South Korea's apparel imports rose 4.19% year on year to $9.9 billion in January–September 2026, according to Korea Customs Service data. Knitted apparel and clothing accessories (Chapter 61) reached $4.9 billion, up 4.19%, while non-knitted apparel and clothing accessories (Chapter 62) totalled $5.0 billion, up 4.19%. September 2026 imports alone increased 14.19% to $1,234.5 million.
JINTEX has launched JINFIX PA-5408, a bisphenol-free fixing agent for nylon and its blends dyed with acid and metal-complex dyes. The product is independently verified as bisphenol-free and offers improved wet fastness, shade stability, hydrophilicity and reduced fixing-spot formation. It is positioned to help textile processors meet evolving quality and chemical compliance standards.
Messe Frankfurt will stage Techtextil and Texprocess from 4-7 April 2028 with a revised five-level hall layout that follows the textile value chain from production technologies to fibres, technical textiles, coated composites and finishing machinery.
Partners are targeting seaweed-based waterproof textiles, according to Ecotextile News. The source provides no further details on the partners, materials, or technical specifications.
Factory-level production data could improve the accuracy of digital product passports for denim, according to Ecotextile News. The report links granular manufacturing data to sharper passport records for the denim sector. No specific metrics, companies, or deadlines were disclosed in the source text.
Spectre has opened a lower-emissions manufacturing factory in Vietnam, according to Ecotextile News. The report provides no further detail on the facility's capacity, equipment, or emissions metrics.
Reju has recruited six mills to produce recycled polyester, according to Ecotextile News. The report names no specific mills, capacities, or timelines for the arrangement.
A Portland event spotlighted trade and innovation in textiles, according to Ecotextile News. The source provides no further details on participants, technologies, or outcomes.
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has called for action to advance textile circularity in the United States, according to Ecotextile News. The report frames circularity as a policy priority for the US textile sector, with implications for material compliance and recycled feedstock sourcing across the supply chain.
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has proposed harmonised end-of-waste rules for textiles, according to Ecotextile News. The proposal addresses the criteria under which textile waste would cease to be classified as waste. No further technical details or timelines were disclosed in the source text.
The Functional Fabric Fair in Portland attracted record attendance with over 350 exhibitors, highlighting bio-based materials as a central theme for performance apparel. The event, held October 26-28, saw a 7% attendance increase over autumn 2025 and introduced a new Cellulose Forum covering hemp, flax, lyocell, modal and viscose. Seven companies received innovation awards, including Paltext for overall innovation and Pontetorto for eco performance, while sessions addressed circularity, regulatory compliance and AI application.
Barmag has extended its Digital Academy online training centre for the BCF process to Chinese, three years after launching it in English, Spanish, French and Turkish.
The European Commission has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties ranging from 39.8% to 48.1% on PET spunbond nonwovens originating in China, effective October 31st for five years. The investigation concluded that Chinese imports increased significantly and were sold at unfairly low prices, causing substantial harm to the EU industry. EDANA welcomed the decision, stating it restores fair competition and supports investments in innovation, sustainability, and employment.
Manufacturing & Process Note: The definitive anti-dumping duties on PET spunbond nonwovens will raise landed costs for EU converters sourcing Chinese material, requiring immediate review of supplier contracts and inventory buffers. Procurement teams should validate country-of-origin documentation and model the 39.8%–48.1% duty into five-year cost forecasts.
The latest ITMA 2027 textile machinery exhibition blog reports that the industry's next major challenge is linking isolated data systems across design, PLM, ERP, MES, and individual machines.
Sanitized introduced Odorex EON, a biocide-free treatment that adsorbs odour molecules and releases sebum residues during laundering, while Rudolf launched Ruco-Dry Eco CWS, a water-repellent finish for cotton fabrics with high hydrostatic pressure resistance. Both technologies target persistent odours and declining weather protection to extend the useful life of performance apparel and technical textiles. The developments were highlighted at Performance Days in Munich on October 13-14th.
ZSK has introduced an open API and direct integration with Anthropic's Claude AI platform to its MY.ZSK 4.0 monitoring system, enabling manufacturers to analyze embroidery production data and build custom performance dashboards without programming.
Rieter has appointed Georg Stausberg, formerly CEO of Barmag, as group CEO with immediate effect after designated chief executive Daniel Lippuner withdrew over irreconcilable differences concerning his compensation and bonus arrangements. Stausberg brings more than three decades of textile machinery experience and joined Rieter's executive committee following the company's February 2026 acquisition of Barmag. He now leads Rieter as it integrates Barmag into its operations.
Italian fashion house Missoni implemented Lectra's Kubix Link cloud-based PLM platform, reducing time spent managing and maintaining product data by approximately 60%.
Fong's National Engineering and Pacific Global Associates jointly held an open day at Rahim Textile Mills in Gazipur, demonstrating the Softwin Dyeing Machine to Bangladesh's textile dyeing professionals.
Taiwanese chemical fiber producers reported domestic raw material prices up more than 30% year-on-year, with September increases outpacing their ability to adjust selling prices.
Reju is collaborating with six mills—A. Sampaio, RDD Textiles, Tintex Textiles, FOV Fabrics, Utenos, and Swisstex Direct—to develop fabrics and move its regenerated polyester from raw output into finished fabric.
FiltXPO 2026, organized by INDA, convened filtration industry leaders on October 28-29 in Minneapolis, showcasing award-winning technologies including Solberg's automated liquid management system and Ahlstrom's OptiPad depth filtration media.
PCP Ventures LLC completed its acquisition of Pellon on October 1, taking over the interfacing and nonwoven specialty materials brand that employs approximately 95 people at a 220,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida.
Nonwovenn and Technical Materials Group (TMG) have appointed Ned Dorbin as Chief Executive Officer of both combined businesses, tasking him with leading their next growth phase.
Messe Frankfurt will run Techtextil and Texprocess 2028 concurrently in Frankfurt from 4 to 7 April 2028 under an optimized hall layout that routes visitors along the textile value chain across five hall levels.
ReHubs is inviting textile value chain organizations to shape the conference program for Textiles Recycling Expo 2027 in Brussels, with the Call for Speakers and Textiles Recycling Awards entries now open. ReHubs returns as Structural Partner for the third consecutive year, and more than 100 exhibitors have already booked, limiting stand availability. CEO Béatrice Moureaux said innovation alone will not deliver circularity at scale and that economic and structural barriers must be addressed.
A denim project is highlighting supply chain connections, according to Ecotextile News. The source provides no further details on participants, materials, or outcomes.
STAHLS’ Fulfill Engine has integrated Cutter & Buck and Storm Creek into its on-demand platform, connecting both apparel brands with automated decoration and fulfillment. Cutter & Buck adds 198 new styles, including Clique branded items, while Storm Creek expands the platform’s sustainable apparel selection; orders route automatically for decoration and fulfillment with a five-business-day turnaround through the decorator network. The integrations accompany a redesigned product catalog with dynamic filters and improved search.
Advanced Textiles Association (ATA) selected 56 winners for its 2026 International Achievement Awards from 119 entrant projects spanning 46 categories. Winners were judged on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness, and function by a panel of industry experts, editors, architects, educators, and design professionals. The awards recognize specialty fabrics and technical textiles projects from around the world.
TECHNICAL TEXTILES TODAY@techtextodayPulse Score1818Functional Fabric Fair powered by Performance Days drew record attendance at its Fall 2026 Portland edition, up 7% versus Fall 2025, with a sold-out hall of more than 350 exhibitors and a capacity OIA Catalyst Conference of over 300 professionals.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2028 will run concurrently in Frankfurt from 4 to 7 April 2028, with a five-hall-level route across the western exhibition grounds following the textile value chain from production technologies and fibres to coated textiles and composites.
US polymer specialist Americhem has acquired Noble Biomaterials, the developer of the Ionic+, X-Static and Circuitex platforms for antimicrobial, odour control and electrical conductivity functions in textiles and soft surfaces. The deal brings Noble's US manufacturing operations and intellectual property portfolio, developed over more than two decades, into Americhem's global functional fibres and polymer solutions business. Financial terms were not disclosed.
VistaPrint installed a Kornit Digital Apollo system, increasing digital garment printing capacity by approximately 25,000 units per week and delivering production speeds around three times faster than its previous process.
Karl Mayer has enhanced its TM Weft warp knitting machine with a finer E 36 gauge option, a new EL pattern drive, and continuous yarn tension regulation to produce finer fashion fabrics. The upgraded machine will be demonstrated at ITMA Asia 2026 in Shanghai, alongside two fabric collections including a 63 gsm crinkle chiffon-like fabric and dense autumn/winter constructions. The WovenLike concept aims to replicate woven fabric appearance while retaining warp knitting's production efficiency and wrinkle resistance.
TECHNICAL TEXTILES TODAY@techtextodayPulse Score2222
KARL MAYER will present its latest-generation WARPDIRECT direct warping machine and HSB Size Box for the PROSIZE sizing machine at ITMA ASIA 2026 in the Weaving Hall, Booth 3/A24. The WARPDIRECT 2.0 achieves warping speeds up to 1,200 m/min and features an electric press roll system that reduces maintenance while ensuring precise, cylindrical beams. The HSB Size Box offers a cover factor up to 100%, size add-on savings of up to 10%, and a maximum sizing speed of 160 m/min, with 200 m/min available as an option.
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre published a technical report on 26 October 2026 proposing harmonized end-of-waste criteria for textile, textile-related and footwear waste to support reuse and remanufacturing across the EU.
