#Textile processing

2025-12-04

YKK receives ISPO Textrends Awards for circular innovations

YKK’s 3D Composite Puller named best product in Accessories category; NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ with Recycled PET Open Parts earns top 5 spot

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) is pleased to announce that the ISPO Textrends judges have selected YKK's 3D Composite Puller as the Best Product in the Accessories category. They also selected YKK’s NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ zipper with Recycled PET Open Parts as a Top 5 item in the same category. The competition, held twice a year in conjunction with the ISPO trade show, recognizes the most innovative performance textiles, components, and apparel.

Overview of Award-Winning Products

■ Best Product: 3D Composite Puller

The 3D Composite Puller combines YKK’s expertise in zipper technology with Variloom’s on-demand 3D printing and molding system. Utilizing Variloom’s recyclable bio-based TPU and 3D printing process, this product eliminates traditional molding requirements and the constraints of high minimum order quantities (MOQs). It enables customization of shape,

texture, attachment style, color, and logo—features that are difficult to achieve with conventional injection molding—offering brands and designers new possibilities in both functionality and aesthetics.

■ Top 5 Award: NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ with Recycled PET Open Parts

NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ zipper is made using recycled PET from discarded clothing and textile waste—integrated into both the tape and the elements. Designed with circularity in mind, it utilizes a mono-material construction, with all components of the chain, including the Open Parts, made from recycled PET derived from fiber.

To deliver exceptional durability and long-lasting performance, the slider is crafted from recycled zinc. This choice reflects the core principles of circularity—longevity and durability—while ensuring the material can be easily separated during garment preprocessing for future reuse.

By utilizing recycled PET from textiles, NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ with Recycled PET Open Parts helps reduce environmental impact while supporting the emerging textile-to-textile ecosystem. With less than 1% of all clothing globally recycled into new garments, NATULON Plus® Fiber Sourced™ with Recycled PET Open Parts represents YKK’s commitment to textile-to-textile recycling and the realization of a circular society.

Terry Tsukumo, Senior Vice President, Product Strategy Division, Global Sales Headquarters, YKK Corporation, comments: "Receiving these ISPO Textrends Awards underscores YKK’s commitment to innovation. We continue to push boundaries by developing products that not only advance performance but also address the environmental challenges facing the textile industry.”

Product Details:　

NATULON® Fiber Sourced™ | YKK DIGITAL SHOWROOM

NATULON Plus® with Recycled PET Open Parts | YKK DIGITAL SHOWROOM

Both products are concept items exhibited for the ISPO Textrends Award and are currently under development, with no specific timeline for commercialization determined at this time.

YKK launches “YZiP® Light” aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereafter, YKK) has launched YZiP® Light, a lightweight aluminum alloy zipper for cotton pants, with sales beginning in late March. The introduction of YZiP® Light expands YKK’s zipper portfolio—led by the flagship YZiP® copper alloy zipper—providing customers with greater flexibility to meet diverse garment needs.

Revived Replacement Elements for VISLON® wins the iF Design Award 2026

YKK Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koichi Matsushima; hereinafter “YKK”) is proud to announce that its Revived Replacement Elements for VISLON® has been awarded the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, an award that recognizes excellence in design and quality, organized by iF Design Foundation.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI reshape textile processing

Investment decisions in textile processing have become increasingly complex. Rising energy prices, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing companies to prioritise technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and process stability. This applies not only to apparel production, but also to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. Modernisation projects are therefore being evaluated more selectively – but the pressure to upgrade production systems continues to grow. Texprocess 2026 reflects this tension between cautious investment behaviour and increasing technological demand.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.