#Sustainability

2020-10-15

Report launch: Fashion innovation landscape in India

In a first of its kind report, Fashion for Good together with Circular Apparel Innovation Factory provide a comprehensive overview of the “State of Circular Innovation in the Indian Fashion and Textile Industries”, outlining the opportunities and solutions across the Indian supply chains that are enabling the industry to leap towards sustainability. India is a global leader in manufacturing and one of the largest consumer markets for fashion.

The ongoing search for circular innovations to address the critical environmental challenges unique to the industry requires context to factor in the nuances and uniqueness of the local landscape. This report, mapping the entire landscape, showcases the opportunities driving the industry in India forward.

“This report is not only an in-depth look into the Indian innovation landscape, but an invaluable tool for anyone looking to make a positive impact in the region. With action and all industry actors coming together to capitalise on these innovations, India is positioned to transform the fashion industry towards circularity.” – Katrin Ley, Managing Director, Fashion for Good

Fashion for Good together with regional partner Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF) have combined their knowledge of India’s sustainable fashion sector, identifying both the opportunities and challenges. Several key innovators were consulted to include their insights, knowledge and expertise in this space, to give further context and nuance to this ever-evolving landscape.

“Innovators and their innovations have been the bed-rock of human progress and evolution from the very early civilisations. This truly collaborative effort, which maps and surfaces the amazing work already happening, helps reframe our mindset from ‘what’s not working?’ to one that asks ‘what’s working despite the odds?’. The challenges plaguing the industry have been well documented, discussed and debated. Perhaps it’s time to shift the narrative to solutions. This work does just that.“ – Venkat Kotamaraju, Director, Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF)

First Innovation Landscape in India

This is the first time an overview has been compiled for the Indian innovation landscape, mapping the innovations that exist in India and the state of innovation across the supply chain, from raw materials through to end-of-use. The report highlights the exciting developments and momentum with which the region is accelerating towards circularity. Areas for additional attention and investment are also identified, providing an indispensable resource for stakeholders and investors wanting to better understand the sector and take the appropriate steps to maximise positive impact.

“We see great momentum for sustainable materials and production technologies over the last five years. We have adopted many such technologies in our manufacturing facilities and are committed to creating a circular production system.” – Abhishek Bansal, Head of Sustainability at Arvind Limited

The report will be made publicly available during a live session “India’s Future in Textile Manufacturing” hosted by CAIF on the 15th of October. The session features experts from Fashion for Good, CAIF, Arvind Limited and Aditya Birla Fashion Retail Limited (ABFRL), India’s largest manufacturing and retail branded-fashion apparel company. The discussion will cover report findings as well as tangible examples of innovation with innovators KB Cols and Textile Genesis providing insights into their solutions and journey towards widespread adoption.

“We hope that this research feeds into the growing global movement towards sustainability and circularity. Given India’s importance in the fashion industry, this report mapping innovations and actions the industry can take to enable that circular economy is critical and we hope that it shapes the industry’s transition.” – Lakshmi Poti, Senior Programme Manager, Materials, Laudes Foundation

Download:

tinyurl.com/y3x4rw8u

“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.

WHILL selects Teijin’s tough, lightweight Carbon Fiber Composite for new last-mile mobility

Teijin Limited announced today that WHILL Inc., a global leader in inclusive mobility technology, has selected Sereebo® P CFP series, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) material, for key structural components of the upcoming WHILL Model C Lite. Sereebo® P CFP series provides high strength, light weight, design flexibility and system cost advantages to the Model C Lite, which is a battery powered, single-seat, last-mile device. This new model combines maneuverability with light weight and one-handed folding to ensure ease of handling and operation.

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

ZymoChem secures $4 million in renewed federal funding to advance U.S. biomanufacturing of critical materials and their supply chains

ZymoChem, the specialty chemicals company dedicated to bringing decarbonization, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency to the chemical industry through innovative biological manufacturing, today announced the resumption and expansion of its federal research portfolio. The company has been notified that previously paused work under a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program is officially back on, to be joined by continuing collaborations with three of the nation's premier national laboratories.