#Knitting & Hosiery

2019-12-10

Comfort, support and stylish lace in a single piece

KARL MAYER discovered the potential of combining lingerie with athleisure wear. The LEISUREE.FASHION was developed in order to exploit this. This new machine configuration combines the possibilities of the RASCHELTRONIC® for producing functional fabrics with the options of creating the stylish lace designs offered by multibar patterning.

A multi-facetted fabric was produced on an MJ 52/1 S LEISUREE. FASHION. This innovative machine combines comfort and the leisure look with a feminine design and shaping effect in a one-piece body. Shapewear lingerie is currently usually made up of several individual pieces. They are expensive to produce and the wear comfort is limited. This new item of lingerie does not have these disadvantages. Only one seam is used in the back, little processing is needed to incorporate the gusset, and there is no hem at the leg openings. What is more, no wiring is needed. Elastane in various counts is used in a sophisticated pattern to provide support in selected areas and a softly shaping stretch.

Power tapes – produced directly on the LEISUREE. FASHION – provide support in the under-bust area and at the décolleté neckline. They are produced by multiple guide blocks in a pattern bar of the MJ 52/1 S with threaded-in elastane in a count of 320 dtex. A weft-laying ground guide bar, processing elastane in a count of 156 dtex, provides widthwise elasticity. The stitch-forming ground guide bar processes elastane in a count of 78 dtex and provides stretch in the lengthwise direction. The body is worked crosswise on the machine. Textured polyamide in the jacquard bars gives the textile a soft, pleasant feel. A subtle lace design on top – produced by string bar technology – creates a feminine look.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

KARL MAYER presents a textile TEXTRONIC® innovation at ITM 2026

With highly efficient machines and continuous textile innovations, KARL MAYER underscores its role as a reliable partner for discerning top-tier customers. Just in time for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, the industry leader is introducing a true innovation: an eyelash lace with its characteristic fringed look – combined with a previously unattainable 4-way stretch. While the established fabric could until now only be produced as rigid version or with one-dimensional stretch, the new elasticity in both dimensions expands the possibilities for cross-band panel fabrics.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

“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

SHIMA SEIKI to show complete knitting and cutting workflow at ITM 2026

Leading computerized flat knitting technology provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Turkish representative TETAS IC VE DIS TICARET A.S., will participate in the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition in Istanbul, Türkiye this month with a full product lineup. In addition to flat knitting machines and design software, visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the full range of SHIMA SEIKI textile machinery with its automatic cutting machine exhibit, all geared toward the fashion apparel market as well as non-apparel related businesses.

Mayer & Cie. Global is getting ready for ITM 2026

ITM 2026 marks the beginning of a new chapter for Mayer & Cie. Global. For the first time, the company will present itself to the international textile machinery industry in its new setup: combining proven circular knitting technology engineered in Germany with a clear commitment to its Albstadt headquarters and an internationally shaped, agile management approach.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.