From the Sector

Kappahl is launching its Autumn 2026 campaign across all markets on 16 September. Built around the existing “We Are Family” platform, the campaign presents a wardrobe of pieces intended to be easy to combine and relevant beyond short trend cycles.

The assortment spans womenswear, XLNT and menswear, with knitwear, denim, tailoring, lace and outerwear. The coat has a specific heritage role, linking the current collection to the company’s origins in Gothenburg in 1953, when founder Per-Olof Ahl opened a store focused on coats.

This is not, by itself, a technical sustainability claim. The editorial signal is how a large fashion retailer is using longevity and versatility as part of brand and assortment positioning. The campaign will run across digital channels, marketing activities and stores.

Heidi O’Neill has taken over as chief executive of lululemon. In her first employee message, published in the company newsroom, she places product, brand clarity and operational execution at the centre of the next phase.

O’Neill says her initial weeks will focus on listening to teams, partners, guests and communities before translating ideas into changes. She identifies a need to re-establish the brand’s core and to create more innovative and distinctive product that gives consumers a stronger reason to choose lululemon. She also points to improving operations and how the company connects with its communities.

The appointment matters beyond corporate governance. O’Neill spent more than 25 years at Nike, including leadership across product, design, merchandising, brand and global marketplace operations. At lululemon, that experience meets a business whose differentiation depends heavily on fabric development, fit, functional apparel and a tightly integrated direct-retail model.

Editorial relevance: Medium – a current brand-positioning and retail story supported by a product capsule.
s.Oliver has launched a new hero campaign, “Casual Since Forever,” featuring Heidi Klum meeting a younger version of herself from the 1990s. The concept uses the time shift to reinforce the brand’s positioning around enduring casual style.

The campaign is accompanied by a limited-edition vintage capsule that reinterprets 1990s references through casual basics and vintage-inspired designs. The pieces are being sold online and in selected s.Oliver stores, turning the campaign narrative into an immediate product and retail activation.

The editorial relevance lies in the combination of heritage storytelling and merchandising. Established fashion brands increasingly use archive aesthetics and cultural nostalgia not only for communication but as a direct product-development and traffic-driving mechanism.

BASF will use SIMAC 2026 in Milan to present polyurethane and thermoplastic-polyurethane concepts spanning the footwear life cycle. The portfolio includes Elastopan SpringPURe for thermoformed midsoles together with Elastollan and Infinergy solutions.

Working with Gusbi, BASF has developed an automated heat-press process for lightweight midsoles designed to combine low density, design freedom and durable comfort with almost waste-free processing. With DESMA, the company is also showing a closed-loop concept that combines PU and TPU and links mechanical and chemical recycling. Three concept shoes illustrate separation and recycling routes.

The company is also introducing Infinergy Revolution, an energy-efficient heat-press processing route for expanded TPU. The approach is intended to enable lighter components, new surface designs and improved recyclability. The broader signal is that footwear development is increasingly bringing performance, disassembly, material recovery and processing energy into the same engineering discussion.

Uster Technologies has introduced a structured matrix for assessing mechanically recycled fibers. The approach is intended to help spinners deal with the wider variability of recycled feedstocks and relate measured fiber properties more directly to processing decisions and intended end uses.

Mechanically recycled cotton typically shows greater variation than virgin material because fiber length is reduced and input streams differ in origin and processing history. A consistent assessment framework can therefore support bale management, blending decisions and the adjustment of spinning parameters. Uster positions the Recycled Fiber Matrix as a practical bridge between increasing recycled-content targets and reliable quality control.

This matters for circularity at industrial scale. More recycling capacity alone does not guarantee usable yarn feedstock; recycled fibers also need to enter established production systems with predictable performance. Testing and data interpretation are becoming part of the infrastructure required to move textile-to-textile recycling from availability to repeatable production.

The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX) is calling for an EU handling fee of around €10 on low-value e-commerce consignments entering the European market. The association argues that the fee should contribute to the costs of customs controls, market surveillance and product-safety enforcement associated with the rapidly growing volume of direct-to-consumer imports.

Low-value e-commerce imports into the European Union have increased sharply in recent years. According to the European Commission, around 5.9 billion low-value e-commerce items entered the EU in 2025, up 26% from 2024. The growth of direct shipments from non-EU online retailers and marketplaces has increased the workload for customs and market-surveillance authorities and intensified the debate about compliance with European product, safety and customs requirements.

Since 1 July 2026, the EU has applied a temporary customs duty of €3 to low-value consignments of up to €150. The measure replaced the previous customs-duty exemption for such imports and is intended as a transitional arrangement until the new EU Customs Data Hub becomes operational. It is separate from the EU-wide handling fee for small e-commerce consignments provided for under the broader reform of the EU customs framework.

Following the latest agreement on the customs reform, the handling fee is to be introduced by 1 November 2026. Its level will be determined by the European Commission before the member states begin applying it.

Against this background, EURATEX used Première Vision in Paris to argue that the handling fee should be set at a level that more closely reflects the actual enforcement costs associated with the large number of individual consignments entering the Single Market.

The association proposes a benchmark of around €10 per parcel. According to EURATEX, the amount should ultimately be based on a detailed assessment of the costs incurred by customs authorities, market-surveillance bodies and other public authorities involved in checking imported goods.

Processing large numbers of small consignments requires customs declarations to be assessed, risks to be analysed and compliance requirements to be checked. Market-surveillance authorities are also responsible for identifying unsafe or non-compliant products and enforcing EU product-safety rules.

EURATEX therefore argues that the handling fee should primarily be viewed as an enforcement instrument rather than simply as a trade or taxation measure. Revenues generated by the fee should, in the association's view, be linked to additional resources for customs controls, market surveillance, product-safety enforcement and risk-analysis systems.

The proposed €10 level is a EURATEX position and has not been adopted by the European Union. The European Commission is responsible for determining the actual amount of the forthcoming EU handling fee.

The customs reform also changes the responsibilities of companies involved in distance selling to EU consumers. Online platforms and sellers covered by the new rules are to be treated as importers for customs purposes and will therefore assume greater responsibility for customs formalities and duty payments rather than leaving these obligations with individual consumers.

EURATEX considers stronger platform responsibility an important element in addressing non-compliant imports but also points to the risk of alternative logistics structures being used to circumvent controls. More intensive checks on individual direct-to-consumer parcels should not, according to the association, result in goods simply being channelled through bulk imports, EU warehouses or fulfilment centres instead.

Effective enforcement would therefore need to cover different logistics models and provide customs and market-surveillance authorities with sufficiently detailed information on both business-to-consumer and business-to-business flows.

The European textile and clothing industry comprises nearly 200,000 companies in the EU-27 and employs around 1.2 million people. The sector generates annual turnover of approximately €166 billion. Most companies are small and medium-sized enterprises.

For EURATEX, the debate about low-value imports is consequently also a question of competitive conditions. The association is calling for companies selling products to European consumers, irrespective of their country of establishment or distribution model, to be identifiable and subject to comparable customs, product-safety and market-surveillance requirements.

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.

The LYCRA Company is presenting several fibre technologies in commercial apparel applications at Intertextile Shanghai. COOLMAX CloakFX for woven fabrics is designed to mask the appearance of sweat, improve wet and dry opacity and provide moisture management; the company says the fibre is made from 100% recycled PET and certified to the Global Recycled Standard. LYCRA FiT400 is being shown for knits and wovens, combining non-spandex mechanical stretch with cooling functionality. RENEWABLE LYCRA fibre contains 70% renewable content derived in part from field corn grown in the US Midwest. The technologies are presented in a 356-square-metre co-creation district with Asian textile partners, illustrating how ingredient-brand technologies are translated into workwear, denim, performance and everyday apparel.

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.

Precision for Adhesives and Sealants
The demands placed on modern adhesive and sealant applications are constantly increasing. Manufacturers expect reproducible dosing results, minimal material loss, and reliable processing in increasingly demanding processes. This is precisely where Barmag’s product portfolio comes into play.

Material efficiency as a competitive advantage
At ASE China, Barmag is focusing in particular on its solutions for hot-melt adhesives, PUR systems, silicones, resins, and two-component adhesives and sealants. The pumps in the GA/GX series, in particular, enable uniform, low-pulsation delivery of these media, thereby contributing to consistently high product quality and reduced material consumption. “Rising raw material costs and increasing quality requirements make precise metering more important today than ever before. With our pumps, we help users make their processes more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective,” explains Andreas Heitzer, Key Account Manager of the Pumps Division.

In addition, with the GA series, Barmag offers metering pump solutions for shear-sensitive media where product properties must be preserved during pumping. This is particularly important for certain reactive adhesives, silicones, or filled sealants. Gentle pumping minimizes product changes and ensures uniform material application. This increases process reliability and ensures consistently high quality of the end product.

Partner for demanding metering applications
With decades of experience in metering technology, Barmag is one of the leading suppliers of high-precision gear metering pumps for industrial applications. These solutions are used worldwide in adhesive, sealant, coating, laminating, and hot-melt systems, as well as in plastics processing. At ASE China, Barmag invites trade visitors to discuss the latest developments in metering and conveying technology and to learn about customized solutions for future adhesive and sealant applications.