Updates

Emerging start-ups from nine countries have been selected for fully funded participation in Start-Up Valley during ITMA 2027 in Hanover, an exhibition held every four years in Europe. Although their technologies address different challenges across the value chain, the companies share a common focus on sustainability and circularity.

Sourcing of cotton, polyester, nylon, viscose and wool through verified sustainability programmes climbed from 68% to 72% among the brands and retailers reporting to Textile Exchange's Materials Benchmark across 2025, against 20% of global production. Even so, 79% of the raw materials these brands used carried an unknown country of origin.

Next Generation man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF) product lines have risen to 20 from 16 in 2025, with Chinese producers now offering 12 of those lines, as conventional forest-based supply comes under growing pressure from climate disruption and trade volatility. The case for brands and producers to shift meaningful volume to recycled and residue-based alternatives has strengthened considerably.

A four-year European Union-funded project coordinated by Fairtrade International has concluded after reaching more than 9,500 cotton farmers and 700 textile manufacturers across India, with a primary focus on Tamil Nadu. The initiative delivered digital sustainability tools, capacity-building programmes, and market links between Indian suppliers and European buyers.

The textile industry's evolving material agenda came into sharper focus as Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 closed in Shanghai. Buyers were able to assess recycled, bio-based and regenerated fibres directly against performance-led solutions at the four concurrent shows, and responsible choices were shown to meet practical requirements across a range of textile applications.

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.

A new certification route now brings previously ineligible textile fibres into the Global Standards system, subject to independent verification against recognised third-party criteria. Global Standards, the non-profit behind the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has developed the standard from decades of certification experience, and eligibility now extends past the organic sector.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Autumn Edition 2026 is under way at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from 25 to 27 August, welcoming buyers, exhibitors and delegates for a three-day sourcing and networking programme. Fashion Forward, Performance Textiles, Sustainability and Textile Future organise the exhibitor showcase this edition.

Emerging technologies for textile-reinforced composites, textile recycling, digital platforms and automation solutions will feature at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2026, gathering the textile machinery industry in Shanghai this November. A dedicated Research and Innovation area will bring together leading Chinese universities to present embodied robots, intelligent inspection technologies and artificial intelligence development platforms.

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition 2026 will unite exhibitors from across the global textile trade under four pillars: Fashion Forward, Sustainability, Performance Textiles and Textile Future. From 25 to 27 August, the fair will host international pavilions and dedicated zones spanning sustainable materials, circular denim production and digital manufacturing solutions.