#Knitting & Hosiery

2021-01-07

Oxman’s Silk Pavilion II arrives at Integral

Esquel proudly presents Silk Pavilion II from the Mediated Matter Group at the MIT Media Lab. The centerpiece of the project is on display from November 2020 in the Learning Center at Integral.

Exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York earlier in 2020, Silk Pavilion II is one of the most recent iconic works of Neri Oxman, award-winning architect, designer, inventor and professor of media arts and sciences at the MIT Media Lab.

Exploration, as part of the eCulture, prompts us to stay curious and to always keep learning and innovating. Silk Pavilion II is here to serve as a conspicuous reminder that disruptive technologies are constantly knocking on our door, and we shall never get complacent with the status quo. Blurring the boundaries of engineering, biology, art and computer science, Oxman’s project aims not only to take our breath away with the astounding construction, but also leave us inspired by what can be achieved from cross-disciplinary innovations.

Through her work, Oxman offers a version of future where architecture and manufacturing can work synergistically with nature rather than dominating over it. This makes the scenic campus of Integral a perfect home to the masterpiece. It accentuates Esquel’s commitment to sustainability as embodied in the development model of Integral. The goal to also create value for the environment in our pursuit of business growth and industry leadership is firmly embedded in Esquel’s (hardware), operations, products and people.

More about Silk Pavilion II

In the Silk Pavilion II project, Neri Oxman asks what may be the radically sustainable methods for knitting, making and building in the age of the Anthropocene, and how humankind and other species like silkworms may collaborate in the construction of objects, products and buildings. Standing six meters tall and five meters wide, Silk Pavilion II offers insights into these questions by combining kinetic manufacturing with biological construction, uniting the built and the grown, fusing technology and biology.

It is comprised of three interrelated layers – firstly the innermost one-dimensional steel cable system, secondly a two-dimensional soluble knitted fabric scaffold, and thirdly a three-dimensional structure biologically spun with the output of 17,532 Italian silkworms sourced from one of the most extensive silkworm rearing facilities in Europe.

The structure was produced horizontally, with a jig to enable constant clockwise rotation that facilitated the silkworms’ upward spinning motion. Structural forces were biochemically influenced according to local environmental factors. The final appearance, including the holes and the variations in thickness, paints a metabolic canvas of the silkworms’ behaviors.

Traditional silk harvesting involves boiling the cocoon and killing the larva. The project demonstrates that man-made engineering setup can be used to guide the silkworms’ movement and silk deposition, so that the silkworms can still mature and reproduce after the fabrication process.

Silk Pavilion II was Neri Oxman’s centerpiece of her solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York from February to October 2020. It is a sequel to Silk Pavilion, which Oxman created in 2013 on the ground floor of MIT Media Lab with a swarm of 6,500 silkworms.

“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.

SHIMA SEIKI brings new flat knitting technologies to FEBRATEX 2026

Leading flat knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its Brazilian representative BRASTEMA TECNOLOGIA TEXTIL LTDA., will exhibit at the Brazilian Textile Industry Fair (FEBRATEX 2026) this month. On display will be a roundup of SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting technology, represented by WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machines, computerized flat knitting machines featuring a brand-new model with high productivity and excellent cost performance, a glove knitting machine and the latest digital solutions.

The new RDJ 7/3 defines the design footprint of modern athletic shoes

Stylish, functional, and efficient to produce – spacer fabrics are the all-arounders among textile materials. These versatile fabrics are particularly in demand in the sports and casual footwear sector, as they combine comfort, breathability, and design freedom. At the same time, this industry is trend-driven, dynamic, and price-sensitive like few others. Innovations are therefore a decisive factor for success. With the RDJ 7/3, KARL MAYER offers a solution specifically tailored to these requirements. The particular strength of the new double raschel machine: its exceptional flexibility, thanks to its three jacquard bars.

Lenzing reports improved half-year results and advances strategic transformation

Despite a persistently challenging market environment in the first half of 2026, characterized by volatile energy and raw material prices, subdued global consumer demand and intensified competition from Asia, the Lenzing Group significantly improved its financial performance. Net result after tax more than doubled to EUR 35.6 million, compared with EUR 15.2 million in the first half of 2025. Free cash flow increased to EUR 45.8 million, while EBITDA amounted to EUR 239.2 million. Revenue totaled EUR 1.27 billion, compared with EUR 1.34 billion in the previous year.

Trützschler’s latest spinning and card clothing innovations at CAITME 2026

From September 8 to 10, 2026, Trützschler will present its latest innovations in spinning and card clothing for state-of-the-art fiber processing at CAITME in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Visitors are invited to meet the experts at Pavilion 2, Booth D50 and explore solutions designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure consistently high yarn quality. Key topics include the next-generation card TC 30i, the integrated draw frame IDF 3, the high-performance comber TCO 21XL as well as Trützschler Card Clothing’s new flat top series STEELTOP®.

BICO BCF yarn delivers impressive performance in field testing

In a joint development project with other partners, Barmag and Object Carpet have successfully tested BICO BCF yarn in the carpet manufacturing process. The results show that this innovative yarn technology offers significant performance advantages and opens up new possibilities for recycling-oriented carpet constructions.