From the Sector

Dibella is increasing its demand for Cotton made in Africa (CmiA)–verified cotton by 9% compared to the previous year (825 tonnes), reaching a total of 900 tonnes in 2026. This underscores the company’s strategic objective to continuously support the cultivation of sustainable fibers. 

By supporting CmiA cotton, Dibella makes a measurable contribution to greater sustainability along the textile value chain. CmiA stands for more resource-efficient cotton cultivation: reliance on natural rainfall instead of irrigation, the exclusion of hazardous pesticides, and low greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the initiative strengthens the economic resilience of smallholder farms in Sub-Saharan Africa. A key impact of CmiA lies in its social effect: through training programs on efficient agriculture, occupational safety, and gender equality, incomes are stabilized and living conditions sustainably improved. In addition, education, health, and infrastructure projects in the growing regions are financed. 

“Increasing our CmiA cotton volume is far more than just a number for us,” emphasizes Michaela Gnass, CSR Manager at Dibella. “It represents tangible improvements on the ground—for farming families, for environmental standards, and for more responsible textile production. The annual increase in the use of CmiA fibers in our supply chain is part of our sustainability strategy. As a provider of contract textiles, we see it as our duty to take responsibility and not merely to source materials.” 

Dibella uses Cotton made in Africa cotton in accordance with a mass balance approach. This enables the company to efficiently integrate sustainable cotton into existing production processes while systematically increasing demand for CmiA cotton. This creates an important lever for anchoring more sustainable cultivation methods in the market over the long term. In addition to the mass balance system, Cotton made in Africa also offers full traceability from the origin of the cotton to the finished product.

BTMA member Alchemie Technology, the pioneer of precision jet dyeing solutions based in Cambridge, UK, is partnering with Acatel, the Portuguese leader in sustainable textile manufacturing.

The two companies will work together to validate and optimise Alchemie’s Endeavour system for knitted cellulosic fabrics. 

Endeavour enables dye houses to eliminate energy and CO2 emissions by up to 85%, achieve chemistry savings of up to 30%, and reduce water usage by up to 95% compared to traditional methods. The proprietary liquid application solution combines a large droplet size and high droplet velocity to deliver unrivalled penetration and precision into a textile fabric. 

R&D programme
As part of the collaboration, Alchemie and Acatel will run a twelve-month R&D programme to prepare the technology for large-scale manufacturing and demonstrate how the fully electric, non-contact dyeing process can replace conventional dyeing routes.

The partnership will operate from the Acatel Innovation Hub in northern Portugal, with the industrial expertise, manufacturing infrastructure and focus on innovation necessary to accelerate the adoption of this next-generation textile technology. 

Through the platform, Alchemie will advance the commercial readiness of its low-carbon digital dyeing system tailored for knitted cellulosic fabrics based on cotton, lyocell, linen, hemp and wool blends.
“Transforming one of the world’s most resource-intensive industrial processes requires resilience, vision and innovation,” says Dr Alan Hudd, founder and CEO of Alchemie Technology. “Being part of the Acatel Innovation Hub represents exactly the kind of partnership needed to scale sustainable textile solutions globally.”

Acatel has been a leader in sustainable textile processes since 1985, combining advanced technology with a strong environmental commitment. By leveraging Acatel’s innovation ecosystem, the partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of next-generation dyeing solutions and highlight the role of the Acatel Innovation Hub in bringing scalable, sustainable innovations to industry.

“Acatel’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship aligns perfectly with Alchemie’s mission,” says Tércio Pinto, member of the board at Acatel “With this collaboration we are empowering textile producers to redefine responsible manufacturing.”
 
Première Vision
To mark the partnership, Alchemie and Acatel will be exhibiting side-by-side at Première Vision in Paris from February 3-5, where visitors will be able to directly assess the touch and feel of fabrics processed with the technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn first-hand how Endeavour technology can deliver substantial sustainability and efficiency gains.

“This development is great news to kick off 2026,” said BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Textile dyeing is a significant polluter and Alchemie’s digital technologies, developed here in the UK and now to be further commercialised within Europe, promise to archive a dramatic reduction in energy consumption while eliminating contaminated wastewater emissions, which will be a major boost for the industry.”

Kornit Digital Ltd., a global market leader in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, today announced the appointment of Andrew G. Backman as Chief Capital Markets Officer, effective January 13, 2026. In this role, Mr. Backman will support Kornit’s capital markets activities, investor relations, and corporate and business development initiatives. 

Mr. Backman, who will be based at the Company's U.S. Headquarters in Englewood, New Jersey, has extensive capital markets and investor relations experience, participating in more than $30 billion in capital markets transactions, and maintaining long-standing relationships with institutional investors, sell-side analysts, and global investment banking partners. He previously served as Kornit’s Global Head of Investor Relations from 2021 to 2023. 

Mr. Backman recently served as Global Head of Investor Relations at EMCOR Group, Inc. (NYSE: EME), with prior experiences including senior capital markets and investor relations roles across more than 14 industries. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Boston College and is a graduate of AT&T / Lucent Technologies’ Financial Leadership Program. 

Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, announces enhancements to its dye sublimation TS330 Series, including the introduction of the TS330-1800. The entire TS330 Series is now compatible with Mimaki’s Sb411 inks in Orange, Violet, Fluorescent Pink and Fluorescent Yellow, enhancing colour flexibility and control, and offering improved vibrancy and colour accuracy. Complementing these upgrades, the new TS330-1800 is equipped with a larger print width to cater for a broader array of textile applications within fashion, sportswear, textile signage, and home décor.

The extended colour range – now totalling at 11 different inks – provides improved vibrancy and colour saturation, ideal for high-impact branding on sportswear, fabric signage and promotional merchandise. Opening up extensive ink configurations, applications can be produced with improved colour accuracy, fulfilling production needs for sectors where high colour fidelity is required.

With a maximum printing area of 1940mm, the new TS330-1800 enables users to increase their output and diversify with larger applications, such as curtains and tapestries, while bypassing time spent sewing and pattern matching. With this extended width, more panels can be placed side-by-side, reducing rows, adjustment and waste.

Arjen Evertse, Director Sales at Mimaki Europe, remarks, “Achieving eye-catching prints is becoming increasingly important when printing textiles, particularly when it comes to branded material like signage or sportswear. To cater to this market need, vibrant inks like fluorescents, give users the ability to produce more saturated, as well as more accurate, colours in their applications.

“The TS330 Series delivers reliable, high image quality, colour density and high print speeds, and so we wanted to offer print shops a larger machine to further amplify their business growth. Thanks to its larger print width, the new TS330-1800 can now accommodate larger home décor applications, a market where digitally printed textiles are in high demand, and higher output with improved layout efficiency for other applications, in addition to all the existing benefits of a TS330 printer.”

Utilising Mimaki’s OEKO-TEX® ECO-PASSPORT certified Sb411 inks, the prints achieved by the TS330 Series are both vivid and environmentally responsible. This certification allows print providers to fulfil sustainability requirements demanded by global textile brands and eco-conscious consumers. The TS330-1800 will be delivered with the standard TxLink5 Lite RIP software for improved workflow management.

The TS330-1800 will be available across EMEA in Spring 2026.

Heimtextil starts a new partnership with the format Hospitality Interiors Europe (HINT). With the launch, a complementary event will take place alongside Heimtextil 2027, targeting decision-makers from the hotel and high-end hospitality design sector. Both platforms create tangible synergies for exhibitors and visitors – and expand the holistic interior design offering for architecture, interior design, hospitality and the contract sector. Hospitality Interiors Europe presents itself at Heimtextil 2026 with its own dedicated lounge area. 

At Heimtextil 2027, the international hospitality and contract sector receives an additional stage: with the launch of Hospitality Interiors Europe, a parallel format is being created that specifically brings together decision-makers from (interior) architecture, project development and interior design for hospitality, as well as from the extended hospitality environment, including hotels, resorts, wellness & spa, extended stay and care facilities. 

Hospitality Interiors Europe will be staged in its own hall and will present design concepts for high-end hospitality environments. This focus strengthens Heimtextil and elevates its global offering for holistic interior design. As leading trade fair, Heimtextil stands for international reach, textile expertise and material innovation. Hospitality Interiors Europe complements this with a specialised hospitality perspective, featuring first-class product worlds and application contexts. With Strive Exhibitions – whose founders Toby Walters and Sam Murray launched Cruise Ship Interiors Expo – serving as organiser, Heimtextil gains an internationally established partner with a strong industry network. The partnership reflects the increasing significance of hospitality and contract interiors as growth engines for the global textile sector.

New hospitality hub alongside Heimtextil 2027
With Hospitality Interiors Europe, a curated platform emerges for the industry that brings together high-quality design, textile innovation and hospitality expertise. In addition to presentations by selected manufacturers, the format includes an exclusive congress programme that unites international experts and highlights key trends as well as relevant project developments in hospitality design. At the same time, the additional platform fosters industry exchange and networking between decision-makers, planners and designers from the contract sector – all within a first-class environment.

“Sam and I are truly excited to be launching Hospitality Interiors Europe in Frankfurt in 2027. HINT will become the new global meeting place for the entire hospitality design community, bringing together designers, suppliers, operators, and developers from the hotel, resort, care, wellness, and extended stay markets. Partnering with industry-leading Heimtextil gives both audiences unparalleled access to the latest products. We believe this marks the start of something truly special for the sector – a chance to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of hospitality design together”, says Toby Walters, CEO Strive Exhibitions. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms the textile industry – from creation and production to pricing, distribution and communication. But how can AI be applied successfully, and where does it add value? Heimtextil addresses these questions from 13 to 16 January 2026: The programme dedicated to the key future field AI wants to strengthen the global industry and open up new business opportunities as well as practical applications for design, retail, industry, architecture, interior design and contract furnishing. Highlights include the progressive Heimtextil Trends 26/27 by Alcova, the design installation by Patricia Urquiola and the live talk with AI pioneer Tim Fu. 

AI accelerates creative processes and reshapes working methods along the entire textile value chain – from design concepts and material visualisations to data migration and everyday workflows, to the implementation of new products and concepts. Heimtextil 2026 makes these developments tangible and brings together experts who demonstrate how AI is used in practice and what potential it offers the industry.

AI from stage to practice
The central knowledge hub is the Texpertise Stage in Hall 6.0. This is where Heimtextil brings together a forward-looking, business-relevant content programme and translates technological innovation into practical insights for the industry. One of the highlights is the live talk with Tim Fu: the London-based architect and AI pioneer discusses interior design in the age of AI with Simon Keane-Cowell, Editor-in-Chief of Architonic. On the first day of the fair, Anja Bisgaard Gaede (Founder, Spott trends & business aps) talks about workflows, data integration and the textile future shaped by AI. Elisabeth Ramm (Atelier Brückner) shares insights into AI and materials in exhibition design. Using tangible examples, Martin Auerbach (Association of German Home Textiles Manufacturers) explains how AI is used in everyday work and how companies can integrate it profitably into their daily workflows. Sleep expert Markus Kamps moderates dedicated sessions on the megatrend of sleep and technology, featuring numerous guest speakers. At the Talk Spot in Hall 12.0, Architonic hosts a discussion with exhibitor Oriental Weavers on carpets between craftsmanship and global production.

Heimtextil Trends 26/27: AI impulses for design, retail and industry
How can AI-driven design processes be combined with traditional textile craftsmanship? The Heimtextil Trends 26/27 provide answers and orientation for the coming season under the motto “Craft is a verb”. In the Trend Arena in Hall 6.1, the design platform Alcova presents six stylistic directions that explore how high-tech and craftsmanship interact. This interplay becomes visible in a vibrant colour palette, where “glitches”, unexpected digital disruptions, and radical synthetic accents deliberately break through the natural colour spectrum. Daily talks and guided tours with experts translate the trend themes into concrete business insights.

„among-all“: AI-generated design experience by Patricia Urquiola 
What happens when we ourselves become part of AI-based creation? Patricia Urquiola explores this question in her installation “among-all” (Hall 3.0). The designer combines futuristic textile elements, sustainable materials and new AI technologies. “among-all” showcases how textiles can function as transformative and intelligent materials and actively involves visitors in the spatial staging. In a live talk on 14 January 2026, the design icon discusses her visionary approach on the Texpertise Stage. Daily guided tours bring the interior design of tomorrow to life.

AI as creative partner for the contract business
With Interior.Architecture.Hospitality, Heimtextil offers decision-makers from interior design, architecture, hospitality and the contract business a customised programme. At the dedicated Talk Spot in Hall 3.1, Mauro Brigham (Founder ncbham) discusses why design is never static. Helen Häkli (Freelance Architect, bdia) shows how AI is used as a creative partner in interior design. Further specialised lectures, including contributions from Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk (JOI-Design) and Robin Hepp (Kids Studio), complement the extensive hospitality programme.

New opportunities for craftsmanship and interior decoration
What AI can deliver in concrete terms for interior decoration and the crafts sector is demonstrated by AI expert Alexander Ligowski on the DecoTeam Stage in Hall 3.0. Using selected examples, he provides hands-on insights into AI-supported interior design – ranging from room and colour concepts to sales support, text generation for social media and the optimisation of quotations.

New Talents Area: perspectives of the next design generation 
How is the next generation of designers engaging with AI technology? In 2026, Heimtextil offers fresh insights with the debut of the New Talents Area in Hall 6.1. The curated exhibition presents emerging design talents from around the world and enables direct exchange with international newcomers.

Indorama Ventures, a global sustainable chemical company, announced its Trevira CS® brand’s presentation at Heimtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany, from January 13 to 16, 2026. The theme of the show: “WE CARE.” 

“WE CARE”: A Focus on Community, Sustainability, and Craftsmanship 
Trevira CS®, alongside its partners, is transforming the traditional trade show display into an active, meaningful experience at the Trevira CS Joint Booth. The theme "WE CARE" embodies a commitment to the textile industry, fire safety, mindful resource usage, and social responsibility. 

“We care about the textile industry, fire safety indoors, the communities we operate in, the mindful usage of our resources, and about you and your loved ones. At Heimtextil 2026, we are completely shifting the focus from a passive display to an active, memorable, and meaningful experience,” says Svenja Fromm, Fibers Global Communication and Brand Manager. 

Experiencing the fabric: Sensory engagement and social impact 
The core of the "WE CARE" booth is an interactive activity designed to enhance sensory engagement and support a worthy cause: 

1. Sensory enhancement: Visitors, including interior designers, decorators, and media, will be encouraged to physically touch, feel, and work with the Trevira CS fabrics, enabling a deeper understanding of essential qualities like drape, weight, and texture. Trevira CS fabric donations from various partners have been turned into pillowcases. Partner in this craftsmanship activity is hum Kissen, Sulingen, Germany. Since over 20 years, hum stands for sustainable design, high quality, and fair cooperation for cushions. That's why they only use valuable, certified materials for their hum design and outdoor cushions, which are manufactured in Germany. Their value promise: feel good in any environment! Also, pillowcases from various displays and showcases have been submitted by Trevira CS partners – all awaiting the following next step. 
2. Memorable interaction & giving back: The WE CARE highlight activity invites Heimtextil visitors to stuff these pillowcases using permanently flame-retardant fibers provided by Indorama Ventures. This hands-on process allows participants to truly appreciate the fabric's "hand" and craftsmanship. 
3. One act of kindness: All cushions created during the show will be handed over to the Lions Club Wiesbaden. They will ensure that the finished cushions are distributed to those in need within the local community, supporting two initiatives: “Herzenswärme” (Warmth of the Heart) initiative and the „IFB“ (Inklusion.Förderung.Betreuung/Inclusion.Support.Care.) initiative, which focuses on the inclusion of children with disabilities. 

Trevira CS Joint Booth Experience: Innovations in Flame-Retardancy & Design 
The Trevira CS Joint Booth will feature a diverse collection of inherently flame-retardant products for the home textiles and contract market. The exhibiting partners will showcase products across all textile applications, from spun to fancy flame retardant yarns eligible for the brand Trevira CS to from lightweight curtains to upholstery fabrics, woven and knitted fabrics as well as interior solar shading solutions.

Dedicated gallery information walls will provide unique insights into the Trevira CS brand, its sub-brands, rigorous trademark testing, various application areas, and its path forward using advanced recycled materials. 

Exhibiting Partners at the Trevira CS Joint Booth (Hall 3.1, G95) 

• Baroni Filati S.r.l. 
• FILTRADING S.R.L. 
• ILCAT S.P.A. 
• TORCITURA LEI TSU S.R.L. 
• LODETEX S.P.A. 
• MOTTURA Spa 
• PIF sarl 
• Pugi RG S.r.l. 
• Tintoria filati Sala S.r.l. 
• Selvafil S.A. 
• Hum Kissen 
• The Lion Club Wiesbaden 

Deja™: Advancing Sustainability with Recycled Materials 
Demonstrating a commitment to a sustainable path forward, Indorama Ventures will also introduce the deja™ brand family. Deja marks fibers, yarns and technical fabrics made from what is already here, thereby significantly reducing CO2 emissions and environmental impact while delivering virgin-like performance. 

This sustainable product family of staple fibers, filament yarns, and technical fabrics is suitable for a broad variety of applications, including home textiles, apparel, and automotive interiors. 

Indorama Ventures and Trevira CS® invite all visitors to experience the "WE CARE" concept, to stuff a cushion, and engage with the Trevira CS partners, and its brands Trevira CS® and deja™ at Heimtextil 2026.

Trevira CS, a leading brand of inherently flame-retardant textiles, is set to showcase its high-performance fabric solutions for the cruise ship industry at the CSI (Cruise Ship Interiors) Show in Hamburg on December 3rd and 4th. The booth's motto, "All aboard with Trevira CS," highlights the brand's commitment to safety and luxury in marine interiors. The exhibit will feature an array of some 27 IMO-tested Trevira CS fabrics specifically designed for cruise ship applications. 
 
Safety and Luxury Meet Rigorous Marine Standards 
As cruises worldwide continue to grow in popularity, the demand for luxurious and inviting textile designs which comply with uncompromising safety performance is increasing. Inherently flame retardant and easy to care for, Trevira CS fabrics comply with the strict FTP Code 2010 Resolution MSC.307(88), Annex 1, part 5, 7, 8, and 9 for various applications, such as wallcoverings, drapes and decorative fabrics, sunscreens, upholstery fabrics and bedding textiles.
 
The cruise shipping industry requires high-quality fabrics for both indoor and demanding outdoor environments. For exterior use, Trevira CS textiles offer superior performance in terms of resistance to light and weather. This is, for example, achieved through flame-retardant and UV stabilised polyester, available as staple fiber and filament yarn. Such modified filament yarns are available in nearly 30 different spun dyed colours. 
 
Recognizing the cruise industry's increasing focus on sustainability, Trevira CS also offers recycled options under the trademark Trevira CS eco. These fabrics contain at least 50% recycled materials (pre-consumer or post-consumer). All fibers and yarns used for the Trevira CS eco trademark are GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified. 

“Our trademark testing makes sure that the Trevira CS articles are made of our original Trevira® flame retardant polyester and that the textiles thereof meet the fire safety requirements of the brand and are fit to pass those of the cruise industry too. Needless to say, that also the requirements of other industries like hospitality, healthcare, rail and aviation are respected and can be met by Trevira CS® as well,” says Petra Krücken, Indorama Ventures Fibers Global Trademark Service Manager. 

The National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), representing the full spectrum of U.S. textiles from fiber, yarn and fabrics to finished sewn products, applauded the administration’s announcement today of plans to reinstate duty-free treatment for qualified textile and apparel goods from Guatemala and El Salvador under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).

National Council of Textile Organizations President and CEO Kim Glas:
“NCTO and our industry leaders have long been pushing for the reinstatement of duty-free treatment for qualified textile and apparel goods for our CAFTA-DR partner countries. We welcome the administration’s announcements about restoring these benefits for Guatemala and El Salvador and continue to press for a resolution for the other trade partners including Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica, while acknowledging that the administration is conducting an extensive review under Section 301 of Nicaragua and their human rights violations under a separate track.

“We sincerely thank Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC-09), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC-07), and many members of the House Textile Caucus for their leadership and efforts in helping reinstate duty-free benefits for CAFTA-DR countries in support of the domestic textile chain.  Today was a first great step and we want to thank President Trump, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, and the administration for this important decision. 

“The CAFTA-DR region forms a vital co-production chain with the American textile supply chain, facilitating $11.3 billion in two-way trade in 2024 and supporting more than 470,000 U.S. workers in the domestic textile sector alone. However, since reciprocal tariffs were imposed on qualifying CAFTA-DR trade, U.S. textile and apparel imports from our free trade partner countries have declined 8 percent year to date in 2025 through July, while U.S. imports from top Asian suppliers have increased by double digits.

“The restoration of duty-free status for qualified goods from El Salvador and Guatemala is a critical key first step for our collective industries.  Restoring duty-free textile and apparel qualified goods from the CAFTA-DR region is important to bolster the U.S. textile supply chain can help bring some stability to this critical sector. The U.S. -Western Hemisphere supply chains stand as a bulwark to China and other Asian countries. We look forward to working with the Trump administration and lawmakers to find a resolution that will restore duty-free treatment for qualified trade for this vital region.”

Light and color — GUNOLD's GLOWY specialty thread combines these two properties fascinatingly. During the day, it appears in powdery, soft pastel shades, and at night it transforms into a contrasting bright green. Embroidery and decorative seams change their appearance as if by magic as soon as darkness falls. 

GLOWY is a fluorescent thread and glows under UV light. This happens because special color pigments in the thread convert invisible ultraviolet light into visible light. In normal daylight, the thread appears muted, soft, and delicate. In the dark, GLOWY begins to glow if it has previously been exposed to daylight or UV light, making it clearly visible. Reiner Knochel, Textile Experience, comments: "GLOWY is particularly suitable for use on children's pajamas. Parents turn off the light and their child's favorite motif begins to glow. Children love this, it makes them feel safe and helps them fall asleep more easily. This effect also works on pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals."

This special thread is also ideal for adding creative yet subtle accents during the day, whether on blouses, shirts, light jackets, accessories, or promotional textiles. In the dark, the luminosity of GLOWY highlights hidden embroidered logos, lettering, or even entire motifs for up to 20 minutes, which is approximately how long GLOWY's luminosity lasts. 

GLOWY consists of 56% polyester and 44% polypropylene, is Oeko-Tex certified, and remains luminous for up to 50 wash cycles. The thread is available in seven pastel shades—from delicate yellow to bright pink—corresponds to embroidery thread size 40 (Nm 69/2; dtex 145×2) and is very easy to work with despite its special properties. GUNOLD recommends using a standard needle, e.g., ORGAN No. 75/11 SES.