MAS Holdings, a global apparel manufacturing leader, is commemorating 20 years of its Women Go Beyond (WGB) initiative, a testament to its unwavering commitment to gender equality. 

Established in 2003, WGB has played a pivotal role in empowering women within MAS and its global communities. It has addressed pressing issues like gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and economic empowerment, challenging stereotypes that hinder women's progress.

The initiative, under the leadership of Thanuja Jayawardena, has transformed from a movement into a way of life, influencing every aspect of a woman's journey. MAS Holdings aims to empower 100% of women on the factory floors through education, health services, skill development, and combatting gender-based violence. By 2025, their target is to have 30% women in management.

WGB stands out for its seamless integration into MAS's organizational culture, fostering inclusivity and respect. It has brought about a significant shift in mindset, with leadership actively promoting gender equality.

As MAS Holdings embarks on the next decade of its journey, the Women Go Beyond initiative continues to inspire change-makers and advocates worldwide, reflecting a legacy of progress and hope for a more equitable future.

The latest data from the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) reveals a significant drop in textile machinery orders during the third quarter of 2023. 

The index, processed by the Economics Department of ACIMIT, plummeted by 20% compared to the same period in 2022, with the index standing at 84.2 points, indicating a worrying trend in the industry.

The decline in orders was primarily driven by a 45% reduction in domestic orders within Italy, while foreign markets experienced a comparatively milder 13% decrease. The absolute values of the index abroad and in Italy were 80.5 and 119.4 points, respectively. 

The situation has raised concerns among industry leaders, including ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè.

Salvadè emphasized the urgency for the Italian government to take measures to enhance the competitiveness of Italian manufacturers. The persistent decline in the domestic market over seven consecutive quarters is particularly alarming.

On the international front, the orders index reflects a weakened global demand for textile machinery, linked to reduced purchasing power among consumers and slower investments in the textile sector. 

ACIMIT is now looking to the upcoming ITMA ASIA + CITME event in Shanghai, where approximately 60 Italian textile machinery manufacturers will participate, hoping to gain insights into the industry's condition within one of the key strategic markets for textile machinery.

The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), a global network of over 60 companies from the chemical and materials sectors, held its annual general meeting in Cologne, Germany from September 25th to 26th. The two-day event brought together over 50 representatives from member companies for a productive exchange of ideas and updates on the RCI's mission.

In addition to reviewing the accomplishments of the past year and discussing long-term strategy for 2024 and beyond, attendees also voted on potential new activities for the RCI to address in the coming year. The meeting concluded with a series of presentations from member companies and valuable networking opportunities.

The RCI also announced the release of an updated version of its key publication, "Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Carbon Cycles." Originally published in February 2022, the publication has been revised to incorporate new climate change data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and reflect the RCI's advocacy efforts over the past 18 months.

The updated publication serves as a comprehensive resource that clarifies the concept of renewable carbon and emphasizes its essential role as a guiding principle for policy. It highlights how the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon in the chemical and derived materials industry can be facilitated, leading to a defossilised future that enables net-zero targets and circularity of carbon.

"As the world continues to grapple with the pressing challenges of climate change, our annual General Meeting and the updated publication of our core report underscore the RCI's commitment to advancing sustainable carbon cycles and fostering collaboration within the industry," said Michael Carus, one of the two Executive Managers of the Renewable Carbon Initiative. "We believe that by promoting the use of renewable carbon as a guiding principle, we can drive substantial change and support the defossilisation of our sector."

MAS Holdings, a global leader in apparel manufacturing, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Women Go Beyond (WGB) initiative, a groundbreaking program that empowers women within the company and its communities worldwide.

Established in 2003, WGB has challenged conventions and championed resilient women, making a profound impact on thousands of lives globally. The program addresses critical issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and economic empowerment, working to change the mindset and infrastructure that prevents women from competing on an equal platform.

“MAS has always recognized the need to address the challenges and stereotypes holding women back from leading our businesses and our communities,” said Thanuja Jayawardena, Head of Women Go Beyond. “The Women Go Beyond Program was developed with a solid structure and a vision to work towards gender parity and has continued to redefine itself, to recognize the needs of women and men in a more equitable world.”

WGB has evolved into a way of life at MAS, impacting every facet of a woman’s journey. With efforts spanning all levels of the organization, MAS’ goals are ambitious: empower 100% of women on the factory floors, through education and opportunities provided on women’s health and SRHR, skill development, combatting gender-based violence, and promoting career advancement. 

By 2025, MAS Holdings’ aims to achieve a target of 30% women in management, where they advocate for a world where women compete on equal footing, make choices freely, and actively participate in decision-making.

The Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), a global network of over 60 companies from the chemical and materials sectors, held its annual general meeting in Cologne, Germany from September 25th to 26th. The two-day event brought together over 50 representatives from member companies for a productive exchange of ideas and updates on the RCI's mission.

In addition to reviewing the accomplishments of the past year and discussing long-term strategy for 2024 and beyond, attendees also voted on potential new activities for the RCI to address in the coming year. The meeting concluded with a series of presentations from member companies and valuable networking opportunities.

The RCI also announced the release of an updated version of its key publication, "Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Carbon Cycles." Originally published in February 2022, the publication has been revised to incorporate new climate change data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and reflect the RCI's advocacy efforts over the past 18 months.

The updated publication serves as a comprehensive resource that clarifies the concept of renewable carbon and emphasizes its essential role as a guiding principle for policy. It highlights how the transition from fossil carbon to renewable carbon in the chemical and derived materials industry can be facilitated, leading to a defossilised future that enables net-zero targets and circularity of carbon.

"As the world continues to grapple with the pressing challenges of climate change, our annual General Meeting and the updated publication of our core report underscore the RCI's commitment to advancing sustainable carbon cycles and fostering collaboration within the industry," said Michael Carus, one of the two Executive Managers of the Renewable Carbon Initiative. "We believe that by promoting the use of renewable carbon as a guiding principle, we can drive substantial change and support the defossilisation of our sector."

Eeken by Paragon, a footwear brand targeted towards India's 18-25-year-olds, has launched its latest campaign conceptualised by Makani Creatives. The campaign, titled "Weekend Everyday," embodies the brand's philosophy of empowering young people to live their lives to the fullest and embrace every day like it's a weekend.

The film showcases Eeken as an agent of transformation, taking the wearer from the humdrum of everyday life to a weekend state of mind. Once they wear Eeken, the customers step into their day with a pep in their step and a song in their heart. The film depicts a dramatic transformation in the protagonists as they encounter Eeken, reveling in their new avatar.

Prasad Rao, Executive Creative Director at Makani Creatives, said, "'Weekend Everyday' speaks to the youth of today. They are free-spirited, agile, and bindass. This film is an attempt to talk to this audience and to strike a chord with them and their culture. Eeken footwear is driven by design and is at par with any big brand. The intent here was to showcase the flexibility, comfort, and usage of the products through a narrative that stays true to the vibe, the style, and the culture of the brand and its audience."

"Eeken is our gateway to connect with the younger population of the country," said Sachin Joseph, Executive VP at Paragon Footwear. "We draw inspiration from the psychographic of our target audience and strive to deliver what they desire. This reflects across our product design as well as our communication."

Textile recycling innovator SaXcell and Aditya Birla Group’s Birla Cellulose, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of man-made cellulosic fiber, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand production of recycled man-made cellulosic fibers.

The MoU paves the way for the two companies to collaborate on a commercial scale, combining SaXcell's textile waste pulping technology with Birla's advanced wet spinning expertise to produce high-quality sustainable "SaXcell" recycled fibers.

Commenting on the development, SaXcell CEO Erik van der Weerd highlighted the importance of global collaboration in addressing the social and environmental challenges of the textile industry. He said the combined innovation force and production power of SaXcell and Birla offer a great opportunity to create real impact.

Birla Cellulose Chief Technology Officer Dr. Aspi Patel said the company is strongly committed to supporting innovators and expanding circular fiber offerings in the textile and non-woven value chain. He said the collaboration with SaXcell is an example of how Birla Cellulose is exploring innovative business models and partnerships to accelerate circularity in the global textile value chain.

SaXcell B.V. is an innovative technology development company that recycles used textiles into feedstock for making new and sustainable man-made cellulosic fibers. Creating the new fibers requires less water, land, and chemicals.

Birla Cellulose is the pulp and fibre business of the Aditya Birla Group and a leading sustainability-focused Man-Made Cellulosic Fibres (MMCF) producer. Birla Cellulose operates 12 sites for pulp and fibre manufacturing that apply environmentally efficient processes, including recycled materials and closed-loop technologies to enhance the conservation of natural resources.

The collaboration between SaXcell and Birla Cellulose is a significant step forward in the development of a more circular textile industry. By combining their expertise and resources, the two companies can help to reduce the environmental impact of textile production and make sustainable fashion more accessible to consumers.

In the ever-evolving world of tricot machines, Karl Mayer is taking off with renewed vigor and innovation. As the tricot industry faces numerous challenges, the Karl Mayer Group is set to introduce groundbreaking technologies at the ITMA ASIA exhibition in Changzhou City, from November 19 to 23, 2023.

The news angle here is that Karl Mayer is addressing the evolving market demands with a focus on sustainability, new business opportunities, flexibility, and productivity. The company is launching two performance-optimized mid-range machines, underlining their commitment to innovation. These machines cater to diverse applications, from upholstery and sportswear to automotive interiors and apparel, meeting the demands of a wide range of customers.

Notably, the TM 4 EL, featuring CFRP technology, is up to 30% faster than its predecessor, setting new standards for speed in the four-bar machine segment. The three-bar tricot machine HKS 3-M ON comes with an energy-saving feature and real-time energy monitoring, optimizing efficiency and reducing costs. Karl Mayer also introduces the TM 2-NET, designed for demanding net applications, and the HKS 2-SE, a bestseller for elastic fabric production.

In addition to these high-tech machines, Karl Mayer's digital company, KM.ON, will showcase Digital Production Management (DPM) and CORE, enabling real-time monitoring and efficient production management. Furthermore, Karl Mayer enhances customer support with a new customer portal, myKM.ON, providing easy access to essential solutions and services.

Karl Mayer's comprehensive approach highlights its commitment to empowering the tricot industry with advanced technologies and support solutions, ensuring a brighter future in the face of evolving market dynamics.

The ITMF Annual Conference 2023, co-hosted by the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and the Shaoxing Municipal People’s Government, took place in Keqiao, China from November 4-6. The conference spotlighted two significant categories: "Sustainability & Innovation" and "International Cooperation," acknowledging groundbreaking contributions in the textile industry.

The ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award celebrates pioneering endeavors in textiles that prioritize sustainability and environmental integrity. Recognizing innovation, design, development, and production executed under stringent sustainability standards, this award emphasizes the industry's commitment to eco-conscious practices.

The ITMF International Cooperation Award seeks to honor international collaborations aligning with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. It exemplifies how cross-border cooperation generates mutually beneficial outcomes.

The ITMF Awards 2023 winners, selected by an international panel, are:

ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2023

Qingdao Jifa Group (China) for their project on Supercritical CO2 Assisted Dyeing of Polyester.

Qingdao University (China) for their project on Marine Bio-Based Fibres.

Universitat Politechnica de Catalonia (Spain) for their project on Upcycling Fibres of Clothing & Textile Waste to Building Materials.

UPM Biorefining (Germany) for their project on The Future of Fabrics with Renewable Materials in collaboration with VAUDE.

Winner Medical (China) for their project on Biodegradable Nanofiber Masks.

ITMF International Cooperation Award 2023

Kelheim Fibres (Germany) & Santoni (Italy) for their project on Advanced Machine Technology Meets Performance Viscose Fibres.

Lenzing (Austria) & Södra (Sweden) for their project on Enabling the Circular Textile Industry Together.

Magnolab (Italy) for their project on Setting up a Textile Innovation District.

Satori (Germany) for their project on B2B E-commerce - Accelerating International Growth for Fabric Mills.

Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STAR Network Asia) for their project on Improving Purchasing Practices.

The awards emphasize the global textile industry's commitment to sustainable and collaborative initiatives, underscoring the drive to transform the sector into a more environmentally friendly and cooperative one.

At the ITMF Annual Conference 2023 in Keqiao, China, co-hosted by the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and Shaoxing Municipal People's Government, the ITMF Start-up Awards marked their second successful edition. This event bridges the gap between pioneering startups with groundbreaking product and service innovations and well-established companies within the textile industry.

The 2023 ITMF Start-up Awards recognized six outstanding startups, evaluated by an international expert jury. Their criteria included business propositions, sustainability, recyclability, digitalization, and qualitative efficiency. During a dedicated "Start-up Session" at the conference, the winning startups had the opportunity to present their innovative ideas to a captivated audience.

The recipients of the ITMF Start-up Award 2023, hailing from various countries, unveiled their remarkable contributions to the textile world. These include CarboScreen (Germany) for online carbon fiber monitoring, Cebiotex S.L. (Spain) for biocompatible and biodegradable implants, Colorifix (UK) for eco-friendly dyeing methods, Rheiazymes AG (Switzerland) for molecular bio-recycling of high-value polymers, Shaoxing Qian Yong Textile Co. (China) for SME exploration in textile digital printing, and TreeToTextile AB (Sweden) for a low climate impact biobased fiber.