From the Sector

Ahead of the start of the 2025 season, adidas have unveiled the CLIMACOOL System – comprised of an insulated Jacket and specially created Cooling Vest. The CLIMACOOL System will be available to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for any races where hot conditions can impact driver performance.
 
The exceptionel design has been created to address an ongoing performance challenge for drivers throughout the season – staying at the optimum temperature before racing in hot conditions. In hot conditions drivers can experience temperatures in their car reaching 55-60 degrees Celsius leading to up to 4.2kg of sweat loss. The opportunity to help drivers better maintain their optimum temperature exists in a short 20-minute window to cool down after preparation and ahead of the race beginning. The current solution in the sport is to wear a cooling or ice vest, but adidas have created the CLIMACOOL System to maximise the benefit and deliver reductions in skin and core temperature that are unachievable using vests alone.

The adidas CLIMACOOL Jacket consists of a cooling agent working in tandem with cooling fans and insulative materials. In lab testing the System, the Jacket in combination with a specially created Cooling Vest alongside industry leaders INUTEQ, created almost double the impact of wearing only a cooling or ice vest on skin and core temperature. According to existing research*, reductions in core and skin temperature can result in better performance in cognitive tasks as well as improved decision making. Endurance benefit, measured as time to fatigue in time trials, can also see improvement of up to 25%.

The CLIMACOOL System was created in the adidas Innovation Lab and being initially tested with Kimi Antonelli, before both Kimi and George Russell took the opportunity of pre-season testing in Bahrain to take the System into their race day setup. The drivers will have it available to them throughout the season, when the conditions mean the potential performance benefit can be realized. Both drivers and their race teams will continue to provide feedback to adidas to help find every possible performance edge in the design.

The adidas CLIMACOOL System is the second new product in the reintroduction of the adidas CLIMACOOL range after the reveal of an innovative CLIMACOOL shoe last year. Initially designed in 2002, the CLIMACOOL range was created using extensive athlete testing and disrupted the sports industry with cooling technologies never seen before. adidas will bring further CLIMACOOL products to athletes, including solutions for elite athletes at the top of their game, through to explorations in design for the next generation of cooling technology.

Earlier this year adidas returned to the world of motorsport and announced a multi-year partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team.

This year’s fashion show AFRIK, the 20th, to be held March 15 in Barton Hall, continues the mission of celebrating cultural unity and diversity across the African diaspora while bringing students of African descent together and sharing Pan-African cultures with the wider Cornell and Ithaca communities. The event will feature clothing from seven professional designers and four student designers incorporating a range of cultural influences, from African to Caribbean to African American.

Thirty-two Cornell students will model the clothes on the runway, and six student groups will perform music and dance, including Baraka Kwa Wimbo, an all-women gospel a cappella group; the Caribbean Students’ Association Dance Ensemble; and the African Dance Repertoire.

The event has been held since the founding of the Pan-African Students Association PASA, although two years ago, it outgrew Duffield Hall, its original venue with a capacity of 650, and moved to Barton to accommodate more attendees. The focus on fashion allows the group to showcase many things at once: the music of the diaspora; the student models; and the designers and their artistry, which often challenges stereotypes of gender, race and nationality.

Students involved in AFRIK and PASA meet the professional designers before the show and hear stories of how they started their brands. PASA students also benefit from the experience of planning a large-scale event.

Curtains will open next week for Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition 2025, taking place from 11 – 13 March, and offering the home and contract sectors a comprehensive selection of products with a strong emphasis on smart bedding and sustainability. Alongside innovative fringe events, over 350 exhibitors from four countries and regions are ready to convene in Hall 5.2 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) to showcase an impressive range of products, including bedding, duvets, pillows, towelling, carpets, rugs, and more.

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles – Spring Edition 2025 will be held concurrently with Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, Yarn Expo Spring, CHIC and PH Value at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Home Textile Association (CHTA).

Key exhibitors to display extensive range of home textile advancements
Throughout the show floor, various exhibitors will showcase their innovations across the sector, including:

• 3M China Limited (USA) – as one of the first thermal material brands to emphasise thinness, its product 3M™ Thinsulate™ is an insulating fabric made from a blend of synthetic fibres, including polyester. Its fibres have a diameter of around 2 – 5 micrometres, making it much smaller than the other synthetic fibres used for insulation.
• CoolisT Life Technology Co Ltd (China)  – CoolisT Group specialises in bio-based biodegradable sponges, including bio-based Zero Foam and Hydrophilic Foam. Utilising advanced technology, its products are certified by USDA, OK bio-based, and TÜV AUSTRIA.
• Changzhou Huaji Wool Co Ltd (China) – the company produces wool and linen raw materials, with proprietary patented equipment and technology for shrink-resistant wool and wool strips. Its innovative wool products have received OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 and RWS Responsible Wool certifications.
• Fujian Anran Textile Technology Co Ltd (China) – holding over 50 patents and multiple certifications, it specialises in 3D spacer materials, fabrics, and various products.
• Jiangyin Hongliu Bedsheet Co Ltd (China) – the company’s bedding set is crafted from high-quality nylon and spandex, offering a soft and comfortable texture. It features moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties while maintaining an elegant appearance.
• Shinwon Felt (Korea) – utilising a needle punching technique, the company regenerates plastic waste into felt products. Its sustainable product lines, certified by GRS, contribute significantly to addressing plastic waste issues.
• Tela's Design (Portugal) – a design studio specialising in home textile designs and decorations. Its core principles – colour, design, and detail – have established Tela as one of the leading and most successful textile design firms globally.

Uncovering trends driving change in home textiles
In addition to a robust lineup of exhibitors, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles will host various fringe events to keep attendees informed about emerging developments, trends, and key insights, including:

• Timeless and Transformative Colour Celebrating the Rich Diversity of Modern Living for 2026: held by Pantone Color Institute, participants can experiment with various styles, from industrial to rustic, and explore the vibrant colour palettes for home interiors in 2026.
• Sleeping Aid Summit 2025: one of the most vital yet often overlooked aspects of wellness is achieving quality sleep. At the summit, sleep technology will once again take centre stage, providing in-depth insights into sleep quality and exploring related business opportunities.
• Green and Low Carbon Forum: a growing number of individuals are opting for natural materials and sustainable textiles in their bedrooms and homes. The forum will highlight sustainability and the future direction of the industry.

Haelixa, a pioneer in traceability with DNA markers, appoints Nina Marenzi to its Advisory Board. With her experience leading the Future Fabrics Expo and connecting brands with innovators throughout the textile supply chain, Marenzi will offer strategic guidance to further Haelixa’s mission of building brand trust across the textile industry.

Nina Marenzi established The Sustainable Angle, a non-profit organisation, 2010 to minimise the fashion industry's environmental footprint. In 2011, she established the Future Fabrics Expo, a global platform showcasing innovative, lower-impact materials to drive sustainability in fashion. With her Master’s in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development from Imperial College, London, and the 15 years heading The Sustainable Angle and its Future Fabrics Expo, Marenzi has been instrumental in connecting brands with responsibly produced materials, advocating for transparency, and educating the industry on sustainable sourcing.

"We are pleased to welcome Nina to Haelixa’s Advisory Board,” stated Haelixa’s CEO, Patrick Strumpf. “As supply chain due diligence becomes a bigger concern, her insights will support our efforts to empower brands with reliable solutions, ensuring brand trust."

Allergies and asthma are widespread diseases that could arise during embryonal development in the womb. A team led by Empa researcher Tina Bürki is investigating the possible causes of this. The focus is on nanoplastic particles, which could lead to the development of a hypersensitive immune system in the child. The project is supported by the Eduard Aeberhardt Foundation and another foundation.

Asthma, hay fever or chronic skin conditions: The occurrence of allergic reactions is diverse and on the rise. Among other things, environmental factors during the child's early development in the womb are suspected, which lay the foundation for later illnesses. A team of researchers from Empa, ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich and the Cantonal Hospital of St. Gallen is now focusing on micro- and nanoplastics. It is already known that the tiny plastic particles enter the body of pregnant women via drinking water, food and air and find their way to the unborn child. Here they could affect the fragile immune system of mother and child. Moreover, they are able to transport other pollutants, allergens and pathogens.

The team led by project manager Tina Bürki and Sina Ruhstaller from Empa's Particles-Biology Interactions laboratory in St. Gallen are particularly interested in the placenta, the central interface between mother and child. The organ forms exclusively during pregnancy and supplies the child with nutrients and messenger substances for a healthy development. The placenta could therefore play a decisive role when it comes to the immune response of mother and child to foreign substances.

It is already clear that nanoparticles can disrupt the communication between the placenta and the unborn child. However, the effect of micro- and nanoplastics on the immunological function of the placenta and the effects on the fetal immune system have not yet been elucidated. "There is thus an urgent need for a correct risk assessments of environmental pollutants for pregnant women," says Bürki.

In order to analyze the entire process of nanoparticle exposure, the researchers will examine the micro- and nano-abrasion of everyday plastic products and evaluate the interactions with typical allergy-causing substances and pollutants. Finally, using cell cultures of the human placenta and fetal blood cells, the transport in the body and the reaction to the various particles and pollutant-particle combinations can be mapped as realistically as possible. "By releasing hormones and other mediators, the contaminated placenta could contribute to abnormal developments in the child's immune system," says Tina Bürki. For the sustainable use of safe plastic products, it is therefore essential to know whether and which polymers have an increased potential to trigger allergies, says the Empa researcher.

The new research project now aims to provide a holistic view of the significance of plastic particles during pregnancy. To achieve this, experts from the fields of materials science, cell biology and allergy research are working together with clinical experts. The project is funded by the Eduard Aeberhardt Foundation and another foundation.

At this global gathering, major industry challenges such as digitalization, automation, new regulations, and the circular economy were addressed.

In 2025, Jeanologia celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of innovation in transforming the textile industry. The Spanish company commemorates this milestone with a pioneering event, the NextGen Summit, bringing together for the first time the world’s leading denim manufacturers under one roof. With a significant representation of global production, the summit has served as a platform to inspire, motivate, and empower the next generation of leaders from family-owned businesses in the denim industry, equipping them with the necessary tools to tackle future challenges with a sustainable, technological, and collaborative vision.

Held at Jeanologia’s headquarters in Valencia and other key textile industry locations in Spain, the event has been a pivotal meeting point where future leaders exchanged ideas and knowledge with brands and industry experts. For the first time, the sector’s leading companies gathered to discuss the industry's future, addressing key challenges such as sustainability, digitalization, and automation.

The NextGen Summit program included diverse formats designed to maximize learning and interaction, featuring inspirational talks where industry leaders shared their experience and vision, with a special focus on generational transition; interactive workshops exploring innovative solutions for industry challenges; and open debates fostering dialogue among key players in the sector.

One of the standout moments of the event was the keynote by Bart Sights, Head of Innovation at Levi’s, who inspired attendees with his disruptive vision and industry trajectory. From his early days working alongside his father as a supplier to his current role leading innovation at one of the most influential denim brands, Sights emphasized the importance of bringing bold ideas to the table. His message encouraged participants to embrace change and leverage new technologies to accelerate transformation.

Additionally, a visit to Mango’s headquarters was one of the most emotional and inspiring moments of the program, as it paid tribute to the memory of its founder, Isak Andic. During the visit, Andrés Fernández, Head of Sustainability & Sourcing, shared Mango’s vision, objectives, and action plans for sustainability, sparking a highly enriching discussion for both parties.

An inspiring session was also held at another major Spanish retailer, where participants not only gained insight into its strategic approach and vision for the future of the industry but also engaged in an open debate on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

A collaborative and digital future
Beyond learning, the NextGen Summit has been a catalyst for collaboration, creating a space where the industry can learn, share, and evolve together.
Through this event, young leaders have established lasting relationships and made concrete commitments to advance toward a more responsible and efficient model. The community formed at this summit will continue to stay connected and exchange ideas beyond the event itself, reinforcing Jeanologia’s mission to build a more collaborative and transparent textile ecosystem.

EDANA has announced the three nominees for the FILTREX™ Innovation Award 2025, recognizing outstanding innovation in the filtration industry. The FILTREX™ Innovation Award honors innovation in the filtration sector, recognizing the ongoing commitment to excellence by manufacturers of nonwoven-based filtration products and components.

The nominees are:

GESSNER – Lignin-Saturated Cellulose Filter Media
GESSNER’s innovative lignin-saturated cellulose filter media sets a new standard in sustainable filtration. Designed to reduce your product’s carbon footprint, this eco-friendly solution replaces fossil-based resins with renewable lignin, saving up to 100 kg of crude oil per ton of material. Perfect for engine air, oil, and fuel filter elements, it combines top-tier filtration performance and durability with lower formaldehyde emissions during curing. Experience sustainability without compromise - achieve high-efficiency filtration, optional flame retardancy, and a tangible step towards a greener future with our lignin filter media.

Hollingsworth & Vose – NanoWave®ESA
Hollingsworth & Vose is a manufacturer of engineered materials. Their innovation NanoWave®ESA is an all-synthetic 3D media designed for high efficiency respiratory protection. Filters can be designed with minimum media processing while extending the filter life. It is free of PFAS, is safe to use, and can meet the demand for smaller and smaller filters without compromising on comfort. NanoWave®ESA can be produced with a stretch so that highly efficient, stretchable, breathable and drapable garment can be cut to size.

Johns Manville – Evalith®
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, and a leader in the filtration business with manufacturing lines in Europe and the US, has pioneered an innovative recycling process that converts post-industrial HVAC bio-soluble glass microfiber filtration media waste into compounded pellets for injection molding. The resulting pellets, with 30% glass fiber, are being used to create durable, second-life products. This eco-friendly solution prevents landfill waste, reduces CO₂ emissions, and supports a circular economy.. It ensures that the produced PP tapes from the starEX tape extrusion line are wound into perfect packages that improve productivity and fabric quality on the looms. The bevelled bobbin edges avoid that tapes come off during doffing, transport and handling and increase loom efficiency during weaving. The automatic bobbin change procedure of twinTAPE winders reduces operator work significantly, and the patented linear traverse system features an infinitely variable stroke, allowing a wide variety of bobbin designs. As the winder does not need lubrication, maintenance work is reduced to cleaning, which saves significant amounts of operator time.

Each of the three companies will have a 10-minute slot to present its innovation during the FILTREX™ 2025 event, held on 25-26 March 2025 in Vienna, Austria. Attendees will have the opportunity to cast their votes and select the winner, with the award being presented during a reception at the end of the first day.

Since its launch in 2004, FILTREX™ has established itself as the leading platform for professionals in the filtration media sector. This two-day conference gathers executives and technical experts from across the industry, including filter media producers, converters, raw material suppliers, testing equipment manufacturers, laboratories, and research institutions. The programme offers insights into market trends, cutting-edge filter materials, advancements in media design, air and liquid filtration, automotive applications, and developments in testing and standardization.

Suominen has published Sustainability Agenda for the period 2025–2030. The agenda crystallizes Suominen’s sustainability themes and targets.

Suominen’s Sustainability Agenda is built around four key themes that reflect the most important topics for the company and its stakeholders: People and safety, Sustainable nonwovens, Low impact manufacturing and Corporate citizenship. These themes are based on Suominen’s double materiality assessment, completed in 2024, which reaffirmed their relevance from the previous Sustainability Agenda period (2020–2025).

Themes and KPI’s
The four themes create basis for actions and targets. Through the sustainability themes Suominen evaluated its performance and reports on its achievements on an annual basis.

People and safety

• Zero lost time accidents (LTA)
• Diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) index 80%

Sustainable nonwovens

• More than two thirds of consumed raw materials are from plant-based resources
• More than half of our new R&D initiatives focus on advancing the development of sustainable products

Low impact manufacturing

• Reducing scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions with limiting global warming to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement
• Zero manufacturing waste to landfill

Corporate citizenship

• All qualified raw material suppliers assessed against Suominen’s sustainability criteria
• All employees have completed Suominen’s sustainability training program

"These KPI’s reflect our commitment to sustainability and help us measure our impact as well as drive meaningful change. By setting clear targets, we ensure continuous progress toward a safer workplace, a more sustainable product portfolio and responsible operations," says Noora Lindberg, Director, Sustainability & Marketing.

“Sustainability is embedded in everything we do – it is a key driver of success for both us and our customers. Suominen is committed to being the frontrunner in sustainable nonwovens and our innovation work is strongly focused on developing more sustainable nonwoven solutions that meet our customers' needs,” says Tommi Björnman, President & CEO of Suominen.

Ontex Group NV, a leading international developer and producer of personal care solutions, has opened its new R&D center in Segovia, marking the highlight of a series of investments to expand the site’s innovation and manufacturing capabilities.

On March 5, the Segovia R&D center was officially inaugurated in the presence of D. Alfonso Fernández Mañueco (President of the Junta of Castile and León), D. José Mazarías Pérez (Mayor of Segovia), Dña. Olga Llorente Tabanera (Mayor of Valverde), D. Miguel Ángel de Vicente Martín (President of the Provincial Council of Segovia), along with other distinguished guests, industry leaders, and local officials.

Ontex’s 6th R&D center, situated within the manufacturing facility, is designed to scale innovations effectively, supporting the company’s commitment to make high-quality solutions accessible for everyone.

This state-of-the-art facility focuses on:

• Enhancing production efficiency to reduce time-to-market for new products.
• Developing sustainable manufacturing processes, including the use of eco-friendly materials and lower-carbon techniques.
• Driving smart, cost-effective and reliable product innovations to meet evolving customer needs.

As part of Ontex’s global network of innovation hubs, the Segovia R&D center joins facilities in Mayen, Germany, and Buggenhout, Belgium. This interconnected ecosystem shall allow Ontex to leverage global expertise while addressing local needs, reinforcing its position as a trusted agile partner in the personal hygiene industry.

The Jakob Müller Group (JMG), a global leader in narrow fabric machinery, is pushing forward with the implementation of its JMG 2030 strategy. This strategy aims to solidify the company's market leadership, respond more agilely to the dynamic industry landscape, and align even more closely with customer needs. The current measures focus specifically on the company's core competencies and include, among other things, simplified corporate structures, adjustments and expansions of the product portfolio, a new acquisition, and targeted customer initiatives. With this, JMG strengthens its position in the market and lays the foundation for sustainable growth for the long-standing Swiss company.

The Swiss industrial landscape is changing – as is the global textile machinery industry, for which JMG manufactures machines and system solutions. As part of its JMG 2030 strategy, the world's leading machine manufacturer has now presented a series of measures designed to secure its market leadership and enable long-term growth.

JMG is investing specifically in strengthening customer focus and modernizing both its product portfolio and global internal processes. This includes the creation of innovative customer collaboration platforms, the expansion of the product portfolio in the volume segment, the optimization of the service offering, as well as the simplification of corporate and management structures.

Focus on core competencies and operational excellence
As part of its strategic realignment, JMG will increasingly focus on its core segments of Weaving, Label Production Systems, Warp Crochet Knitting, as well as Dyeing and Finishing. At the same time, the Winding & Making-up and Warping Systems segments at the JMG site in Schwelm, Germany, will be discontinued, with essential technologies and products being transferred to other areas. In addition, the Finishing segment will be relocated from Kadan, Czech Republic, to JMG’s sister company Benninger in Pune, India. These measures will lead to structural adjustments at the locations in Germany and the Czech Republic, where production will be gradually reduced.

"Even though these decisions were not easy for us, they are necessary to secure the future viability of the Jakob Müller Group. Our resources must be specifically directed where we see the greatest growth potential," says owner Stephan Bühler. Andreas Conzelmann, CEO of JMG, adds: "By focusing on our core segments, we are strengthening our innovative power and competitiveness – and ensuring that we can continue to offer our customers the best solutions in the future."

Unifying JMG’s brand identity and strengthening the global market position
COMEZ, the leading manufacturer of crochet and warp knitting machines in Italy, will be fully integrated into JMG and will operate under the name Jakob Müller Italy in the future. With investments in research and development – including the acquisition of MEI International, a renowned Italian manufacturer of label weaving machines – JMG will drive next-generation solutions and expand its product portfolio to include innovative air-jet technology. Further information regarding the acquisition of MEI will be provided in a separate announcement.

New Customer Center and Lab1887
Creating outstanding customer experiences is at the heart of the JMG 2030 strategy. The strategic investments in innovation and operational excellence enable JMG to offer state-of-the-art solutions, faster turnaround times, and an enhanced customer experience. A key element of this customer-centric approach is the opening of the new Customer Center and of the LAB1887 in Frick, Switzerland, in late summer 2025. This innovation factory serves as a development center where customers, together with JMG, can explore new technologies and develop novel applications for narrow fabrics.