#Sustainability

2023-09-21

Fashion Revolution presents How to be a Fashion Revolutionary at the British Textile Biennial 2023

Fashion Revolution is taking residence at the British Textile Biennial 2023 with the How to be a Fashion Revolutionary exhibition, located at the Helmshore Mills Textile Museum in East Lancashire. Between 29th September and 29th October, How to be a Fashion Revolutionary will guide visitors through the Fashion Revolution archives, drawing on the learnings from nine years of campaigning to encourage reflection and inspire action.

In a display of archival Zine covers, poems and illustrations, the exhibition follows the environmental and human problems inherent in the fashion industry, maps out creative solutions and charts a course for change. It proudly features artwork designed or commissioned by Fashion Revolution Global and Fashion Revolution teams in Argentina, Brazil, India and Singapore to paint a global picture of action and resistance, and to invite new audiences on their fashion activism journeys.

The installation will be brought to life by a video montage capturing the evolution of Fashion Revolution into a global movement spanning 75 countries, and an interactive conversation map where visitors can respond to questions posed throughout the exhibition. Developed by Talk Climate Change for Fashion Revolution Week 2023, the Fashion Revolution Map is a global forum for Fashion Revolutionaries around the world to exchange knowledge, inspiration and ideas for change. At the exhibition, the map will serve as a conversation tool for the local community and capture the responses of newly initiated Fashion Revolutionaries.

The British Textile Biennial is taking place across Eastern Lancashire, a cultural and historic symbol of the global textile industry. Taken from the British Textile Biennial 2023 programme, “the industrial revolution transformed rural East Lancashire into an engine of fast fashion at the epicentre of a web that stretched across the globe; commandeering human and environmental resources across continents in a vicious cycle of labour, manufacture and trade that persists today and which we now know is unsustainable”. How to be a Fashion Revolutionary recognises and responds to these issues and encourages visitors to collectively reimagine what a clean, safe, fair, transparent and accountable fashion industry could look like.

“Storytelling has always been such a vital part of our work and is integral for capturing new hearts and minds in our global community. Through revisiting the Fashion Revolution archives, visitors can explore artistic interpretations of fashion’s potential to harm and heal, and will find themselves similarly transformed by illustration and poetry. How to be a Fashion Revolutionary is based on the delightfully simple premise that anyone can be a Fashion Revolutionary. It starts with being curious, finding out and doing something, and this exhibition will guide you on your journey to action.” - Mel Watt, Digital Communications Manager at Fashion Revolution

“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.

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

Textile Exchange has published its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued growth in certified sites, industry participation and the development of its standards and membership structure. According to the report, more than 100,000 sites worldwide are now certified to Textile Exchange standards, more than three times the number recorded in 2020. Preliminary figures also indicate 12% year-on-year growth across the organization's current standards, including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Responsible Animal Fiber standards.

More patterns, less effort: the MULTI-MATIC® at Rohleder

Rohleder is one of Europe’s most modern weaving mills. For over 80 years, the family-owned company has been developing and manufacturing premium fabrics for brands, retailers and private customers – 100% Made in Germany. This success is made possible by a consistent focus on design, quality, and functionality, as well as by continuous investment in state-of-the-art production facilities. Rohleder also relies on innovative technologies in warp preparation and has been collaborating with KARL MAYER for many years. As recently as 2023, a MULTI-MATIC® was delivered to the company’s headquarters in Konradsreuth.

BASF opens global diaper and superabsorbents performance lab in Mumbai

BASF has officially inaugurated its new Performance Lab for diapers and superabsorbents (SAP) in Mumbai on August 18, 2026, which will provide technical and application services to superabsorbent customers globally. The new lab of BASF’s Hygiene Solutions business has been established in less than a year and is part of BASF’s Innovation Campus Asia Pacific in Mumbai, BASF’s second largest R&D site in Asia Pacific established in 2017 under BASF Chemicals India Private Limited.

Naia™ from Eastman strengthens western hemisphere textile connections at Apparel Sourcing Show Guatemala

As brands and retailers explore more diversified and responsive sourcing networks, the Naia™ brand from Eastman is strengthening its engagement with the textile and apparel value chain across the western hemisphere. From August 18–20, the company will participate for the first time in Apparel Sourcing Show Guatemala, a regional meeting point for apparel sourcing, manufacturing and nearshoring.

Dornbirn GFC 2026 expands conference program with new thematic sessions

For 65 years, Dornbirn GFC has stood for innovation and is one of the world’s leading conferences in the fiber industry. From September 16 to 18, 2026, the international fiber community will meet in Dornbirn, Austria, to discuss current trends, technological developments, and forward-looking solutions. More than 600 experts from industry and academia from over 30 countries are expected to attend. With around 100 presentations by renowned speakers, a 2,5-day conference program, and three parallel presentation rooms with moderated sessions, Dornbirn GFC provides a first-class platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and international collaboration. Together, participants will generate ideas and impulses that will sustainably shape the future of the global fiber industry.