#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2024-11-14

APTEXPO 2024 kicks off with key fashion and supply chain leaders sparking innovation

APTEXPO 2024 officially kicked off today at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center, marking the start of a groundbreaking three-day event poised to create new opportunities for change in the textiles and apparel value chain.

As the global platform that convenes the top decision-makers in textiles, apparel, fashion, and their supply chains, this year's convention promises to be more than a series of panel discussions—it is a much-needed gateway to transforming your business through its exclusive showcase of the latest fashion, supply chain and textiles technologies and projects from the likes of Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) Pavilion and HY Green Technology - which is set to unravel on 14 November.

On the first day, Sharon Lim, President of the Singapore Fashion Council (SFC), delivered the welcome speech. She addressed the esteemed guests, fellow speakers, and the audience and commended the organisers for hosting the inaugural Asia-Pacific Textile and Apparel Supply Chain Summit 2024.

On APTEXPO 2024, Sharon Lim said, “As the official association for Singapore's textile and fashion industry, SFC partners with various stakeholders throughout the value chain to drive meaningful change across three key pillars: sustainability, innovation and technology, and Asian craftsmanship. Partnerships are essential for building a resilient and agile supply chain today. Such stakeholder collaboration helps mitigate risk, seize new opportunities and foster innovation that benefits us all. APTEXPO 2024 is a great example of this work we are undertaking.”

The first day of APTEXPO 2024 also offered attendees the chance to gain the knowledge and insights shared in the opening speeches by Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director, Exhibitions and Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board; Albert Tan, Chairman, ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX); and Sun Ruizhe, President, China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC). These organisations play an important role in promoting textile and fashion innovation.

From Left to Right: (1) Jonas Wand, CEO and Co-Founder, FOURSOURCE, (2) Xu Yingxin, Vice President, China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), (3) Sharon Lim, President, Singapore Fashion Council, (4) Sun Ruizhe, President, China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), (5) Albert Tan, Chairman, ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX), (6) Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director, Exhibition and Conferences Singapore Tourism Board, (8) Peter Liang Pengcheng, President, Sub-Council of Textile Industry, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT TEX) © 2024 APTEXPO

Zhang Tingting, CEO of SFC, moderated a panel discussion that dove into the role of regional collaboration in building a resilient, adaptive and sustainable supply chain, convening on stage high- level executives from Weave, Browzwear, JEANWEST International, Shanghai Challenge Textile Co and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles.

Regina Leong, CEO of Trackland Sdn Bhd Group of Companies, Honorary Permanent Secretary General, AFTEX, and President of the Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA), hosted the second panel discussion of the day. The panel featured experts from various organisations, including the Indonesian Textile Association and SEMBCORP. The panellists shared strategies for boosting Asia-Pacific production capabilities and leveraging partnership opportunities in the region’s textile industry.

Two plenary sessions also took place on the first day, during which audiences heard from more leaders in the global textiles and apparel segment.

The first plenary session addressed global trends and challenges in the textile and garment industry. Christian P. Schindler, Director General of ITMF, discussed current industry challenges, while Dirk Vantyghem of EURATEX covered the EU's role in advancing sustainability. Deepika Rana, COO of Li & Fung, rounded off with insights on supply chain innovation.

The second plenary session focused on technology, branding, and sustainability as drivers of supply chain restructuring. Jonas Wand, CEO of FOURSOURCE, shared how AI shapes future value chains, and Chris Govier of Kornit Digital emphasised digital advancements for sustainable growth. Sunny Huang from New Wide Group discussed digital manufacturing solutions, while Henry Tan of Luen Thai Group examined Asia’s market potential.

APTEXPO 2024 will continue through 15 November 2024 in Singapore, with an exclusive lineup of industry updates, showcases, and networking sessions to follow.

For more information on APTEXPO 2024, please visit ap-texpo.com.

Tunicotex Group boosts OTDP to 85%, cuts planning time by 25% & expands production capacity by 40%

Coats Digital is delighted to announce that following the implementation of FastReactPlan, leading Tunisian premium knitwear manufacturer, Tunicotex Group, has significantly improved its on-time delivery performance from 75% to 85%, reduced planning time by 25%, minimised delays and penalty costs, and unlocked 40% additional capacity to take on more customer orders and support sustained business growth.

The Technology Hub for global denim trends: ITM 2026

The ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, to be held at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul from June 9–13, 2026, brings together groundbreaking technologies in denim production. From smart production systems to eco-friendly raw materials, from digital washing solutions to laser effect technologies, innovations that will shape the future of denim will be showcased for the first time at ITM 2026.

YKK receives ISPO Textrends Awards for circular innovations

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) is pleased to announce that the ISPO Textrends judges have selected YKK's 3D Composite Puller as the Best Product in the Accessories category. They also selected YKK’s NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ zipper with Recycled PET Open Parts as a Top 5 item in the same category. The competition, held twice a year in conjunction with the ISPO trade show, recognizes the most innovative performance textiles, components, and apparel.

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris unveils redesigned show layout for 2026

From February 2 to 4, 2026, Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris will once again bring together all the key players in textiles and clothing at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center. For 3 days, visitors will discover, compare and select among 1,300 suppliers who will shape the collections of tomorrow, from ready-to-wear to luxury.

Innovation center for textile circular economy inaugurated

Just over eight months after the foundation stone was laid, the new Innovation Center for Textile Circular Economy was officially inaugurated today at TITK Rudolstadt. Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt, TITK Director Benjamin Redlingshöfer, and other guests of honor cut the ribbon to the modern building complex and viewed the premises, which are now ready for occupancy. The “DICE – Demonstration and Innovation Center for Textile Circular Economy” is TITK's largest single investment to date. The Free State of Thuringia supported the total cost of €11.5 million with €8 million in GRW and FTI funding.

Sustainable design of Geosynthetics and roof underlayments made from recyclates

Is it possible to recover plastic recyclates from previously unused waste streams in order to produce high-quality fibers and films? How can bio-based polymer fibers be manufactured so as to allow adjustable biodegradability? These are the questions being addressed by researchers from the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE in the Zirk-Tex project.

Waste2Fashion: FTTH Committed to advancing Circular Fashion in the Mediterranean

As an official partner of the Waste2Fashion project, the Tunisian Federation of Textile and Apparel (FTTH) participated in the Kick-off Meeting held on 10–11 December in Spain. The event brought together project partners from across the Mediterranean, including Spain, Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, and Tunisia, to align on a shared vision and initiate the first implementation steps.

AATCC announces 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition winners

The American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) recognized the winners of the 2025 Herman & Myrtle Goldstein Graduate Student Paper Competition. Founded in 1982 to give student members the chance to conduct and present original research, the competition was renamed in 1994 in honor of Herman and Myrtle Goldstein, following their US$60,000 endowment. Their gift is a lasting remembrance of their dedication to young people in the textile industry.