From the Sector

Die Frankfurt Fashion Week geht im Januar mit Konferenzformaten, Panels, Diskussionsforen und dem digitalen FFW Studio an den Start. Im Fokus: der Wandel in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit und Digitalisierung der Branche. Vom 17. bis 21. Januar 2022 zeigt die FFW, wie dieser Wandel gelingen kann. Einen umfangreichen Einblick in den State of the Art der Industrie geben die dreitägigen Leit-Konferenzen Fashionsustain und Fashiontech sowie das Programm des digitalen FFW Studios.

Der Content der multidisziplinären Konferenzen, Panels und Diskussionsrunden der Frankfurt Fashion Week richtet sich komplett an den Leitthemen der FFW – Sustainability und Digitisation – aus. Die beiden Konferenzformate Fashionsustain, veranstaltet von der Messe Frankfurt, und Fashiontech, organisiert von der Premium Group, zeigen drei Tage lang, wie die Branche den notwendigen Wandel in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit und technologischer Innovation bestreiten kann. Vom 18. bis 20. Januar 2022 treffen Branchenexpert*innen, Modeenthusiast*innen, Brands sowie Vertreter und Vertreterinnen aus Wissenschaft und Politik für die beiden Konferenzen auf dem Gelände der Messe Frankfurt aufeinander, um sich gegenseitig zu inspirieren und auszutauschen.

Wir freuen uns unglaublich darauf, die Branche nach so einer langen Zeit bei uns in Frankurt zu begrüßen, um gemeinsam nachhaltige Alternativen für die Fashion- und Textilbranche zu erarbeiten und neue Impulse zu setzen. Unser Programm ist inspirierend – Vertreterinnen und Vertreter der Politik, Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft nehmen ebenso teil wie Gründer*innen nachhaltiger Start-Ups. Die FFW wird zur Plattform des Austauschs, zugänglich für die gesamte Branche“, sagt Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies der Messe Frankfurt.

Fashionsustain – Digitale Lösungen für einen nachhaltigen Transformationsprozess
Change the set-up – unter diesem Motto vereint die Fashionsustain, das internationale und multidisziplinäre Konferenzformat der Neonyt, die Mode- und Lifestylebranche vom 18. bis 20. Januar 2022 in Halle 3.0 des Frankfurter Messegeländes. Technologische Innovationen, neue Geschäftsmodelle, Ansätze für den Modehandel, Konsumverhalten, Gaming und Nudging for Good stehen auf der Agenda. Der erste Konferenztag nimmt die Konsument*innen in den Fokus. Neurowissenschaftlerin und Professorin für Medienpsychologie Prof. Dr. Maren Urner spricht unter anderem mit NGO-Vertreter*innen und Branchenexpert*innen darüber, wie die Lücke zwischen Einstellungen und Kaufverhalten geschlossen werden kann und welche Verantwortung dabei Brands und Vertreter*innen der Industrie tragen.

Tag zwei der Konferenz steht ganz im Namen der Digitalisierung. Unter dem Titel „Digitization. How to make use of it to create sustainable fashion“ tauscht sich eine diverse Runde darüber aus, wie digitale Tools dabei helfen, nachhaltige Mode zu kreieren. Mit dabei sind das dänische Kreativnetzwerk Creative Denmark, das Label Son of a tailor und die Circularity App Create2stay. Der letzte Tag der Fashionsustain thematisiert den Handel. Unter anderem vertiefen die Startups Yook und Keepoala in einem Interview, wie sie ihre Konsument*innen über Apps mit positiven Anreizen dazu motivieren, nachhaltiger zu shoppen.

Fashiontech – Die Content-Plattform für Mode, Technologie und Lifestyle
Am Puls der Zeit: Auf der Bühne der Fashiontech werden im Januar die Themen in den Fokus gerückt, die nicht nur die Modeindustrie, sondern die gesamte Gesellschaft bewegen. Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion, Digital Fashion & Metaverse – das sind die Themen der Konferenz, die vom 18. bis 20. Januar 2022 von der Premium Group in Halle 3.1 ausgerichtet wird. Edutainment at its best: Keynotes und Paneltalks führender Branchenepert*innen geben Einblicke in die Zukunft der Branche. Den Start der Konferenz macht am Dienstag um 12 Uhr die Textilwirtschaft Trend-Info Womens- & Menswear. Als Highlight gibt die Premium Group eine Preview auf das neue Fashion Festival THE GROUND, das erstmalig im Sommer stattfinden wird.

FFW Studio – gebündelter Content, zugänglich für alle
Im FFW Studio dreht sich in der kommenden Saison alles um digitale Lösungen für nachhaltige Innovationen. Virtuelle Anproben, ressourcenschonenderer Handel, digitale Ausstellungen: Das Kölner Unternehmen 3MBASSY erschafft virtuelle Bekleidungskonstruktionen und erstellt 3DDesigns. In der Kategorie Game Changer des FFW Studios zeigt die Brand, wie die digitale Modewelt sich zukünftig entwickeln wird und welche Chancen daraus abzuleiten sind. Ebenfalls mit dabei ist die Digital Fashion Brand Republique. Das Label kreiert virtuelle Mode, die Kund*innen über ihren eigenen Avatar anprobieren und perfekt auf sich zuschneiden lassen können. Erst nach der Bestellung beginnt die Produktion – ressourcenschonend und fair. Im FFW Studio gibt die Brand aus England Insights in die Prozesse hinter der digitalen Revolution. Das britische Label Broken Planet Market präsentiert im FFW Studio seine neue Kollektion und beweist, wie gut Mode und Nachhaltigkeit zusammenpassen.

Iluna Group and Maglificio Ripa announce a strategic collaboration, each maintaining its own identity and independence, based on the complementarity of the proposal and the convergence of intentions for a new and more functional way of partnership.

Iluna Group, a leader in the production of smart lace, and Maglificio Ripa, internationally recognized for the production of premium and responsible jersey, both established in common sectors - from underwear to beachwear and sportswear - formally launched this collaboration during the MarediModa show in Cannes with a joint double stand where visitors could discover the latest collections of the two companies and also imagine new designs and solutions for sustainable fashion.

"We are living in a moment of strong change, from the wave of sustainability that is finally sweeping the fashion world to new market scenarios. And we are convinced that collaboration is the key to face these new challenges. In Maglificio Ripa we saw a complementary and unique partner with whom we can reach partners, customers and suppliers in a more complete way." comments Furio Annovazzi, CEO of Iluna Group. "Ours is not a union between companies but a new model of partnership, a sort of strategic symbiosis aimed at developing together new paths that can lead the both of us both to growth. Our collections, presented in the same context, can nurture the creativity of customers at a time when the stylistic contaminations are increasingly pronounced," adds Luca Bianco, CEO of Maglificio Ripa.
 
Furthermore, Iluna Group and Maglificio Ripa jointly created their new campaign with a photo shoot and video clip as well as jointly developed a trend scenario that allowed both companies to better embrace the evolving market by sharing information, perspectives and ideas.

On 27 November 2021, the Scientific Award for International Sustainable Aviation and Energy Society (SARES Award) was awarded to Professor Dr Thomas Gries from the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University. The award ceremony took place during the closing ceremony of the International Symposium on Sustainable Aviation (ISSA) in a hybrid format online and simultaneously at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
 
With the award, the committee recognised the ongoing contribution of Pro-fessor Gries and the Institut für Textiltechnik to the digitisation and bio-transformation of the textile sector, as well as the Institute as a place of innovation for sustainable aviation.

Examples of this include the development of 3D braided ceramic matrix composite components for aircraft engines, which were researched together with partners in a Horizon 2020 project (EU project AllOxITD). The ongoing Chrysomallos research project as another example, funded under the national aeronautics research programme in Germany, aims to develop a completely new and sustainable high-performance insulator for aircraft cabins based on aerogels. These have a significantly lower weight than the glass fibre mats used up to now, while providing the same insulation performance, and solve the problem of the previously high manufacturing costs of aerogels. The aim of the project is to develop an insulation material with reduced density (reduction of more than 20 percent). To this end, a new type of insulation material based on aerogel is to be developed. The basis is an aerogel fleece (0.06 W/mK at 28 kg/m³), which has already been developed as part of a dissertation at the Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University (Mroszczok, J.: 2019).

The aviation industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Due to this fact and its importance for society and the global economy, it needs to make special efforts towards sustainability. The ISSA, an international multi-disciplinary symposium, aims to address current issues in aviation such as improving aircraft fuel efficiency, promoting the use of biofuels, minimising environmental impact, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing engine and aircraft noise. ^

Through the award, SARES honours scientists and researchers whose work on sustainable aviation issues has made an important contribution at the international level. The selection is based on the scientific publications of the applicant or nominee, the h-index, i.e. the key figure for the worldwide perception of a scientist in professional circles, the project topics and the project results.

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and Nonwovens Industry Magazine have extended the due date for nominations for the IDEA® Achievement Awards. IDEA® is the preeminent event for the nonwovens and engineered fabrics conference and exposition and will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida USA, March 28-31, 2022.

The IDEA® Achievement Awards recognize leading companies and new innovations (since IDEA® in 2019) in the global engineered fabrics industry in six categories. Companies can nominate their products, or their customers’ products in as many categories as applicable, which are:

• Sustainability Advancement (advances one or more elements of sustainability or circularity since 2019)
• Equipment (best new equipment introduction since 2019)
• Raw Materials (best new raw materials introduction since 2019)
• Short-Life (best new disposable product introduction since 2019)
• Long-Life (best new durable product introduction since 2019)
• Nonwoven Product (best new nonwoven product introduction since 2019)

The submission deadline is now extended to February 1, 2022.  Selections will be made by members of the industry voting through Nonwovens Industry Magazine. Selection of the Entrepreneur Award will be made by Nonwovens Industry Magazine.

Die Usain Bolt Foundation hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt durch Bildung und kulturelle Entwicklung Chancen zu schaffen. Epson Europa hilft und stiftet 100 EcoTank-Drucker und 20 Laserprojektoren für den Unterricht. Die Drucker und Projektoren im Wert von über 100.000 € wurden bei einer besonderen Zeremonie in der ehemaligen Grundschule von Usain Bolt in Jamaika, der Waldensia Primary übergeben. Waldensia ist nur eine von mehreren Schulen in ganz Jamaika, die von der neuen Ausrüstung profitieren werden. Andere sind Salt Marsh, Duanvale und Kinloss Primary Schools.

Usain Bolt, der Anfang des Jahres der europäische Botschafter von Epson und das Gesicht einer großen Sensibilisierungskampagne für die EcoTank-Drucker von Epson wurde, nahm an der offiziellen Zeremonie teil und ermutigte die anwesenden Schüler, hart zu arbeiten, engagiert zu sein, an sich selbst zu glauben und große Träume zu haben, um das Beste zu sein, was sie sein können.

Kornit Digital Ltd. announced that France-based Brodelec has recently complemented its existing Kornit Avalanche direct-to-garment (DTG) and Kornit Presto S direct-to-fabric print systems with Kornit Atlas MAX technology. The print services provider, which produces personalized markings on textiles, luggage, and promotional pieces, has used Kornit Digital production technologies for more than 15 years.

Tourism accounts for 30% of Brodelec’s business, and clients include zoos, museums, and tourist attractions, as well as communication agencies. They established an on-demand web platform enabling small brands and YouTube users to order and receive custom gear quickly. By investing in a broad cross-section of Kornit’s technologies for single-step, eco-friendly, just-in-time production, Brodelec creates new opportunities and sales channels, which proved fortuitous when the pandemic economy suddenly impacted consumer behaviors.

Using Kornit’s Oeko-Passport and GOTS-certified inks, these systems produce consistent, high-quality impressions within minutes, giving Brodelec the flexibility to produce a variety of applications, in multiple materials, with a single ink set. The business complemented Kornit’s quick, efficient production capabilities with a laser cutting system and several sewing machines, empowering them to offer finished pieces such as imprinted cushions, tote bags, aprons, and towels.

INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced it has updated its value proposition to grow the nonwovens industry and establish its global leadership and versality in delivering essential, environmentally-responsible materials and products.

Resulting from an extensive strategic review process guided by industry experts, the new plan positions INDA to move forward from the business challenges of COVID that impacted its ability to hold in-person events.

INDA will equip the nonwovens industry and its customers to achieve business growth by focusing resources on shaping the external environment, and fostering actionable thought leadership on crucial issues. The association will continue to strengthen its vital role of bringing together industry experts in a pre-competitive environment by organizing and leading working groups and committees to focus on areas of mutual concern.

Dave Rousse, INDA President, stated, “We enthusiastically embrace the new foundation based on five key pillars that will guide INDA activities.” These pillars are:

• Convene and connect the industry through trade shows and conferences
• Achieve industry relevance among policy makers, end users, and other key stakeholders
• Advocate for the Nonwovens Industry in public policy forums
• Deliver market insights for better decision making
• Provide training programs to sustain the industry’s innovative edge

Rousse continued, “With last month’s announcement of Tony Fragnito joining INDA as Chief Operating Officer, we are ready to implement this plan and take it into the future. I look forward to working with him to drive INDA’s continuous pursuit of excellence in providing ever greater value to our industry and our members.”

INDA has retained several outside resources to survey members and develop this plan, as well as recruit the support needed to execute the plan over the next several years.

Während vor Weihnachten die Bestellungen explodieren, beginnt nach den Feiertagen die Hochsaison der Retouren. Egal ob die Geschenke nicht gefallen, nicht passen oder doppelt sind: Für Onlinehändler lohnt es sich, den Rückgabeprozess möglichst kundenfreundlich zu gestalten. Denn eine von der Delivery-Plattform Seven Senders in Auftrag gegebene YouGov-Umfrage ergab: Die Erfahrung bei der Retoure hat für 73 Prozent der Verbraucher Einfluss darauf, ob sie weiterhin bei diesem Händler einkaufen würden. Dr. Johannes Plehn, Gründer und Geschäftsführer von Seven Senders, fasst zusammen, worauf es beim Retourenmangement ankommt.
 
Für klare Bedingungen sorgen
Für Onlineshopper gehört die Möglichkeit, Bestellungen einfach und flexibel abzuwickeln, zum festen Bestandteil einer positiven Customer Journey – auch über Grenzen hinweg. Weltweit sagen sogar über 73 Prozent der Konsumenten, dass sie die Retourenbedingungen lesen, bevor sie einen Kauf tätigen. „E-Tailer sollten daher darauf achten, die Informationen zur Retoure klar und deutlich zu formulieren“, so Dr. Johannes Plehn. Für Cross-Border-Versände gilt daher, dass die Retourenbedingungen idealerweise in der jeweiligen Landessprache verfügbar sind. So minimieren E-Tailer das Risiko eines Kaufabbruchs, weil Kunden wichtige Informationen nicht finden oder verstehen können.
 
Retourenprozess so einfach wie möglich gestalten
Onlinehändler, die einen unkomplizierten Retourenprozess anbieten, erhöhen ihre Chancen, dass der Kunde erneut bei ihnen einkauft. Wichtig ist deshalb vor allem ein einfacher Zugang zu den Retourenlabels. Die Delivery-Plattform Seven Senders unterstützt E-Tailer hierbei mit einer komfortablen und kostengünstigen Lösung: „Über ein im Shop integriertes Retouren-Portal können Kunden das Label bei Bedarf selbst erstellen und ausdrucken“, erläutert der Seven Senders Geschäftsführer. Ungenutzte Labels müssen so nicht weggeworfen werden, das vermeidet Müll und schützt die Umwelt.
 
Kundenbedürfnisse mit lokalen Carriern erfüllen
Wer mit einem lokalen Carrier im Zielland zusammenarbeitet, kann am besten auf die Wünsche der Kunden eingehen. Mit seinem Netzwerk aus über 100 europäischen Carriern gibt Seven Senders Onlinehändlern die Möglichkeit, verschiedene Rückgabeoptionen anzubieten. Außerdem werden bei der Delivery-Plattform alle Retouren in einem Land in den nationalen Hubs des jeweiligen Last-Mile-Carriers gebündelt und direkt ins Lager des Onlineshops versendet.
 
Kommunikation auch bei der Retoure entscheidend
Was bei der Lieferung der Bestellung gang und gäbe ist, wird beim Retourenprozess oft vernachlässigt: die Kommunikation mit dem Kunden. Vor allem bei Rücksendungen aus dem Ausland haben Onlinehändler die Möglichkeit, mit einer proaktiven Kundenkommunikation zu punkten. Die technische Umsetzung kann beispielsweise mit dem Delivery-Services-Tracking von Seven Senders erfolgen. „Mittels Statusmeldungen und einer Trackingpage können Kunden ihr Paket bis zurück ins Lager virtuell begleiten“, so der Seven Senders Gründer. Erhalten sie dann auch noch die Benachrichtigung, dass ihr Warenwert umgehend zurückerstattet wird, erhöht das zusätzlich die Wahrscheinlichkeit einer erneuten Bestellung bei diesem Anbieter.
 
Prozessoptimierung durch Datenanalyse
Entscheidend für die erfolgreiche Abwicklung des gesamten Rückgabeprozesses ist ein datengetriebener Retourenablauf. Über ein Analyse-Tool wie beispielsweise das der Delivery-Plattform Seven Senders können Onlinehändler vor allem die Carrier-Performance im Blick behalten. Dashboards und Reportings, die exakt auf Lieferungen und Retouren abgestimmt sind, helfen dabei, Daten zu sammeln, zu analysieren und dadurch die Retourenprozesse zu verbessern. Das schafft Transparenz gegenüber den Kunden und trägt langfristig zum Erfolg im grenzübergreifenden Onlinehandel bei.

After three-days of product sourcing and business networking, Techtextil India 2021 in Mumbai concluded in a strong and positive note. The trade fair emerged as a crucial meeting place for the technical textile players to rebuild their supplier links, promote industry integration and engage in lucrative knowledge exchange.

The eighth edition of Techtextil India stood out to be a ground-breaking business platform for the technical textile sector to build a new and strong foundation in the new normal. The aim of the new edition was to promote industry unification and business recovery across the value chain of technical textiles.

The event held at Bombay Exhibition Centre was inaugurated by major dignitaries, including Shri Ajit Chavan, Secretary – Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Over the course of its three buzzing days, the show garnered an attendance of 4,087 visitors drawn by live demonstration of latest products, technologies and innovations exhibited by over 150 technical textile brands on the show floor.

The event received an overwhelming response, reflecting industry’s keen interest to explore new developments and opportunities in technical textiles. In regards to the same, Mr Abhijit Kulkarni, President – Textile Engineering Group, A.T.E. India, stated: “It was the first and best physical show also on hybrid mode filled with enthusiastic buyers and customers who visited our booth and had very fruitful discussions with us. Several leading textile manufacturers visited our stalls, including: Strata Geosystems India, SKAPS Industries, Reliance Composites, Paramount Textiles, and Welspun, to name a few.”

Alok Masterbatches Pvt Ltd, Khosla Profile Pvt Ltd, ATE Group, Lucky International, Meera Industries Limited, Park Non-Woven Pvt Ltd, Sarex Chemicals, SICAM, Suntech Geotextile Pvt Ltd and Weavetech Engineers, were among the leading Indian companies exhibiting at the show.

The significance of the three-day fair was further elevated by the German pavilion. Technical textile manufacturers from Germany, such as Autefa Solution Germany GmbH, DILO Systems GmbH, Emtec Electronic GmbH, Georg Sahm GmbH & Co, Karl Mayer Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Merz Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Oerlikon Barmag Zweigniederlassung der Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co, displayed their latest technologies on the show floor, which garnered significant attention from the Indian buyers.

The first Digital Symposium was another highlight of Techtextil India 2021. The forum delved into a series of crucial topics in technical textiles discussing PLI schemes, FDI opportunities and policies, investment opportunities in Tamil Nadu, & New Investment Opportunities, Sustainable Technical Textiles and Global sustainable approach for Textiles with Antimicrobial Performance.

Concluding on a successful note, Techtextil India 2021 emerged as a platform of new beginnings for the technical textiles sector and for businesses trying to retain their shape and seeking momentum after the tough pandemic phase.

US Vice President Kamala Harris announced significant multimillion-dollar investments by Parkdale Mills and six other companies today, as part of the Administration’s Call to Action to the private sector to promote economic opportunity in the region, as her office works to address the root causes of migration.

Vice President Harris, who is overseeing diplomatic efforts with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, announced several private sector commitments to strengthen economic opportunities in the Northern Triangle and made remarks at a White House roundtable, which included Anderson Warlick, Chairman and CEO of Parkdale Mills. The textile and apparel co-production chain is one of the most essential supply chains for employment and economic development in both the United States and the Northern Triangle region, currently supporting over 1 million jobs in the United States and the Central American region. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and its strong rules of origin are the primary reasons this co-production chain exists, which is seeing significant growth this year.

North Carolina-headquartered Parkdale Mills, one of the largest manufacturers of spun yarn and cotton consumer products in the world, will make a multimillion-dollar investment in a new yarn spinning facility in Honduras and make an additional substantial investment to support existing operations in Hillsville, Virginia. This investment will help customers shift 1 million pounds of yarn per week away from supply chains in Asia and China and enhance U.S. and CAFTA-DR co-production resilience and increase regional product offerings. Parkdale’s announced investment will create hundreds of jobs in Honduras and further support hundreds of employees in Parkdale’s Hillsville operations.  

Recently, administration officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Vice President’s office met with the U.S. textile industry to reaffirm the importance of rules of origin in nearshoring production chains, helping address labor and environmental challenges and mitigating supply chain risk.

“I would like to sincerely thank Vice President Harris for making this announcement and leading the effort with private industry to create more economic opportunities in northern Central America and the United States,” said Anderson Warlick, Chairman and CEO of Parkdale Mills. “Parkdale’s investments will support good paying jobs in the United States and in the Central American region and significantly increase our extensive product offering and capacity, including the production of sustainable specialty yarns.

Parkdale sees an enormous opportunity for brands and retailers to re-shore and nearshore production supply chains and double the size of U.S.-CAFTA-DR trade, because of the rules of origin in our trade agreement and a shift in sourcing by brands and retailers mitigating their supply chain sourcing risks.  We are excited about what this opportunity means for jobs in the U.S. and the region for this critical production chain and couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of this effort.  We look forward to working with the Vice President and her team on strengthening the textile and apparel production chains in the U.S. and region.”

National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) President and CEO Kim Glas, said, “This is an exciting and important announcement by Parkdale and Vice President Harris. Our industry has invested billions of dollars in the U.S. and in the region as a result of the investment-based rules of origin in the CAFTA-DR agreement, which ensures the job benefits of the agreement are reserved for the parties to the agreement.  Additional substantial announcements on further investment in textile and apparel production are expected soon.

As brands and retailers are seeking more environmentally sustainable, vertically integrated, transparent, and quick turnaround supply chains, our collective industries stand ready to work with companies that are seeking to mitigate sourcing strategies as Asian supply chains have faced enormous production constraints.  Further verticalization in the industry, like Parkdale’s announcement today, allows broader product diversification and grows jobs across the textile and apparel production chain.

We are thrilled with today’s announcement because it is a win-win for American and Central American workers and our environment and a huge opportunity to further recalibrate supply chains out of China and Asia. This valuable co-production chain between the U.S. and the CAFTA-DR region accounts for $12 billion in two-way trade and billions of dollars of investment. Significant growth is occurring in our sector and is expected to continue as supply chains continue to recalibrate.  We are delighted about this today’s announcement and appreciate the Administration’s strong support.”