Major clothing companies have questioned sustainability initiative Better Cotton following a critical report from non-profit group Earthsight.

Advances in adhesive technology are opening up new possibilities for recycling athletic shoes.

Taking a material from the aerospace industry, a “crazy” idea became a viable product in the hands of the textiles masterminds at Tejidos Royo.

The emergence of new business models and the likely implementation of digital product passports may require new features and functions that warrant extending the range of traceability technologies.

In addition to going into manmade cellulosic fibres, the renewable resource that is pulped wood is also being tapped for other textile industry supplies, including polymers and chemicals, offering a new array of materials that are not derived from fossil fuels.

British outdoor brand Rab moves forward with its down recycling programme.

Changes to materials and construction are crucial in creating shoes that will provide athletes with performance gains. What this means for sustainability strategies is a separate question.

Cycling brands are among early adopters of bio-based nylon-containing Power Shield, which also incorporates a new construction to make it Polartec’s most waterproof and breathable technology yet.

Under Armour and Celanese have unveiled a fresh type of stretch fibre that they say could provide a more easily recyclable alternative to elastane – and they are keen for wider industry adoption.

In the wide world of agricultural waste lie many long and strong fibres that can be spun into textile yarns for apparel and accessories.

Cooking oils and fruit stones are among the new raw materials being harnessed to make textile auxiliaries.

Enzymes, microbes and such can develop the ability to break down any substance they find in their close environment, including plastics. They are now being screened and tailored to depolymerise PET plastics, polyester textiles and fabrics made from polyamide.

The Cannes-based show prides itself on offering premium fabrics for the swimwear sector. The longstanding heritage of the exhibitors was reflected in the high-quality and skilful fabric offerings for summer 2025.

Vivobarefoot aims to tackle the vast amounts of footwear waste by creating ‘scan-to-print’, locally made custom shoes that wearers could treasure for longer.

Ambercycle looks to have received a game-changing boost in its bid to begin commercial-scale production of regenerated polyester fibres.

Spiber’s Brewed Protein is the first purely biotech fibre to be developed on a commercial scale. Fellow Japanese company and long-time partner Goldwin has played a crucial role in bringing the innovative fibre to market.

New factories for depolymerising polyester textiles are in the works. Using a variety of ‘advanced’ or molecular recycling processes, they promise to treat textile waste that cannot be mechanically recycled.

A new category of recycled synthetics uses material at risk of ending up in the open sea or recycled from debris fished out of the ocean. These two sources constitute, regrettably, a near unlimited supply.