From the Sector

An international research team involving De Montfort University Leicester is examining how flexible supercapacitors could be integrated into sports clothing. The concept goes beyond adding another sensor to a garment. Instead, the textile would become part of the energy architecture: it could store electricity and supply distributed sensors embedded across the garment. Combined with technologies that harvest energy from body movement or heat, running tops, cycling kit or gym wear could eventually generate and store part of the power needed for continuous monitoring.

The researchers identify knitted structures and conductive yarns as particularly promising because they can combine electrical functionality with stretch, flexibility and breathability. Carbon-based electrode materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes are also considered because of their energy-storage potential and mechanical flexibility. Compared with conventional batteries, supercapacitors can charge and discharge very rapidly, while potentially being made light and flexible enough for body-worn applications.

The potential use case extends beyond sport. A sensor-rich garment could monitor heart rate, body temperature, muscle activity, movement and fatigue at several points on the body rather than relying on a single wrist-mounted device. In healthcare, similar garments could support continuous monitoring and provide clinicians with information collected from different body regions. The textile would therefore shift from being a passive carrier to acting as a distributed sensing and energy platform.

Crucially, the DMU source does not present a finished smart garment. The underlying paper sets out a technological framework that brings together developments in electronics, materials science, manufacturing and flexible textiles. Considerable barriers remain. Electronic fabrics would have to tolerate sweat, repeated stretching and bending and regular laundering without losing performance. They must also remain comfortable and breathable, and eventually be manufactured at a cost and scale compatible with mainstream clothing.

Circularity is another design requirement. The study discusses recyclable or biodegradable materials, greener manufacturing and garment architectures that allow electronic components to be recovered at end of life rather than creating another stream of electronic waste. The next step is therefore practical development and funding, not commercial launch. That distinction is important: the work is a credible roadmap for e-textile integration, but its industrial maturity still has to be demonstrated.

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are combining research expertise in technical textiles. According to IIT Delhi’s Department of Textile and Fibre Engineering, the cooperation will focus on AI-powered research for parachutes and other safety equipment.

The initiative brings together textile material and structural expertise with data-driven methods. In parachute systems, material ageing, fabric construction, seams and joining technologies, as well as behaviour under dynamic loads, are safety-critical. AI models can support faster evaluation of testing data, condition classification and data-based development or maintenance decisions.

For the technical-textile industry, the cooperation is particularly relevant because it demonstrates how established textile testing and engineering can be combined with digital models. Beyond military use, the approach may also be relevant to rescue systems, personal protective equipment and other highly loaded textile structures.

PITAKA has introduced a new weaving technique for aramid fibre at a brand event in Berlin. The company is best known for thin smartphone cases and accessories made with aramid. Its new “Trace Form” technique is intended to avoid a completely uniform programmed surface: selected fibres are allowed to drift from their prescribed path so that texture emerges from controlled irregularity.

The first application is the “Wind Over Wheat Trace Form Edition”, with a surface intended to evoke wind moving across a wheat field and offered in three finishes. PITAKA presents the method as an interaction between industrial precision, material response and human judgement. For textile and material developers, the notable point is that a high-performance fibre normally valued for strength and low weight is being used as the visible aesthetic element of the product itself.

The release leaves important technical questions unanswered. It provides no fibre fineness, weave parameters, mechanical data or quantified performance difference versus earlier aramid constructions. It would therefore be misleading to describe the launch as a new performance class. What can be stated is that PITAKA is translating a deliberately variable woven structure into a commercial aramid product and broadening the interface between technical fibres, composite structures and lifestyle design.

The limited Trace Form edition is scheduled to launch on 17 September. For textile-industry coverage, the relevant angle is not the consumer-electronics accessory itself but the material strategy: technical fibres can acquire additional value through construction, surface appearance and tactile expression beyond their conventional performance role.

DeSL has launched a Digital Product Passport solution built directly on product, material, supplier, quality and certification data managed in Product Lifecycle Management. The approach addresses a central challenge in emerging DPP requirements: companies need to combine information from multiple functions while retaining evidence of where data came from, how it was approved and whether supporting documentation remains valid.

Rather than creating a separate static passport record, DeSL generates the DPP from the current approved information held in PLM. Published information therefore remains connected to its underlying product and supplier records, version history and approvals. This can become particularly important when material composition, suppliers, certifications or quality information change during the product lifecycle.

The platform can combine product specifications, materials, supplier information, declarations, inspections and certifications. DeSL’s AI document intelligence is intended to analyse supporting documents, identify required information and expiry dates, and compare documentation with information maintained in PLM. Passports can be generated at the appropriate product level and delivered via QR codes, portals, retail systems and open APIs. Different audiences can receive different information while still drawing from the same governed product record.

For fashion and textile companies, the important shift is conceptual: DPP compliance becomes a master-data and governance challenge rather than simply a publishing task. The software announcement does not prove automatic compliance with every future regulatory requirement. It does, however, demonstrate a credible architecture in which product passports are generated from the same data used for product development, quality, supplier management and compliance.

bluesign argues that water management in textile wet processing starts with the chemicals and raw materials entering the process. Its core point is that water in dyeing and finishing is not simply a resource but a carrier for chemistry. What enters the process therefore affects water demand, wastewater load, air emissions, workplace exposure and potential residues in the finished textile.

The input-stream-management approach intervenes before wastewater treatment. By selecting appropriate chemical products and controlling the process, substances of concern should ideally be prevented from entering the system in the first place. For mills, the point is operationally important because investment in water and effluent treatment alone does not address the source of many impacts. The article provides useful context as chemical restrictions, water scarcity and supply-chain transparency requirements become more demanding.

US textile-to-textile recycler Circ has entered into a partnership with Shenghong Chemical Fiber New Material for the commercial production of polyester filament yarn using Circ’s recycled material. Shenghong will purchase Circ PET chip and manufacture recycled-content filament yarn at commercial scale. For Circ, the agreement expands access to one of China’s major fibre producers and creates an additional route to market for polyester recovered from textile waste. For brands and mills, the key point is that textile-to-textile feedstock is moving closer to established high-volume yarn manufacturing structures. The partnership also underlines that scaling chemical recycling depends not only on polymer recovery but on robust downstream relationships with fibre and yarn producers.

As Asia’s premier platform catering to the evolving needs in technical textiles and nonwovens, Cinte Techtextil China will open next week at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, gathering over 300 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. Across Halls W3 to W5, this edition will create chances for fast-growing sectors and emerging trends – such as Mobiltech, Medtech & Protech, Indutech and more. The curated zones, pavilions, and fringe programme are designed to better connect exhibitors with targeted buyers from across China, Asia-Pacific, and further afield. Meanwhile, the Association Village will gather international industry associations to foster even more global collaboration.

As a hub for global innovation, the fair will feature a strong contingent of international industry leaders in Hall W5’s Overseas Zone, including Andritz (China) Ltd, Groz-Beckert (Germany), A.Celli SPA (Italy), and Dilo (Germany), while others such as Picanol NV (Belgium) will showcase in Hall W4.

The sought-after European and German Zones will also be in Hall W5, featuring high-performance solutions from such markets. Key suppliers in the European Zone will include Monosuisse Group (Switzerland) and Comerio Ercole S.p.A (Italy), while the German Zone will include IBENA Textilwerke GmbH and Mahlo GmbH + Co KG. Nearby, the Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zone will return to offer advanced solutions for diverse technical applications.

A key highlight of Hall W5 is the Association Village, designed to showcase expertise, foster international trade networks and collaboration, as well as present the latest trends that shape the industry’s future. Key organisations anchoring this feature include the Asia International Hemp Federation (AIHF) (Thailand), UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), Government of Tamil Nadu India, and Nonwoven Federation of India (NWFI).

Targeted solutions displayed across high-demand application areas
With the technical textiles and nonwovens markets evolving, exhibitors are presenting advances engineered for critical application areas across the show floor:

• Mobiltech: highlighted suppliers include JR Ltd (Korea) and Eastex Industrial Science & Technology (China). Also on the domestic side, Tiandingfeng Holdings Co Ltd will showcase high-strength PET filament needle-punched nonwovens. The Mobiltech Zone, set to feature other key exhibitors, will also be in Hall W4.
• Medtech: featuring first-time exhibitor NIPPON Paper Industries Co Ltd (Japan) with its Cu-TOP product – a functional material derived from wood pulp combined with copper technology. The Reifenhauser Group from Germany will also be in Hall W5, with Reifenhauser Reicofil presenting full nonwoven production lines, and Reifenhauser Enka Tecnica the service components that aid their longevity. Joining the lineup, Yixiang Health Technology Co Ltd and Zhejiang Kingsafe Hygiene Materials Technology Co Ltd will both showcase medical and hygiene nonwovens.
• Protech: key Protech exhibitors include a new exhibitor Tepar Tekstil San Ve Tic A S (Turkiye), and Dawnsens New Materials (Xiamen) Co Ltd (China), both showcasing advanced safety materials.
• Indutech: IMAE Industries Ltd (Japan) will make its debut at the fair. The company specialises in thermal insulation fibre products and supplies fine ceramics for heavy industry, automotive, iron and steel, chemical, power generation and more.

Other first-time international brands will include Care Holdings Pte Ltd (Singapore) and Texbond Nonwovens (India); while China’s innovation will be spotlighted with domestic pavilions in Hall W3 featuring medical and hygiene textiles and in Hall W4 featuring filtration and separation textiles. Exhibitors are set to be greeted by a wide range of industry visitors.

Before the fair, overseas visitor pre-registrations have risen notably compared to the same period last year. These include 139 VIP buyers from 27 countries and regions, such as Hyundai Motor Company and Sejong Healthcare (Korea), Meditec Japan Co Ltd (Japan), ALSICO (Belgium), Focus Industries Limited (Hong Kong), Freudenberg Performance Materials Service GmbH and MöllerWerke GmbH (Germany), seeking high-demand solutions across Mobiltech, Medtech and Protech, Indutech, and more. In addition, seven international buyer delegations, from industry hubs across Asia-Pacific and beyond, will add to the fair’s global business appeal.

Fringe events explore innovation, emerging markets, and automotive trends in Halls W4 and W5 

• Panel Discussion (Day 1 morning) (W5 E20): the discussion topic, Industrial Hemp Fibre – Building the Future of Sustainable Materials, will take Thailand as a successful example to explore the use of advanced hemp fibre materials through cross-sector innovation and international investment. Complemented by the AIHF display area (W5 B20), featuring the evolution of raw hemp stalks into modern bioplastics, composites, mobility components, lifestyle products and other engineered applications.
• 2026 Nonwovens Industry High-Quality Development Conference (Day 1 afternoon) (W4 D38): under the theme ‘Redefine the growth paradigm’, Ms Guimei Li, President of China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association, will show China’s nonwovens development during the 15th Five-Year Plan. Guest speaker Mr Anshumali Jain, Vice President of the Nonwoven Federation of India, will discuss the situation and opportunities of India’s industrial ecosystem, while Mr Tony Fragnito, President of the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, will explore the state of the US market.
• Automotive textile panel (Day 2 afternoon) (W5 E20): titled “Defining the Future Cabin: Multi-functional Evolution of Nonwoven Materials in Automotive”, the panel will include automotive end users, Tier-1 automotive interior suppliers, and upstream nonwoven technology providers. The Mobiltech Display Area (W4 F25) will complement the panel, with exhibits from Groz-Beckert, AIHF, Care Holdings Pte Ltd, Swisstulle (Qingdao) Co Ltd, and more.

Other key events include a presentation on sustainability by UKFT and the Sustainability Tour by Mr Karl Borgschulze, Managing Director of Consulting Service Intl Ltd (both on Day 2 morning) (W5 E20); other guided tours led by industry experts (covering medical, protective, automotive, and tents & coverings); Technology Innovation and Product Development for Future Technical Textiles; Deeyeo Flushable Wipes Scientific Consensus Release and Industry High-Quality Development Dialogue; and a display zone dedicated to Industrial Textiles in the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The fair’s product categories cover 12 application areas, which comprehensively span a full range of potential uses in modern technical textiles and nonwovens. These categories also cover the entire industry, from upstream technology and raw materials providers to finished fabrics, chemicals and other solutions. This scope of product groups and application areas ensures that the fair is an effective business platform for the entire industry.

Metsä Group has selected Valmet to supply what the companies describe as the world’s first commercial-scale production line for Valmet’s 3D Fiber technology. The line will be installed in Äänekoski and is scheduled to start up in 2028, with a nominal capacity of more than 100 million three-dimensional fibre products per year.

The process converts cellulose fibres directly into lightweight yet rigid end products. Valmet combines fibre processing, forming, automation and final packing in an integrated production chain. The technology has been co-developed with Metsä Spring since 2020 and was initially validated in a demonstration plant.

Although packaging is the primary target market, the development is relevant to the textile and fibre sector because it demonstrates how fibre-based structures and forming technologies are moving into three-dimensional industrial applications.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global chemical company, is partnering with Chulalongkorn University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on the Chula LGO Program. The collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to developing future leaders, cultivating a world-class global talent pipeline, and bringing outside-in perspectives that accelerate innovation, operational excellence, and long-term sustainable growth. 

The Chula LGO Program is a two-year dual-degree master’s program offered by Chulalongkorn University through the Faculty of Engineering and Chulalongkorn Business School, and developed in partnership with MIT Leaders for Global Operations (LGO). The Program integrates engineering, business management, leadership development, and industry-based learning to prepare future leaders to address complex industrial and operational challenges. Graduates will receive a Master of Engineering degree from Chulalongkorn University and an MBA from Chulalongkorn Business School. 

As a Tier Founder Sponsor, Indorama Ventures supports the development of future industry leaders equipped with both engineering expertise and strategic business capabilities to address increasingly complex global industrial challenges. This contribution includes funding two scholarships for outstanding students pursuing the dual-degree program. Reflecting the company's commitment to developing talent at every stage, this year's scholarship recipients include both an external student and an existing Indorama Ventures employee, demonstrating its investment in attracting new talent while empowering its people to continue growing as future leaders. 

Upon completion of the program, scholarship recipients will undertake a six-month fellowship with Indorama Ventures, gaining exposure to industrial operations and business transformation initiatives across the organization. They will also have the chance to pursue careers with Indorama Ventures, supporting the company's long-term strategy to build a diverse, high-performing, and future-ready workforce. 

Mr. Aloke Lohia, Group CEO of Indorama Ventures, said, “Developing future leaders with both technical expertise and business acumen is essential to driving innovation and long-term value. That is why Indorama Ventures chose to become a Founder Sponsor of the Chula LGO Program as we believe Thailand is home to exceptional talent. By combining world-class education with industry collaboration today, we are helping develop the next generation of leaders who will contribute toward the future of the broader chemical industry.” 

Mr. Nicolas Seguin, Chief Human Resources Officer of Indorama Ventures, added “At Indorama Ventures, we believe our greatest asset is our people. These scholarships reflect our commitment to developing talent at every stage of the professional journey, supporting outstanding external students while also investing in the continued growth of our own employees. Combined with the fellowship program, the initiative gives participants the opportunity to learn alongside our experienced professionals, gain first-hand exposure to a global chemicals manufacturing environment, and apply their knowledge to real business challenges.” 

Professor Dr. Sawekchai Tangaramvong, Chair of the Chula–Leaders for Global Operations (Chula LGO) Program, said “Indorama Ventures' support strengthens the Chula LGO Program's ability to connect interdisciplinary education with real industrial challenges beyond the classroom. Through the scholarships and fellowship program, students gain invaluable industry experience while developing the engineering, management, and leadership capabilities needed to solve complex challenges. These experiences help prepare graduates to contribute to Thailand's industrial transformation and sustainable growth.” 

The market does not wait, and it does not grant easy answers. Across the absorbent hygiene, personal care, and wipes sectors, business is undergoing a period of intense, necessary adjustment. New European rules on packaging, single-use items, product safety, and end-of-life are forcing companies to drop old assumptions about materials and performance. At the same time, producers must keep their goods safe, reliable, and affordable for the babies and aging adults, who rely on them every day. 

From 22 to 24 September 2026, EDANA’s OUTLOOK™ returns to the Hotel Miragem in Cascais, Portugal, for its twenty-fifth edition of the conference. 

OUTLOOK™ began in Monaco in 2001. It focused then on baby diapers and menstrual protection. Over a quarter of a century, the work expanded. It grew to cover adult incontinence, wipes, complex international product safety, and strict environmental compliance. In 2007, the conference met in Cascais. Returning to the Portuguese coast this September marks a milestone, but the focus remains squarely on the work ahead. 

The three-day programme takes on the hardest questions in the supply chain directly: 

Day 1 Keynote — Global Macroeconomics & Shocks: Henry Curr, Economics Editor at The Economist, will open the plenary with his keynote presentation, "The Teflon world economy and what could finally break it." Curr oversees global economics coverage for The Economist and has written some 30 cover stories on labour markets, public debt, the future of global commerce, and the risks of "homeland economics" and green protectionism. Drawing on discussions with top policymakers and executives, he will explore how global markets have absorbed successive crises—from geopolitical conflicts to AI-driven labour disruption—and what structural risks could still disrupt demand and capital investment.

Session 1 — Market Drivers in a Challenging Environment: Moderated by Jacques Prigneaux (Market Analysis & Economic Affairs Director, EDANA), this session examines the pivotal market drivers redefining the competitive landscape. Industry specialists Kaushik Mitra (Chemical Market Analytics by Dow Jones), Dr. Annika Trümpler (Schlegel und Partner), and Natalia Bezrebra (Euromonitor) will address shifting polyolefin supply, pricing downslides, post-crisis supply chains, and the strategic expansion of major Chinese hygiene manufacturers entering the European market. 

Session 2 — Global Product Safety Compliance Panel: Moderated by Luminita Barbu (Regulatory Affairs Director, EDANA), this high-level panel addresses the complex matrix of international consumer product safety regulations, compliance standards, and policy trends. Featuring legal and regulatory authorities—including Claudio Mereu and Natalie Konings, Partners at Bird & Bird—the discussion will highlight the practical implications of international initiatives such as the UN Principles for Consumer Product Safety, alongside regulatory divergence and convergence across the EU, US, and China. 

Day 2 Keynote — Future Retail Trends & Consumer Shifts: Renowned retail futurist Theresa Schleicher opens Day 2 with her keynote, "Next Growth: The Bigger Consumer Shifts on the Horizon." Widely regarded as one of Europe's leading retail futurists, Schleicher is a former Managing Director at Hirschen Group, an author of acclaimed retail trend studies, a retail start-up investor, and a strategic sparring partner for Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the Zukunftsinstitut, and global giants like Procter & Gamble, L'Oréal, and Beiersdorf. Her session will uncover macro consumer trends, economic resilience, and emerging opportunities in absorbent hygiene. 

Session 3 — The Consumer Lens: Redefining Value in Absorbent Hygiene: Moderated by Murat Dogru, this senior leadership panel puts the consumer perspective at the centre of innovation. Featuring senior leaders including Sara Järup (Global Material Development Director at Essity), Matrice Jackson (Director, Global R&D at Kimberly-Clark Corporation), and Giulia Antonioli (Head of Communications, Reputation & Public Affairs, Baby Care Europe at Procter & Gamble), the panel examines how consumer expectations around sustainability, dignity, and transparency are redefining value across femcare, adult incontinence, and baby care. 

Session 4 — The Transition in Wipes & Interactive Q&A: Focusing on "Wipes: The Pros and Cons of Going Plastic-Free," this session brings together technical and public affairs experts—including Brieuc Lits (EDANA), Wolfgang Tenbusch (Albaad Deutschland), Sergio Rosales Calderon and Sebastien Monges (BCNonwovens), and Elisabeth Swennenhuis (Magnera Corporation)—to evaluate EU policy tools (SUPD, EMPCO, EPR schemes), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), and the performance trade-offs of pulp versus viscose spunlace. The session concludes with a dedicated live Q&A and open floor discussion with the audience. 

Session 5 — Can Absorbent Hygiene Products Become Circular? Led by EDANA’s Sustainability Director, Rawaa Ammar, this forward-looking session explores actionable circularity for the nonwovens sector. Featuring insights from Jeff Stubbe, CEO of Woosh, the session shares real-world operational lessons on closing the diaper loop and demonstrating that circularity can operate as an economically viable business model rather than a small-scale trial. 
    
Exhibition, Business Meetings & Networking 
Beyond the conference hall, OUTLOOK™ 2026 provides extensive commercial and networking platforms: 

Tabletop Exhibition: A dedicated showcase featuring 20 innovative companies presenting advanced technologies, materials, and services.     

Private Meeting Rooms: Dedicated business spaces designed for private discussions and commercial partnerships. 
    
Evening Social Programme: Delegates will connect during the welcome cocktail at Hotel Miragem and an evening reception at the historic Valverde Sintra Palácio, set in the scenic hills of Sintra. 

OUTLOOK™ 2026 is built for decision-makers. Alongside the plenary sessions, the event hosts a curated tabletop exhibition of 20 innovators, dedicated private meeting rooms for commercial discussions, and structured networking. Delegates will also gather for an evening reception at the historic Valverde Sintra Palácio in the Sintra hills. 

More than 500 senior leaders across the value chain—raw material suppliers, machine builders, converters, brand owners, and retailers—will attend. You can track industry shifts from behind a desk, but you cannot replace being present when the sector evaluates itself and decides its course.