#Man-Made Fibers

2025-09-04

Eastman Naia™ presented a new cellulose acetate filament yarn at Intertextile Shanghai 2025

A result of Eastman’s recently announced strategic partnership with Huafon Chemical, the new filament yarn features even higher tenacity, making it the perfect solution for premium lightweight fabrics. With the vision to make sustainable textiles accessible to all, the Eastman Naia™ portfolio offers responsibly sourced, biobased cellulosic fibers and yarns. These eco-friendly options empower mills, designers, and brands to create textiles that do not compromise on comfort, quality, or appearance.

Eastman Naia sample fabric © 2025 Eastman

Naia™ acetate filament yarn is widely recognized and used by both high-end luxury and high-street fashion brands in China and around the world. It is favored for ready-to-wear fashion and linings because of its luxurious silky hand feel, beautiful drape, and rich luster. Beyond aesthetics, Naia™ delivers superior comfort, durability, and ease of care.

Eastman has developed a robust network of mills and fabric trading partners in China, collaboratively driving innovation to develop some of the most advanced acetate-based fabrics in the global textile market today.

Eastman Naia™ cellulose acetate filament yarns in China

On August 13, Eastman and Huafon Chemical jointly announced a formal strategic partnership to establish a joint facility to produce cellulose acetate yarn. The facility will be dedicated to localized production and product innovation of Eastman Naia™ cellulose acetate filament yarns in China. This collaboration demonstrates Eastman’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market and further deepens its market presence in China by enabling a more agile supply chain response to meet the market demand for high-quality, innovative, and sustainable textile materials in the region.

Eastman Naia™ cellulose acetate filament yarns

+ Same as Naia™ Classic, this yarn from the joint facility is sourced from 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% acetic acid, resulting in a diacetate fiber with bio-based content and biodegradability.

+ The Naia™ yarn produced in the joint facility has higher tenacity than Naia™ Classic which enables entry into premium lightweight fabric markets where standard Naia™ cannot currently perform.

+ Eastman Naia™ has already begun collaborating with three mill customers in China: Colorful, GreenSilk, XinMin Textiles on fabric developments this year.

+ Starting in the first half of 2026, the product will gradually roll out to additional domestic and international customers.

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.

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®.

Kimberly-Clark develops alternative natural fiber platform for hygiene products

Kimberly-Clark has introduced a proprietary innovation program aimed at developing alternative natural fibers for future hygiene products. The company has created a patented materials platform based on fibers derived from hesperaloe, a drought-tolerant succulent native to the southwestern United States.

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

Sorona® and WGSN announce top bio-based material trends of 2027

Sorona®, the partially bio-based polymer from Covation Biomaterials (CovationBio™), and global trend forecasting authority WGSN today release the material trends shaping the textile industry through 2027 and beyond following a comprehensive examination of bio-based functional fiber applications and global data.

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.

Fashion for Good launches DW(O)R-X to navigate the emerging landscape of PFAS-free finishes

Fashion for Good announced the launch of Project DW(O)R-X, a collaborative initiative designed to benchmark PFAS alternative durable water- and oil-repellent (DW(O)R) chemistries. Responding to growing market demand for alternatives to PFAS‑based finishes, the project aims to generate reliable, comparable data that can support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

Messe Frankfurt and Supima introduce Prefab – a new curated fabric sourcing event in New York City

Messe Frankfurt is expanding its international textile network with the launch of Prefab, a new boutique-style sourcing event dedicated exclusively to high-quality fabrics. Taking place 19-20 January 2027 at the Altman Building in New York City, the event will bring selected Supima member fabric mills together with senior designers, fabric directors, product developers and sourcing decision-makers from premium and luxury brands. With a carefully curated exhibitor line-up and a targeted visitor approach, Prefab is designed to create a focused business setting in which material quality, expertise and meaningful exchange take priority over scale.