sparxell’s platform enables unlimited colour variations to be manufactured.
 
The collection is set to officially debut at Future Fabrics Expo 2025 on Tuesday the 24th of June, providing industry leaders, designers, and sustainability advocates with an exclusive opportunity to experience this next-generation innovation firsthand.

Svegea – a member of TMAS, the Swedish textile machinery association – has delivered six of its EC 200 automatic collarette machines to the Bangladesh-based Interstoff Group in the past 12 months.

Interstoff, which belongs to the Pandughar Group, was founded in 2000 as a modest garment factory with just 62 sewing machines.

Today its three divisions – Interstoff Apparels, Interstoff Clothing and South East Textile – have a combined workforce of over 10,000 people, producing around 72 million fully finished and packaged garments each year.

Interstoff is further equipped with the very latest knitting and dyeing and finishing machinery sourced from Europe and Japan to enable a daily production capacity of 30,000 kg of fabrics. Through continuous innovation in yarns and processes, the company’s fabrics consistently earn recognition for their environmental responsibility and quality. Its fabric laboratory is certified by leading brands such as H&M, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Two Svegea collarette machines have now been commissioned at each of the three Interstoff divisions for the high speed production of tubular apparel components such as cuffs, collars and neck tapes.

Interstoff chose the EC 200 machines over the faster EC 300 model primarily because some of its fabrics include seams. The faster crush-cutting knife system in Svegea’s EC 300 series can struggle with multiple fabric layers or seams stitched with polyester thread, since it cuts by pressure rather than slicing. By contrast, the EC 200 uses scissor-action knives – two sharp circular blades with a slight overlap – which function like scissors and handle seams without issue.

The machines run directly from turntables at speeds of up to 40 metres per minute, depending on the fabric width, material properties and optimal settings. They are equipped with Svegea’s standard drive system in an electronic master/slave configuration. Each machine has been specially equipped with a third knife set, enabling the simultaneous cutting of up to three bands. This means that total output in linear metres per minute can be significantly higher when cutting multiple bands in parallel.

Svegea will be demonstrating both semi- and fully-automatic cutting machines at ITMA Asia + CITME from October 28-31.