Textiles Review

2026 AATCC International Summit Call For Presentations

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

Authors of accepted oral presentations will be notified. In accepting an invitation to present at the AATCC International Summit, a speaker agrees to provide AATCC with the full text or PowerPoint presentation for inclusion in the Summit proceedings. Speakers receive complimentary registration to attend the conference.

Poster Presentations

Abstracts for poster presentations should clearly state the problem, solution, and results of the research work. Poster abstracts will be accepted until May 18, 2026. Poster presenters pay a reduced registration fee.

Auburn University’s Applied Research Institute Expands Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities With CF3D Enterprise Cell

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

“Huntsville continues to be the gravitational center of hypersonic development in the United States, and Auburn is investing where it matters,” said Steve Starner, CEO of Continuous Composites. “The addition of a CF3D Enterprise cell gives Auburn and its partners a modern composite manufacturing capability and a toolset to explore structural concepts that were previously out of reach.”

The installation enables Auburn researchers to work directly with the surrounding defense community, accelerating prototyping workflows and applied materials research. Students and faculty also gain hands-on experience with digital composite manufacturing, a growing requirement across aerospace and defense programs.

“Auburn’s presence in Huntsville places us in the center of national-priority programs,” said Luke Boyer, Ph.D., Lead Principal Research Engineer and Advanced Manufacturing Team Lead. “Integrating CF3D into our capabilities expands our support for hypersonic development and gives partners the ability to study structural concepts grounded in real manufacturing data.”

Continuous Composites will host a CF3D Tech Tour at Auburn University’s Huntsville Research and Innovation Center on March 11, 2026. The event will operate at a Distro C classification level and will bring together aerospace OEMs, defense primes, research institutions, and government stakeholders for technical discussions, demonstrations, and a firsthand look at the CF3D Enterprise Cell.If you would like to receive an invitation, please fill out this form at: https://continuouscomposites.com/cf3d-tech-tour/ to be added to the invitation list. Additional details will be shared soon.

Barmag: First PA66 Spinning Plant With EvoQuench Successfully Commissioned

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

Strategic partnership for PA6 and PA6.6 solutions

At the end of 2023, Barmag and Nanshan Fashion signed a strategic cooperation agreement for polyamide POY and DTY. This laid the foundation for chemical fiber production at Nanshan Fashion. The company is part of the publicly traded Nanshan Group and is one of the top 500 companies in China.

Better Cotton Initiative And Planboo To Launch Biochar Project In India

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

Throughout the project, Planboo’s digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRVin) system will capture data points from the production of biochar to the calculation of carbon removals.

This end-to-end software accurately calculates waste inputs, biochar volumes, carbon removals, and in turn streamlines the availability of carbon data. The quantification of carbon reductions and removals using this data will create new income streams for communities.

Freddie Catlow, Founder of Planboo, said: “Cotton farmers are sitting on an unrealised asset, their crop residues, currently going up in smoke.With Planboo’s MRVin technology, farmers can learn, burn and earn by turning their waste into biochar. This durable, accredited form of carbon removal, builds resilience into soils, supporting farmers, the foundation of the cotton textile industry.”

The project will conclude in 2026 at which time BCI will share project learnings and outcomes with its members.The project will measure how biochar influences key agricultural indicators such as crop yield, water retention, as well as data on reduced farm level emissions and carbon removed.

In the longer term, both BCI and Planboo will assess the potential to take this approach to scale by demonstrating the value it can provide from environmental and economic improvements at the field level to Scope 3 reduction data and carbon credits.

Borealis Partners With BlueAlp To Advance Chemical Recycling

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

”The deepening of the partnership with BlueAlp, combining assets and technology, will accelerate progress in chemical recycling for the industry,” says Stefan Doboczky, Borealis CEO. “It will allow Borealis to accelerate serving our customer base with an ever-broadening range of polymers based on chemically recycled feedstock. This transaction is fully in line with Borealis We4Customers Strategy, helping customers to deliver on their sustainability ambitions, whilst strengthening the innovation and operational focus of the group.”

The financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed.

CapEx Finance Index November 2025: Recent Rate Cuts Expected To Bolster Equipment Demand Heading Into Next Year

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

Activity at all three institution types declined in November. New deal growth at banks edged down by 1.0% to $4.9 billion, while volumes at captives declined by 9.3% to $2.9 billion and new activity at independents declined by 12.9% to $1.9 billion.

The overall credit approval rate remains elevated. The industry-wide average edged up to 78.2% in November. It continues to hover around its decade high. The average small ticket approval rate ticked up from the prior month to 81.4%, down from its 2025 high but still well above its 2024 average of 75.4%. The rate at banks dipped to 79.4%. The rate at captives fell to 81.7%, while the rate at independents rose to 72.6%.

Delinquencies drop, while losses edged up. The overall delinquency rate dropped by 0.23 percentage points to 2.0%. The November decline offset the 0.24 percentage point increase in the previous month. The overall rate continues to oscillate in a narrow band between 1.9% and 2.2%. The average delinquency rate at banks and independents fell sharply, while the rate at captives rose.

The overall loss rate ticked up by 0.05 percentage points to 0.49% in November. The average loss rate for small ticket deals increased by 0.13 percentage points to 0.69%, the second-highest reading of 2025. Loss rates moved up modestly at banks and captives, and rose more sharply at independents.

“Across the United States, demand continues to strengthen as companies reassess how they deploy capital amid rapid technological change. AI is accelerating refresh cycles for both devices and data-center infrastructure,” said Wayne Fowkes, Executive Vice President of the Americas, CHG-MERIDIAN. “At the same time, businesses are seeking greater financial flexibility as they navigate uncertain economic conditions. With 2025 shaping up to be one of the strongest years for our industry, we expect this momentum to continue, supported by agile, future-ready investment strategies that set a more resilient path for long-term competitiveness. The latest ELFA CapEx Finance Index underscores this shift and mirrors the strong growth we are seeing at CHG-MERIDIAN.”

Industry Confidence

The Monthly Confidence Index from ELFA’s affiliate, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, tracks the sentiment of executives in the industry. The index remains steady at year end at 58.3 from 59.9 in November, a heightened level for the seventh consecutive month.

Technical Note

New business volume data are concurrently seasonally adjusted each month to capture the latest seasonal patterns. Data in previous months and years may change due to updated seasonal factors.

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association’s CFI

The CapEx Finance Index (CFI) is the only real-time dataset that tracks nationwide conditions in the equipment financing industry. The information is compiled from a diversified set of businesses that respond to questions about demand for equipment financing, employment, and changes in financial conditions. The resulting data is organized by institution type, such as banks, captives, and independents, and is classified into overall activity and financing for small ticket equipment and software. The CFI is released monthly from Washington, D.C., generally one day before the U.S. Department of Commerce’s durable goods report. More detail on the data and methodology can be found at www.elfaonline.org/CFI.

Crown Brands Group Acquires Iconic Intimates Brand Hanky Panky

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

Hanky Panky has maintained a devoted following for nearly five decades, with one of its Signature Lace Thongs sold every 10 seconds globally. The brand is currently distributed through over 2,500 top-tier boutiques, major department stores, and e-commerce platforms.

“We are honored to partner with Crown Brands Group to carry forward the legacy of a brand that has defined comfort and quality for generations,” said Yossi Nasser, CEO of Rafar Group. “Rafar’s track record of building intimates brands like LIVELY demonstrates our ability to resonate with today’s consumer. We see tremendous opportunity to expand Hanky Panky’s reach and introduce the brand to new audiences while maintaining the exceptional comfort and quality the brand is known for.”

Hanky Panky founders Gale Epstein and Lida Orzeck will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s future. Recognizing the importance of their creative vision, both founders will join Hanky Panky’s Board of Directors to ensure the brand’s signature aesthetic and commitment to quality remain intact.

“We built Hanky Panky on a foundation of comfort, quality, and female empowerment, and it was vital to find partners who respect that DNA,” said co-founders Gale Epstein and Lida Orzeck. “We trust Crown Brands Group and Rafar Group to steward this legacy. Their combined vision gives us great confidence that Hanky Panky will continue to thrive and innovate in this exciting next chapter.”

Wedbush Securities served as financial advisor and Morrison Cohen, and Sills Cummis & Gross acted as legal advisors to Crown Brands Group and Rafar Group. Consensus served as financial advisor and Perkins Coie acted as legal advisor to Hanky Panky.

Hanky Panky

From its namesake handkerchief lingerie collection in 1977, Hanky Panky went on to revolutionize the intimates industry by creating the World’s Most Comfortable Thong®. The brand has maintained a devoted customer following and is sold through over 2,500 boutiques, major department stores, and e-commerce platforms worldwide. Known for its signature stretch lace and commitment to comfort, Hanky Panky remains a staple in women’s intimate apparel. For more information, visit hankypanky.com.

EDANA Wraps Up Its Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

The Forum opened with a powerful keynote address by Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-Founder & Chair of the Systems Transformation Hub. Addressing the theme “Social & Environmental Tipping Points,” she challenged attendees to unpack the reality of today’s geopolitical situation and identified the “elephants in the room” regarding current sustainability strategies. Her presentation underscored the urgent need to “hack humanity and values back into our policy and economic activities” to navigate the systemic challenges of the 21st century.

Following the keynote, the conversation turned to the practicalities of business leadership under regulatory pressure. Ulrika Kolsrud, President & CEO of Essity, led a pivotal session on “Sustainability priorities in the age of simplification and competitiveness”. Joined by Murat Dogru, Kolsrud explored how the European industry can maintain its ambitious sustainability goals while simplifying regulations to foster investment and innovation. The session highlighted that while sustainability expectations are rising globally, legislation must remain proportionate to ensure the continued competitiveness of essential European industries.

The programme featured intensive sessions tackling the industry’s operational challenges, featuring a diverse roster of experts:

Moving beyond compliance was a key theme. Krishna Manda (Lenzing) and Anna- Stina Reuter (Sphera) discussed how sustainability reporting can drive business value and resilience. They were joined by Pia Hildén (Suominen), who encouraged companies to use the CSRD as a strategic tool rather than a mere obligation, and Ralf Weis (Freudenberg Performance Materials), who highlighted the importance of providing clear, relevant data to customers in the durable nonwovens market.

A panel featuring Lutz Walter (Textile ETP), Mireille Kong – Van Rekum (Indorama Ventures), and Christian-Yves Crépet (PETCORE Europe) debated the intersection of textiles and nonwovens. Their consensus was clear: circularity in Europe cannot be achieved in silos and requires shared infrastructure and aligned policy frameworks.

The afternoon sessions explored specific technical frontiers. Dominic Byrne (Plastics Europe) and Thorsten Bies (Schlegel und Partner) examined the future of chemical recycling policy and technology. Meanwhile, Tatiana Dias, PhD (DuPont), addressed the healthcare sector, advocating for the legal recognition of mass balance methodologies to unlock circularity in medical packaging

Day 1 concluded with an exclusive networking dinner at the prestigious Musée BELvue. Surrounded by Belgium’s rich history and elegant architecture, participants utilized the evening to unwind and connect, reinforcing the relationships that are vital for cross-industry collaboration.

The second day shifted focus directly to advocacy and policy implementation. Hugo Maria Schally, a former EU official, provided an insider’s perspective on the “EU Toolbox,” explaining how product policies are drafted within DG ENV and how the industry can engage effectively without compromising safety or performance.

A highlight of the event was the interactive EU Advocacy Workshop. Attendees split into smaller groups to dissect EDANA’s current policy files, fostering an open exchange on issues ranging from the Waste Framework Directive to the Single-Use Plastics Directive.

One participant noted the value of this hands-on approach:

“The advocacy workshop was an eye-opener. Instead of just listening to updates, we were able to actively debate the implications of the legislation with peers. It clarified exactly where the industry needs to present a united front to be heard in Brussels.”

In a move to bridge the gap between legislation and industry, the Forum concluded with a visit to the European Commission at the Conference Centre Albert Borschette. Participants engaged directly with Commission representatives, including Vincenzo Gente (DG Environment) on the Waste Framework Directive and Ewa Malz (DG Environment) on environmental policy simplification.

Reflecting on the visit, another attendee shared:

“Walking into the Commission and hearing directly from the people drafting the Green Deal policies was invaluable. It demystified the process and showed us that there is a genuine willingness to listen to technical realities if we present them with credible data.”

The EDANA Sustainability & Policy Forum 2025 has set a clear trajectory for the coming year. As the industry faces the release of new legislative packages from the Commission, EDANA remains committed to helping members anticipate developments and align on credible, science-based approaches to climate and circularity.

ExxonMobil, Milliken And Ravago Collaborate On High Performance PP Compounds Incorporating Recycled Content For Automotive Standard

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

OEMs have interest in rPP compounds that can meet application requirements for impact resistance at various temperatures and stiffness benchmarks. Those compounds must also be designed for fast injection molding cycle times which can help address cost concerns.

Additionally, aiming to make the automotive sector circular and maximize the efficient use of resources to protect the environment, the European Commission proposed a new regulation on end-of-life vehicles (ELV) in 2023. The new rules include circular design of vehicles to facilitate removal of materials, parts and components for reuse/recycling, and mandate the use of recycled plastics in automotive applications.1

This ask seems reasonable, but the reality is that this is not easily achieved: rPP content, even when originating from ELV waste, typically struggles to meet such demanding automotive OEM specifications.

Solution

Milliken & Company and ExxonMobil have a long history of working together. As a leading supplier of transformative chemical solutions that deliver essential performance, Milliken routinely helps brands and converters balance and enhance the properties and processability of mechanically recycled polypropylene content. ExxonMobil manages a portfolio of performance products that can provide the building blocks to help meet growing global demand for essential products.

Critical automotive OEM parts, such as wheel arch, and front fascia deflectors , must meet flexural modulus (stiffness), tensile strength, and impact strength specifications, so formulations that incorporate rPP content would have to meet these physical property requirements without compromising final performance or negatively impacting the injection-molding process.

Each company brought a unique skill set to help address the challenge. The companies developed trial formulations built around Milliken’s DeltaMax® performance modifiers and ExxonMobil’s Exact™ polyolefin elastomers (POE).

The technical team conducted several compounding trials using up to 25% Exact POE enhanced with DeltaMax® and post-consumer rPP content containing approximately 15% polyethylene.

These compounds were molded into dumbbell-shaped samples, which were then tested for flexural modulus, tensile strength, impact strength at 23 °C and at –20 °C, and for melt flow rate (MFR).

Results

The test results showed a Notched Charpy impact of 50 kJ/m2 at 23°C and 4 kJ/m2 at -20°C could be achieved with a flexural modulus of approximately 900 MPa and a tensile strength significantly above the target from various OEMs — passing the first hurdle of balancing mechanical performance. The MFR was improved more than two-fold over the initial rPP content compound, which has the potential to help reduce part processing costs. This can be achieved by decreasing operating temperatures and lowering cycle time, which can lead to lower energy consumption in the manufacturing process and a lower carbon footprint of the final part.

These results come from the innovative formulation enabled by Milliken and ExxonMobil’s collaboration:

The rubber-like behavior of Exact™ POE can help improve impact strength and limit drops in stiffness compared to other impact modifiers.
DeltaMax® performance modifiers can help improve flow rate and help boost impact further over recycled PP with Exact POE through compatibilization of the matrix-rubber interface, thus helping to facilitate particle dispersion and small particle size.

Following the successful initial trial, ExxonMobil and Milliken collaborated with Ravago, one of the leading compounders and recyclers, to evaluate a new formulation designed to meet the evolving requirements of the automotive industry.

The trial featured a blend of 20% Exact POE, 1% DeltaMax® performance modifier, and Ravapura®, a compound incorporating 25% certified post-consumer recycled (PCR) content — including 6.25% ELV material — in compliance with the new EU regulations.

Benchmarked Ravapura® grade meets the new ELV content thresholds and is suited for specific applications/parts in cars. The enhanced formulation demonstrated significant performance gains:

Melt Flow Rate (MFR): Improved by 200%
Charpy Impact at Room Temperature: Increased by 660%
Charpy Impact at -30°C: Increased by 200%

Although the addition of Exact POE slightly reduces flexural modulus, it substantially enhances impact resistance — bringing performance levels close to those of virgin materials like Exceed™ Tough PP8285E1. Trial results demonstrated that the formulation delivers comparable flow and impact performance to Exceed Tough PP8285E1, under both room temperature and extreme cold conditions (-30°C). This positions the solution as a strong candidate for OEMs and compounders seeking to balance regulatory compliance, sustainability, and mechanical performance in automotive applications.

“We’re excited to see the compound that incorporates rPP achieves similar (and even exceeds) performance as virgin materials,“ said J Dow, Global Market Development Manager for Polyproplylene, Vistamaxx™ and Exact™ at ExxonMobil. “This well demonstrated the value and power of collaboration that we can unleash possibilities by working together to help our customers meet stringent regulations.”

“The creation of viable compounds that incorporate rPP content is a major win, and we’re proud to play a role in solving this challenge together with our collaborators at ExxonMobil,” added Dr. Philippe Scheerlinck, Senior Market Development Manager for Milliken’s Chemical Business.

Data from tests performed by or on behalf of ExxonMobil

Jeanologia Celebrates Its 30th Anniversary Transforming How Jeans Are Produced Worldwide

2025-12-30T10:00:00+00:00

Beyond technology, the company highlights that its greatest contribution has always been its people. Today, 200 professionals form a multicultural team united by the same mission and passion, to prove that a different way of producing is possible. Their expertise, creativity and purpose have been key to building a global ecosystem based on collaboration.

Looking ahead, Jeanologia continues advancing toward its MissionZero vision, aiming to eliminate the environmental impact of garment finishing. The company is now preparing the next major shift by integrating artificial intelligence, robotization and advanced automation to develop smarter, more precise, and efficient processes. These technologies will bring production even closer to the designer, connect creativity with the factory in real time and enable brands to respond more accurately to consumer demand without generating overproduction.

Jeanologia will also continue leading solutions that protect one of the planet’s most valuable resources, water. From full recycling systems to new finishing methods with minimal consumption, the mission remains unchanged, to eliminate the water impact of textile production and accelerate the transition toward truly circular models.

“We are not just celebrating 30 years; we are celebrating three decades of real impact. We have proven that technology can transform the industry and make it more human, sustainable, and efficient. And this is just the beginning. Our commitment is to continue driving a production model connected to designers, creativity, and real consumer demand, applying AI, automation and solutions that protect essential resources like water,” says Carmen Silla, Global Marketing Director at Jeanologia.

Thirty years later, Jeanologia remains driven by the same passion it started with, now reinforced by the strength, knowledge, and vision of a global leader. Its purpose remains unchanged, to create a clean, creative, and future-ready textile industry. The best of Jeanologia is still to come.