#Associations

2026-09-25

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has announced the three winners of its Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The winning projects will be presented at the ITMF & IAF Conference 2026, taking place from October 14–15 in Fortaleza, Brazil, and co-hosted by the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT).

The ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award recognizes sustainable and innovative achievements in the textile industry, with a focus on innovation, design, development and production under high standards of sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Epoch Biodesign, UK

Project: “Scaling AI-driven enzymatic depolymerization to turn textile waste into fiber-grade nylon 6,6”

Epoch Biodesign is developing an enzymatic recycling process designed to convert textile waste into recycled nylon 6,6 suitable for fiber production. The company is currently scaling the technology from pilot to demonstration level, with further expansion towards commercial-scale production planned.

Huvis, Korea

Project: “Polyester Chemical Recycling Technology for Sustainable Automotive Textiles”

Korean fiber and materials manufacturer Huvis is developing chemical recycling technology for polyester with a focus on automotive textile applications. The project addresses the use of recycled polyester materials in a sector with demanding technical and quality requirements.

Simabo Technology Co., Ltd. and Wuhan Textile University, China

Project: “Desert-Mulberry – Bioactive Silk Eco-Regenerative Cycle”

The project combines silk production with an ecological regeneration approach based on the cultivation of resilient mulberry trees in arid and desertification-prone regions. It aims to link silk and bioactive material production with resource recovery and environmental restoration.

The three winning projects will be presented at the ITMF & IAF Conference 2026 in Fortaleza, giving participants an opportunity to learn more about the technologies and approaches behind the awarded concepts.

HeiQ & Archroma and Lenzing & Armedangels win ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has named two industry partnerships as winners of the ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026. The awards go to collaborations between HeiQ and Archroma as well as Lenzing and Armedangels, highlighting joint approaches to innovation and sustainability across different parts of the textile value chain.

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.

VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board

At the general meeting of VDMA Textile Machinery held in Hanover at the end of September, Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, was re-elected as Chairman of the trade association. Regina Brückner, managing partner of Brückner Trockentechnik, and Verena Thies, managing partner of Thies Textilmaschinen, will once again serve as vice-chairs for the next four years.

Italian textile machinery at TITAS 2026: strategic partnership and tailor-made solutions for the Taiwanese market

The excellence and innovative capabilities of Italian textile machinery technology are coming to Taipei for TITAS 2026 (Taiwan International Textile & Garment Machinery Show), the leading event for the island’s textile industry and the wider Asian region, scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 October 2026.

Fashion for Good launches Cotton Reloop Matrix Project to unlock commercial scale for recycled cotton

Fashion for Good today announces the launch of the Cotton Reloop Matrix Project, a cross-industry initiative that will map and physically validate the quality of commercially available recycled cotton yarns against brand specifications, giving the industry a data-backed overview of how quality, price, and recycled content intersect. The project is convened with Fashion for Good partners Arvind, BESTSELLER, C&A, Interloop, Reformation, and Shahi, together with ecosystem partner Uster.

Italian textile finishing specialist injects digital agility into luxury textile manufacturing with Kornit Digital

1st October 2026 – Kornit Digital, a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, shares the news that Tintoria Finissaggio 2000, one of Italy's leading textile dyeing and finishing specialists, has integrated the Kornit Presto MAX into its production environment to expand its premium textile offering to improve manufacturing efficiency and support growing demand for sustainable, agile fabric production.

ReHubs names Béatrice Moureaux CEO to advance textile recycling in Europe

ReHubs has appointed Béatrice Moureaux as Chief Executive Officer, marking a new chapter for the European alliance as it continues to strengthen its work to scale textile-to-textile recycling across Europe. Béatrice has served as Board Advisor to ReHubs since December 2025, working closely with its Board, team and members on the organisation’s strategy and projects. She brings more than 25 years of experience across technical textiles, advanced fibres, nonwovens and circular innovation.

YKK subsidiary Golden Hill Tower Limited marks 25 years of operations in Myanmar

Golden Hill Tower Limited, a subsidiary of YKK Corporation, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a ceremony in Myanmar on September 21, 2026. The event brought together approximately 230 guests, including senior executives from the YKK Group, to commemorate the company's development since the launch of its serviced apartment business in November 2000.