#Sustainability

2022-11-21

ISKO confirms its commitment as a global sustainability player.

The issues of environmental impact and climate change are the priority for the fashion industry and its leaders, with ISKO taking part in the dialogue at Cop27 and other global events.

ISKO had the honor to be the only manufacturer representative of the fashion industry at the United Nations event by taking part on 12 November at the focus talk “Circular Systems for a Net Positive Fashion Industry” organized by the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) and the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).

Elena Faleschini, Senior Manager Brand Partnerships ISKO, and the other speakers (Federica Marchionni, Lily Cole, Miranda Schnitger, Samata Pattinson, Holly Syrett and Tarek Alkhoury) have agreed that:

Harmonization and transparency in goals are critical.

Vertical and horizontal partnerships are key.

Investment in innovation is vital to a circular business model in fashion.

Fashion must be part of the discussions around climate change and net positive.

Same commitment, different place and target: on 18 November in Riyadh during Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Futures Elena Faleschini represents ISKO’s vision on the panel "Designing in the New Age of Sustainability – How can independent brands evolve to serve a new consumer mindset?", with Sara Sozzani Maino (Vogue Italia and Brand Ambassador Milano Fashion Week), the Saudi designer Shahd Al Shehail and the journalist Jessica Michault as moderator.

ISKO strongly believes that collaborations and interconnections in the sector are the only possible way to change the game, that is why it supports, as partner, initiatives such as the 2022 Textile Exchange Conference. From 14 to 18 November in Colorado, the global players of the textile industry explore tools, resources, and initiatives to drive this change at scale. ISKO shares the same vision and is on a mission to no longer use new, conventional raw materials. A path from recycled cotton and recycled polyester and regenerated fibers to recyclable, durable and long-lasting denim fashion.

Find out more about ISKO’s responsible commitment: download here the Sustainability Impact report 2022!

https://isko.cdn.prismic.io/isko/4f753d35-9ab8-4661-8ac7-db663a46e7b0_ISKO+Sustainability+Impact+Report+2022.pdf

“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.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.

An eco-friendly alternative to fluorocarbon treatments

Protective and outdoor clothing derives its durable water-, dirt- and oil- repellent properties from the application of fluorinated polymers or per- and polyfluorinated low-molecular- weight chemicals (PFCs). The beneficial properties thus achieved on textiles are offset by environmental and human health risks. For manufacturers of sports, medical, protective and automotive textiles, researchers at the Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. and the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research have developed liquid-applied dispersions and solutions to functionalise textiles without the use of fluorine.

VDMA Textile Machinery with new Executive Board

At the general meeting of VDMA Textile Machinery held in Hanover at the end of September, Dr Janpeter Horn, Managing Director of A. Herzog Maschinenfabrik, was re-elected as Chairman of the trade association. Regina Brückner, managing partner of Brückner Trockentechnik, and Verena Thies, managing partner of Thies Textilmaschinen, will once again serve as vice-chairs for the next four years.

Rieter appoints Daniel Lippuner as new CEO as Thomas Oetterli steps down

Thomas Oetterli has decided to step down from his function as CEO, effective October 31, 2026, and hand over the Chairmanship of the Board of Directors. “After the successful implementation of the Next Level performance program, the structural measures initiated to consolidate the sites and the acquisition of Barmag, the time has come to hand over responsibility to new hands,” explains Thomas Oetterli.