From the Sector

Guide to Smart, Digital, and Green Skills: A free eBook is now available for download on the ADDTEX website. This comprehensive guide provides an introduction to the ADDTEX Smart, Digital, Green Skills Academy, which offers nine specially developed courses designed to help professionals enhance their skills in digital and green technologies.

Flexible Learning for the Textile Industry
The ADDTEX Academy is based on a gap analysis of the textile industry and provides targeted training programs focused on the smart, digital, and green transformation of the sector. The courses cater to engineers, technicians, and managers, addressing their specific needs. They are delivered through a state-of-the-art e-learning platform with a modular design and flexible learning options, allowing learners to access the content at their own pace and convenience.

The eBook explains the structure and benefits of the courses, delivered in a MOOC format (Massive Open Online Courses). It also includes practical case studies and a microcredentialing system to certify newly acquired skills. These mini-diplomas are a crucial step in improving career prospects and aligning with the demands of an evolving job market.

The EU project ADDTEX (Advancing industrial digital and green innovations in the advanced textile industry through innovation in learning and training) is an Erasmus+ initiative aimed at fostering digital and green innovations in the textile industry.

From July 2022 to June 2025, twelve partners from ten European countries – including businesses, clusters, universities, and vocational education providers – are collaborating on the project. Key outputs include a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), a training platform, a mobility program, and new hubs to support further education.

A special focus is placed on key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the European textile industry.

Practical Focus and Certification through Microcredentials
The ADDTEX Academy courses combine theoretical knowledge with practical components, including case studies and quizzes. Microcredentials are awarded upon completing each module and passing the respective tests. These certifications allow for quick and targeted recognition of skills, enhancing job market opportunities. With an integrated learning management system (LMS), learners have lifetime access to course content, making the ADDTEX Academy a valuable tool for lifelong learning in the textile industry.

New Perspectives for the Textile Sector
Through targeted training and cutting-edge technologies, the innovative EU project ADDTEX provides in-depth expertise on key topics such as digitalization, sustainability, and advanced (smart) technologies. The eBook and flexible course offerings make it easy to access professional development, equipping industry professionals for the challenges of a digital and sustainable future.

A Study Dissemination on ‘Assessment of Technological Transition in the Apparel Sector of Bangladesh and Its Impact on Workers’ has arranged by Bangladesh Labour Foundation (BLF), Solidaridad Network Asia & Brac University.

Automation had led to a 30.58% decline in the total workforce across production processes in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector with the majority of the displaced workers being helpers, according to the study.

While automation has boosted economic growth and productivity in the sector, it has simultaneously created significant challenges for RMG workers—especially women, older employees, less literate individuals, and those lacking skills or confidence.

The sweater factory subsector experienced the highest workforce reduction, with a 37.03% decline per production line, followed by woven factories, which saw a 27.23% drop. In terms of specific production processes, the cutting stage showed the most pronounced reduction, with a 48.34% decrease in workers, whereas the sewing process experienced a comparatively smaller decline of 26.57%.

The findings emphasize the urgent need to address “Just Transition” issues, which aim to balance economic advancement with equitable outcomes for displaced workers, as highlighted in the study’s executive summary.

The International Textile Manufacturer Federation has published its International Textile Industry Statistics (ITIS) on productive capacity and raw materials consumption in the short-staple organized (spinning mill-) sector in virtually all textile-producing countries in the world. ITMF has used a new calculation method and reviewed past time series.

The estimated global number of installed short-staple spindles reached 232 Mio units in 2023 and the number of installed open-end rotors grew to 9.7 Mio (see Fig. 1 and 2). Capacity building is still disproportionally targeting Asia. The number of installed air-jet spindles soared to 637 thousand. Outside Asia, the main capacity increase was registered in Türkiye.

Global Installed Capacities and Raw Material Consumption in the Short-Staple Organized (Spinning Mill-) Sector of the Textile Industries (1993-2023) The number of installed shuttle-less looms increased to 1.7 Mio in 2023 (see Fig. 3). Total raw material consumption in the short-staple organized sector slightly decreased to 43 Mio tons (see Fig. 4). Global consumption of raw cotton and cellulosic short-staple fibers decreased by -4.4% and -2.9%, respectively. Consumption of synthetic short-staple fibers increased by 0.5%.