Apparel

Seamless construction has given Indian intimatewear a new vocabulary of comfort, softness and stretch, yet the manufacturing economics behind it remain demanding. Pankaj Kabutarwala, Founder and Owner of Piccion, a venture of Pigeon Industries, argues that advanced Italian machinery matters far less than four decades of accumulated knowledge in yarns, dyeing and integrated garment production.

Over 100,000 visitors and more than 3,500 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions gathered in Shanghai across three days for the autumn edition of the Intertextile Apparel Fabrics fair. Four sourcing pillars spanning creativity, technical performance, responsible production and digital tools guided buyer discussions across 240,000 sq m at the National Exhibition and Convention Center.

Sample approval remains one of the more settled moments in a cross-border apparel order, yet fabric, trims, labels and pack configuration can shift between sign-off and shipment. A short sample version receipt is proposed to name every difference, assign a single owner and end with one of three deliberate release decisions before quantity is committed.

A Colombian fashion delegation is taking speed, flexibility and specialised production to SOURCING at MAGIC Las Vegas as United States brands diversify supply chains beyond high-volume sourcing markets. The eight manufacturers bring artificial intelligence tools for product development, integration and depth across shapewear, swimwear, lingerie, activewear, leather goods and basics for buyers managing shorter cycles.

A new benchmarking project will test alternatives to persistent chemicals used in water- and oil-repellent finishes, comparing the performance, environmental impact and cost of nine chemistries. Fashion for Good has convened leading brands, manufacturers and technology providers to generate reliable, comparable data that will support informed sourcing decisions and the assessment of emerging chemistries.

Apparel manufacturing must shift from lowest-unit-cost sourcing toward end-to-end productivity, smart flexibility and shared value creation, the central call of a new manifesto from the International Apparel Federation. The manifesto reframes manufacturers as strategic partners rather than interchangeable suppliers and identifies postponement and closer alignment with demand as practical measures to reduce inventory risk.

Onshore garment manufacturing in Australia has a new development: a first-of-its-kind Clothing Smart Factory feasibility study is now under way. The study unites RMIT, Swinburne and UTS in a research consortium, backed by Epson and Investment NSW, to assess the technical, workforce and financial requirements for a technology-enabled facility in New South Wales.

New emphasis on pet textiles, climate-adaptive fabrics, and silver-age applications will define Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition when it returns to Shanghai from 25 to 27 August 2026. The 2026 fair builds on a 2025 edition that drew more than 3,700 exhibitors and 100,000 buyers, guided by four themes: Fashion Forward, Performance Textiles, Sustainability, and Textile Future.

Global textile trade is moving through a more complex sourcing cycle, with buyers weighing cost, reliability, material performance, and sustainability together. Wilmet Shea, General Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK), discusses how Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics reflected those pressures, from Southeast Asian buyer flows and China’s upstream strength to AI-led workflows, traceability platforms, eco-performance fabrics, and knowledge programming.

Textile development is increasingly shaped by digital systems that promise faster iteration, reduced waste, and new material possibilities. Within this shift, Bethany Meuleners, Apparel and Textile Design and Venture Lead at Variloom, discusses how programmable weaving alters development workflows, the limits imposed by existing apparel structures, and the broader implications for how materials are conceived, produced, and integrated into product design.