[pageLogInLogOut]

#Knitting & Hosiery

Bubble Up Your Style

3D designs with a wow factor made on HKS 4-M EL ECO: When crepe, ruffles, and sheer fabrics redefine fashion

Advanced Bubble Fabric blouse © 2026 KARL MAYER
Seersucker, flip-flap items, Fırfır, or crepe materials: structured fabrics have long been more than just a passing trend. They lend timeless looks depth, dynamism, and an exciting tactile dimension. Whether classic striped patterns or modern solid-color interpretations, these versatile pieces pair perfectly with casual and business-casual outfits and effortlessly create a modern look.

KARL MAYER’s textile product development team demonstrates just how exciting it can be to rethink structure with a collection of innovative Advanced Bubble fabrics. With their original and striking 3D effects, these extraordinary fabrics are sure to turn heads and transform even simple silhouettes into true statement pieces.

A defining feature is the vertical ruffled stripes that seem to float above a delicate, transparent background. The unique look is created by the sophisticated interplay of different structures: an airy, lightweight ground with a subtle ribbed texture sets the stage for textile stripes in a trendy crinkled look, which appear on the surface like artfully appliquéd ribbons. The result is an exciting interplay of transparency, texture, and movement.

Advanced Bubble Fabric © 2026 KARL MAYER
Advanced Bubble Fabric © 2026 KARL MAYER
Advanced Bubble Fabric © 2026 KARL MAYER
Advanced Bubble Fabric © 2026 KARL MAYER


These trendy outerwear fabrics can be produced on an HKS 4-M EL ECO. The ground bars GB 3 and GB 4 create separate wide and narrow fabric strips using a special yarn threading and targeted lappings – GB 3 pillar stitch and GB 4 inlay lap under three needles. GB 2 connects these segments using a zigzag pattern created with a polyamide-elastane corespun yarn. In this process, part of the narrow fabric strip is folded over to the loop head side, creating the characteristic ruffle effect. GB 1 decorates the wide fabric strip with flexible designs. This ground bar uses the same yarn as GB 2 to create three-dimensional effects and the same thread count to minimize warping efforts.

A particular highlight was the presentation of these innovative bubble fabrics at ITM 2026 in Istanbul. There, the HKS 4-M EL ECO impressively demonstrated how creative crepe-on-crepe effects and transparent lightness can be combined to achieve fabrics with genuine runway potential.

HKS 4-M EL ECO © 2026 KARL MAYER
HKS 4-M EL ECO © 2026 KARL MAYER




More News from KARL MAYER Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

#Knitting & Hosiery

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.

#Knitting & Hosiery

KARL MAYER launches extra-wide HKS 3-M EL for increased productivity

KARL MAYER has launched a new extra-wide version of its HKS 3-M EL tricot machine, designed to increase productivity particularly in the manufacture of textiles for sports, activewear and athleisure applications.

#ITMA Asia + CITME 2026

Three stages, multiple customer benefits: KARL MAYER during ITMA ASIA 2026

At ITMA ASIA in Shanghai, KARL MAYER will once again demonstrate that it understands the challenges facing the Asian textile industry – and will present tailor-made solutions.

#Technical Textiles

RDJ 6/2 in E 32: Finesse in Motion

The appearance of sports and casual shoes is as diverse as their applications, ranging from sporty to stylish and from functional to fashionably practical. In particular, spacer fabrics produced on highly flexible KARL MAYER double needle bar raschel machines with Jacquard technology are in high demand for manufacturing these trendy shoes. These efficient production machines enable attractive designs with integrated multifunctional zones on one or both fabric surfaces, such as breathable mesh structures. Flexible in size and positioning, these features enhance both aesthetics and wearing comfort.

More News on Knitting & Hosiery

#Knitting & Hosiery

SHIMA SEIKI to showcase flat knitting and digital design solutions at Egypt Stitch & Tex

Leading Japanese computerized flat knitting technologist SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan, together with its sales representative in Egypt, TTS (EL MASRIA FOR TRADE & TECHNICAL SERVICES), will participate in the upcoming 24th International Exhibition for Textile & Carpet Machineries, Printing Technologies and Accessories (Egypt Stitch & Tex) to be held in Cairo, Egypt this month.

#Knitting & Hosiery

SHIMA SEIKI to exhibit at Première Vision Paris

Leading digital textile solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD. of Wakayama, Japan will exhibit at Première Vision Paris in Paris, France next month. The company will exhibit in the "Smart Creation" area, dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge technologies that integrate sustainability and innovation. The knitting expert will be demonstrating solutions that optimize product development workflows and enhance sustainability through proposals in Digital Product Creation (DPC).

#Knitting & Hosiery

Small stitches, big impact

KARL MAYER machines enable the highly efficient production of mosquito net fabrics with maximum protective performance.

#Knitting & Hosiery

The new RJ 4/2 EL revolutionizes body mapping and expands creative possibilities – from smart lingerie to sporty athleisure designs

With the addition of another member to its successful RASCHELTRONIC® family, KARL MAYER is opening up new possibilities for creative product development for warp knitting mills and brands. The RJ 4/2 EL offers with two stitch-forming Jacquard bars entirely new design options for functional sportswear and bi-elastic lingerie. Available in gauges E 28 and E 32, this new model helps manufacturers set their collections apart from the competition. The fine E-32 gauges, in particular, impress with their clean surface, a pleasantly soft feel, and an exceptionally elegant look.

Latest News

#Associations

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.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

nova-Institute launches groundbreaking Advanced Recycling Database for strategic market insight

The new Advanced Recycling Database reduces complexity by providing industry stakeholders with up-to-date expert-reviewed intelligence on companies, technologies, plants, capacities, locations, products and partnerships across the global advanced recycling landscape.

#Yarns

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.

#Europe

Textile ETP launches bioeconomy strategy for Europe’s textile industry

On 22 September 2026, Textile ETP's Circular & Biobased Textiles Innovation Hub published its strategy for the biobased and circular transformation of Europe's textile and apparel industry.

TOP