Fabrics

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.

A single reconfigurable fabric has shown it can function as multiple VR controllers, eliminating the need for dedicated physical props and reducing deployment complexity. New research has reported high performance in recognising actions across all three states, pointing towards portable, low-burden haptic interfaces for VR training.

A newly developed self-cleaning fabric coating enables detergent-free laundry by allowing stains, microbes and residues to be removed using only water. The approach reduces water, energy and time use significantly while eliminating detergent discharge, offering a scalable pathway to more sustainable, resource-efficient and environmentally responsible textile care systems in everyday use.

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.

Researchers at a Swiss engineering university have developed a textile-based actuator that combines high mechanical strength with garment-level flexibility. Using shape memory alloy fibres arranged in a precise X-crossing geometry, the fabric contracts powerfully when electrically activated. The design overcomes long-standing limitations of knitted actuators and opens pathways for practical, comfortable wearable robotics.

Researchers at Cornell University have developed an ultrablack wool textile inspired by the feather structure of the magnificent riflebird. Using a two-step process combining polydopamine dyeing and plasma etching, the team achieved exceptionally low light reflectance in a wearable, scalable fabric that maintains its black appearance across wide viewing angles.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will be held from 11 to 13 March at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC), Shanghai, spotlighting sustainability, performance and AI-driven innovation. The event features a 60 per cent larger Econogy Hub and an enhanced Innovation & Digital Solutions Zone, with forums and labs focused on smart materials, digitalisation and circular economy applications in textiles.

At the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics - Autumn Edition starting tomorrow, industry players will be seen navigating shifting sourcing strategies, sustainability expectations, and digital transformation. Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, explains how themed zones, global exhibitors, and smart tools are helping buyers discover materials, evaluate suppliers, and make sourcing decisions in a changing market.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have unveiled a potential alternative to formaldehyde and PFAS in cotton finishing, using epoxidised cottonseed oil. Presented at the American Chemical Society’s Fall 2025 meeting, the work highlights a promising green process to create wrinkle-resistant, water-repellent fabrics without harmful chemicals, potentially transforming cotton finishing and reducing environmental and health risks associated with traditional treatments.

Industry leader Mahlo is celebrating 80 years of advancing textile manufacturing through precision control technologies. From fabric straightening to real-time quality monitoring, the German company has helped mills worldwide modernise operations without compromising accuracy. In this interview, Thomas Höpfl, Head of Sales, explains how Mahlo continues to lead textile innovation by adapting to industry demands while honouring its engineering roots.