#Retail & Brands

2023-12-14

Chanel becomes Ellen MacArthur Foundation Network Partner

After joining the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as a Network Member last year, luxury French fashion house Chanel has now become a Partner. Over the next three years, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation will work closely with the house and support its circular economy journey.

Marking the start of the Partnership, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation helped design Chanel’s Circular Economy Hackathon in Paris — bringing together more than 200 employees, students, manufacturers, suppliers, and experts to raise awareness about the circular economy and explore how Chanel can support the transition from linear to circular.

Following its first Hackathon last year, on the theme of tackling plastic pollution, this year’s event focused on the circular economy. Organised by the fashion branch of the French house, the event was held at Chanel’s Rue Cambon headquarters last month.

Participants created their own circular economy solutions designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.

The Foundation’s CEO, Andrew Morlet, opened the event and the Executive Lead, Network, Joe Murphy, joined the jury with President of Chanel Fashion Bruno Pavlovsky, Oceanographic Institute Chair Patricia Ricard, Politecnico di Milano Professor Luca Magagnin, University of Cambridge Director, Cambridge Zero, Emily Shuckburgh, Bigger Than Us documentary filmmaker Flore Vasseur, and senior members of Chanel’s leadership team.

The jury selected winning circular economy solutions that will be implemented at Chanel in the coming months.

“The 2023 Chanel Fashion Hackathon is part of our in-depth transformation of the House’s activities, which began several years ago. The aim of this unprecedented event is to accelerate a global virtuous evolution towards a more circular fashion and luxury industry.”

Bruno Pavlovsky, President of Chanel Fashion and President of Chanel SAS

“We were delighted to collaborate with Chanel as a Network Partner and look forward to working closely with the team as our relationship continues to evolve over the next three years. The Circular Economy Hackathon offered a dynamic and exciting approach to solving challenges, and we are excited to support Chanel as it pioneers the transformation towards a circular fashion industry.”

Andrew Morlet, CEO, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

The Network of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which includes businesses, policymakers, financial institutions, and academia, is a pioneering global community committed to taking action to drive systemic change. Chanel, together with the other Network organisations, shares an ambition to change the way it works. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation looks forward to supporting the house, and facilitating collaboration opportunities across the Network, as it strives to accelerate the global transition to a circular economy.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Recover™ secures multi-year recycled cotton agreement with H&M

Recover™ has signed a multi-year agreement with H&M to support the integration of its recycled cotton fiber, RCotton, for use in H&M’s products. Since early 2024, H&M and Recover™ have collaborated on product development, which now enables scaled commercial introduction of Recover™ mechanically recycled cotton into H&M’s collections.

GORE-TEX® KIDSWEAR launches innovative membership scheme for kids’ jackets

With its revolutionary new membership model, GORE-TEX® Kidswear now offers families a simple, flexible and sustainable way of kitting out their children in top-quality jackets. It is aimed at the parents of children aged between five and ten and kicks off with a choice of functional winter jackets.

“We clearly see that reliability, flexibility, service and total cost of ownership are becoming increasingly important again.”

The nonwovens industry continues to face a challenging market environment. Nevertheless, AUTEFA Solutions reports successful projects, new line sales and growing demand for energy-efficient and flexible solutions. In this interview, André Imhof of AUTEFA Solutions talks about competitiveness against Chinese suppliers, new service and recycling concepts, the growing importance of application development and the opportunities created by countercyclical investments.

“Needle punching technology is more universal and sustainable than ever!”

Needle punching technology was long regarded as a rather traditional and comparatively slow technology within the nonwovens industry. In this interview, Johann Philipp Dilo explains why needle punching is more relevant than ever today – ranging from energy efficiency and resource conservation to hygiene applications, new machine concepts and design-oriented nonwoven solutions.

Textile climate control system in workwear – exhibition at the 2026 SME Innovation Day!

Conventional protective workwear often reaches its limits during strenuous physical activity. In particular, the transport of sweat and excess body heat poses a problem. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) conducted research on flow-optimized, air-conducting textile structures that enable targeted climate control directly on the body. These structures can be integrated straight into protective work garments. The textile climate control system supports the body’s natural thermoregulation. This contributes to improved workplace safety and comfort.

PET spunbond from China – EDANA welcomes imposition of provisional anti-dumping measures

On 13 May 2026, after eight months of investigation, the European Commission imposed provisional anti-dumping duties of 45.6-50.0% on imports of PET spunbond from China. EDANA welcomes this expression of the Commission’s clear determination to protect EU industries from the unfair trade practices of Chinese producers.