#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2022-11-10

ISPO 2022: Asahi Kasei Group celebrates 100 years featuring its key brands ECOSENSOR™, ROICA™ and RespiGard™

The Japanese textile brand ECOSENSOR™ by Asahi Kasei Advance continues its eco-high tech path and joins ISPO, the influential fashion and textile fair dedicated to sportwear and athleisure-wear, as part of an Asahi Kasei space within the ISPO Brandnew area, presenting its AW 2024/2025 & SS2024 collections, made of high-tech fabrics implementing new-generation values, with the aim of keeping nature, body and mind in harmony.

Sustainability oriented and technology based, ECOSENSOR™ AW 2024/2025 & SS2024 fabrics enriched this season by high-performance RespiGard™ membrane technology by Polypore

ISPO MUNICH, 28-30 November 2022, Asahi Kasei booth B2-102

2022 is a special time for Asahi Kasei as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. “Asahi Kasei has achieved growth by constantly transforming its business portfolio to meet the evolving needs of every age, and proactively taking challenges in new fields leveraging its capability to change and its diversity. Asahi Kasei culture of open communication and challenging spirit are our precious heritage, embodied in our Group Values of Sincerity, Challenge, and Creativity”.

For the 2022 edition of ISPO Munich, Asahi Kasei Group present its innovation world featuring three of its brands: ECOSENSOR™, ROICA™ and RespiGard™.

ECOSENSOR™ presents 47 new references that meet the needs of the contemporary consumer, such as durability, wellbeing and performance. Being capable of combining active climate control, exquisite touch, lightness and comfort with sustainable values, ECOSENSOR™ stands out as a unique eco-high-tech performance proposition in its market. The collection covers the different market applications with 3 items for INNERWEAR, 1 for OUTERWEAR, 13 for SPORT KNIT and 30 for SPORT WOVENS.

New this season is the application of the RespiGard™ by Polypore unique membrane designed for outdoor apparel. Its innovative pore structure is too small for water droplets to penetrate but features high porosity that allows for airflow and moisture evaporation.

A proprietary and patented products and manufacturing process provide a membrane that:

Is naturally hydrophobic (repels water)

Has smooth and uniform pores too small for water droplets to penetrate

Features high porosity that allows for airflow and moisture evaporation

Is naturally lightweight due to its high porosity.

Is produced using a solvent-free manufacturing process with a low carbon footprint. The polypropylene-based membrane is recyclable and perfluorocarbon (PFC) free.

In order to show at best the performances and possible applications of the fabrics made with RespiGard™, ECOSENSOR™ will feature at its ISPO space an ad hoc created outfit by the outerwear brand ZEROBARRACENTO https://zerobarracento.com

Furthermore, the majority of ECOSENSOR™ fabrics are made with sustainable ingredients which are certified by international certifications such as GRS and RCS through a traceable and transparent production process and supply chain.

100% of the stretch articles (representing 35% of the collection) are made with ROICA™ EF by Asahi Kasei, the recycled stretch yarn made from pre-consumer materials.

Even the dyeing and finishing phases - key moments for performancewear - have been certified by international labels such as bluesign® or OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Focusing on a selection of the most interesting fabrics of the collection, we can find:

ESS1-04824-H3LR-W

3 layers woven fabric with great wind and water-resistance performances. Entirely made with GRS certified polyamide it has a very “velvet touch” and it’s an example on how our sustainability can match technical specifications

ES1-A7890-MAC

Crispy. Stretchy. Versatile. This outerwear fabric it’s made with 90% recycled polyamide and 10% ROICA™ EF, the recycled stretch yarn.

ESS2-13584

This knitted fabric emulate the famous “seersucker”. Bright colours and crispy hand complete the peculiarities of this item that is made by recycled polyester and SOLOTEX™*: a partially bio-based yarn that enhances the sustainable credentials of this fabric.

ESS2-23865

Circular knitted, this item is made with recycled polyester and it finds its major applications in “comfort sportwear”. Despite the super-soft touch and great aesthetics, this fabric has excellent anti-abrasion qualities achieving 30,000 times in the famous Martindale test.

ESS2-31440-2

Another 100% recycled polyester knitted fabrics by ECOSENSOR™ that has been realized using a very particular technique and machineries. It’s kntted by double raschel machine allowing to “split” and separate the two “faces” of the fabrics achieving a fake-brushed effect.

Behind the new collection stands an outstanding story of performance and responsibility. “Our global team is yet again determined to innovate with a responsible approach, in order to develop solutions that meet high-performance standards as well as the transparency and traceability of both the ingredients and the supply chain.” affirms Mr. Hashimoto, Senior Managing Director of Asahi Kasei Advance, the global materials innovator and manufacturer.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

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.

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

Texhibition Istanbul signals stability and global connectivity

From 4 to 6 March 2026, Texhibition Istanbul once again brought together the international textile industry at the Istanbul Expo Center. Organized by İTKİB Fuarcılık A.Ş. in cooperation with the Istanbul Textile Exporters Association (İTHİB), the fair confirmed its role as one of the most important international sourcing platforms for fabrics and textile innovation. With 500+ exhibitors across 5 halls on 42,850 sqm, the trade fair attracted 19,325 visitors. Among them, 5.565 international visitors represented Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, North America, and other regions, underlining the show’s expanding global reach.

STFI highlights textile circular economy and alternative fibres at INDEX™ 2026

From 19 to 22 May 2026, INDEX will invite visitors to Lake Geneva for the world's leading nonwovens trade fair. The Centre of Excellence in Nonwovens at the Sächsisches Textilforschung- sinstitut e.V. (STFI) will be in attendance to present the latest developments in nonwovens research. In the field of the textile circular economy, the STFI will present acoustically effective nonwovens made from chemical recycling residues. The range also includes innovations aimed at replacing conventional raw materials, such as the biobased and biodegradable polymer polybutylene succinate (PBS) and Kendyr as an alternative to cotton.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.