#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2023-11-30

GORE-TEX brand and BIONIC collaborate to create Patagonia’s warmest jacket on the market

Patagonia has released its new STORMSHADOW PARKA, the warmest jacket of their current offerings. The jacket is also the first product in-market to feature new material innovation from the GORE-TEX Brand and Bionic, delivering on the brands’ shared values of turning garbage into good.

The STORMSHADOW PARKA is available for purchase now, and features a unique textile and laminate combination made from recycled and ocean-bound materials

The Patagonia Stormshadow Parka is one of the brand’s warmest parkas to date and one of the most active in helping us to rely on cleaner, non-extractive materials. Built to keep you outside for longer, it’s the ideal cold weather companion – whether braving the work commute or venturing out to explore the places we love to protect.

“We are so proud and excited to finally reveal the result of years of hard work and collaboration,” said Mark Little, Global Product Director, Men’s Life Outdoors for Patagonia. “This product could only be made possible by all parties coming together and bringing their respective expertise and resources to the table to pursue a shared goal of turning waste into opportunity.”

The durably waterproof, windproof, breathable GORE-TEX Fabric used in the STORMSHADOW PARKA features a textile component made of 50% material from Bionic’s operations in Costa Rican coastal communities. In addition, the new 2-layer laminate is made without PFCs* and features Gore’s new ePE (expanded polyethylene) membrane and a well-proven, DWR (durable waterproof repellent) treatment.

“The collaboration between the GORE-TEX Brand, Bionic and Patagonia is a true testament to what brands with aligned values can accomplish,” said Achim Loeffler, Consumer Fabrics Business Leader, W. L. Gore & Associates. “We all share a commitment to using scientific innovations to find solutions for complex problems so that we can to go further together and turn garbage into good.”

In December 2020, W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) and Bionic announced a collaboration to develop high-performance textiles made from recycled coastal and marine plastic. Gore also invested in Bionic’s plastic recovery and sorting facility in Cóbano, Costa Rica - an operation that collects plastic waste so it does not end up in the ocean. Sorted plastic waste is then turned into materials used partially in the textile component of the new 2-layer GORE-TEX Laminate made with recycled BIONIC textile. Gore has also 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.

“We believe in the power of working together, and this launch epitomizes that belief as it represents years of close collaboration with Gore, the development of novel processing techniques, and the creation of an entirely new and traceable supply chain,” said Tim Coombs, Bionic co-founder. “Moreover, Patagonia as a brand offers the perfect home for a collective milestone like this, given its long history of high-performance innovation and environmental stewardship.”

The jacket is available now via Patagonia.com as well as select retailers nationwide for the price of $899. For more information, please visit:

http://Patagonia.com

* advances Gore Fabrics’ goal of being free of PFCs of environmental concern over the lifecycle of its consumer products. In this case, the goal is accomplished using nonfluorinated materials.

Learn more on:

https://gtx.is/pfcec

GORE, GORE-TEX, GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.

BIONIC, BIONIC design, and STRONGER THREAD are trademarks of Return Textiles, LLC

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.