#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2017-10-19

DuPont, INVISTA and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products at A+A

DuPont™ Sorona®, INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand, and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products will be giving workwear brands a sneak peek of new developmental fabrics in the next chapter of a series of more innovative, enhanced sustainable textile solutions for workwear and outdoor wear at the A+A Show, Hall 9/E39, October 17-20, 2017, in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Now, designers of apparel, footwear and gear will have even more options when looking for built-to-last durable fabrics that incorporate high performance materials across multiple layers.

INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand and DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products have been collaborating throughout the year to create next-generation eco-efficient textile solutions. The series combines long-lasting abrasion resistance and bio-based Susterra® propanediol coatings and membranes, inspiring consumers to embrace the CORDURA® brand ethos that Sustainability Begins With Products That Last™. At A+A, the brands will unveil an innovative new softshell fabric development integrating DuPont™ Sorona® bio-based, high-performance fiber technology.

“As the CORDURA® brand celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017, it’s been the perfect time to reflect on five decades of cutting-edge durable fabric technology and collaborate with some very special partners,” said Cindy McNaull, CORDURA® brand and global marketing director.

“Working with the talented teams at DuPont Industrial Biosciences and DuPont Tate & Lyle to help define the durable, eco-efficient solutions of tomorrow with our latest CORDURA® + Susterra® + Sorona® soft shell technology has been an amazing opportunity to bring together the rich heritage we all share and is certainly one of the highlights of our 50 x 50 ‘heritage meets innovation’ anniversary journey.”

Since the early 1900s, DuPont has been revolutionizing the world of fiber and polymers. From the first plastic-coated fabrics developed in the 1910s to groundbreaking fibers like rayon, and nylon 6,6, neoprene rubber fabric, and more, DuPont has spent over a century creating textile products that transform the way we live and work. With this latest collaboration, the DuPont™ Sorona® brand, the DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products Susterra® brand and INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand usher in the next chapter in textile innovation, combining long-lasting durability and bio-based, performance technologies.

“After decades of research and asking the right questions, DuPont scientists discovered a way to produce bio-based 1,3 propanediol - a building block with endlessly versatile potential,” explains Laurie Kronenberg, global marketing director, DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products. “It is this building block that was created using modern biotechnology that powers both the Sorona® and Susterra® brand solutions and enables high-performance, renewable, plant-based fibers, coatings and membranes.”

“Together, we are creating a legacy of innovative, eco-efficient textile solutions. DuPont™ Sorona® fibers will be an excellent addition to the ‘CORDURA® + Susterra®’ collaboration” states Renee Henze, global marketing director, DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “Sorona® fibers define softness, with exceptional resilience and is built on the same bio-based science as Susterra® propanediol making it a natural extension.”

To help make this idea a reality, the brands engaged authorized apparel fabric mill, Everest, to develop this durable bio-based CORDURA® fabric soft-shell solution. Everest’s soft-shell laminate features a durable CORDURA® Naturalle™ fabric on the outer face, a middle layer polyurethane bio-based membrane containing more than 25 percent renewable sourced materials by weight and a soft fleece backing.

The integration of the lightweight Sorona® fiber-based fleece helps provide cozy warmth and soft hand feel for day-in, day-out comfort. The result is a fabric engineered to help keep you comfortable through all of life’s durable adventures with eco-efficiency in mind.

“Production is a product”

From technical textiles and AI-driven robotics to the limitations of textile circularity: Professor Dr Thomas Gries looks back on more than two decades of development at ITA Aachen. In the interview, he explains why production technology remains a decisive success factor, discusses international collaborations and innovation ecosystems, and shares his views on the transformation of production landscapes and the challenges facing an increasingly regulated industry.

“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

“Innovation, resilience and international experience remain the great strengths of the Swiss textile machinery industry”

Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

Mario Jorge Machado re-elected President of EURATEX

The EURATEX General Assembly has re-elected Mario Jorge Machado as President of EURATEX, renewing its confidence in his leadership at a crucial moment for the European textile and clothing industry. The sector is facing rising costs, global competitive pressure and an increasingly challenging transition towards sustainability and digitalisation.

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

Towards pragmatic and harmonised labelling in the EU

EDANA, alongside 14 European associations, urges the European Commission and Member States to adopt a pragmatic approach for the future harmonised packaging labels, in line with the EU’s agenda for the EU Single Market, simplification and competitiveness. The system should rely on text-free pictograms, available in achromatic or monochromatic versions matching the packaging palette, with the possibility of using digital labelling as a core element. Our associations represent manufacturers of consumer goods across Europe.

"We will become a recycling powerhouse"

The textile industry is now in its fourth consecutive year of crisis, while automation, artificial intelligence and recycling are reshaping the rules of the game. In this interview, Rieter CEO Thomas Oetterli discusses the first signs of a market recovery, reflects on his first three years at the helm of the company, explains the integration of Barmag, outlines Rieter’s vision of the fully automated spinning mill and highlights the strategic importance of recycling. In doing so, he explains why the new Rieter Group aims to play a leading role in transforming the textile value chain into a circular economy.

Textile Exchange unveils agenda for 2026 conference in Vancouver

Textile Exchange has released the agenda for its 2026 Conference, which will take place from October 12–16 in Vancouver, Canada. Under the theme “The Implementation Era,” the event will focus on translating sustainability commitments into practical action and scaling solutions across businesses, supply systems, and landscapes.

Textile PRO Forum calls for greater harmonisation of textile EPR systems across Europe

The Textile PRO Forum has published a new analysis highlighting the need for greater harmonisation of textile Extended Producer Responsibility systems across Europe. The document, Toward harmonised Textile EPR Systems in Europe: analysis and recommendations, presents the results of work carried out by Workstream 1 of the Textile PRO Forum, led by Dr. Eng. Viola Corbellini, Strategic Development and Innovation Expert at Erion Textiles, and Eng. Luca Campadello, General Director at Erion Textiles. The workstream focused on reducing administrative burden for textile producers by identifying areas where procedures could be better aligned across countries.