From the Sector

Fibers made from bio-based plastics reduce dependence on fossil raw materials and promote the circular economy. The covalent bonding of flame-retardant additives can open the way for these fibers to enter the mass market.

The recent fire disaster in Switzerland has revealed how crucial the use of flame-retardant materials is in construction materials, insulation, and many other everyday objects. Textiles with flame-retardant properties fulfill a particularly important function here, as they are used in considerable quantities - not only in building materials, but also in safety and protective clothing, in vehicle interiors, and in home furnishings such as carpets and upholstered furniture.

Flame-retardant compounds have been used for synthetic fibers for decades. Inorganic, brominated, or organophosphorus compounds, which are particularly used in polyester fibers, have proven to be highly effective. Phosphorus compounds are slightly less harmful to the environment when released and are therefore often the first choice. Their effectiveness is based on the fact that they form a protective carbonization layer and intercept radicals, which reduces the flammability of the material. The release of toxic gases and further heat development is limited.

For several years now, there has been a shift in the use of synthetic fibers toward bio-based fibers. Although their market share is still small compared to established synthetic fibers such as polyethylene terephthalate or polypropylene, they are growing steadily. Bio-based fibers are gaining in importance because they reduce the demand for fossil raw materials. At the same time, their use supports the circular economy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Persistent and effective flame retardancy in bio-based fibers that is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly could give bio-based textiles a boost in innovation and contribute to significant market expansion. This is where the DITF's “Polymers and Fiber Composites” research team comes in with the development of a flame-retardant, bio-based plastic called polyethylene furanoate (PEF). PEF is similar in many properties to the widely used polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but unlike PET, it is made from bio-based monomers. While PEF is already technologically advanced and on its way to the mass market, it currently lacks flame retardancy, which would enable its widespread use in the textile sector.

At the DITF, PEF is not only synthesized in in-house reactors. Extensive test series have also been conducted to evaluate the suitability of various phosphorus-based flame retardants in different concentrations. Two things are important to the researchers here: First, the flame retardant should be covalently bound to the polymer molecules to prevent bleeding. This is crucial for long-term fire protection of fibers because of their small diameter and high specific surface area. Second, the concentration of flame retardant should be as low as possible while still providing the best possible effect. Despite their good fire protection properties, all common additives share that they are potentially harmful to health and, when released into the environment, are difficult to degrade because they are chemically stable. In Denkendorf, they have not only succeeded in meeting these requirements. They have also been able to increase the molecular weight of the synthesized polymers by solid state polymerization to spin fibers with higher strength.

Further thermal and rheological investigations of the polymers with different flame-retardant concentrations identified the most suitable variant for the spinning process. In addition to the PEF variant containing five grams of phosphorus per kilogram of polymer in the form of copolymerized organophosphorus compounds, a flame retardant-free PEF reference was spun. The fibers obtained in the spinning laboratory were processed into textile fabrics, which were subjected to fire tests. The flame-retardant knitted fabrics showed significantly reduced flammability. The DITF will continue to study in flame-retardant, bio-based PEF fibers.

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. 

EasyCut, a cutting-edge company focused on sign making software solutions, announced the official release of Easy Cut Studio 6.016, an upgrade of its sign design and vinyl cutting software. This updated version brings support for several new vinyl cutters, including Vevor Smart1, Vevor TT450, E-Cut TT-450, YOW! CraftY and Roland CM series cutters, and also brings a series of improvements aimed at enhancing the user experience and make your cutting machines run better.

Easy Cut Studio 6.016 builds on its set of functions and tools, while offering new features, improvements, and efficiency, elevates excellence and performance for signage and professional graphic designers. With the newly added cutter support, more users can now use the software to design, print, and cut. These enhancements allow beginners to get started quickly, while enabling seasoned experts to easily create more complex, technically advanced layouts with greater ease – and less time. 

"We are very proud that our software is compatible with more models of cutting plotters, helping our customers achieve outstanding results. EasyCut has always been dedicated to simplifying complex workflows and making professional printing and cutting accessible to everyone", says Eric Johnson, Director of Global Marketing and Sales, EasyCut. "We are confident that printing and cutting with Easy Cut Studio Version 6.016 is more efficient than ever before, with the guarantee of delivering better results no matter the application.”

Vevor Smart1 is a precise, versatile desktop vinyl cutter designed for creative and DIY projects. It features auto-adjusting blade pressure and auto-tracking for consistent, clean cuts. It supports over 100 materials (vinyl, cardstock, heat transfer, etc.) and various tools for cutting, writing, and fold lines, it’s ideal for stickers, decals, apparel, home decor, labels, and signage. User-friendly and efficient, it suits beginners to pros, helping turn ideas into high-quality projects with less setup and fewer errors. Now Vevor Smart1 users can fully control the Vevor Smart1 cutting machine with Easy Cut Studio, effortlessly handling printing and cutting projects.

The E-Cut TT-450 and Vevor TT-450 are compact, entry-level auto contour vinyl cutting plotters ideal for DIY crafts and small businesses. Both models are produced in China, and their appearance and functions are basically identical. Both machines feature automatic contour cutting (via camera or edge detection) for precise print-and-cut applications, delivering ±0.1mm accuracy at speeds up to 400mm/s. When using this machine with Easy Cut Studio, anyone can easily create custom stickers, labels, and signs.

In addition, Easy Cut Studio 6.016 also added support for the Roland CM series machines, including the CM-12, CM-24, and the older CM-300, CM-400, and CM-500. EasyCut is constantly updating Easy Cut Studio 6 to support new vinyl cutters as they are released and ensuring that old vinyl cutters remain supported, even when the manufacturer stops supporting these cutters.

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals focused on sustainable solutions, is excited to announce its debut participation in Denimsandjeans Egypt, taking place on January 19–20, 2026 at the InterContinental Citystars Cairo. 

In its first year at the show, Archroma will showcase its low-impact denim solutions, designed to help brands and mills advance sustainability without compromising aesthetics, quality or performance. 

“With Egypt emerging as a strategic denim sourcing market, there is a clear opportunity to accelerate more sustainable production. Archroma’s innovations are designed to support this growth with scalable, low impact solutions,” commented Dhirendra Gautam, Vice President, Commercial, Archroma. 

Visitors to the Archroma stand will discover a portfolio of innovative and award-winning solutions, including: 

• DENIM HALO - Archroma’s revolutionary award-winning denim pretreatment and dyeing process that gives brands and mills a simple way to produce highly sought-after distressed denim looks. It draws on a unique new chemistry, DIRSOL® RD, and a broad portfolio of textile dyes based on decades of advanced research to produce laser-friendly denim with outstanding contrast on intense black and indigo shades. 
• DIRESUL® EVOLUTION BLACK - Archroma’s cleanest sulfur black dyestuff. Manufactured using fewer resources, it has an overall impact reduction of 57% during dye synthesis compared to standard Sulfur Black 1 liquid. 
• DENISOL® PURE INDIGO 30 LIQ - An aniline-free pre-reduced indigo that creates authentic denim colors with the same performance and efficiency as conventional indigo dye, but in a way that can reduce the risk of pollution. Furthermore, it is produced in an aniline-free** process to help enable cleaner denim production. 
• EarthColors® - A patented Archroma technology that creates high-performance biowaste-based dyes from non-edible food and agricultural waste, leaving the edible part available for consumption. EarthColors® dyes help reduce the industry’s overall impact on the water footprint. Since they upcycle waste from other industries, they also help contribute to a circular economy. 

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals towards sustainable solutions, and HeiQ, a Swiss deeptech materials innovator active in functional textiles and sustainable fibers, have entered into a co-marketing agreement that combines their complementary strengths to deliver advanced, planet-conscious anti-odor and antimicrobial technologies to brands, retailers, and textile mills worldwide.

Together, Archroma and HeiQ will provide brands and textile manufacturers access to an expanded portfolio of high-performance, sustainable effects, underpinned by global reach, application expertise, and proven market innovation.

“This partnership marks an exciting chapter for Archroma and HeiQ, and a huge step forward for the textile industry,” said Dhirendra Gautam, VP Commercial, Archroma. “By uniting our global reach and application know-how with HeiQ’s powerful innovation engine, we are bringing high-performance, sustainable technologies to more customers and accelerating the industry’s transition towards a more planet-conscious textile value chain.”

“HeiQ has always been driven by a mission to pioneer deeptech material innovation for people and planet,” said Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ. “Together with Archroma’s extensive network and expertise, we are scaling our technologies globally, ensuring that brands and mills can access functional, sustainable solutions that enhance product performance while lowering environmental impact.”

The collaboration enables HeiQ’s advanced technologies to be delivered through Archroma’s well-established global customer network, making it easier for textile manufacturers to integrate functional, compliant, and sustainable performance effects into their products. The alliance is also about scaling innovation. Together, we will empower brands and manufacturers to meet consumer demands for hygiene, freshness, and sustainability.

Scientifically, color is the visual perception of light reflected by objects: some wavelengths are absorbed, others reflected, and our brain interprets them as color. Yet its role goes far beyond science, it is deeply connected to emotions. It is precisely this emotional dimension that Iluna Group explores. 

For the Spring/Summer 2027 collection, the brand chose to focus on the three primary colors — Yellow, Blue, and Red — as symbols of origin, energy, and identity: 

• Yellow: the light that opens the day, fresh and clean, an energy that sparks the right idea and guides you toward who you choose to be. It translates into luminous transparencies and romantic details, a contemporary ray that captures the eye without overwhelming it.  
• Blue: depth, breath, and mental space—a slow rhythm that invites listening and reflection. It becomes a soft, almost liquid texture, essential and modern, capable of instilling balance Yellow and calm without dimming vitality.  
• Red: impulse and presence, the courage to reveal oneself without filters. It vibrates through dynamic structures and sensual florals, creating space and inviting the wearer to live every moment with contemporary intensity.  

The collection is a true journey through the colors of the soul, where every lace and every shade becomes a new story on the skin of those who wear it.
But if color becomes identity, the unique expertise and creativity of Iluna Group allow lace to break free from its boundaries, from its limitations and seasonality, carrying it directly toward the company’s vision. 

In this context, lace is no longer just a technical and recognizable product: in the hands of ILUNA Group, it transforms, elevates itself, and transcends its traditional limits. Here, expertise becomes essential, knowledge and creativity merge to generate unexpected visual and tactile effects, redefining the very identity of lace. 

• Pre-dyed viscose for multicolor yarns capable of creating refined Moiré effects for all over applications, designed for a versatile use ranging from fashion to lingerie, up to interpretations dedicated to beachwear.  
• Material experimentation aimed at creating flocking made with Silk, cotton and linen, where texture and surface engage in a natural, sensorial dialogue.   

 Since 2018 Iluna Group has been GRS certified for its sustainable Green Label range. A collection that proposes a new responsible approach towards the environment and people, combining innovation, aesthetics, and quality at 360°. From the polymer to the finished lace, Iluna is able to guarantee full control and total traceability of the entire production chain, measuring the company’s sustainability growth through the Higgs Index. 

Kornit Konnections is officially accepting speaker proposals and partner interest for what is set to be one of the most influential digital apparel industry gathering. 
 
Konnections 2026 is an immersive, invitation-driven community event bringing together brands, retailers, manufacturers, printers, technology leaders, analysts, and investors to shape the next chapter of the apparel economy. Building on the momentum of Evolve – the largest virtual apparel conference to date – Konnections 2026 will set new benchmarks for in-person engagement, insight, and industry alignment.
 
A Vibrant Community – Shaping What’s Next
According to industry reports, the apparel industry is at a critical inflection point. Legacy, forecast-led models are no longer able to keep pace with the volatility, culture shifts, regulatory pressures, and inventory risk. Konnections 2026 is where the industry comes together to align on what replaces them. Not a trade show. Not a vendor pitch – Konnections is a working community rapidly defining the future of apparel. Konnections 2026 serves as the immersion and launch platform for the new Apparel Economy – a forward-looking body of thought leadership, operational insight, and strategic frameworks designed to support long-term industry growth.

Call Speakers
Konnections is currently seeking respected industry voices and practitioners with deep expertise across the apparel ecosystem, including:

• Apparel and Retail Leadership
• Supply Chain and Manufacturing Strategy
• Regulatory, Public Policy and Sustainability
• Inventory, Demand Planning, and Margin Protection
• AI, Robotics, Automation and Advanced Manufacturing
• Print-on-Demand and Promotional Products
• Business Strategy, Consulting, and Industry Research

Speakers should bring real-world insight, emerging perspectives, and a willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue with peers who are actively shaping the industry. 
 
Call for Partners
Konnections 2026 will feature an exceptional Solutions Showcase, developed in collaboration with more than 30 best-in-class partners delivering new products, innovations, and immersive experiences never seen in the apparel industry. While the Showcase is more than 50% full and participation is highly selective, Konnections is currently seeking submissions. Only partners capable of delivering state-of-the-art solutions, forward-thinking applications, and meaningful customer experiences will be chosen.

Source Fashion, opens next week at Olympia London, bringing together the global fashion sourcing community for three days of responsible manufacturing, insight and collaboration. Running from 13-15 January 2026, the show will welcome audited manufacturers from across key sourcing regions worldwide, alongside buyers, brands and sourcing professionals looking to build more transparent, resilient and commercially viable supply chains.

Leading fashion retailers and brands including ASOS, Frasers Group, Next, TFG Brands, Wimbledon, JD Sports, Pickett, Gigi & Olive, Primark,  All Saints, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, French Connection,  Charles Tyrwitt, Anthropologie, Monsoon, Karen Millen, Agent Provocateur, The Padel Foundation, Friends Like These, Universal Music Group, Hawes and Curtis and Moss Bros are among those registered to attend, underlining Source Fashion’s role as a key meeting point for both established and emerging fashion businesses.

Source Fashion will bring together over 250 audited manufacturers from more than 20 key sourcing regions worldwide, creating a unique platform for buyers, brands and sourcing professionals to connect directly with responsible producers. From apparel and textiles to trims, components and manufacturing solutions, the show offers a comprehensive view of the global supply chain, underpinned by transparency, innovation and commercial viability.

Spotlight on British manufacturing
New for this edition, Source Fashion is reinforcing its long-term commitment to UK manufacturing through the launch of a bursary-backed British Pavilion, designed to champion British Manufacturing and craft to increase their visibility to a global buying audience. Participants include, Apparel Tasker, LLUK, Fashion Enter, Courntney and Co, The Natural Fibre Company. Also supported are a range of Leicester Manufacturers under the ATMF banner.  The initiative provides selected UK manufacturers with funded exhibition space and dedicated marketing support, helping to remove barriers to participation and ensure British manufacturing is strongly represented on the international sourcing stage. 

The scheme forms part of Source Fashion’s wider mission to support a more balanced and resilient sourcing ecosystem, one that values heritage skills, local capability and long-term supplier relationships alongside global reach. Suzanne Ellingham, Event Director Source Fashion commented, “British manufacturing has an essential role to play in the future of responsible fashion, and it’s something we’re committed to championing at Source Fashion. From heritage skills to agile, small-batch production, UK manufacturers offer qualities that buyers are increasingly seeking transparency, flexibility and deep technical expertise. By ensuring British producers are visible, supported and connected to global buyers, we’re helping strengthen a more resilient and balanced sourcing ecosystem.”

Alongside the British Pavilion, UK manufacturing will have a strong presence across the wider show floor. British exhibitors confirmed to attend include Absolute Apparel, Amplebox Ltd, Araha London Ltd, Dee Kay Knitwear, Folks Trading Ltd, FreAura Ltd, Grade House Ltd, Modern Star Silk, Redress and Samshek Fashion Ltd. Together, their presence reflects growing buyer demand for local, traceable and agile production, and underlines the continued relevance of UK manufacturing within a global sourcing strategy.

Insight, inspiration and industry dialogue
Beyond sourcing, Source Fashion delivers a comprehensive programme of insight, inspiration and live learning across multiple stages. The show’s content agenda spans debates, panels and fireside chats tackling the most pressing challenges facing the fashion industry today, from supply chain accountability and circular business models to commercial resilience, regulation and the future of manufacturing. Designed to move conversations beyond theory, the programme equips fashion businesses with practical insight and tools to support smarter decision-making in an increasingly complex sourcing landscape.

Adding a powerful visual and experiential layer, the Source Catwalk brings responsible fashion to life through curated showcases featuring sustainably produced and circular collections, demonstrating how creativity, trend and responsibility can coexist on the shop floor.

New for this season, Fashion Deconstructed offers a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at how fashion is made. Through live demonstrations, workshops and maker-led sessions, the area shines a spotlight on skills, craftsmanship and production processes, from repair and upcycling to weaving and material innovation, responding to growing demand from buyers for greater transparency, material knowledge and production understanding.

Suzanne Ellingham said, “As the industry prepares to come together next week, what’s most exciting is the sense of intent behind this edition of Source Fashion. Buyers and manufacturers aren’t just looking to connect, they’re looking to collaborate, learn and make better decisions for the future. From global sourcing to UK manufacturing, from insight on our stages to hands-on learning through Fashion Deconstructed, this show is about giving the industry the confidence, clarity and partnerships it needs to move forward responsibly.”

Source Fashion opens at Olympia London on 13 January and runs until 15 January. Fashion buyers, brands, designers and sourcing professionals are invited to register now and be part of the conversations, connections and partnerships shaping the future of responsible fashion sourcing.

Globally, 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water, while the fashion industry remains one of the most water-intensive sectors, with a single pair of jeans requiring around 9,000 litres of water across cotton cultivation, dyeing and finishing. Against this backdrop, drip by drip, the non-profit organisation tackling the water crisis caused by textile production, today announces that it has brought in Eco Age to support the next phase of its work: elevating water justice within the global fashion conversation and accelerating progress towards its goal of providing one million people with access to clean water.

Founded in 2018, drip by drip works at the intersection of water, textiles and social impact. Through industry education, community water projects and grassroots engagement, the organisation addresses the man-made water crisis created by textile production, focusing on practical solutions that improve health, resilience and livelihoods in textile-producing regions.

As part of this collaboration, drip by drip has appointed Eco Age as its strategic marketing, PR and communications agency. Eco Age will support drip by drip in connecting its on-the-ground impact with global industry platforms, helping ensure water justice is supported throughout the whole ecosystem, from brands and suppliers to standards bodies and media, as both urgent and solvable.

Since their founding, drip by drip has implemented 114 community water projects across Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Ethiopia, impacting more than 280,000 people in the Global South. Water justice has direct and measurable consequences for communities in these regions, where fashion supply chains place sustained pressure on local water systems. By strengthening how this work is communicated and shared, the collaboration aims to mobilise broader industry engagement around existing solutions rather than abstract commitments.

“Our ambition is clear: to reach one million people with access to clean water,” said Amira Jehia, Executive Director of drip by drip. “To do that, the work needs to travel further. Eco Age understands how to bring deep issues into the mainstream fashion conversation without losing integrity or impact.”

Eco Age’s work sits at the intersection of sustainability strategy, storytelling and industry convening. Its experience working across fashion supply chains and media ecosystems enables initiatives like drip by drip to reach the audiences capable of accelerating change.

“We’re proud to support drip by drip with the experience and industry reach needed to help their impact scale,” said John Higginson, CEO of Eco Age. “drip by drip is already delivering results. Our role is to help ensure their impact is understood, shared and supported across the fashion ecosystem, so it can reach the people and communities it is intended to serve.”
Together, drip by drip and Eco Age will work to ensure water justice becomes an integral, practical and achievable part of fashion sustainability discussions, translating awareness into action and outcomes for communities.