#Denim

2023-03-30

Digitally printed jeans could mean big water savings for denim industry

They look and feel just like regular denim, but these jeans have a secret. They were made on a digital printer.

“This is the future. This is the digital which world which everybody is talking about,” says Dhruv Agarwal, Kontoor’s VP of Sustainability, Innovation and Development.

Not only do the digitally printed jeans look cool, they save lots of water— upwards of 2,000 gallons of water used to dye and wash a conventional pair of jeans.

“If we are looking at the future, we want to go to almost zero liters of water in making of our jeans,” says Agarwal.

This revolutionary technology, which received an honorable mention from Fast Company’s Innovation Design Awards in 2022, is helping Kontoor stride towards its ESG goal of saving a cumulative 10 billion liters of fresh water by 2025.

“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.

The beauty of imperfection: Officina39 explores denim's next chapters

Officina39 returns to Kingpins Amsterdam on October 14–15, booth White 01, with a creative and technological program that brings together its new Spring/Summer 2028 collection, advances in denim finishing and collaborations spanning design, fabric development, fashion and publishing. At the center of the presentation of the Italian company is a shared idea: that distinctive aesthetics, responsible chemistry and efficient industrial processes can evolve together, opening new creative possibilities for contemporary denim.

ISKO unveils SS28 collection’s theme at Kingpins Amsterdam: “Color the experience”.

Leading global denim innovator ISKO™ announces its latest collection for SS28 at Kingpins Amsterdam. Centered around the theme “Color the experience,” the collection marks a new chapter in denim innovation, inviting designers, brands, and consumers to see, feel, and experience denim through a broader spectrum of color, tactile surfaces, and sensory character.

Officina39 and Gold Girl Co. explore unconventional materials in denim at Kingpins Amsterdam

Officina39 and Gold Girl Co. will present their experimental collaboration “Renegade Renaissance” at Kingpins Amsterdam on October 14–15, 2026. The project brings together the creative direction of Marta and Glenda Goldschmied, founders of Gold Girl Co., with Officina39's expertise in textile chemistry and material development.

Mayer & Cie. Global gears up tor ITMA Asia 2026

Mayer & Cie. Global will focus on mattress fabric production at ITMA Asia, taking place in Shanghai from 20 to 24 November 2026. The company will showcase one of its flagship models for this application: the OVJA 2.4 EM. Joining the mattress fabric specialist will be an OV 3.2 QCe, presented at ITMA Asia in a configuration for knitting double-face fabrics in E40. This gives the OV 3.2 QCe a combination of capabilities rarely found in the market. The German textile machinery manufacturer will also introduce its new portfolio strategy and share updates from its development team at its Albstadt headquarters.

FET highlights advances in fibre spinning technology at Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress

Fibre Extrusion Technology Limited (FET) presented its latest developments in fibre spinning technology at the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress in Austria in September 2026. In a presentation entitled “Spinning a good yarn”, Dr Jonny Hunter examined recent technological developments and challenges facing the fibre industry, highlighting the company's expanding range of specialised fibre extrusion and spinning systems.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.