#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2020-08-13

Change at the top of the adidas Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board of adidas AG has appointed Thomas Rabe (55), Chief Executive Officer of Bertelsmann, as Chairman of the company’s Supervisory Board. He will succeed Igor Landau (76) whose Supervisory Board mandate expired after 16 successful years at the end of the Annual General Meeting on August 11, 2020.

Thomas Rabe has been a member of the adidas AG Supervisory Board since May 9, 2019, and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board since this same point in time. He was appointed to the Executive Board of Bertelsmann, a global media, services and education company, as Chief Financial Officer in 2006. He has been CEO of Bertelsmann since 2012.

Thomas Rabe said: “I am very much looking forward to the task of accompanying adidas as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. I am aware that this office entails a high degree of responsibility, which I will gladly take on in the interests of shareholders, customers, consumers, employees and partners. I would like to thank Igor Landau, also on behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, for his extremely successful work. He has rendered great service to the company.”

In addition, Bodo Uebber will take over as Chairman of the Audit Committee from Herbert Kauffmann. Herbert Kauffmann will remain on the Supervisory Board until the 2021 Annual General Meeting. Ian Gallienne has been appointed as the new additional Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

The shareholders elected Christian Klein (40), CEO of SAP SE, to the Supervisory Board. He was appointed to the SAP Executive Board as Chief Operating Officer in 2018. Christian Klein had been Co-CEO of SAP SE since October 2019, and has been sole CEO of SAP SE since April 2020.

In addition, the Supervisory Board members announced that they would waive 30% of their remuneration for the current financial year due to the coronavirus crisis. Instead, the money will be donated to SOS Children’s Villages, among others.

The virtual Annual General Meeting of adidas AG took place on August 11, 2020. Further information on the Annual General Meeting is available on the company’s website: www.adidas-group.com/agm.

“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.

Vietnam’s market evolution creates new sourcing opportunities at VIATT 2027

As Vietnam’s textile industry continues to upgrade and scale, new opportunities are emerging for suppliers of advanced raw materials, design-led fabrics, production technologies, and sustainability solutions. The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) will return 24 – 26 February 2027, presenting a cross-sector platform – spanning apparel, home and technical categories – for overseas companies to connect with manufacturers, brands, sourcing offices, retailers, and industry buyers from Vietnam, ASEAN, and beyond.

Mahlo introduces AI-supported Orthopac RVMC-20 plus at ITMA Asia 2026

From November 20 to 24, 2026, Mahlo GmbH + Co. KG will present its system portfolio for the textile industry at ITMA Asia in Shanghai. Together with its local sales and service partner Kuantex and Mahlo China, the Bavarian technology specialist will demonstrate at Booth C22 in Hall 7.1 how intelligent measurement and control technology can improve the quality and efficiency of textile production processes. The spotlight will be on the new Orthopac RVMC-20 plus, which combines precise weft straightening with fully integrated process control.

STFI showcases new Textile LAB Professional with focus on climate protection and sustainable technologies

The Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e. V. (STFI) in Chemnitz is organising a themed day on 3 December 2026, focusing on climate protection and the environment. As well as showcasing current applications for green cities and natural fibres for lightweight construction, the event will feature machine demonstrations in the new Textile LAB Professional. Under the motto ‘Design meets Technology’, this networking event will also provide an insight into artistic student projects, thereby facilitating a professional exchange on creative perspectives and modern technologies for climate protection and the environment.