#Research & Development

2025-08-14

Cooperation on the circular textile economy

International cooperation for a circular textile economy: Circular Textile Days, the leading international B2B event for sustainable textiles based in the Netherlands, is entering into a strategic partnership with the DATIpilot Innovation Community Circular Textiles at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences (THA). The aim of the collaboration is to strengthen European innovation in the circular textile economy and create new opportunities for the cross-border exchange of knowledge.

The scientific spokesperson of CirTex: Prof Dr Stefan Schlichter © 2025 THA

Circular Textile Days and DATIpilot Innovation Community Circular Textiles (CirTex) agree on joint activities

Textile circular economy as well as transparency and traceability of used materials are high on the EU's agenda. The long-term partnership with the Circular Textile Days now provides CirTex with a European platform to present solutions, network with relevant stakeholders and drive sustainable change in the textile industry. This gives innovative German projects international visibility.

"Germany has a strong research and innovation base in the field of textile technology. At the same time, there is a clear need to translate this knowledge into circular practical solutions more quickly," says Prof Dr Stefan Schlichter (THA). ‘The Circular Textile Days offer us an excellent platform to present the results of our work, establish partnerships and promote cross-border scientific dialogue.’

CirTex is a German innovation network funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and coordinated by Augsburg University of Applied Sciences. It brings together over 250 stakeholders from business, science, politics and civil society. By the end of 2028, the network will be actively shaping the textile value chain towards greater resource efficiency, circularity and sustainability in around 20 innovation projects from all over Germany. Through practical results and innovative science communication, CirTex is making an important contribution to the implementation of a circular textile economy in Germany.

As the central European event for circular and sustainable textiles, the Circular Textile Days bring together brands, suppliers, innovators and political decision-makers. The new partnership underlines the core mission of the event: to enable real collaboration and impact - and to translate knowledge into concrete application. The Circular Textile Days trade fair is an international B2B event based in the Netherlands that aims to significantly advance the transformation towards a sustainable and fully circular textile industry. The fifth edition of the trade fair will take place on 10 and 11 September 2025 in s' Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) in the Netherlands.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.

Carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre proves its worth – NRW Minister for Science Mona Neubaur congratulates ITA start-up TERNAfil

MAXCarbon technology, a novel carbon-ceramic hybrid fibre developed by ITA spin-off TERNAfil, secured third place at the HIGH-TECH.NRW Demo Day on the TÜV NORD campus in Essen. The technology combines the strength of carbon fibres with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. Mona Neubaur, Minister for Science in North Rhine-Westphalia, congratulated the team on their success and on winning prize money of 4,000 euros.

Reju opens its first R&D Center in the U.S. in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Reju, the company specializing in textile regeneration, today announced the opening of a Research and Development (R&D) Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, the company's first proprietary research center in North America. Located within Technip Energies' existing Advanced Materials and Catalysts research center, the lab will allow Reju to accelerate the rollout of its recycling technologies and develop its next-generation circular solutions.

Itema reaffirms its commitment to the Syrian textile industry at NasTex 2026

From July 18th to 21st, Itema will exhibit at NasTex at the Damascus Fairground (Hall 11 – Stand C02), marking its return to one of the Middle East’s historically significant textile markets. Itema will showcase advanced weaving technology designed to support the competitiveness and technological evolution of Syrian manufacturers and announces a new partnership with Growfast Agency as the sole agent of Itema in Syria.

KARL MAYER's HKS 2-SE Expands Possibilities for Premium Stretch WARP KNITS

Warp knitted fabrics with a woven look are more in demand than ever in the fashion and apparel industries. Stretch WARP KNITS, in particular, impress with their freedom of movement, breathability, and virtually wrinkle-free wear – thereby opening up new style worlds such as smart casual or business casual. When it comes to the highly efficient production of premium-quality stretch WARP KNITS, the HKS 2-SE has long been the machine of choice. KARL MAYER’s best-selling tricot machine produces standard elastic fabrics characterized by high gauges, smooth, delicate surfaces, and a soft hand feel.