From the Sector

DyStar, a leading specialty chemical company with a heritage of more than a century in product development and innovation, announced a strategic reorganization of its global sales structure. This is aimed at driving accelerated growth, deepening customer engagement, and capturing emerging market opportunities in a highly dynamic, innovation-driven landscape. 

This transformation reflects the company’s commitment to agility, fosters customer-centricity, and drives long-term value for both customers and stakeholders. The new structure is designed to empower regional teams, streamline operations, and strengthen alignment with evolving market demands. 

Mr. Xu Yalin, Managing Director and President of DyStar Group stated, “DyStar is entering a pivotal phase of growth, driven by the need to evolve with our customers and lead in a rapidly shifting global landscape. This strategic decision injects revitalized energy into our innovation efforts, guided by a new cohort of sales-focused leadership. By sharpening our engagement across three key geographies and industries, we aim to deliver deeper collaboration, faster responsiveness, and long-term value creation for brands, retailers, and partners.” 

Yalin Xu will be responsible for North Asia, Klaus Kadletz for SE Asia, South Asia and TAME, Eric Hopmann will take care about Americas and Europe.

The new science web section https://echa.europa.eu/science serves as a one stop shop for ECHA’s science related work, improving its visibility and facilitating access to discussions on scientific topics. The new pages enhance the transparency of the scientific work supporting ECHA’s core tasks.

Mike Rasenberg, Director of Hazard Assessment, said:
“Science is at the heart of ECHA’s vision; chemical safety through science, collaboration and knowledge. It is a key driver helping us to reach our goals, and scientific evidence is the basis of all our regulatory decisions, opinions and advice. Our scientific knowledge base is built on close collaboration with researchers, industry and other regulatory bodies.”

The pages describe the work of ECHA’s scientific committees and expert groups and provide details on the scientific partnerships and collaborations, and highlight the Agency’s regulatory research needs. 

A new section focuses on the knowledge hub where ECHA shares the latest scientific and technical updates in the field of chemical safety. The section compiles the science seminars, conference presentations and scientific publications.

Background
ECHA is a science-based EU Agency aiming to protect health and the environment through its work on chemical safety. As a public body, it operates with transparency and integrity, prioritising the interests and well-being of EU citizens. ECHA’s funding comes from both the European Union and administrative fees from companies.

The Gartex Texprocess India 2025 India’s comprehensive tradeshow on garment and textile machinery, ended on 23rd August 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The expo drew visitors from 436 Indian cities, 31 countries and continents like Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. India's leading textile manufacturing, leather goods, garment machinery and textile production expo hosted leading brands, manufacturers and suppliers under one single platform, introducing innovative technologies, latest equipment, new material developments and value-added services for India's entire garment and textile eco-space.

The three-day event was marked with heavy visitor footfall, with a record-breaking attendance of 15,790 visitors on all days. Strategised to be the industry benchmark, Gartex Texprocess India 2025 focused on high-quality, high-speed and cost-effective products besides pushing technological innovation in the textile and apparel chain. The event offered a comprehensive platform for domestic as well as global industry players to discover opportunities, promote collaborations, and infuse investments in India's expanding textile, denim and leather industry.

The three-day event included an all-encompassing array of solutions in garment machinery, digital printing, embroidery, trims, accessories, automation, and sustainable practices. In serving as a meeting point for industry conversation, it also allowed stakeholders to not only source the newest technologies but also share knowledge on changing market needs and best practices.

The show floor engaged visitors in Denim Talks, State Sessions from Uttar Pradesh - Bihar and The Textile Care Forum highlighting the new developments, solutions and trends in the textile industry. The show saw interesting innovations in fabric manufacturing, embroidery, textile care (laundry), chemicals, inks, textile printing, denim, sewing, software, leather machinery, AI and automation and many more.

After the New Delhi edition, Gartex Texprocess India will hold its Mumbai edition from 09–11 April 2026 at the Bombay Exhibition Center, increasing its reach to other stakeholders. With the textile, denim, leather and apparel sectors growing with every new technology, material and support the Indian textile industry, Gartex Texprocess India is steadfast in its determination to offer an effective platform that creates a bridge between innovation and industry requirements. In this process, it re-establishes itself as a growth catalyst in India's textile and garment production industries.

With its product brands Oerlikon Barmag, Oerlikon Neumag and Oerlikon Nonwoven, Barmag is presenting itself at this year's ITMA Asia + CITME with innovations in yarn production that are above all one thing: productive and sustainable. From 28 to 31 October this year, the Swiss-based Oerlikon Group company will be showcasing its technologies for the future of yarn production in Singapore. 

Bringing atmos.io to the networked factory
atmos.io is the operating system for intelligent yarn production. Every machine – whether a pilot plant or large-scale production with hundreds of positions – comes with the digital core. This makes atmos.io the basis for the smart factory. In the integrated app store, yarn manufacturers can put together exactly what they really need. atmos.io provides data-based decision-making criteria – objectively, efficiently and with a focus on quality. It digitizes the entire material flow: every bobbin carries its own data, from the melt to the warehouse. This allows yarn manufacturers to intervene in production at any time – quickly, precisely and profitably. The advantages: less waste, higher yarn quality, less effort for shop floor employees. The system integrates seamlessly into existing production and IT infrastructures. atmos.io relies on an intelligent data infrastructure that meets the highest standards of cyber security while providing consistent, trustworthy data for secure and efficient process control. 

The future of filament spinning
Flexibility is the core competence of WINGS FDY FLEX, the latest winding concept for the FDY process. With an enormously wide production window, WINGS FDY FLEX is the perfect solution for short-term product changes and a wide range of yarn products. It can even process recycled polyester. This makes the FDY process with WINGS FLEX future-proof and sustainable.

What does the future hold for the POY process? Yarn manufacturers can also find out at the Barmag booth. The Barmag experts will be presenting the next generation of POY production to selected visitors – and will also be offering a captivating insight into the future of textiles.

eFK EvoSmart – innovation meets efficiency in yarn texturing
With the new eFK EvoSmart texturing machine, Barmag presents a machine concept based on the globally proven manual eFK that meets the highest quality requirements and sets new standards in operational efficiency. With a focus on energy-efficient yarn production, the eFK EvoSmart offers technological features that sustainably reduce both energy consumption and operating costs – with-out compromising on quality and process reliability. By combining energy-optimized process control with innovative components such as EvoHeater and Smart Godets, the eFK EvoSmart achieves a significant reduction in specific energy consumption – with potential savings of 25% per kilogram of yarn. The simple replacement of the heater inserts eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical and chemical heater cleaning inside the machine. The system consisting of EvoHeater and adapted suction not only saves energy but also doubles the maintenance intervals. This reduces the maintenance requirements of the eFK EvoSmart by 50%. Shorter and less frequent downtimes increase productivity and ensure higher plant availability. Whether in weaving, knitting or finishing, consistent performance ensures smooth processes and the best results.

Concentrated innovative strength for staple fiber production
Oerlikon Neumag is setting new standards in the production of synthetic staple fibers with several technological innovations. At the heart of these innovations is the state-of-the-art EvoSteam process, which not only offers significant energy savings but also raises fiber quality to a new level. The ad-vantages over conventional processes are clear: more efficient, more sustainable and more powerful.

The EvoSteam concept is complemented by EvoDuct and EvE-2, two further pioneering developments for staple fiber spinning. EvoDuct optimizes the air flow distribution in the air supply. The result: lower pressure drop, less energy consumption and a more uniform air flow, which has a positive effect on fiber quality and fiber uniformity. EvE-2 revolutionizes monomer and hot air extraction. The newly designed extraction nozzles minimize air turbulence and improve the uniformity of the air supply. The external monomer extraction facilitates maintenance work and significantly increases spinning performance.

The automated spin pack wiping robot, already used in filament spinning by Oerlikon Barmag, now also cleans the spinning packages in the staple fiber process. The advantages are the same: consistent, excellent wiping quality, extended cleaning intervals, reduced personnel costs, savings in consumables, environmentally friendly and healthy, controlled silicone spray consumption and synchronization of cleaning cycles with can change and splice management.

New standards in BCF yarn production
With the new BICO BCF technology, Oerlikon Neumag is launching a completely new type of yarn that takes carpet performance to a new level: higher pile strength, improved recovery properties and approx. 20% less face fiber consumption – without compromising the brand's renowned high quality. The result: lighter carpets with the familiar high-quality characteristics of Oerlikon Neumag yarns.

Also new to the portfolio: FiberGuard BCF – an intelligent system consisting of sensors and software that measures the yarn tension between twisting and winding in real time. The software reacts automatically to deviations and adjusts the process independently. This means less waste, higher efficiency and greater sustainability. And best of all, FiberGuard is compatible with all current BCF machines, or can be retrofitted.

Highly efficient nonwovens technologies 
At the heart of this is Oerlikon Nonwoven's patented hycuTEC unit – a real revolution for the filtration industry. Using osmosis-treated water, the system enables a high electrostatic charge to be applied to polypropylene meltblown nonwovens – with an impressive efficiency of 99.99%.

The brand also impresses in the Spunbond sector with high-performance production lines. Its potential is particularly evident in water filtration, for example through the implementation of a BiCo process utilizing polyester and co-polyester polymers.

The full programme for the 93rd Textile Institute World Conference (TIWC 2025) has been announced, with over 100 presentations to be delivered in parellel sessions at the event, which takes place from October 7-10 at the Porto Palácio Hotel and Spa in Porto, Portugal.

In a comprehensive and international programme, the close collaboration between researchers on separate continents will be highlighted, with a major focus on the further development of technologies and practices assisting in the need for advanced fibre-to-fibre recycling as a means of accelerating a circular textiles economy.

Research teams working continents apart are arriving at strikingly similar solutions – circularity, digital integration, cleaner chemistry and human-centred reform are all critical. These interlocking themes will define this year’s conference.

Circularity will be one of the most prominent concepts underpinning the programme and researchers from Manchester in the UK, for example, will share their evaluation of end-of-life garments and show how almost half of those currently sent to waste could be channelled into advanced recycling. 

From Chemnitz in Germany, new knitting technology will be presented that allows higher proportions of recycled content in cotton fabrics while retaining softness and durability. 

Case studies from Bangladesh and Pakistan will meanwhile explore how local enterprises are already adopting closed-loop systems and circular business innovations, with recycled yarns reaching the supply chains of major global brands. 

Taken together, the many presentations addressing circularity will demonstrate how waste is beginning to shift from a burden to a new raw material, while also pointing to the infrastructure and policies that will be needed to make such systems commercially viable.

Alongside this, the conference will also highlight the revolution now taking place in digitalisation. 

Far from being a niche domain of design software, digital tools are becoming the backbone of sustainability itself. Work will be presented on blockchain, digital product passports and RFID systems that trace garments throughout their lifecycle, strengthening consumer trust and helping businesses meet new regulatory requirements. 

New methods of digital textile printing and open-source knitting software will also be discussed, offering designers the ability to localise production and work with greater creative agency.  

The message of these projects is clear – digitalisation is not an add-on to sustainability but one of its primary enablers.

Perhaps most significant at TWIC 2025 will be the attention given to the human dimension of sustainability. 

In Sri Lanka, small and medium-sized apparel manufacturers will be shown to face critical health and safety risks as climate change brings rising temperatures, air pollution and extreme weather. A new assessment tool will be introduced which is helping firms build resilience and protect workers. 

The Sustainable Fibre Alliance will also demonstrate how cashmere herders, traders and processors in Mongolia are being engaged in a collective effort to reduce rangeland degradation and safeguard livelihoods. 

UK fashion educators will further share approaches to preparing the next generation to embrace circular models and ethical consumerism, equipping future designers to balance profit with responsibility. At the consumer end, new research will reveal misalignments between brand recommendations for garment care and the behaviour actually adopted by wearers, showing that communication must evolve. 

“These examples will remind delegates that technology and recycling alone cannot deliver sustainability without parallel shifts in culture, education and policy,” says Textile Institute CEO Stephanie Dick. “The global nature of the challenges facing textiles is already widely acknowledged and climate change, waste, toxic chemicals, unsafe labour practices and consumer overconsumption have combined to make fashion and textiles one of the world’s most scrutinised industries. What will emerge from this conference, however, is an unmistakable sense of convergence and solid progress.”

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) aims to complete its scientific evaluation of the proposed EU-wide restriction on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by the end of 2026. 

In a note, published today, ECHA provides an update on its assessment of the proposal and clarifies the expected timeline. This follows the publication of the updated restriction proposal, which took place on 20 August 2025.

The European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) have been evaluating the proposal to restrict PFAS in the EU/EEA since March 20231. This restriction proposal covers more than 10 000 substances and many sectors of application. Following its submission to ECHA, the subsequent six-month consultation has resulted in more than 5 600 responses from allstakeholder groups (Industry, NGOs, institutions, academia, national authorities, agencies, civil society actors, citizens etc.).

The Committees’ evaluation is being carried out in batches, focusing on the 14 different sectors2 analysed in the originally submitted restriction proposal, as well as PFAS manufacturing and horizontal issues. In parallel, the national authorities of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, who prepared the proposal (the Dossier Submitter), have progressively updated their initial report to address the significant number of responses received during the consultation, sector by sector. This updated report, called the Background Document, forms the basis for the Committees’ opinions.

The information from the consultation has also led to the identification of a further eight sectors3. These sectors have been assessed by the Dossier Submitter and incorporated into the now completed Background Document, which has been received by ECHA on 24 June 2025 and made available to RAC and SEAC and to the public on ECHA’s website4.

It is the collective goal of ECHA, the Dossier Submitter and the European Commission to allow for appropriate action to be taken to protect human health and the environment, as soon as is practicably possible. The European Commission, in the Chemicals Industry Action Plan adopted on 8 July 2025, has also communicated that ‘The scientific assessment of the Universal PFAS restriction by the ECHA’s committees is ongoing and scheduled to conclude in 2026. The Commission is committed to presenting a proposal as soon as possible after receiving ECHA’s opinion, with the overall objective of minimising PFAS emissions’.

Considering the sheer scale of this complex restriction proposal, RAC and SEAC have already made good progress in their opinion making on the 14 sectors covered by the original restriction proposal, plus PFAS manufacturing and horizontal issues. However, including a further 8 sectors into the Committees’ evaluations now would require significant time beyond 2026 to finalise the opinion with these sectors. Therefore, in the ongoing procedure, the Committees will not carry out a sector specific evaluation of these further eight sectors. However, the evaluation of horizontal issues will cover, amongst others, the hazard assessment and risk management measures of general applicability that are able to monitor and limit emissions of PFAS to the environment (e.g. reporting requirements, PFAS management plan).

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc., a leader in spider silk technology, announces that its second production rearing center in Southeast Asia is now fully operational.

With two active production facilities, the Company has established parallel operations designed to ensure continuous rearing cycles of its specialized recombinant spider silk silkworms. This dual-site capacity increases resilience and scalability, providing greater consistency in material output as Kraig Labs advances its commercialization strategy.

Teams are now active at both rearing centers, working with the company’s established parental lines for BAM-1 production hybrids, as well as three additional parental lines introduced earlier this summer. These new genetic lines represent a significant expansion of Kraig Labs’ breeding program and are expected to further enhance production efficiencies.

These facilities are designed to create efficient redundancy to avoid bottlenecks the company experienced in the past. This is a major leap forward in terms of creating sustained production.

“Becoming fully operational at our second rearing center is a milestone that strengthens the foundation of our spider silk production platform,” said Kim Thompson, Kraig Labs founder and CEO. “Having parallel operations allows us to maintain continuous cycles of rearing, diversify our breeding program, and accelerate the development of next-generation hybrids. This expanded capacity is essential as we push forward in scaling production and bringing our recombinant spider silk to market.”

The opening of this second rearing facility reflects Kraig Labs’ ongoing commitment to building a robust, reliable, and scalable spider silk production system in Southeast Asia, positioning the company to meet growing demand from diverse markets and industries.

Depending on the continent and climate zone, natural fibers grow all year round. The dependence on local and global weather influences changes the quality and quantity of the fibers at the time of harvest or during and after cleaning and processing.

Geopolitical or regional events are other factors affecting the availability of natural fibers. In the case of statistical evaluations, it must be taken into account that some regional harvest periods also take place at the turn of the year.

The estimate of 2025 world natural fibre production is lowered to 32.1 million tonnes in August, about 700,000 tonnes less than production in 2024 and 600,000 tonnes less than the July estimate. Over the past month, prospects for production in 2025 have weakened for abaca, cotton and jute. The estimate of world cotton production issued by USDA is 25.4 million tonnes, down 400,000 tonnes from July. World production of jute is estimated at 2.6 million tonnes, down 200,000 tonnes from July. Wool and coir production are estimated at around one million tonnes each, and all other natural fibres combined are estimated at two million tonnes.

Digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Hong Kong and Chinese market subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI (HONG KONG) LTD., will exhibit at the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition 2025 show in Shanghai, China in September. It will exhibit once again as part of the Digital Solutions Zone which allows visitors various opportunities to partake in the digital revolution that is currently making waves in the apparel industry. 
 
SHIMA SEIKI will be showing its APEXFiz® subscription-based design software which digitally supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual samples are a digitized version of sample making that are accurate enough to be used effectively as prototypes, replacing physical sampling and consequently reducing time, cost and material that eventually go to waste. The remarkable realism of textile simulation is achieved by using scanned data of actual yarn to virtually create fabrics that are comparable to physical samples. Simulations are available for wovens, circular knits, flat knits, prints, pile weave and even embroidery. These fabrics can be utilized in various 3D simulation software including APEXFiz® to create realistic product images. Should the design be approved for production, machine data can be generated to allow smooth communication for digitally bridging the gap between the studio and factory. APEXFiz® thereby helps to realize sustainability through reduced waste, to enhance quality, and to digitally transform the fashion supply chain. 
 
The product planning capability of APEXFiz® is enhanced by several web services featured as part of the SHIMA SEIKI Online Services (SHIMA online) web platform. These include the yarnbank® digital yarn sourcing web service that offers digitized yarn data by yarn companies from around the world for download and use in virtual sampling, as well as SHIMA Datamall™ digital content web service that allows users to search, browse and purchase a variety of useful data for streamlining the planning and production of fashion items. Registration to both services is free. 
 
SHIMA SEIKI will also be hosting a seminar session titled “New Era of Digital Fabric: End-to-End DPC Solution” on Wednesday, 3rd September from 10:20 am to 10:50 am at Hall 4.1-C131. 

Source Fashion moves to January and appoints Trend Suite as inaugural trend partner stepping into the new year with an earlier calendar slot. Source Fashion, Europe’s leading sourcing exhibition and the UK gateway for responsible, audited garment manufacturers, will take place at Olympia London from 13–15 January 2026. 

The earlier date firmly places Source Fashion at the start of the fashion sourcing calendar, and unites global manufacturers and suppliers with retailers, brands and wholesalers across every product category. In a first for the event, Source Fashion has partnered with Trend Suite as its official fashion trend authority, delivering fresh insights and directional guidance to energise buying, sourcing and product teams.

Source Fashion is a global platform with exhibitors from over 25 countries including manufacturing power houses China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Portugal and Turkey as well as a growing focus on the UK and emerging African markets. Bringing the show forward to 13–15 January gives buying, sourcing and product teams a timely springboard at the very start of the year, aligning discovery, supplier meetings and range planning when decisions matter most. Exhibitors benefit from earlier conversations with qualified buyers, retailers, brands, wholesalers and corporates seeking responsibly sourced materials, white label solutions and full service manufacturing, while visitors gain a concentrated view of global capability under one roof at Olympia London. 

For the first time, Source Fashion also welcomes an official fashion trend partner in Trend Suite, founded by trend forecaster and designer Tiffany Hill. Already influential in shaping Source Fashion’s catwalk direction in past seasons, Tiffany now brings her expertise fully into the show, curating insight around emerging subcultures and creative signals that influence fashion’s future. Trend Suite will collaborate on the headline trend theme for January 2026, soon to be revealed, and join the content programme with insight led sessions designed to inspire and inform across categories. 

Together, Trend Suite and Source Fashion aim to bridge the gap between future-focused creativity and market-ready solutions. At the upcoming show, Trend Suite will deliver curated content that highlights evolving consumer mindsets, material innovations, and the cultural shifts influencing design. By joining forces, both partners are committed to equipping the fashion industry with the foresight and tools it needs to thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape.”

Source Fashion July 2025 saw record visitor numbers and a 51% year-on-year increase in total footfall, its biggest increase to date with buyers, sourcing managers, product developers, technologists, and designers from some of retail’s biggest names, brands and retailers including LVMH, Harrods, Burberry, Victoria Beckham, Temperley, Bella Freud, Lyle & Scott, French Connection, John Lewis, AllSaints, ASOS, Joseph, Marks & Spencer, Next, New Look, Primark, River Island, Mango, Joules, JoJo Maman Bébé, Sosander, Gigi & Olive, Lucy & Yak, Yumi International, Damson Madder, Godske, Jaded London, Tottenham Hotspur and Jermyn Street Design and many more, attending. 

Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director at Source Fashion said, “What makes Source Fashion so powerful is the quality of conversations happening on the show floor. From emerging brands looking for ethical partners to global retailers sourcing at scale, the feedback from exhibitors and visitors shows that this is where meaningful, lasting business starts. Our role is to connect people and create the environment for better, more responsible fashion, and that’s exactly what we’ll continue to deliver this January. With the addition of Trend Suite as our first official fashion trend partner, we’re also able to give buyers and suppliers a clearer view of the creative signals shaping the future of fashion, adding another layer of inspiration and insight to the show.”