#Associations

2023-02-24

IVGT was at the second transnational meeting in Portugal

The AddTex project is progressing successfully. In the picture: The participants of the 2nd Addtex Meeting at CITEVE, Portugal. © 2023 IVGT

Digital and green skills are of vital importance for the future! Together with the main players in the textile chain - from students to employees in the company - these must be newly developed, then trained, further educated and finally implemented. In the three-year EU project Addtex, an Erasmus Plus program funded by the European Union, 12 partners from 10 EU countries are currently developing a new and tailor-made virtual training program for the textile industry.

The special focus is on technical textiles. The aim is to develop new green, digital and intelligent qualifications with which the European textile industry can be made fit for a green, digital, innovative future.

The aim of the EU project Addtex is to promote innovative teaching and learning in the European textile industry. Together with eleven other partners, the IVGT e.V. took part in the second Addtex Meeting at CITEVE, Portugal. In the picture: Iris Schlomski and Stefan Schmidt, both IVGT e.V. © 2023 IVGT

On January 31st and February 1st, 2023, the ADDTEX consortium met at the technology center CITEVE in Vila Nova de Famalicão (Portugal) for their second meeting. The partners CITEVE, Portugal, CLUTEX, Czech Republic and TUS, Ireland, first presented the activities and results of work package 2. All project partners had previously carried out research activities in their countries, involving 47 vocational training institutions, 55 universities and 272 textile companies. The aim was to identify challenges and opportunities related to green, digital and smart technologies and to identify areas of innovative impetus for the industry through learning and training.

The meeting continued with presentations on work package 3 from the other partners UB, Sweden, UPC, Spain and TUS, Ireland. Work package 3 is now about the development of the AddTex "Digital Skills and Sustainability Skill Academy" (Academy for digital skills and competence for sustainability). New curricula, training modules and educational resources related to innovation in textile materials will be developed. The new, pan-European digital “Academy” will be aimed at engineers and specialists, technicians and university graduates as well as managers and mentors

The project consortium is made up of 12 universities, colleges and textile trade associations: <br />
<br />
- AEI TÈXTILS – Associacio Agrupacio d´Empreses Innovadores Textils, Spanien<br />
- CLUTEX – Klastr Technicke Textilie, Tschechische Republik <br />
- CITEVE – Centro Tecnologico das Industrias Textil e do Vestuario de Portugal , Portugal <br />
- IVGT – Industrieverband Veredlung – Garne – Gewebe – Technische Textilien, Deutschland <br />
- TITERA – Tehnicno Innovativne Tehnologije, Doo, Slowenien<br />
- UPC – Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spanien<br />
- UB – Hoegskolan i Boras, Schweden<br />
- TUS – Technologica University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Irland<br />
- PIN – Servizi Didattici e Scientifici per l Universita DI, Firenze, Italien<br />
- CRE.THI.DEV – Dimiourgiki Skepsi Anaptyxis, Griechenland <br />
- CIAPE – Centro Italioano per l´Apprendimento Permanente, Italien <br />
- INCDTP - Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Pentru Textilesi Pielarie, Rumänien<br />
<br />
© 2023 IVGT — The project consortium is made up of 12 universities, colleges and textile trade associations: - AEI TÈXTILS – Associacio Agrupacio d´Empreses Innovadores Textils, Spanien - CLUTEX – Klastr Technicke Textilie, Tschechische Republik - CITEVE – Centro Tecnologico das Industrias Textil e do Vestuario de Portugal , Portugal - IVGT – Industrieverband Veredlung – Garne – Gewebe – Technische Textilien, Deutschland - TITERA – Tehnicno Innovativne Tehnologije, Doo, Slowenien - UPC – Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spanien - UB – Hoegskolan i Boras, Schweden - TUS – Technologica University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Irland - PIN – Servizi Didattici e Scientifici per l Universita DI, Firenze, Italien - CRE.THI.DEV – Dimiourgiki Skepsi Anaptyxis, Griechenland - CIAPE – Centro Italioano per l´Apprendimento Permanente, Italien - INCDTP - Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Pentru Textilesi Pielarie, Rumänien © 2023 IVGT

On the second day of the meeting, TUS presented the various possible e-learning platforms. In the brainstorming session that followed, the most suitable platform for the project was initially pre-selected. Various aspects such as attractiveness, costs and target group were discussed.

The meeting ended with an overview of the state of the art of the different transversal activities: communication and dissemination, presented by CIAPE, Italy, analysis of the surveys, presented by Cre.Thi.Dev. Greece and management aspects presented by AEI Textiles, Spain. More information at: https://www.addtex.eu/

“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.

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.

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.

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.