With more than two decades of experience in footwear and manufacturing, Santhana most recently worked at Bata as the Global Head of Quality in Singapore. Prior to that, Santhana spent seven years at Adidas where he served in director roles overseeing quality footwear and manufacturing excellence in footwear.

“In addition to his vast expertise in the footwear industry, Raj holds two engineering degrees and he will be critical to driving operational excellence programs for our global team of 3,200 people at OrthoLite’s owned manufacturing facilities around the world,” said Richard Bevan, COO of OrthoLite.

Additional personnel moves include the promotion of Shaw Kiat Phua to Vice President of Global Foaming, leading OrthoLite’s Global Foam Innovation Team. SK’s team is committed to advancing OrthoLite’s market leadership as the first and most trusted name in comfort, performance and less impactful footwear foams. In his new role, SK leads the strategic direction for OrthoLite PU material development with a focus on sustainable innovations in footwear and will continue to report to Bevan, COO at OrthoLite. SK is also based in Singapore and regularly travels to OrthoLite’s manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Europe, India, and Brazil

Since 1997, OrthoLite continues to drive innovation and continual improvement to build excellence in foam footwear products and materials consistently, at scale and with on-time delivery to more than 550 footwear brand partners.

OrthoLite has built a rock-solid reputation for innovation, reliability, capacity and is known for its collaborative approach in development with the world’s best footwear brands to create custom insole formulations that deliver unrivaled comfort and performance. OrthoLite insoles are the key interface between how a shoe is designed to perform and the discerning consumer, and its products can be found in more than 600 million pairs of footwear a year.

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: OrthoLite

The Rinnovo mattress is elevating expectations of what sustainable luxury can look like in the hospitality industry. Piana Sleep offers a sleep solution that aligns with the growing demand for eco-conscious choices. The design delivers superior comfort, contouring, and support in firm, medium, and plush options. Available in standard sizes and custom dimensions, Rinnovo ensures a perfect fit for any hotel room, enhancing a hospitality property’s unique offering. Plus, Piana Sleep’s take-back promise extends beyond recycling its own mattresses: for every Rinnovo mattress purchased, Piana offers to take back a non-Rinnovo mattress, helping to reduce waste and promote a circular economy in the hospitality industry.

“At Reveille Hospitality, we only partner with brands that meet our highest standards for quality, innovation, and sustainability,” said Marco Roca Sr, Co-founder and CEO of Reveille Hospitality. “Piana Sleep surpasses all three, marking the most exciting advancement in hotel sleep systems since the Heavenly Bed.”

Roca Sr. revolutionized the industry 25 years ago with the release of the iconic Heavenly Bed, made for Westin Hotels and Resorts and available for consumer purchase exclusively through Westin. Led by industry luminary Roca Sr., Reveille Hospitality stands at the forefront of hospitality development, management, and consulting services. With decades of collective experience to draw upon, Reveille Hospitality ensures every venture not only meets but exceeds the highest standards of excellence.

“As a pioneer of mattress innovation in hospitality, Marco’s expertise is unmatched,” said Silvia Galasso, Executive Vice President of Piana Sleep. “Together with Reveille, Piana Sleep is poised to bring the next wave of disruption, combining advanced sleep technology with visionary leadership to redefine comfort for hotel guests worldwide while contributing to the health of our planet.”

Rinnovo highlights Piana Sleep’s devotion to sustainability, minimizing waste, and conserving energy in the bedding and hospitality industries. The Rinnovo mattress is made with Piana recycled technology, resulting in up to 46% fewer CO2 emissions than a comparable all-foam mattress, takes up to 52% less energy to make, and is up to 31% lighter than an equivalent all-foam mattress.

At the heart of Rinnovo is Piana Technology’s transformative V/SMART technology. V/SMART includes fibers that are vertically arranged in a unique high-loft nonwoven design that delivers a non-toxic, odor-free, VOC-free environment. V/SMART’s groundbreaking design includes the company’s Molecular Printing technology that infuses molecular compounds into materials tailored to deliver countless health benefits, such as active cooling, customizable aromatherapy, antimicrobial protection, sleep and mood enhancers, and much more. Piana’s SmartSilver® technology further protects the mattress by neutralizing bacteria and fungi—ensuring a cleaner, healthier sleep environment. Lastly, Piana Sleep’s CoolComfort technology, combined with V/Smart’s breathability, dissipates heat and moisture to keep sleepers cool and dry.

The Rinnovo is not just healthy for guests—it’s healthy for the planet.

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: Piana Technology

Researchers from University of Fukui, Japan have optimized a decolorization process, known as supercritical fluid dyeing, in which supercritical carbon dioxide effectively penetrates fabric fibers to remove the dyes. The extracted dyes can be reused, and the fabrics be redyed. The study was led by Professor Kazumasa Hirogaki and Visiting Professor Teruo Hori and achieved successful optimization of the decolorization process, enabling the dye removal from clothes with minimal environmental impact. This study builds on outcomes from the NEDO Feasibility Study Program/Feasibility Study Program on New Technology and was further developed under the JST COI-NEXT Program on open innovation platforms for industry-academia co-creation (COI-NEXT).

The researchers first created supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) fluid inside a specialized heated and pressurized vessel and mixed it with a decolorizing agent before adding it to the dyed fabric. The idea was that by adding a decolorizing agent with a solubility parameter between those of the dye and the fabric, efficient decolorization could be achieved. Based on this premise, three decolorization methods can be outlined— to be used depending on the characteristics of the textile, the dyes, and the decolorizing agent.

The first method is called solvent trapping, in which supercritical CO2 dissolves and then traps the dye in a solvent phase at the bottom of the vessel. In contrast, the solid trapping method involves re-treating a processing body with a decolorizing agent or placing an adsorbent in the vessel. The supercritical fluid extracts the dye and then traps it onto the processing body or adsorbent. Finally, in the homogenous method, the decolorizing agent is completely dissolved in the supercritical fluid and the extracted dye also dissolves in the supercritical fluid.

Using these techniques, an astounding decolorization rate of over 90-100% was achieved. Notably, this strategy was found to be effective for polyester fabrics. Moreover, the processing liquids, extracted dyes, and decolorizing agents can also be repurposed and reused effectively.

Owing to its tremendous potential in terms of sustainability, the team of researchers from University of Fukui is actively seeking to commercialize this technology, with hopes of transforming the “make, use, and dispose” model of the textile industry into a truly circular and sustainable “make, use, and reuse” model.

Reference:

Research project name:

NEDO Feasibility Study Program / Feasibility Study Program on New Technology

JST COI-NEXT Program on open innovation platforms for industry-academia co-creation (COI-NEXT). 

Researchers name: Professor Kazumasa Hirogaki, Visiting Professor and President of SUSTAINA TECH Co., Ltd. Teruo Hori.          

Affiliation: University of Fukui

Link to research project summary page: https://fukumira.hisac.u-fukui.ac.jp/ 

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: University of Fukui

The decision by the FLA board follows a rigorous, multi-year review of BELLA+CANVAS’ business systems for compliance with international labor standards designed to protect workers in its global supply chains. BELLA+CANVAS sources from eight self-operated facilities and two contract facilities across three countries.

“From the time they joined FLA, BELLA+CANVAS has been in the vanguard of responsible purchasing practices, with company leadership taking an active role in decisions that have an impact on workers,” said FLA President and CEO Jeff Vockrodt. “We welcome BELLA+CANVAS to the ranks of Fair Labor Accredited members and congratulate them on this significant achievement.”

“In my 25 years in the apparel industry, I have found it widely recognized that FLA is the penultimate North Star regarding fair labor policies, sustainability in manufacturing, and ethical business practices,” said BELLA+CANVAS President Norm Hullinger. “I am so proud to be a part of an organization that has earned Fair Labor Accreditation and look forward to working closely with the FLA team to create a path of continuous improvement for BELLA+CANVAS.”

Since becoming an FLA member in 2019, BELLA+CANVAS has continuously improved its social compliance program and kept pace with the changes to FLA standards enacted over the intervening years. The accreditation report details FLA’s evaluation of BELLA+CANVAS’ social compliance program through September 2024.

Highlights of BELLA+CANVAS’ Fair Labor Accreditation include:

• Company-wide commitment: BELLA+CANVAS’ commitment to ethical and sustainable business extends throughout the company, beginning with the company’s co-founders and owners, who remain involved with the key production decisions that impact workers’ lives. Company leadership is actively involved in upholding workplace standards for factory workers, receiving frequent updates from the compliance team and supporting their efforts. A cross-functional leadership team collaborates to ensure that both contract and owned production remains in line with BELLA+CANVAS’ commitment to responsible purchasing.
• Factory monitoring: BELLA+CANVAS has developed an extensive assessor manual and audit tool that are fully aligned with FLA’s expectations for high-quality factory assessments. BELLA+CANVAS works with a qualified audit service provider and has provided extensive training to assessors on gathering and verifying information at the factory level, including using highly effective worker interviews to gain insight into factory conditions. BELLA+CANVAS’ auditing procedures, assessor manual, and audit tool are all aligned to ensure that assessments meet the company’s needs without reducing the quality of the audits or placing undue burden on assessors and factories.
• Supplier relationships: With social compliance staff located close to key production centers in Central America, BELLA+CANVAS provides oversight and support to both contract and owned factories. Compliance staff pay frequent visits to factories to provide training, follow up on the remediation of audit findings, and understand factory management’s perspectives on compliance topics. BELLA+CANVAS’ sourcing and production leaders also emphasize in-person factory visits as a crucial element of the supplier relationship, and the company maintains stable and mutually beneficial brand-factory relationships that advance the principles of responsible sourcing.

Fair Labor Accreditation helps investors and consumers make informed choices by showing that a company is actively fulfilling the highest standards in labor rights.

It is the only comprehensive program of its kind that is based on international standards and frameworks such as the International Labour Organization, UN Guiding Principles, the OECD, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Fair Labor Accredited companies are evaluated on an ongoing basis and must demonstrate continuous improvement in addressing working conditions and protecting workers’ rights. To see a list of Fair Labor Accredited companies and to learn more, please visit www.fairlabor.org.

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: The Fair Labor Association (FLA)

Gianluca Tanzi commented: “Me and Giorgio Marcarino are thrilled to have the opportunity to revitalize the brands acquired. Our extensive experience and deep knowledge of the product and textile world will be crucial for advancing Chargeurs PCC’s development strategy, which includes the expansion of our portfolio, historically dedicated to inner components and interlinings, with the offering of the best fabrics aimed at the shirting sector. The combination of Swiss and French know-how will allow us to further expand our expertise and implement increasingly innovative solutions. ”

Giorgio Marcarino added: “The new shirting division fits perfectly into the business and growth strategy of Chargeurs PCC, which has always distinguished itself in the textile-clothing industry by offering cutting-edge products of the highest quality. Today we have a unique opportunity to engage in cross-selling with our interlinings, offering the company an additional incentive to boost performance while offering our customers an even more comprehensive and customised service.”

The fabrics produced by the Swiss heritage brands Alumo and Eugster & Huber represent the cream of the high-end shirting industry. Chargeurs PCC aims to maximise the potential of these brands, restoring their deserved leadership in luxury shirting. As for Brennet, the company has initiated a major repositioning plan focused on enhancing performance and innovation. The approach aims to meet the rising demand of contemporary consumers for high quality shirting fabrics.

Gianluca Tanzi is a highly experienced global executive who has designed and executed successful retail, wholesale and e-commerce strategies for textile, fashion and accessories companies in Europe and the US. He has held various executive positions within prestigious fashion groups. Since 2021 he has been Chairman and CEO of Chargeurs PCC Fashion Technologies and Chairman of Chargeurs Luxury Fibers.

Giorgio Marcarino boasts decades of expertise in the high-end textile sector, where he held responsible positions in the sales, operations and marketing areas of the most important Italian textile groups. He joined Chargeurs PCC Fashion Technologies in 2022 as General Manager EMEA, and since 2023 he has held the position of Chief Commercial Officer.

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: Chargeurs PCC

Vietnam’s textile and apparel sector comprises approximately 7,000 companies and employs over three million workers, with 80% of production capacity used for export and 20% for domestic consumption. Progress is aided by well-developed logistics networks, skilled labour and a stable political environment. As its textile industry evolves, several key trends are influencing its future direction, reflecting a growing emphasis on sustainability and technological advancement, and leading to new opportunities for exhibitors and buyers across the value chain at Vietnam’s comprehensive textile showcase.

Major trends shaping Vietnam’s textile market reflected at VIATT

More Vietnamese enterprises are adopting eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Tencel, while numerous global brands manufacture in Vietnam, and have committed to the “Fashion Industry Charter on Climate Action”, aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050[3].

To further advance sustainable initiatives in the domestic and international textile industry, VIATT 2025 will introduce Econogy Hub, a dedicated platform for innovative, eco-friendly suppliers and service providers to connect with like-minded visitors. The show’s other new Texpertise Econogy features will include the Econogy Finder, an independent verification tool to help sustainable exhibitors effectively communicate their green credentials, and Econogy Talks, the overarching category for eco-focused seminars, forums, and product presentations.

Apart from sustainability, the Vietnamese textile industry is also embracing advanced technologies in design and manufacturing. The launch of the fair’s Innovation & Digital Solutions Zone will provide a centralised platform for exhibitors to showcase innovations such as 3D printing, AI-driven design, and digital printing, which enable manufacturers to boost efficiency and customise products to meet specific market demands.

As well as the introduction of two new product zones, the India Pavilion, organised by The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), will also make its debut at VIATT 2025. Additionally, the Japan and Taiwan Pavilions have confirmed their return, with the Japan Pavilion recognised by VIATT’s visitors as a standout showcase within Southeast Asia’s textile fair landscape. Overall, the fair will feature a diverse range of exhibitors across apparel, home textiles, and technical textiles, with many showcasing innovative and sustainable products. Highlighted exhibitors in each sector include:

Apparel fabrics, yarns & fibres and garments

• Alumo AG (Switzerland): with over a century of expertise, this STeP by OEKO-TEX-certified company creates high-quality cotton shirting fabrics utilised by leading shirt designers. The company is dedicated to maintaining the art of weaving, ensuring that each fabric is finely crafted.
• Wynist Retail Solutions (Taiwan): committed to sustainability, Wynist focuses on recycling and upcycling post-consumer and agricultural waste, transforming raw materials such as coffee grounds and textile waste into products with practical, on-trend industry applications.

Home & contract textiles

• Sigma Vietnam Industrial (Vietnam): specialising in home textiles, the company’s innovative range of products includes bedding, curtains, and upholstery fabrics. It integrates traditional craftsmanship with modern design, ensuring that its offerings meet both aesthetic and functional needs.
• Coolist Life Technology (China): the leading bio-based polyurethanes solutions and applications enterprise announced a new technology in 2024, that utilises captured carbon dioxide combined with bio-based polyol, to create a new generation of bio-based and bio-degradable foam.

Technical textiles, nonwovens, and textile technologies

• Ultra Tech Asia (USA): as a leader in advanced textile solutions, the company offers innovative nonwoven materials for various applications, such as medical, automotive, and personal care, designed to meet the rising demand for high-performance textiles in diverse industries.
• JB ECOTEX Limited (India): one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of high-quality recycled polyester staple fibre (RPSF) and rPET Flakes, the company has transformed millions of used plastic bottles into superior-grade, eco-friendly products. Since its inception, the company has maintained a zero liquid discharge policy, and 50% of its power is generated from renewable resources.

The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT) is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), covering the entire textile industry value chain. For more details on this fair, please visit [www.viatt.com.vn]www.viatt.com.vn or contact viatt@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com.

VIATT will be held from 26 – 28 February 2025.

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd

Despite this challenging market environment, the Rieter Group recorded a gratifying order intake of CHF 629.8 million in the first nine months of 2024 (2023: CHF 452.2 million) in all market regions. In the third quarter of 2024, orders increased by 78% year-on-year to CHF 226.4 million (2023: CHF 127.2 million). This means that the order intake has increased for the third quarter in a row.

Sales

Rieter’s cumulative sales in the first nine months of 2024 amounted to CHF 584.3 million (2023: CHF 1 092.9 million), a decrease of 47% compared to the prior-year period. Sales in the third quarter of 2024 were CHF 163.3 million (Q3 2023: CHF 334.7 million).

The Business Group Machines & Systems generated total sales of CHF 264.1 million in the first nine months of 2024 (-65% compared to the same period of the previous year). The Business Group Components posted sales of CHF 184.5 million, 11% lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year, while the Business Group After Sales recorded a slight decline of -1% to CHF 135.7 million in the first nine months of 2024.

Order backlog

As of September 30, 2024, Rieter has an order backlog of around CHF 690 million (September 30, 2023: CHF 900 million).

“Next Level” performance program

The transfer of resources and responsibilities to India and China to enable the key markets to respond in a more agile way to customer needs and cycles in the machinery business is on track. The planned cost savings were achieved. Rieter continues to consistently implement the action plan to increase profitability.

Outlook for the full year 2024

Due to the overall geopolitical situation and the general deterioration in consumer sentiment, the market recovery is proving to be more restrained than previously forecast. The first signs of a recovery in financial year 2024 have emerged in the key markets of China and India.

For the full year 2024, Rieter now anticipates sales in the range of CHF 900 million and an EBIT margin remaining at 2% to 4%.

Posted: October 23, 2024

Source: Rieter

This year, Pacsun introduced a new range of limited-edition styles as part of its F1 US Grand Prix Collection, featuring designs for men, women, and kids. Fans were able to shop these pieces at Pacsun’s trackside booth, which served as a hub for attendees to discover the brand’s latest offerings.

In addition to exclusive merchandise, fans were treated to a photo moment and tote bag. Allowing consumers to fully immerse themselves in the world of Pacsun and Formula 1®, creating unforgettable moments that extended the race-day energy beyond the track.

Pacsun’s continued involvement with Formula 1 reinforces its role as a key player at the intersection of motorsport culture and contemporary fashion, offering fans unique, stylish ways to express their passion for the sport.

The 2024 F1 US Grand Prix Collection is available now at Pacsun.com, in Pacsun stores nationwide.

Posted: October 22, 2024

Source: Pacsun

Highlighted will be Dimension-Polyant’s new and commercialized X-Pac VX21 Ocean Edition (OE) – the company’s new fully sustainable version of its top-performing X-Pac VX21 laminate, which many leading brands rely on.

The face fabric of new X-Pac VX21 OE four-layer laminate is constructed with GRS-certified, 100 percent recycled regen Ocean nylon made from discarded fishing nets. All X-Pac is reinforced by Dimension-Polyant’s patented X-PLY® fiber reinforcement technology made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET. A lightweight taffeta backing, also made with 100 percent recycled post-consumer PET, provides enhanced stitch holding. As with all X-Pac materials, VX21 OE is made in Dimension-Polyant’s 100 percent carbon neutral plant.

Dimension Polyant has announced that Peak Design, a company committed to become a better and more sustainable company by reducing environmental impact, as the first  brand partner to adopt X-Pac VX21 OE in an exclusive colorway, Coyote Brown, in its award-winning bag — The Everyday Backpack.

“Peak Design has a tremendous reputation for the designing and making the highest quality packs and bags for travel and camera gear and we are thrilled that it has selected our newest fabric made from discarded fishing nets to help support its environmental impact initiatives,” said Taylor North, head of Technical Fabrics, Dimension-Polyant US. “We look forward to hearing all the great consumer feedback on the bag now that it’s available for purchase online.”

X-Pac VX21 OE laminates are currently available in black, white, artic grey, and sea green and will be presented along with its broad portfolio of additional high-performance X-Pac laminates at Performance Days and ISPO Munich later this fall.

Posted: October 22, 2024

Source: Dimension-Polyant

Immediately following Completion, the total share capital of the JV Company shall be HK$200 million, of which the LN Co, Founder Co, HongShan Venture and HongShan Motivaton shall contribute HK$58,000,000, HK$52,000,000, HK$62,728,000 and HK$27,272,000 in cash respectively, accounting for 29%, 26%, 31.36% and 13.64% of the total share capital of the JV Company respectively.

The Group has been adopting the core strategy of “Single Brand, Multiple Categories, and Diversified Channels” to leverage its competitive advantages in the industry, and has achieved impressive results in the highly competitive Mainland China market. Having said that, the development of overseas markets, especially in the Belt and Road regions, is also part of the Group’s long-term development strategy. At the same time, the Group is aware of the uncertainties in the overseas markets. The business models in the overseas market also differ substantially from the models in the Mainland China market. The Group has considered that expanding into international markets requires collaboration with a partner which possesses extensive multinational resources. This requires the establishment of a new framework with an independent team, rich in overseas resources and experience, to take responsibilities of developing the international business operations with clear business and financial objectives.

HongShan has accumulated extensive investment experience since its establishment in 2005. It has a strong team of professional investors with deep industry insights and cross-border investment networks that may provide resources and services to portfolio companies, deploy key resources to enterprises that engage in transnational businesses during their development stage, and provide them with services such as business empowerment, talent development, digitalisation support and media management.

The formation of the JV Company leverages on the appeal of the Company’s founder, Mr. Li, to provide leadership in the positioning and direction of the Li Ning Brand’s development in the Territory. Moreover, the Company and Mr. Li together will hold 55% of the JV Shares, enabling the Company to effectively safeguard the reputation of the Li Ning Brand and to maintain sufficient influence over the JV Group. On the other hand, by bringing in HongShan, the JV Group may enjoy HongShan’s transnational resources and business experience which are expected to help the JV Group to accelerate its development effectively. In this joint venture, LN Co has the option to acquire all the JV Shares from HongShan Co in the future (subject to compliance with the relevant Listing Rules requirements), so as to realize the Company’s control over the JV Company.

The JV Parties can complement each other’s strengths and leverage on their respective reputations, brands, channels, talents and other resources in this joint venture, in order to empower the JV Group to be competitive and flexible in its business operations, and be more effective in risk management of the markets in the Territory. In the short term, the Company will prioritize its operations in Mainland China market to further increase the market share of its core business and to enhance the competitiveness of its brands in the key business segments.

Posted: October 22, 2024

Source: Li Ning Company Limited