#Textile chemistry

2023-05-17

ZDHC committed comminity announcement May 2023

As of May 2023, ZDHC welcomes two new Friends of ZDHC to the ZDHC Committed Community.

As a Friend:

The Lacoste brand was founded by a French tennis legend and four time international champion, René Lacoste. Drawing inspiration from sporting values of high standards, fair play, and daring, Lacoste has passed down these values through the generations and cultivated elegance as a way of being and inventing one's life in their brand.

As a responsible fashion player, Lacoste has dedicated itself to creating and introducing a new model for sustainable fashion. Their innovative and ambitious co-construction approach involves all of their partners and takes into account the overall environmental impact, including that of their suppliers. In line with their commitment to "acting for the planet," Lacoste has joined ZDHC's Roadmap to Zero Programme. One of Lacoste’s pillars is to fight against pollution for consumers and the environment by optimising the use of chemical products. By adhering to our Roadmap to Zero Programme, Lacoste continues on its journey towards sustainability, seeking to reduce its environmental footprint and create a better future for all.

"Chemical management in facilities producing our Lacoste goods is key to ensuring the well-being of local communities and planet protection. To accomplish this with the most advanced tool of such matter, Lacoste is very motivated to be part of the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero Programme."

-Raynald Anquet, VP Global Quality at Lacoste Operations

As a Friend:

New Look began its journey in 1969 with a single store located on Taunton High Street. Today, it has expanded its reach to become a global retail powerhouse, boasting 432 stores throughout the UK and Ireland, with its products shipped to 65 countries.

New Look recognises that chemicals used within their value chain, from raw material extraction to the finished products, can have serious environmental impacts if not managed correctly. As such, improving chemical management across all their value chains is a key focus of their sustainability strategy going forward. By joining ZDHC’s Roadmap to Zero Programme, New Look will be implementing an industry leading framework to manage and mitigate the risks associated with the use and discharge of harmful chemicals.

“Being a Friend of ZDHC improves transparency of chemical management within our value chain and helps us identify priorities to meet our sustainability goals."

-Katie Pryce, CSR Manager at New Look

“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.

SOKO presents low-impact denim finishing innovations at Denim PV Milan

SOKO will present a range of sustainable denim finishing technologies and collaborative projects at the upcoming Denim Première Vision Milan on 20–21 May in Milan. At booth G27 in Superstudio Più, the company will showcase new chemical solutions designed to combine fashionable denim effects with reduced environmental impact.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.