#Associations

2020-01-09

Heimtextil and Colombiatex the first events of 2020 for Italian textile machines

For the Italian textile machinery industry 2020 opens with two extremely important trade fairs. From January 7 to 10 Frankfurt will host Heimtextil, the most important global trade show for home and contract textiles. In hall 3.0 Italian Trade Agency and ACIMIT, the Italian association of textile machinery manufacturers, will be present with a service center designed to assist Italian manufacturers during the show, but also to provide information on the Italian supply to the numerous expected visitors.

Following from January 21 to 23, Colombiatex, the main fair for the Colombian textile sector, will be held in Medellin. An exhibition area will be set up by Italian Trade Agency. The following ACIMIT member companies will be exhibiting in this area: Btsr, Color Service, Fadis, Ferraro, Flainox, Itema, Kairos, Laip, Loptex, Mactec, Mcs, Mesdan, Ratti, Scaglia, Zappa. In Latin America, Colombia represents a market of considerable interest for textile machinery, especially for the strong development of local fashion sector, well known throughout South America.

Alessandro Zucchi, president of ACIMIT says: 2020 will be a challenging year for our member companies, given the high number of planned exhibitions. We start immediately with two important events. Heimtextil is known for new trends and textile innovations. The drive for digitalization has distinguished the offer of our manufacturers for some years now. For this reason it is important for our Association to be present in Frankfurt”.

"Colombia, states Alessandro Zucchi, is a Country whose textile and clothing industry has grown in recent years. The fashion sector has established itself throughout the continent thanks to its dynamism and originality. The presence of Italian manufacturers through collective participation is evidence of the value that the event and the Colombian market have acquired over time for the Italian textile machinery industry".

Italian textile machinery orders show quarterly recovery in Q2 2026

In the period between April and June 2026, order intake for Italian textile machinery manufacturers showed mixed but encouraging signals for the second half of the year. The order index at constant prices stood at 46.6 points (taking 2021=100 as the base year), showing a slight decrease of 3% compared to the same quarter of 2025. This trend was largely due to the contraction recorded in the domestic market, which fell by 25% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

Textile machinery: Italian technology charts the course for revival

Operating in a scenario characterized by geopolitical instability, slowing industrial investments, and new protectionist pressures. This is the main challenge for the Italian textile machinery industry that emerged during the General Assembly of ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), held today in Milan at the Shareholders’ Hall of Palazzo Edison.

Bangladesh: Italian textile machinery mission stops in Dhaka and Chittagong

Technological upgrading and the transition toward higher value-added production are driving the new Italian industrial mission to Bangladesh. This year, the mission will split between the country’s two main manufacturing hubs, where Italian manufacturers will meet the leaders of the local textile supply chain in two strategic stages: July 7th in Dhaka and July 9th in Chittagong.

Mongolia: Workshop on Italian textile technologies kicks off in Ulaanbaatar

The workshop dedicated to Italian textile technologies will kick off in Ulaanbaatar from 21 to 23 June 2026. Focused on the most advanced innovative solutions for the textile industry, the initiative will bring together 13 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, confirming the growing interest in strengthening industrial cooperation between the two countries and highlighting Mongolia’s strategic importance for Italian textile machinery producers.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

The LYCRA Company expands its co-creation vision through an immersive Lifestyle District at Intertextile Shanghai.

The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and technology solutions for the apparel industry, is reimagining the trade show experience at Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition, which opened today in China. Building on the success of last year's ALL IN concept, the company has expanded its co-creation vision into a 356-square-meter Lifestyle District featuring partners Jingzili New Material, JYT Textile, Lianxingfa Knitting, and Trend Textile. The district is part of a larger 895-square-meter pavilion showcasing a total of 19 co-exhibitors. Together, they demonstrate how innovations in fiber, fabric, and garments can be combined to create compelling solutions for both work and play.

Plastic-free stretch technologies drive new direction for denim innovation

As the denim industry looks for ways to reduce its reliance on synthetic fibres, plastic-free stretch technologies are gaining momentum. Developments based on mechanical fabric construction and natural rubber are demonstrating that comfort and stretch can be achieved without conventional elastane, supporting both recyclability and circular product design.