From the Sector

Oritain announced the expansion of its services into leather. This development will enable the fashion, luxury fashion and automotive industries to meet the rising demand for traceability, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

Oritain’s proprietary methodology already trusted across apparel, food and agriculture, can now verify the geographic origin of leather from key producing countries across Europe, Africa and South America.1 This capability is increasingly vital as regulations like the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) are enforced and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) mandates a Digital Product Passport. Such regulations require companies to disclose traceability information that proves their supply chains are transparent and ethically sourced.

The global leather goods market is projected to grow from $493 billion in 2025 to $904 billion in 2035, according to Future Market Insights (FMI, 2025). Meanwhile, the luxury leather goods segment alone is expected to generate over $66 billion in revenue in 2025, as reported by Statista (2025). These growth figures underscore the growing pressure on brands to demonstrate responsible sourcing.

“Leather sourcing is facing heightened scrutiny for its environmental and human rights impacts” said Alyn Franklin, CEO of Oritain. “Our origin verification programs give brands and tanneries the insights they need to make meaningful changes in their supply chain, meet regulatory obligations and build lasting trust with their customers.”

Traceability is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a strategic imperative. Regulatory frameworks are tightening, and consumer expectations are shifting towards transparency, sustainability, and ethical practices. Brands that fail to meet these standards risk reputational damage, legal consequences, and loss of consumer trust.

Oritain’s extensive origin database and forensic expertise provide a unique solution for brands navigating increasingly complex supply chains. The service is designed to verify sourcing claims made by intermediaries and tanneries, enabling brands to identify deforestation and labour risks, supporting end-to-end supply chain mapping. Whether it’s bespoke handbags, premium footwear, or high-end automotive interiors, Oritain’s product origin verification is tailored to meet the unique needs of the fashion and automotive sectors, offering both precision and adaptability.

This launch follows Oritain’s recent expansion into the timber industry, another commodity highly relevant to concerns surrounding deforestation and subject to scrutiny by regulators. This broader business expansion into new sectors reflects Oritain’s commitment to innovation, and its role in helping clients set new standards for transparency and accountability.

“Our customers are looking for ways to get visibility into their supply chains. Extending our service to leather means we can stand alongside them and have a positive impact on the wider industry, delivering on our vision of being the source of truth in global supply chains” said Paul Bentham, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Oritain.
 
1 Argentina, Nigeria, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Albania, France, Netherlands, UK, Germany.

At K 2025, the Reifenhäuser Group will demonstrate Industrial AI's full potential for productivity in plastics processing. At the heart of the dedicated “Reifenhäuser NEXT” brand is a powerful AI chatbot that enables even inexperienced line operators to quickly solve complex tasks in their daily work, thereby maximizing availability, productivity, and quality.

In Germany, 86 percent of companies are affected by the shortage of skilled workers – more than twice as many as ten years ago. The global average is currently 74 percent*. Production companies rank fifth in the industry comparison. The low availability and high turnover of experienced production specialists is one of the biggest challenges facing the plastics industry. *Source: MPG study on the shortage of skilled workers in 2025

With Reifenhäuser NEXT, plastics manufacturers can reduce their dependence on highly qualified personnel and increase their overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) by optimizing availability, performance, and quality. This is made possible by a unique ecosystem that combines state-of-the-art AI technologies with Reifenhäuser's proven expertise and live data from production.

"Google, OpenAI, and others are already impressively demonstrating what AI solutions can achieve in the consumer sector. However, AI is only as intelligent as the data it has been trained with,“ explains Jan Karnath, Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of the Reifenhäuser Group and responsible for the NEXT brand. ”Reifenhäuser has decades of experience in plastics extrusion. We have integrated this bundled knowledge into an AI solution that is unique on the market."

The Reifenhäuser NEXT portfolio is based on three product streams that seamlessly interlock:

NEXT.AI – Intelligent assistance systems 
At the heart of NEXT.AI is an AI chatbot that provides real-time support to machine operators and service teams during ongoing operations. The AI accesses Reifenhäuser's comprehensive expertise in engineering, service, maintenance, and process technology – and, if desired, on the user's documentation and live production data. Operators receive immediately actionable recommendations via simple text entries (prompts) in the chatbot – for example, in the event of quality problems. Thanks to this support, even inexperienced employees can achieve optimal results. This reduces downtime, lowers service costs, and makes production processes more efficient.

“Our assistance systems act as constant companions for the production teams. They not only provide quick solutions to problems, but will also deliver proactive alerts and optimization suggestions in the future,” says Karnath.

NEXT.Learning – Knowledge as the key to success 
To build up and establish the necessary expertise among plastics processors in the long term, NEXT.Learning offers a combination of on-site training and a digital learning platform. This is individually tailored to the needs of customers and helps producers to retain expertise within the company despite staff turnover and make it available to new employees at any time. Thanks to the use of AI avatars, customers can access the virtual training courses in over 100 languages. On request, Reifenhäuser NEXT can also adapt and provide content very quickly to meet customer-specific requirements.

“By using natural language processing (NLP), we are democratizing specialist knowledge for our global customer base in a whole new dimension. Initial pilot projects have generated extremely positive feedback and highlight the added value of our solution – especially for international customers whose production employees speak different local languages and, for example, do not have sufficient English skills,” explains Karnath.

NEXT.Data – Generating added value from data 
The third product stream, NEXT.Data, enables producers to exploit the full potential of their production data. The data is automatically aggregated via robust system integrations (e.g., OPC UA or GraphQL) and displayed in clear dashboards using the ExtrusionOS application suite. ExtrusionOS is specially designed for the requirements of the plastics extrusion and packaging industry. Among other things, customers can use it to create real-time analyses and automated OEE calculations to make data-driven decisions.

“With Reifenhäuser NEXT Product Streams, we provide our customers with a customized industrial AI journey. Depending on their requirements, we combine our NEXT.AI, Learning, and Data solutions, select the appropriate level of integration, and thus create the basis for operational excellence in line operation,” explains Karnath.

Recent studies show that the use of Industrial AI offers considerable potential for increasing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) – with improvements of up to 15 percent. Among other things, this is made possible by reducing downtime and waste by up to 20 percent*. In addition, cost savings are expected in the area of maintenance, which can be achieved through optimized service and spare parts planning. Reifenhäuser NEXT focuses on precisely this area and supports companies in integrating the use of AI into industrial production in a targeted manner in order to fully exploit this potential and achieve sustainable improvements. 
*Source: McKinsey / Deloitte

Anton Hofmeier has joined the Textile Solutions Group (TSG) as Group CEO, effective 1 September 2025. His appointment strengthens Group-level coordination and aligns strategy from ERP and CAD to MES and shop-floor automation, so textile manufacturers achieve faster, lower-risk improvements in processing cost, delivery reliability, and sustainability.

Anton Hofmeier is an enterprise-software executive with 20+ years of experience in revenue growth, market expansion and M&A integration. With electronic-engineering roots and recent global supply-chain leadership, he brings an operations-first mindset that matches mill reality: complex flows, short lead times and last-minute reorders, right-first-time pressure, and the need to make quick decisions on reliable, connected data - without losing the strengths of each specialist company.

This comes at a time when mills face higher energy and material costs, stricter ESG requirements and global uncertainty, while many machines and supply systems still depend on manual handoffs or disconnected systems. Under Anton’s leadership, TSG’s goal is practical: shorter order-to-ship cycles, higher right-first-time, lower kWh per lot, and audit-ready traceability, enabled by a connected stack spanning product design, planning & sourcing, production & maintenance, quality controls and shipment.

• Proprietary Borstar® Nextension polyethylene (PE) technology delivers superior performance and processability, enables downgauging and design for recycling – meeting the evolving demands of flexible packaging applications
• Borealis introduces development materials with superior toughness and sealability
• This marks the launch of a dynamic innovation pipeline across industries

Borealis proudly unveils its groundbreaking Borstar® Nextension Polyethylene (PE) technology, representing a significant leap forward in polyolefin innovation. 

Building on the proven performance of Borstar® technology, the new Borstar Nextension PE platform incorporates proprietary single-site catalysts developed by Borealis. This breakthrough technology marks a new era in advanced polyethylene solutions, delivering superior toughness, sealing performance, and enhanced processability for packaging solutions that enable downgauging, improve cost efficiency, and support design for recycling—addressing the critical needs of today’s packaging industry.

Borstar Nextension PE technology sets new standards by enabling mono-material solutions that can replace existing multimaterial products, thus making it easier to sort and recycle at the end of life. Crucially, this supports the packaging industry to meet the recycling and waste reduction targets set out in the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). 

“This technological step change paves the way for more circular, high-performance, and resource-efficient packaging solutions,” says Erik Van Praet, Senior Vice President Innovation & Technology at Borealis. “It underscores our strategic commitment to sustainable innovation, driven by continuous investment in cutting-edge research and development.”

Introducing next-generation development materials
Borealis introduces Borstar Nextension PE technology with two high-performance development materials, tailored to meet evolving market needs:

• A cutting-edge solution that delivers double the toughness of first-generation metallocene PE materials, while maintaining stiffness and excellent processability, including superior bubble stability and throughput. With its unique mechanical performance and strong downgauging potential, this new material enables more sustainable, fully recyclable packaging with excellent performance characteristics. Designed for industrial and food packaging applications, it is ideally suited for Form, Fill & Seal (FFS) and frozen food packaging.
• An advanced solution featuring a breakthrough sealing profile that reduces sealing initiation temperature by over 15% compared to first generation metallocene PE. This, in combination with the material’s outstanding mechanical properties, enables faster packaging speeds, best-in-class hot tack performance – making it perfectly suited for lamination, FFS, and food packaging.

“Borstar Nextension PE technology will expand our portfolio with highly efficient and recyclable solutions,” adds Craig Arnold, Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Circular Economy Solutions and Base Chemicals. “This is just the beginning of a robust innovation pipeline that will serve customer needs across multiple industries.”

On the occasion of New York Climate Week, Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has launched the Fashion CEO Agenda 2025, a strategic resource for leaders of fashion brands and retailers, designed to guide immediate action to future-proof businesses while advancing towards a net-positive fashion industry by 2050.

Published at a pivotal mid-decade reflection point - with less than five years remaining to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and scientists warning of only three years left to alter the trajectory of global warming - the report comes as the industry faces turbulence, from economic volatility and deregulation to escalating climate and social crises.

The updated agenda urges executives to take action according to its long-standing five-priority sustainability framework - Respectful and Secure Work Environments, Better Wage Systems, Resource Stewardship, Smart Material Choices, and Circular Systems. For the first time, the 2025 edition introduces Priority Accelerators: Innovation, Capital, Courage, Incentives, and Regulation. These build on the themes discussed at Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition this year, positioned as critical levers that cut across all five priorities, enabling systemic change at speed and scale.

The Fashion CEO Agenda 2025 is structured in two clear parts: Part one presents overarching ambitions for the fashion sector that demand collective action across stakeholders, while part two outlines the immediate, short-term, practical steps brands and retailers can take today to advance those ambitions.

The 2025 edition builds upon the ambitions first presented in the 2023 Fashion CEO Agenda which were developed through years of stakeholder engagement and validated by GFA and the UN Environment Programme’s global Fashion Industry Target Consultation. Two years on, these ambitions remain central to industry-wide progress. For 2025, they’ve been re-evaluated in consultation with leading multi-stakeholder initiatives and experts to ensure continued ambition, impact, and relevance. The scope now expands to further urgent priorities such as fair and ethical treatment of migrant workers and empowering workers through inclusive automation and reskilling, with a firm focus on the need for transformation that benefits both the planet and its communities.

To support implementation, GFA has also released new complementary materials including a practical toolkit guiding companies to credible existing industry tools, guidelines, and programmes, as well as a presentation deck that fashion leaders can adapt internally to educate teams. These resources are designed to help leaders embed the Fashion CEO Agenda into company strategies and communicate it effectively throughout their organisations.

Federica Marchionni, CEO of Global Fashion Agenda, said: “Climate change is the defining certainty in an uncertain global world, impacting all lives and communities. The investments needed to future-proof businesses will keep increasing and the cost of inaction will inevitably become greater than the investments needed to address it. This year’s Fashion CEO Agenda provides leaders with a clear path to embed sustainability at the heart of corporate strategy, supported by enabling conditions that make bold action both possible and necessary.”

Through a planned programme of continuous expansion, including ongoing projects aimed at resource efficiency and environmental excellence, Spain’s Textil A. Ortiz has reinforced its position as one of Europe’s leading suppliers of premium quality lining fabrics.

The company, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2024, has just successfully commissioned a fourth Monforts Montex stenter at its plant in Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, 25 kilometres north of Barcelona. This is one of three plants operated by the company, with a second nearby in Catalonia and a third in Valencia. Its relationship with Monforts and local representative Aguilar & Pineda dates back to the 1970s.

Trusted supplier
The new Montex line is being employed to finish fabrics with softeners, water repellents and flame retardants and is already achieving significant cost savings. Linings are stocked in more than 1,000 colours with special finishing options for customers and a large database of designs and prints.

The new nine-chamber Montex 8500-9F with a nominal width of 200cm is equipped with direct gas heating, a Hercules needle chain, a Matex finishing padder and two heat exchangers. In combination with heat recovery, a Monformatic Professional measuring and control system enables energy consumption to be fully minimised and reproducible fabric quality to be constantly achieved.

No water discharge
“The installation of a water treatment plant working through evaporation and condensation further allows us to be the first dyeing and finishing company that does not discharge water into the public sewerage system,” says Textil A. Ortiz Manager Abel Ortiz. 

The company has also recently invested in a major installation of new circular knitting machines and expanded with the production of lining fabrics based on recycled polyester, while 15,000 square metres of photovoltaic panels and two wind turbines now supply the Santa Perpètua de Mogoda plant with 100% green energy.

Der Hersteller von Rundstrick- und Flechtmaschinen Mayer & Cie. in Albstadt hat am 23. September 2025 beim Amtsgericht Hechingen einen Antrag auf Eröffnung eines Insolvenzverfahren in Eigenverwaltung gestellt. 

Mayer & Cie. hat sich auf Herstellung und Verkauf von Rundstrick- und Flechtmaschinen spezialisiert, die nahezu komplett in den Export gehen und bei Textilherstellern weltweit geschätzt sind. Das Unternehmen ist in vierter Generation inhabergeführt und feierte vor kurzem sein 120-jähriges Bestehen. Am Stammsitz in Albstadt beschäftigt Mayer & Cie. rund 280 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter. Ihre Löhne und Gehälter sind drei Monate lang über das Insolvenzgeld gesichert. 

Mayer & Cie. agiert in einem Markt, der derzeit durch globale Ereignisse in Turbulenzen geraten ist. So führten der Handelskonflikt zwischen den USA und China und der Krieg in der Ukraine weltweit zu Investitionszurückhaltung. Der wichtige Exportmarkt Türkei kämpft mit hoher Inflation, wodurch die dortigen Textilhersteller nicht mehr wettbewerbsfähig sind. Gleichzeitig bieten staatlich subventionierte Hersteller aus China ihre Textilmaschinen zu günstigen Preisen auf dem Weltmarkt an. Dies führte zu einem Umsatzeinbruch von annähernd 50 Prozent im vergangenen Jahr – bei gleichzeitig gestiegenen Kosten. 

Die Eigenverwaltung bietet Unternehmen einen rechtlichen Rahmen, um sich bei laufendem Geschäftsbetrieb neu aufzustellen. Im Unterschied zu einem regulären Insolvenzverfahren bleibt dabei die unternehmerische Verantwortung in den Händen der Geschäftsführung, die die Sanierung selbst steuert. Sie wird unterstützt von dem erfahrenen Sanierungsexperten Rechtsanwalt Martin Mucha von der Kanzlei Grub Brugger, der als Generalbevollmächtigter ins Unternehmen eintritt. In der Eigenverwaltung setzt das zuständige Amtsgericht keinen Insolvenzverwalter, sondern einen (vorläufigen) Sachwalter ein. Dieser überwacht das Verfahren im Interesse der Gläubiger. Als vorläufigen Sachwalter der Mayer & Cie. wurde Rechtsanwalt Ilkin Bananyarli von der PLUTA Rechtsanwalts GmbH bestellt. 

„Am Donnerstag habe ich gemeinsam mit der Geschäftsführung die Belegschaft über den Insolvenzantrag informiert. Zugleich wurden die notwendigen Schritte zur Aufrechterhaltung des Geschäftsbetriebs eingeleitet. Wir beabsichtigen, den Geschäftsbetrieb wie gewohnt fortzusetzen, und werden uns mit allem Engagement auf den Erhalt der Kernkompetenzen des Unternehmens konzentrieren“, erklärt Rechtsanwalt Martin Mucha.

Carbitex – a leader in flexible carbon fiber composites focused on footwear – announces the appointment of Adrienne Cristofoli as Vice President of Marketing. Cristofoli joins the team as the company enters a major growth phase that will see brand partnerships more than double from 2025 to 2026.

With the foundation established and demand accelerating, Carbitex is now focused on scaling its impact and elevating the role of flex as the next major frontier in footwear innovation. Cristofoli, based in Portland, Oregon, will lead efforts to define Carbitex’s brand voice, amplify brand partners, and drive industry-wide recognition of flex as a critical performance attribute – one that has traditionally been treated as a byproduct of cushioning or stability rather than a performance driver in its own right.

“When we set out to find a marketing leader, we weren’t just looking for the right teammate with the right skillset, we were looking for someone with proven experience in executing unconventional campaigns,” said Junus Khan, President and Founder of Carbitex. “Plenty of candidates resonated with our vision, but Adrienne stood out because she has actually brought technical ideas to market in a bold way that made them resonate. That is rare – and it’s exactly what Carbitex needs as we accelerate.”

Most recently, Cristofoli served as Brand Marketing Director at SAXX Underwear, where she transformed patented innovation into simple, relatable stories that drove awareness and cultural relevance. Prior to SAXX, she spent more than a decade shaping billion-dollar brands like HUGGIES® and Häagen-Dazs®, as well as guiding challenger brands through high-growth phases.

“The opportunity to elevate the importance of flex in footwear – and to use Carbitex’s technology as the platform to tell that story – is incredibly exciting,” said Cristofoli. “Carbitex’s momentum is undeniable, and its technology has the potential to reshape entire industries. I see a tremendous opportunity to make Carbitex as bold and distinctive as its innovation, and to establish it as a household name in the footwear space.”

As a former Division 1 track athlete, Cristofoli brings to Carbitex her competitive spirit and first-hand understanding of what athletes look for in performance. Cristofoli will build out marketing strategy and operations, working closely alongside Carbitex’s product development and sales teams as the company moves into the next chapter.

The ELUCENT project has successfully moved bio-based pigments from laboratory research to industrial readiness, delivering the world’s first plastic-free, toxin-free and fully biodegradable reflective pigment. Funded by Innovate UK, the 18-month collaboration brought together three partners: Sparxell, the University of Cambridge spin-out pioneering plant-based bioinspired colour technology; PANGAIA, the global materials science company applying next-generation innovations to fashion; and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), one of the UK’s leading independent research and technology organisations.

Together, they have demonstrated how science, design and engineering can deliver scalable, sustainable alternatives to conventional pigment systems. By combining Sparxell’s pioneering cellulose-based colour platform, PANGAIA’s expertise in design application, and the MTC’s ability to scale processes for industry, the project shows how interdisciplinary collaboration can reduce environmental impact without compromising creativity or performance. Sparxell, founded in 2023 out of the Cambridge laboratories by Dr Benjamin Droguet and Professor Silvia Vignolini, led the technology development. Their patented process uses cellulose, the world’s most abundant biopolymer, to create vibrant colour particles inspired by nature. Unlike conventional pigments, these are free from plastics and toxins and are fully biodegradable.

As design partner, PANGAIA tested the pigments on textiles in collaboration with London-based Orto Print Studio, producing printed fabric prototypes and testing durability. This step bridges lab innovation with real-world applications of these bio-based colourants in fashion and beyond. 

This work is part of PANGAIA’s commitment to supporting next-generation material innovators by bringing to market solutions-driven breakthroughs in material science that transform the environmental impact of fashion and design through purposeful collaborations, merging cutting-edge science with scalable applications.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) ensured the pigments could be scaled beyond the lab, building custom production systems and validating performance at an industrial level. 

The completion of this Innovate UK project ELUCENT marks a step change for sustainable colour. Together, Sparxell, PANGAIA, and the MTC have shown how fashion and technology can join forces to deliver circular, biodegradable alternatives to today’s synthetic pigments. 

Sparxell has successfully transitioned from university research to a technically validated platform, demonstrating significant improvements in pigment formulation, liquid dispersion, and film casting performance. A commercial launch is projected for 2026.

Carpets & Rugs wächst auf der kommenden Heimtextil erneut. Das Teppichsegment zieht in die größeren Hallen 11.0 und 12.0 und wird aufgrund der gestiegenen Nachfrage zusätzlich Halle 11.1 nutzen. Gemeinsam mit Halle 3.0 präsentiert sich Carpets & Rugs erstmals auf vier Ebenen. Flooring & Equipment in der Halle 12.0 ergänzt das Angebot um non-textile Bodenbeläge. Die Heimtextil festigt damit wieder ihre Rolle als Plattform für die textile und non-textile Bodenbelagsbranche. 

Branchengrößen haben ihre Teilnahme bestätigt: In Halle 12.0 zeigen sich im Bereich maschinengewebte Teppiche Keyplayer wie Balta (Belgien), Hanse Home Collection (Deutschland), Lalee (Deutschland), Merinos (Türkei), Oriental Weavers Group mit Oriental Weavers, MAC Carpet und EFCO (Ägypten), Ragolle Rugs (Belgien) sowie Universal XXI (Spanien). Ein Highlight: das Areal Belgian Textiles by Fedustria. Der Verband präsentiert mit seinen Mitgliedern erneut die High-End-Produkte der belgischen Teppichindustrie. Erstmals komplementieren Bodenbeläge ohne textile Struktur das Angebot. „Beide Sortimente ergänzen sich ideal – das spiegeln auch unsere Aussteller: Einige Teppichfirmen zeigen Mischkollektionen mit non-textilen Bodenbelägen. Das folgt dem ganzheitlichen Ansatz der Heimtextil 2026. Das Carpets & Rugs-Angebot ist umfangreicher denn je. Nun gehen wir einen Schritt weiter und bieten auch Flooring & Equipment eine Plattform“, sagt Bettina Bär, Director Heimtextil.

Halle 11.0 ist die neue Heimat der handgewebten Teppiche. Hier zeigen sich hochwertige indische Firmen wie Hafizia Arts & Craft, Heritage Overseas, Himalaya Concepts, Javi Home, Looms & Knots, Maurya International, Nirmal International, Rugs INC., Teppiche de Orienta und The Rug Republic. Die Halle 11.1 beherbergt Gemeinschaftsstände aus China und Indien. Dazu gehören die Beteiligungen des Carpet Export Promotion Council und des Handloom Export Promotion Council. 

In der Halle 3.0 präsentieren Teppichaussteller im Rahmen des DecoTeams und der angrenzenden Design Lounge powered by DecoTeam ihre Sortimente. Mit dabei sind namhafte Firmen wie Paulig Teppichweberei mit der Marke Haro, Infloor-Girloon, Otto Golze & Söhne, Theko mit den Markenwelten Sansibar Sylt, Tom Tailor und Natur Pur sowie Tisca (Deutschland).

Neu: Areal Future Floor für Information und Networking
Das Areal Future Floor in Halle 12.0 bietet Content-Formate speziell für die Bodenbelags- und Teppichindustrie. Der Bereich inszeniert eine kuratierte Auswahl an Ausstellerprodukten – mit Fokus auf Nachhaltigkeit, innovative Materialien und zukunftsweisende Designs. Im Talk Spot geben renommierte Expert*innen Einblicke in aktuelle Teppichtrends und Branchenentwicklungen. Zusätzlich gibt es geführte Touren zu ausgewählten Must-Sees.