Modtissimo 60+4, scheduled for September 12-13, is showcasing cutting-edge sustainability in textiles, with a strong focus on the iTechStyle Green Circle, curated by Citeve and Paulo Gomes. The exhibition will feature 28 innovative designs that highlight eco-friendly materials, natural dyes, and energy-efficient processes, emphasizing eco-design principles.

Cristina Castro, Citeve’s public relations officer, notes that this year’s showcase will introduce advancements not only in materials but also in sustainable finishes and processes. The event aligns with European regulations on Digital Product Passports, encouraging participating companies to share their dataa significant step toward transparency and sustainability.

The iTechStyle Showcase, another key attraction, will present finalists for the iTechStyle Awards across Fabrics, Accessories, and Products categories, with a growing emphasis on sustainability. Home textiles, traditionally absent from Modtissimo, are also beginning to seize this platform as an opportunity.

Citeve will promote several mobilizing projects at their stand, including Be@t (Bio economy in Textiles), Texpact (Digitalization of Textiles and Clothing), and RDC (Roadmap for Decarbonization). At the European level, the Resotex project will be highlighted, aiming to foster sustainable entrepreneurship in the textile sector.

Leading industry participants include ASampaio & Filhos, Tintex, Polopique, and Lameirinho, among others, covering fabrics, products, and accessories categories.

Superdry has launched its maiden kids wear collection in partnership with retailer Next. The collection will be available on Next's online platform and select UK stores. Under this licensing agreement, the retailer Next will design, manufacture, and distribute the 95-piece collection, created in collaboration with Superdry's design team. The range will include outerwear, T-shirts, sweatshirts, polos, and dresses for children aged two to ten, drawing inspiration from Superdry's iconic archive styles.

The collection will debut online at Next.co.uk next month, with a physical launch in five selected Next stores in November. Julian Dunkerton, CEO, Superdry, shares, while Next will primarily focus on the UK market, it will also offer the collection to its agents and distributors across Europe starting from January 2025.

Next has been expanding its childrens wear licensing portfolio in recent years, bringing in brands like Clarks, Reebok, and Paul Smith in 2023/24, with All Saints and Superdry joining this year. According to its latest financial results, the retailer’schildrens wear licensing division experienced a 27 per cent increase in full-price sales, reaching £32.7 million for the year ending Jan 27, 2024.

India will export technical textiles worth over $10 billion annually by 2030, said Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Textiles, Giriraj Singh at the inauguration of a conference and exhibition on technical textiles in New Delhi.

The conference and the exhibition were organised by the Ministry of Textiles along with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Indian Technical Textiles Association.

Emphasising on the growing demand and significance of man-made fibres (MMF) and technical textiles both globally and within India, Singh said, to boost this sector, the government has launched the National Technical Textiles Mission and introduced a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for MMF, apparel, and technical textiles. Additionally, it has also sanctioned 156 research projects under the Mission.

Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for Textiles, highlighted the initiatives taken by various state governments to attract investments, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), in technical textiles.

Rachna Shah, Union Textiles Secretary, noted, the global trade in technical textiles is valued at approximately $300 billion, with India’s domestic market accounting for $25 billion and annual exports reaching $2.6 billion.

Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary added, the government has issued Quality Control Orders for 57 technical textile items, such as fire retardant furniture fabrics. It has also introduced 37 new Harmonised System (HS) Codes to enhance regulation and standardisation of technical textile products.

Despite receiving a higher bid of £215.5 million from fast-fashion giant Shein and Authentic Brands Group (ABG), Asossold the 75 per cent stake it held in the brands Topshop and Topman to Heartland for £135 million. An investment company, Heartland is the largest shareholder in the online fashion retailer Asos.

Asos opines, its partnership with Heartland will benefit from positive sales of Topshop under its new ownership as the brands will continue to be sold on the Asos website. As part of the joint venture, Asos will retain ‘certain design and distribution rights’ for Topshop and Topman and receive a royalty fee for marketing and selling the brands online.

José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, CEO, Asos, says, the joint venture will help the company strengthen its strategy to offer customers the best of fashion while driving sustainable, profitable growth. The joint venture is a testament to the brands’ potential and will help introduce Topshop and Topman to more customers globally, he states.

With the brand continuing to focus on designing top-quality fashion and being a leading style destination, the joint venture will also open new opportunities for Asos, both online and offline, while securing the best value for its shareholders.

The New York Fashion Week kicked off on Sep 06, 2024 with five menswear designers showcasing their collections, inspired by varied sources such as Zanzibar’s beaches, the 1970s, and personal dreams.

Among these was the debut collection of the Minnesota-based brand Earthling. Titled ‘Doves Cry,’ the collection majorly featured leather and denim. The collection’s designs were shaped by the 1970s and the brand's hometown icon, musician Prince.

Designer Aaron Potts showcased a collection inspired by the natural beauty of Zanzibar’s beaches. The brand also incorporated iridescent organza fabrics to symbolize the shimmering fish found in the waters.

Taking a more introspective approach, designer Clara Son presented a collection that indicated the transformation of her negative emotions into artful fashion.

Other highlights of the fashion week included the debut of a nautical-themed menswear range from the brand, The Salting.

To run till Sep 11, 2024, New York Fashion Week is set to feature approximately 60 designers on the official calendar.

Leading Japanese computerised flat knitting technologist Shima Seiki, in collaboration with its Indian sales representative Universal MEP Projects & Engineering Services, will showcase its advanced Mach2XS Whole garment Knitting Machineat the upcoming Garfab-TX Surat exhibition. To be held from Sep 13-15, 2024 in Surat, India, this international trade showwill focus on embroidery, apparel technology, fiber, yarn, fabrics, and accessories.

Equipped with 4 needle beds and Shima Seiki’s innovative Slide Needle, the Mach2XS, is designed to produce high-quality fine gauge Whole garment products using all needles, representing a breakthrough in seamless garment knitting. Additionally, Shima Seiki will also display its N.SVR123SP machine featuring a loop presser bed for inlay techniques. This machine allows for the creation of hybrid fabrics that combine both knit and woven characteristics, while its i-Plating inverse-plating capability enhances patterning possibilities, enabling the production of jacquard-like patterns in lightweight plain jersey stitch.

Both machines boast a range of Shima Seiki’s cutting-edge innovations, including the DSCS Digital Stitch Control System (enhanced with ‘intelligence’ on the Mach2XS), a spring-type moveable sinker system, stitch presser, yarn gripper and cutter, and takedown comb. Renowned for their Made-in-Japan quality, reliability, and productivity, these machines are designed to meet the high expectations of the textile industry in Surat and beyond.

Also featured at the event will be Shima Seiki’s SDS-O APEX4 3D design system, which will offer demonstrations on the creative side of fashion. This system covers everything from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation, and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual sampling, an accurate digital version of physical samples, reduces time, cost, and waste materials, transforming the sample-making process. The SDS-ONE APEX4 supports digital prototyping across various applications, including flat knitting, weaving, pile weaving, circular knitting, and embroidery, helping to drive sustainable manufacturing in the fashion supply chain.

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) is set to host the 3rd Sustainable Textile Summit on Sep 17, 2024, at the Lakshmipat Singhania Auditorium in New Delhi. This annual flagship event aims to bring together key stakeholders from the textile industry to explore innovative solutions for creating a more sustainable future.

The summit is expected to attract over 200 participants, including representatives from textile and apparel manufacturers, exporters, traders, supply chain managers, compliance officers, environmental consultants, research institutions, technology providers, retailers, and leading brands.

The keynote address for the inaugural session will be delivered by Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. Titled, ‘The Urgency for Sustainable Textile Solutions and Future Opportunities,’ this session will explore the economic and environmental impacts of the current textile industry, global sustainability trends, consumer demands, government policies, and the challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable textile future.

Prajakta L Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, will deliver a special address in Session 1 titled, ‘Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Textiles,’ focusing on sustainable raw materials, clean technologies, and circular economy practices.

The 3rd Sustainable Textile Summit is backed by leading organisations dedicated to promoting sustainability within the industry. Key partners for the event include RSWM as the Premium Partner; Ecocert Group, Oerlikon Textile India., Filatex India, Polyester Textile and Apparel Industry Association as Associate Partners; Fairtrade India and CSM as Delegate Kit Partners; Wazir Advisors as the Knowledge Partner and CPD India as the Sustainability Partner.

In addition to the keynote and special addresses, the summit will feature a panel discussion on ‘Ethical Sourcing, Labor Practices, and Reducing Carbon Emissions for a Sustainable Textile Future.’ Another session titled ‘Building Sustainable Supply Chains for a Sustainable Fashion Future’ will further explore key strategies for achieving a greener, more ethical textile industry.

India will begin producing carbon fiber by 2025-26, a niche material currently used in aerospace, civil engineering, and defense sectors as a lightweight alternative to metal, said Giriraj Singh, Union Textiles Minister at a technical textiles event organised by FICCI.

At present, India relies entirely on imports for carbon fiber from countries such as the US, France, Japan, and Germany. This shift towards local production comes ahead of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which will impose a tax on embedded carbon imports starting in 2026, Singh said.

He highlighted the Union Government’s commitment to developing India’s technical textiles industry by citing initiatives such as the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) and PLI Scheme for MMF fabrics, MMF apparel and technical textiles.

The government has also approved 156 research projects under the NTTMincluding initiatives focused on developing carbon fibers and supporting startups, Singh added, He specifically mentioned the North India Textile Research Association's (NITRA) innovation in creating fibers from milkweed, which are suitable for cold-weather applications.

Looking ahead, Singh said, India will definitely surpass the $10 billion export target for technical textiles by 2030, with sectors like Meditech (medical textiles), particularly hygiene products, playing a significant role. He also highlighted the employment potential of Agrotech (agricultural textiles) and the growing demand for high-performance fibres in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and construction.

Suedwolle Group has announced a new collaboration with Knitwear Lab, a Dutch design and development center, enhancing their expertise in Merino yarn production. This partnership was showcased at the recent PittiFilati event in Florence, where they presented innovative physical and virtual garments.

Among the highlights was a fully fashioned dress crafted from Merino wool from the Biella Yarn collection. The dress features a plated rib structure that transitions into wide floats, using a multi-stepping narrowing technique for an intricate design.

Also presented was a fully fashioned jacket, made from Merino wool. The jacket showcases a 3D structure with interlock flaps that vary in length, manipulated through a multigauge technique.

The collaboration also focused on digital knitwear, where accurate visualization of complex structures and yarns in the virtual realm was key. Knitwear Lab’s workflow integrates materials and specifications into digital previews, allowing designers to experiment with yarn choices and structures before producing physical samples. This not only saves time and materials but also empowers designers to independently create and refine their designs using open-source digital textures.

As virtual knitting technology advances, it promises more accurate visualizations and seamless integration between physical and digital products, paving the way for new innovations in fashion.

The Japan International Apparel & Non-Apparel Manufacturing Technology Trade Show (JIAM 2024 OSAKA) returns with a broader focus, incorporating non-apparel industries into its offerings. Organized by the Japan Sewing Machinery Manufacturers Association (JASMA), the 13th edition will be held from November 27-30, 2024, at Intex Osaka, featuring cutting-edge innovations across apparel, aerospace, automation, and more.

This year’s event reflects a significant shift, with expanded participation from sectors like aerospace and aviation, showcasing advanced textile solutions and technologies. JIAM 2024 OSAKA promises an immersive experience with state-of-the-art machinery, AI-driven systems, and robotic technologies. The event aims to drive industry growth by offering a platform for networking, trend-spotting, and inspiration in manufacturing automation.

As of September, 149 exhibitors from 10 countries, including China, Germany, India, and Japan, have confirmed their participation. The show will feature key pavilions by the China Sewing Machinery Association, VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies, and the Taiwan Sewing Machinery Association. Notably, international exhibitor space has doubled since 2022, highlighting the show’s growing global appeal post-pandemic.

Despite challenges during Covid-19, JIAM 2022 attracted 10,452 visitors from 59 countries, underscoring its importance in the textile industry. With normalized global travel, JIAM 2024 is expected to draw an even larger, more diverse audience.

Key highlights include special exhibits on CAD data utilization in sewing automation, a Home Sewing Zone with workshops by major brands, and a symposium on the opening day. The event will kick off with an opening ceremony featuring industry leaders and government representatives.