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Industry News | 4/22/2026
- Apr 22
- 7 min read
VDMA Presents 'Threads of the Future' at Texprocess 2026
Fibre2Fashion | April 22, 2026
Global textile processing is facing profound structural change. Automation, digital connectivity, and rising sustainability requirements are permanently reshaping production structures, value chains, and competitive conditions. This is the conclusion of the new market study “Threads of the Future — How Automation and Digitalization Will Reinvent Textile Processing by 2035,” which the VDMA Textile Care, Fabric, and Leather Technologies Association (VDMA TFL) presented at a press conference during Texprocess in Frankfurt, Germany.
“Future competitiveness will no longer be decided at the level of individual machines, but in integrated, digitally networked production systems,” emphasized Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA TFL.
Cotton Surges on Oil Driven Costs, Lifting Textiles While Apparel Lags (Video)
CNBC | April 22, 2026
A quick look at the stock market: CNBC’s Dominic Chu reports cotton prices surge on higher oil and fertilizer costs, boosting textile stocks while apparel companies face mixed performance amid supply and cost pressures.
Texbase Launches CPSC eFiling Solution for Brands
Specialty Fabrics Review | April 22, 2026
Texbase Inc., a cloud-based platform connecting brands and retailers with supply chain partners and independent testing labs, has launched Texbase for eFiling, a capability designed to help brands prepare and submit certified product data directly to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Product Registry.
With Presto Max Plus, Kornit Targets New Industrial Textile Markets
Print Industry | April 21, 2026
Kornit Digital has launched a new generation of its Presto platform with the Presto Max Plus, geared towards technical textiles and high-stress applications. The Israeli manufacturer thus extends the use of digital pigment printing to segments such as footwear, automotive, and performance fabrics.
The Presto Max Plus roll-to-roll textile printer retains the Presto features, which are based on one-step production, without pre-treatment or washing, and compatible with a wide range of fabrics.
More news about Kornit below.
Karl Mayer Opens New Textile Innovation Center
Specialty Fabrics Review | April 21, 2026
KARL MAYER opened its new TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) April 21 in Obertshausen, Germany. The center brings together the latest developments in warp knitting, technical textiles, and warp preparation. The company will be hosting an opening week for the center April 21-24, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for April 23rd.
Tech Tuesday: Retail Technology Spending Projected To Reach $388 Billion
Sourcing Journal | April 21, 2026
Recent research from consulting firms and analysts is showing a clear pivot of retailers and apparel brands moving away from “experimental gadgets” to deeply integrated “agentic” technologies. While previous years were defined by the hype of the Metaverse, today’s tech investments are targeted at two critical goals: creating operational resilience and frictionless hyper-personalization for shoppers.
European Commission Seeks Proposals on Textile Reuse and Repair Systems
Just Style | April 21, 2026
The European Commission has issued a €10 million call for proposals aimed at increasing textile reuse and repair across cities and regions in Europe.
U.S. Fashion Firms Accelerate Sourcing Shift as Supply Chains Falter
Just Style | April 20, 2026
“U.S. fashion brands and retailers are increasingly shifting sourcing away from China, in favor of nearshoring and exploring supply options across wider Asia.”
We’ve shared this news from Dr. Sheng Lu and Just Style before. But this article provides info on the plans of specific brands and manufacturers.
Trump Administration Launches Tariff Refund Portal. Here's What To Know.
CBS News | April 20, 2026
The U.S. government this week launched an online portal that lets businesses request refunds for tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. But payouts won't be automatic, and legal experts say businesses could face other obstacles getting their money back.
CBS News outlines what to know about the government tariff refund portal, including who is eligible to submit a claim and how soon businesses could receive payment.
Additional coverage in Sourcing Journal.
Brother Launches PR1060W 10-Needle Flagship Embroidery Machine
Press Release | April 20, 2026
Brother announced the launch of its new flagship 10-needle commercial automatic embroidery machine, the PR1060W. As the latest addition to the PR series, this machine combines high-efficiency multi-needle embroidery, intelligent positioning, and advanced matrix copying technology.
NYCEDC, CFDA Announce Continuation of Fashion Manufacturing Initiative Through New Local Production Fund
Press Release | April 20, 202
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), announced the continuation of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI) with the launch of a new $1.7 million Local Production Fund to support the city’s garment manufacturers. The program will provide credits for up to 21 local garment manufacturers that can be used for reshoring production orders for up to 43 fashion designers over 2 years and up to 3 seasons.
Cotton USA Highlights Latin America as a Strategic Sourcing Hub for U.S. Apparel Brands
Sourcing Journal | April 20, 2026
“Latin America is no longer just a supplemental sourcing region to Asia.” That’s the message delivered in Cotton USA’s new white paper called “Unlocking the Potential of Latin America for Global Sourcing Strategies.”
With its proximity to the United States, vertically integrated supply chains and robust trade agreements such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the paper positions the region as a strategic partner for brands with U.S. distribution seeking speed, flexibility, and resilience in their supply chains.
Rogers Startup Upkept Is Reinventing the Clothing Repair Industry
Arkansas Business | April 20, 2026
Founded in 2025 in Rogers, Arkansas, Upkept is a technology platform that streamlines clothing repairs for individuals and organizations. The tech startup recently raised $100,000 in capital that has so far funded building the technology, hiring tailors, buying equipment, and opening a warehouse. Upkept is now raising $500,000 through a pre-seed venture capital round to grow its business-to-business operations and expand its infrastructure.
Apparel Printer for Google, Lady Gaga’s Foundation Opening N.J. Business Employing Autistic Adults
NJ.com | April 19, 2026
Nonprofit organization Spectrum Designs and North Jersey Friendship House are partnering to open a new custom apparel and merchandise production facility in Hackensack, New Jersey, to create employment opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum. The facility will hire and train neurodiverse individuals for roles in apparel production, fulfillment, and customer service.
The company provides screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-garment printing, and branded merchandise, serving clients from local businesses to global brands, including Google, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.
Europe ‘Losing’ Textile Industry, Trade Group Warns
Sourcing Journal | April 17, 2026
“Europe is losing its textile industry,” says Brussels-based trade group the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex). “Every week, textile factories close across Europe.”
For an industry that supports roughly 1.3 million workers across 200,000 mostly small and medium-sized companies, “this is not an empty statement,” Euratex said. The sector logged negative results across several key indicators for the third year in a row — a sign of what it described as a “continued erosion of competitiveness across Europe.”
Kornit Digital Acquires PrintFactory To Expand On-Demand Production Platform
Press Release via eTextileCommunications | April 17, 2026
Kornit Digital Ltd. announced it has acquired PrintFactory, a Netherlands-based provider of cloud-native workflow, color management, and production automation software. Kornit said the acquisition is a strategic step in accelerating the digital transformation of the global fashion and textile industry.
How the Middle East Crisis Could Alter Apparel Supply Chains for Good
Just Style | April 15, 2026
As the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt supply chains, industry experts consider the impact of a longer-term conflict and how it could lead apparel brands to make more sustainable choices.
Allbirds Inc. Shifts Focus to AI From Shoes
Footwear News | April 15, 2026
After the recent sale of its intellectual property and footwear assets, (former) sneaker brand Allbirds has inked a definitive agreement with an unnamed institutional investor for a $50 million convertible financing facility to enable it to pivot its business to AI compute infrastructure. The aim over the long-term is to become a cloud-base service provider integrating GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS) and AI-native cloud solutions. Allbirds would also change its name to NewBird AI.
How AI, Resale, Nearshoring Are Reshaping Apparel in 2026
Just Style | April 14, 2026
After a GlobalData report outlined the trends set to redefine apparel competition in 2026, from AI-driven operations to resale growth and nearshoring strategies, Just Style examines how they're already playing out in the news.
Cambodia Grapples with Labor Market Shock as Workers Return from Thailand
Sourcing Journal | April 13, 2026
Nearly one million migrant workers have returned to Cambodia from Thailand since border tensions escalated in June 2025. Despite truce agreements between the two countries, workers say they continue to brace for the fallout that has thrown their lives into confusion and uncertainty.
Reports from local unions describe the situation as “extremely grave,” even as the government has emphasized a focus on job creation, placement, and support to help labor and industry work together.
Historic Textile Mill Near Charlotte Closes Second NC Plant, Laying Off Over 65
Charlotte Observer | April 13, 2026
Parkdale Mills, a historic yarn manufacturer based in North Carolina, is shutting down its second facility this year. The closure of the Lexington facility and subsequent layoffs are due to increasing energy costs which have created an “unsustainable business model,” according to the report from Parkdale.
Brazil Textile Production Surges, Green Credentials Grow
Just Style | April 10, 2026
According to the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Associação Brasileira da Indústria Têxtil e de Confecção – ABIT), the sector’s production has increased by approximately 18%, while CO2 emissions related to the energy consumption of industrial plants have decreased by about 70% in just over 20 years.
Project FAE Aims To Deliver Recycler-Ready Textile Feedstock
Sourcing Journal | April 10, 2026
Fashion for Good has launched Project FAE (Feedstock Activation Europe) to improve Europe’s sorting and pre-processing infrastructure for channeling non-rewearable post-consumer textiles into large-scale textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling. Led by the Amsterdam-based group, Project FAE unites ecosystem partners — including Adidas, Bestseller, and Inditex — to drive changes that strengthen infrastructure for textile recycling.
FIT Conference Signals a Reality Check for Biofabricated Fashion
Sourcing Journal | April 9, 2026
The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosted its 20th annual sustainability conference this month, commemorating two decades of progress under the theme “Industry Disruptors.” The event highlighted the widening gap between the early promise of fashion’s materials science and engineering (MSE) scene and its current status.
