#Associations

2026-09-22

ITMF names five winners of the Start-up Award 2026

Five start-ups from Switzerland, Brazil, the United States and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Start-up Award 2026. Their concepts range from new polymer chemistry and natural-fiber biocomposites to zero-waste design, 3D weaving and enzymatic PET recycling.

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has announced the five winners of its Start-up Award 2026. They will present their business models at the ITMF & IAF Conference on October 14–15, 2026, in Fortaleza, Brazil, co-hosted by the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (ABIT).

The ITMF Start-up Awards aim to provide start-ups with a platform to showcase innovative ideas and technologies and connect with established companies from across the textile value chain.

Matereal, Switzerland

Business Concept: “Charting the New Frontier – Biobased Polymers and AI for Textile Manufacturing”

Matereal develops non-isocyanate chemistry as an alternative to conventional polyurethane, combined with a proprietary AI and machine-learning platform. Its Polaris™ system is designed as a drop-in replacement for conventional polyurethane in coating, extrusion and molding processes and to run on existing production lines.

no.wasTee Soluções em Confecções Sustentáveis, Brazil

Business Concept: “Zero-Waste Design for a Low-CO₂ Textile Industry”

no.wasTee has developed a patented zero-waste design methodology that addresses material waste at the pattern-making and cutting stage. Its approach combines high material utilization with ergonomics and wearability.

Tellura Technologies, Brazil

Business Concept: “100% Natural Yarn: From Fashion to Aerospace Biocomposite”

Tellura develops processed yarns from natural fibers while maintaining their 100% natural content. The yarns are used as reinforcement for bio-based polymers to create lightweight, high-performance biocomposites for applications including transportation, architecture, sports and telecommunications.

Unspun, USA

Business Concept: “Automating Apparel Supply Chains with 3D Weaving”

Unspun has developed its proprietary OneWeave™ system to produce three-dimensional woven garments directly from yarn. The technology is designed for local, on-demand and almost zero-waste production, with the aim of reducing inventories, lead times and material inefficiencies in apparel manufacturing.

Yuantian Biotechnology (Tianjin), China

Business Concept: “Enzymatic Recycling and Industrialization of Waste PET Plastic”

Yuantian uses engineered enzymes to break down PET waste into the monomers rPTA and rEG, which can subsequently be repolymerized into recycled PET for applications including textile fibers. The company says a 300-ton rPTA production line is already operating, while a 5,000-ton line is under construction.

The five winners will present their technologies and business models at the ITMF & IAF Conference in Fortaleza. The ITMF Start-up Awards are intended to give emerging companies international visibility while facilitating direct interaction with established players from across the textile value chain.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

HeiQ & Archroma and Lenzing & Armedangels win ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has named two industry partnerships as winners of the ITMF International Collaboration Awards 2026. The awards go to collaborations between HeiQ and Archroma as well as Lenzing and Armedangels, highlighting joint approaches to innovation and sustainability across different parts of the textile value chain.

Business situation weakens slightly, but the industry stays cautiously optimistic

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has published the results of its 39th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted from 14 to 22 July 2026 among companies along the entire global textile value chain. Worldwide, 10% of participants rated their business situation as good, 53% as satisfactory and 37% as bad — a balance of -26pp, down from -17pp in May but still well above the 2023 lows. All regions are now in negative territory, from South Asia at -3pp to North & Central America at -58pp.

Italian textile machinery at TITAS 2026: strategic partnership and tailor-made solutions for the Taiwanese market

The excellence and innovative capabilities of Italian textile machinery technology are coming to Taipei for TITAS 2026 (Taiwan International Textile & Garment Machinery Show), the leading event for the island’s textile industry and the wider Asian region, scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 October 2026.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.

Automation, digitalization and new business models are shaping the future of footwear and leather technology

The European footwear and leather machinery industry is facing profound transformations. Global competitive dynamics, technological innovation, automation and digitalization are fundamentally reshaping markets, production processes and business models. This is one of the key findings of the new study “Threads of the Future – Footwear and Leather Technology Edition”, which was presented today by VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies (VDMA TFL) during a press conference at SIMAC Tanning Tech in Milan.

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.

Durak Maxibalance thread supports users’ movement and balance comfort

Durak Tekstil, a leading brand in its industry, has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR IR technology. Ushering in a new era for sportswear, activewear, and medical textiles, this technology offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it.