#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2020-10-22

arena Icons meets ISKO for a timeless lifestyle outfit.

Passion, innovation, a long-standing tradition of excellence and the strong commitment towards the planet: these are just some of the pillars upon which ISKO and arena, the leading sport waterwear brand, based their latest partnership. Starting from this solid ground of shared values, the two leading companies joined forces to enrich arena’s FW20 Icons collection with a unique outfit which is the highest expression of everything the project stands for. Inspired by vintage designs from the 80s and their colorful vibes and patterns, this lifestyle outfit features a modern fit achieving looks that transcend time.

Developed by the leading denim innovator ISKO to bend the rules of the sportswear and outdoors industry, Arquas 6.0 fabrics platform perfectly expresses the essence of the project: the freedom of being authentic.

Envisioning a time of self-expression and personal fulfillment, the full potential of arena Icons is expressed by the iconic pieces realized using first-class ISKO denim fabrics: Arquas 6.0, advanced woven technologies to ensure superior durability and great recovery power with the look and feel of knitted solutions.

ISKO Bluejym, one of the key concepts of ArquasTM 6.0, was selected thanks to its soft hand feel and all-day comfort. Resulting from the research that brought ISKO denim into the world of athleisure, this lightweight fabric delivers dynamic stretch and athletic performance.

Used in its black and white versions, this patented technology is just one of the innovative solutions developed by ISKO, leading the company to become a pioneer of Responsible Innovation in the fashion industry.

By virtue of this holistic vision, which is based on the values of creativity, competence and citizenship, ISKO has built an entire culture of continuous improvement that inspires everything the company does and allows to achieve many important results. These have been made possible by relying on external stakeholder engagement, striving for third-party certifications such as STeP by OEKO-TEX® modular certification system and partnerships including Textile Exchange, ZDHC, SAC, Sedex and Bluesign, in order to lead the charge of change and responsibility and support the development of a better industry.

The partnership between ISKO and arena stands out through a dedicated communication on the garment but it also goes beyond the piece itself: the authentic values that both companies share were highlighted in a special video starring Italian swimmer and 100 mt freestyle European champion Alessandro Miressi, brand ambassador and testimonial of the promotion campaign of Icons x Isko collection. This will be unveiled on social media, to tell the story of freedom and authenticity that led to the development of the project.

“This collection is a testament to the importance of remaining authentic while keeping up with innovation”, claimed Elena Faleschini, ISKO Global Field Marketing Manager. “At ISKO, we proudly stand for this and find the very same commitment in arena. This is why we joined forces, rethinking the past to define a better future with a brand that shares our goals and values and works to promote a better industry and a better future for everyone.”

“arena Icons is a creative lab where we mix our sports heritage with contemporary trends”, declared Roberto Tiburzi, arena Product Category Manager. “The goal is to give birth to garments characterized by the maximum freedom of use. In this respect denim represents the most iconic expression of freedom in clothing and therefore the adoption of this material has been a natural choice. ISKO is one of the leading denim manufacturers, not only from a creative and technological standpoint, but also because of their strong commitment in a more sustainable industry, therefore, to partner with them has been an even more natural choice!”

“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.

Next week’s focus: Intertextile Shenzhen & Yarn Expo Shenzhen fuse textile tradition with sustainable, digital trends

Fashion will not be left behind in one of the world’s undisputed tech and manufacturing capitals. Which is why next week, at Intertextile Shenzhen Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Shenzhen 2026, the organisers have made special efforts to integrate textile topics such as materials innovation, holistic sustainability, digitalisation and AI. Yet, from 9 – 11 June at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the platform also includes timeless tradition and heritage-inspired evolution in equal measure. Across both shows, over 600 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions are set to showcase everything from Peruvian alpaca wool fabrics to tea-derived fibres, while their fringe programmes will explore diverse solutions along the entire value chain.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

TM WEFT, 270" – More width, more design freedom for the fashion world

KARL MAYER is expanding its successful TM WEFT series with an innovative model that opens up new possibilities, particularly in the fashion & apparel sectors. With a working width of 270", this new machine with weft-insertion not only offers significantly higher output than its narrower counterparts but is also specifically tailored to the demands of dynamic clothing market – particularly in China and Türkiye. A well-thought-out upgrade also ensures even greater design versatility.

YKK invests USD 150 million in new manufacturing facility in India

YKK Corporation has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in India, reinforcing its long-term commitment to one of the world's fastest-growing textile and apparel production hubs. The new factory will be built at Origins by Mahindra in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and will become the third manufacturing site of YKK India Private Limited. The facility is expected to be completed by February 2028 and represents an investment of approximately USD 150 million, covering land, buildings, machinery and equipment.