#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2022-11-24

New Gore-Tex products with recycled bionic textile

W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) has announced that the consumer business of its Fabrics Division will introduce two new 2-layer GORE-TEX Laminates with BIONIC textile made from plastic waste partially collected from coastal environments.

Gore has collaborated with the Bionic team to support their mission of reducing ocean plastic through community engagement by investing in their plastic recovery and sorting facility in Cóbano, Costa Rica. Through this effort, the operation collects plastic waste so it does not end up in the ocean. Sorted plastic waste is then turned into materials used in the textile component of these new GORE-TEX Laminates.

Introducing new GORE-TEX Laminates made with recycled BIONIC textile

Turning garbage into good - partnering with remote communities to repurpose coastal plastic waste

The two new laminates with recycled BIONIC textile mark another milestone in Gore Fabrics Division’s ongoing sustainability journey. The development of the laminates is also reflective of the Division’s strong commitment to responsible performance – a commitment to the increasing urgency for meaningful action and sustainable solutions within the global apparel industry that could help change the trajectory of our planet and the people who call it home.

“The new GORE-TEX Laminates with recycled BIONIC textile are a testament to how we can use meaningful scientific innovation to seek bold solutions for some of the most complex problems facing our industry,” said Achim Loeffler, Consumer Fabrics Business Leader, W. L. Gore & Associates. “We believe in the power of going further, together by working with like-minded brands; our collaboration with Bionic and Patagonia will enable us to turn garbage into good.”

Patagonia will introduce the first products featuring new GORE-TEX Laminates with recycled BIONIC textile in the Autumn/Winter ‘23 season. In future seasons, additional GORE-TEX Brand customers will introduce products featuring the new laminates, all of which are:

constructed with Gore’s new ePE membrane and 100% recycled BIONIC polyester textile – made from 50% plastic waste collected from Bionic’s operations in coastal communities and 50% from other municipal collection

certified according to Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

durably waterproof, windproof and breathable and covered by the brand’s renowned GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY Promise

“Great partnerships are built on shared vision and passion, complementary expertise and the collaborative skills and discipline to see things through. This innovative project between Patagonia, Gore, and Bionic represents that shared vision and what the future can, and should, look like for high performance outdoor protection – same waterproof performance, no forever chemistries, and radically recycled NorthStar material inputs,” said Mark Little, Global Product Director, Men’s Life Outdoors for Patagonia.

Gore provided investment, material science and supply chain knowledge to Bionic, helping to create a robust, scalable supply chain, as well as local recycling infrastructure in the Costa Rican communities. In addition, Gore and Bionic use the phrase STRONGER THREAD. GREATER GOOD. to represent the collective action that connects brands and consumers with their community driven environmental operation in Costa Rica.

Together with the Cóbano community, Gore and Bionic have collaborated to set up:

local waste management system to repurpose plastic waste

recycling stations along roads and beaches

organized community beach cleanup events and community outreach

centralized sorting, bailing and flaking facility and collection routes for local businesses, schools and other institutions

“This launch is the culmination of years of close collaboration with Gore, the development of novel processing techniques, and the creation of an entirely new and traceable supply chain. Raising the profile of BIONIC textiles to the standards of the GORE-TEX Brand has been the best kind of challenge and resulted in a truly special material that has found a perfect home at Patagonia, with its long history of high-performance innovation and stewardship,” said Tim Coombs, Bionic co-founder.

Gore first announced their relationship with Bionic in December 2020.

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.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.