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#Raw Materials

Fluorescent cotton, magnetic cotton, cotton as a perfect functional textile at ICC Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen takes place from 25-27 March in the Hanseatic city’s historic Town Hall on the Market Square. The conference presents trade visitors from all major continents with the most up-to-date and promising topics of the cotton textile supply chain and discusses the resulting challenges for the market. Science and industry are equally represented.

Already on the opening day, Wednesday 25 March, a highly exciting session deals with alternative and previously little-known uses of the natural, renewable and biodegradable raw material cotton in highly innovative and useful products. In the session ‘Innovative Textile and Technical Products’, four examples show that the use of cotton goes far beyond household textiles and clothing. In fact, thanks to its intelligent properties, cotton can also be found in technical products or in smart textiles.

Michael Jänecke, Director of Brand Management Technical Textiles & Textile Processing at Messe Frankfurt, will lead the session with his extensive market experience. Among other things, he has been responsible for the organisation of the leading international trade fairs ‘Techtextil’ and ‘Texprocess’ for many years.


Banknotes are made from cotton fibres – Image: pixabay (c) 2020 Bremen Cotton Exchange
Banknotes are made from cotton fibres – Image: pixabay (c) 2020 Bremen Cotton Exchange


Case Study 1:

Sustainable Cotton for Forgery-Proof Banknotes

Bernadette O’Brian from the Directorate of Banknotes at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt (ECB), is responsible for the environmentally friendly and healthy, as well as forgery-proof production of banknotes. In her lecture, ‘The Use of Sustainable Cotton Fibres in Euro Banknotes’, she examines the Europe-wide banknote paper manufacturing practices, including the supervision of the manufacturing processes, as part of the ECB’s global sustainability strategy.



Case Study 2:

Fluorescent, Super Magnetic and Water Repellent Cotton

Dr Filipe Natalio is a senior staff member and researcher at the Weizmann Institute for Science in Rehovot, Israel, working for the Plant and Environmental Research Department, affiliated with the Kimmel Centre for Archaeological Science. He presents the results of his work under the theme of ‘Material Farming: Growing Cotton with Unique Functions’, in which cotton can be equipped with fluorescent, super-magnetic and water-repellent properties. This is not brought about by a chemical change, but biologically through the implementation of a specially developed glucose molecule in cotton. The development has the potential to be used in large formats in cotton-based functional materials and textiles.

Case Study 3:

Innovative Padding and Fabrics for Furnishings and Outdoors

In a double lecture, Matthias Boehme and Daniel Odermatt present innovative textiles for the interior design and outdoor sectors. Matthias Boehme is the owner of the Bremen agency Textile Solutions & Consulting. He presents product ideas for padding for use in furniture from the German nonwoven and composite manufacturer Norafin Industries in Mildenau. These are not made from oil-based synthetic fibres, but from cotton and other bio-based natural fibres and are used in the area of home textiles (e.g. wallpaper) or for functional components for technical textiles and for clothing development.

Daniel Odermatt is Division Manager at fabric manufacturer Stotz & Co. AG, Zurich, Switzerland. The company is known for developing highly functional cotton fabrics. For example, extra-long staple fibres are softly spun and twisted and then woven in the highest possible density. The result is a dense all-weather fabric with natural properties and maximum comfort. The material is rainproof, completely windproof and equipped with a breathability that can only be achieved using natural materials.

Case Study 4:

3D Cotton / Linen Fabric for the Treatment of Skin Diseases

Dr Iwona Frydrych from the University of Technology in ?ód?, Poland, is a professor at the Faculty of Material Development and Textile Design. Her topic is the support of the medical treatment of skin diseases using a 3D design for clothing made of cotton-linen blends. Microcapsules with proven skin-soothing plant substances are applied to the material. The material treated in this way has direct contact with the skin. The content of the microcapsules is released by body heat and moisture. According to studies, this leads to relief from skin complaints.


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#Natural Fibers

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

#Natural Fibers

38th International Cotton Conference Bremen: Let´s Talk about Cotton!

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen, to be held on 25-27 March 2026 in Bremen’s parliament building on market square, once again sends a powerful signal for professional excellence and international dialogue. The focus is on the latest market trends and technical innovations throughout the entire value chain – from agriculture and quality assurance to processing and the circular economy. With its high-calibre speakers, the conference remains an indispensable forum for anyone involved in shaping the cotton industry scientifically, technically, or economically.

#Natural Fibers

38th International Cotton Conference Bremen launches registration and unveils key topics

Participants can now register online for the 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen, which will be held on 25-27 March 2026 at the Haus der Bürgerschaft parliament building on market square. All visitors can look forward to a high-calibre conference programme, numerous additional meetings and a valuable exchange of knowledge and information. The comprehensive range of topics covering the entire value chain will provide practical expertise, address current developments, answer key industry questions, and provide new impetus for the future.

#Natural Fibers

151st General Assembly of the Bremen Cotton Exchange

Economic change and personnel decisions were the dominant themes on the agenda of the Annual General Assembly of the Bremen Cotton Exchange on 26 June 2025. During the meeting, the new Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the raw material association, which is now almost 153 years old, were elected. Fritz. A. Grobien will take over as President.

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#Man-Made Fibers

Lenzing AG to become majority owner of TreeToTextile AB and accelerates industrialization of new fibers

The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB. This step strengthens Lenzing’s position as a leading provider of sustainable, wood‑based specialty fibers and expands its innovation pipeline with a highly scalable, patent‑protected technology platform. The transaction is executed through the issuance of new shares.

#Raw Materials

Better Cotton Initiative marks certification anniversary with progress update and accreditation

One year since becoming a certification scheme, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has announced that more than 3,000 supply chain actors have been certified. At farm level, more than 30% of farms and producer units supplying BCI Cotton have received a positive audit outcome.

#Raw Materials

Cotton Incorporated appoints Bev Sylvester as Chief Marketing Officer

Cotton Incorporated announces the appointment of Bev Sylvester as chief marketing officer. In this newly created role, Sylvester will oversee Cotton Incorporated’s marketing strategy, brand positioning, consumer engagement and global outreach to increase demand for cotton and strengthen its relevance in the marketplace.

#Sustainability

OEKO-TEX® chooses TextileGenesis to advance digital traceability for organic cotton

OEKO-TEX® today announced a full collaboration with TextileGenesis, a Lectra company, to digitally trace and authenticate organic cotton, strengthening fraud prevention across the supply chain. This announcement follows a successful pilot and brings together OEKO-TEX®’s certification expertise and closed testing system with TextileGenesis’ digital traceability platform to deliver a secure, end-to-end solution for managing certified organic cotton flows.

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#Spinning

Perfect quality through collaboration: Machinery from Trützschler, Toyota and Murata at Zirve Tekstil

In today’s textile industry, excellence is not achieved by chance – it’s the result of deliberate decisions, technical expertise, and the courage to go beyond conventional paths. The Turkish company Zirve Tekstil has done just that: by combining the best technologies from Trützschler, Toyota and Murata, they’ve created a production setup that delivers outstanding yarn quality – recognized worldwide.

#Associations

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.

#Research & Development

Award-winning research for sustainable carbon fibre cycles

Sustainable recycling of carbon fibres is possible through targeted electrochemical surface modification, which makes the sizing of carbon fibres resistant to solvolysis. ITA PhD student Sabina Dann was awarded the MSW Award from RWTH Aachen University for her master's thesis on this development. The award ceremony took place on 12 November 2025 in Aachen.

#Technical Textiles

Carrington Textiles and Pincroft unite defence expertise at Enforce Tac

Carrington Textiles and Pincroft return to Enforce Tac for the third time, presenting a co-branded stand that brings together textile manufacturing and specialist finishing under one roof.

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