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Industry News | 7/1/2026
- 6 days ago
- 10 min read
SPESA NEWS | Webinar: IEEPA Refund Process & Tariff Update
SPESA Announcement | July 1, 2026
Behind the SEAMS subscribers are invited to join SPESA for an informative webinar Wednesday, July 15th, examining the current state of the IEEPA tariff refund process, the latest tariff and trade actions coming out of Washington, and the relevance to the sewn products industry.
This webinar is free for SPESA members! The content will focus on importers and suppliers to the sewn products industry, but is open to anyone who would like to learn more about the current status and impact of tariffs. Non-SPESA members can join for $25.
CA Expects First Textile EPR Deadline
Resource Recycling, Inc. | June 30, 2026
Today is the last day for producers of apparel and textiles sold in California to register with Landbell USA, the state-approved producer responsibility organization (PRO) under the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, or face fines of up to $10,000 per day for non-compliance.
CalRecycle selected Landbell USA as the sole PRO under the law in February 2026. Registration is live through the company’s Circul8 platform and takes an estimated five minutes. The 2026–2027 fee is a flat $1,000 per producer, funding the mandatory statewide needs assessment.
U.S. Furniture Industry Sees Regional Power Shift Toward the Great Lakes Corridor
Interior Daily | June 30, 2026
The United States furniture manufacturing sector remains highly concentrated in a handful of key states, but new analysis from Furnilytics shows growth patterns are increasingly shifting toward the Great Lakes region, signaling a gradual change in the industry's geographic balance.
French Parliament Passes Law To Curb Rise of Fast Fashion
Le Monde | June 29, 2026
The new law establishes penalty fees and an advertising ban on environmentally irresponsible companies — notably Asian e-commerce companies Shein, Temu, and AliExpress — while seeking to protect the French textile industry.
Once approved by France's president, the law will likely go into effect January 2027.
Investments in Senegal, Uzbekistan Aim To Expand Textile and Apparel Production
Sourcing Journal | June 29, 2026
In Senegal, the government inaugurated a new $10.45 million textile manufacturing facility in the nation’s Diamniadio industrial zone. Developed by Turkish investment group AVCI Global Industrie, the facility will have the capacity to produce around 1,200 garments per day while creating an expected 200 new jobs for the region.
In Uzbekistan, South Korean textile and apparel operation Youngone Corporation plans to increase its investment in the nation to $40 million over the next three years. The company has already sunk $22 million into developing localized manufacturing in the nation with the goal of creating a fully vertical production chain in Uzbekistan.
Textiles to Turbines: Palmetto State Manufacturing Is Advancing Through Robotics, AI, Other Tech
Greenville Business Magazine | June 29, 2026
Manufacturers in South Carolina’s textile, automotive, and other industries have turned to Industry 4.0 tools such as AI, IoT, and robotics to boost efficiency, trim costs, and in some cases, eliminate physically demanding jobs.
European Furniture Market Remains Structurally Integrated Despite Rising External Competition
Interior Daily | June 29, 2026
The European furniture market continues to be defined by strong intra-European integration, even as non-EU competition gradually increases its presence. According to analysis of trade flows, approximately 80% of furniture consumed in the EU in 2025 originated within Europe, either through domestic production or intra-EU trade.
Rouzer, Espaillat and Textile Caucus Members Call for Safeguards in Protecting the U.S. Textile Industry
Press Release | June 29, 2026
Congressional Textile Caucus Co-Chairs David Rouzer (R-NC-07) and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), joined by fourteen Members of Congress, sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security urging stronger customs enforcement measures to protect the American textile industry from fraudulent trade practices and illegal imports.
Pakistan Joins ATTI To Accelerate Textile Decarbonization
Textile Today | June 27, 2026
The Pakistan Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), which represents more than 500 member companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Apparel & Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI) to establish the initiative's national chapter in Pakistan. Pakistan is the third country after Bangladesh and Türkiye to join the manufacturer-led climate program. The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions across the global textile and apparel industry.
On the Line: More Garment Factory Closures Rattle Bangladesh
Sourcing Journal | June 26, 2026
Nearly 500 factories across seven major industrial zones in Bangladesh reportedly ceased operations between August 2024 and June 2026. Of these, 205 shut down due to insufficient work orders and 190 due to financial strain. Another 11 factories shuttered due to labor unrest, and 51 closed because of political instability, banking issues, gas and electricity shortages, raw material scarcity, or relocation. A deeper analysis of the situation is available here.
India Plans To Expand Textile Manufacturing Beyond Tirupur and Surat
Apparel Resources | June 26, 2026
India’s Ministry of Textiles is planning to expand textile manufacturing into states such as Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Jharkhand as part of a strategic effort to reduce reliance on established textile hubs.
Home Furnishings Industry Records 12 Bankruptcy Filings in First Half of 2026
Furniture Today | June 26, 2026
The home furnishings industry entered 2026 facing a difficult business climate. Six months later, a growing list of bankruptcy filings underscores just how challenging the environment has become. Through the first half of the year, Furniture Today tracked 12 bankruptcy filings, restructuring proceedings, or insolvency actions involving companies across the home furnishings sector. The cases span furniture retailers, mattress retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and bedding brands.
While each filing reflects a unique set of circumstances, collectively they paint a picture of an industry grappling with sluggish consumer demand, elevated financing costs, a slow housing market, and continued pressure on margins.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | H.B. Fuller Announces Offer To Acquire Advanced Medical Solutions
Press Release | June 25, 2026
New SPESA member H.B. Fuller Company, the world’s largest pureplay adhesives company, announced it has made a recommended cash offer to acquire Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc. The move would extend H.B. Fuller’s capabilities in attractive, high-growth medical segments and accelerate a portfolio mix shift and path to >20% EBITDA margin target.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | AFFOA Names The Lycra Company, Gentex Corporation, Ecotune, and Macrocycle Technologies as Awardees in Its Product Accelerator for Functional Fabrics Program
Press Release | June 25, 2026
SPESA member AFFOA (Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc.) announced that The Lycra Company, Gentex Corporation, Ecotune, and MacroCycle Technologies have been selected as awardees in the third round of its Product Accelerator for Functional Fabrics (PAFF 3.0) program. The goal of the PAFF 3.0 program is to address critical technical and manufacturing challenges by providing no-cost access to AFFOA's engineering experts, prototyping and testing facilities, manufacturing scale-up capabilities, and domestic supply chain network to improve manufacturability and accelerate time to market.
Speaking of AFFOA, the organization’s 2026 Advanced Functional Fabrics Summit will take place on September 22–23, 2026, at MIT's Samberg Conference Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Summit brings together leaders from industry, academia, government, national security, investment, and the startup community to explore emerging technologies, market opportunities, and real-world applications driving the future of advanced textiles and wearable technologies. Click here for more info.
The Power of a Global Textile Network: Why Regional Connections Matter More Than Ever
The Next Thread (LinkedIn Post) | June 25, 2026
As part of Messe Frankfurt's Texpertise Network, Techtextil North America is connected to a global platform that brings together the textile value chain through more than 60 textile trade fairs and events across 15 countries. Together, these events create opportunities for professionals to exchange ideas, discover innovations, and build relationships that extend far beyond a single show. For the North American market, Techtextil North America serves as a regional gateway to this global ecosystem.
Click the link below to learn more about the upcoming show. And don’t forget SPESA is bringing the industry back together for another Alphabet Soup Shindig in Raleigh August 4th!
Thomas Jefferson University Announces Creation of Three New Colleges To Advance Future-Focused Academic Strategy
Press Release | June 25, 2026
Effective July 1st, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia is launching a new College of Fashion & Textiles. It will be led by Marcia Weiss whom many of you may have met when SPESA hosted the World Fashion Convention in the city in 2023 (Congrats to Marcia on the new gig!). In the announcement, Weiss noted that bringing the school’s Fashion Merchandising & Management program into the fold will enable students to benefit from award-winning programs and mirror the entire fashion ecosystem under one roof.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | CreateMe, Avalo and Laguna Fabrics Launch ‘Seed to System,’ the First AI-Powered Apparel Manufacturing Ecosystem
Press Release | June 23, 2026
SPESA member CreateMe Technologies recently announced strategic partnerships with Avalo and Laguna Fabrics to introduce Seed to System: a first-of-its-kind initiative connecting climate-smart cotton, domestic textile manufacturing, and robotic garment assembly into a single AI-assisted ecosystem. From fields in the heart of Texas's cotton region to production facilities in California, the partnership aims to demonstrate how apparel can be produced faster, more localized, and with greater supply chain resilience.
India Poised To Gain from China’s Shrinking Apparel Export Share and UK Trade Deal: Report
Apparel Resources | June 23, 2026
While Bangladesh and Vietnam have traditionally benefited from lower production costs and favorable trade arrangements, India is increasingly emerging as a competitive alternative due to new trade agreements, substantial manufacturing capacity, improving infrastructure and government-backed initiatives, and the development of mega textile parks.
Global Nonwovens Alliance Launches New E-Learning Initiative To Strengthen Industry Knowledge And Professional Development
Press Release via Textile World | June 23, 2026
The Global Nonwovens Alliance, founded by INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, and EDANA, the voice of nonwovens, announced the launch of a new global e-learning initiative designed to help companies build essential nonwovens knowledge across their functional teams. The program provides a common foundation for professionals entering the industry, transitioning into new roles, or supporting nonwovens businesses from commercial, operational, regulatory, technical, or corporate functions.
What the 2026 Textile Exchange Polyester Study Really Tells Us About Recycled Polyester
Textile Today | June 23, 2026
For years, recycled polyester (rPET) has been promoted as one of fashion's most important sustainability solutions. Brands adopted recycled polyester to reduce dependence on virgin fossil fuels and lower the environmental footprint of synthetic textiles.
A groundbreaking June 2026 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by Textile Exchange shows the truth is much more complicated. The study reveals that material substitution alone cannot fix fashion's climate problem. Instead, true sustainability depends on how a material is processed, powered, and sourced.
PhD Research at University of Zagreb Leads to Innovative Patent in Garment Sizing Technology
Textile Today | June 22, 2026
The patented innovation focuses on the development of a novel Garment Size Chart Model, designed to improve the scientific accuracy and efficiency of garment sizing systems through advanced anthropometric analysis. This invention addresses one of the longstanding challenges in the apparel and textile industry developing reliable and standardized sizing solutions that better accommodate variations in human body dimensions.
Menstrual Health: A Missing Link in Fashion Supply Chains
Just Style | June 22, 2026
Just Style speaks to non-profit drip by drip about a new program tackling menstrual health in fashion's supply chain, starting with a pilot scheme in 10 Bangladesh factories. According to findings, 90% of female workers involved in the pilot scheme said they face barriers to managing menstruation safely.
Supreme Nonwoven Inc. Invest $25.8 Million To Establish Its First U.S. Manufacturing Facility
Press Release via Textile World | June 19, 2026
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced Supreme Nonwoven Inc., a manufacturer of advanced nonwoven materials and products, will soon create 50 new jobs in the state. The company will invest $25.8 million to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Lexington, North Carolina.
Thorogood Boots Opens $14.5 Million Manufacturing Facility and First Retail Store in Wisconsin
Footwear News | June 18, 2026
Thorogood Boots, one of America’s last large-scale domestic work boot manufacturers, recently opened a new $14.5 million manufacturing facility and flagship store in Marshfield, Wisconsin, marking the brand’s first-ever retail location. According to Thorogood, the new flagship store is designed to give customers a direct view into the production floor so they can watch the boots being made while they shop and marks the first time in the brand’s 134-year history that the public can see the manufacturing process firsthand.
YKK Announces Decision To Construct a New Factory in India
Kohan Textile Journal | June 18, 2026
YKK Corporation has announced plans to construct a new factory in Tamil Nadu in southern India, a country that is rapidly growing as one of the world’s leading producers of textiles and apparel. The new factory will work in coordination with the company’s two existing factories in northern India and will be a state-of-the-art facility integrating YKK’s advanced technologies to address the growing domestic demand and export-oriented manufacturing markets.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Goodwill South Florida Reduces Cutting Room Planning Time from Days to Minutes with Lectra Valia Manufacturing
Press Release | June 16, 2026
SPESA member Lectra recently announced Goodwill South Florida has implemented Valia Manufacturing, Lectra’s new cloud-based solution to modernize and automate cutting room operations, marking a significant step forward in efficiency and operational performance that will yield nearly a 99% reduction in cutting room planning time. Based in Miami, Goodwill South Florida operates a centralized manufacturing division producing over one million U.S. military garments annually, including trousers, coats, and combat shirts. As production demands continue to grow, Goodwill identified the need to modernize its planning workflows.
Lectra was also in the news this month for a new White Paper arguing fashion leaders are losing margin because they lack visibility of their own operations, but harnessing the right technologies could resolve this.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Germany's AMANN Group Plans Fresh Investment, Factory Expansion in Bangladesh
Textile Excellence | June 15, 2026
Germany-based industrial sewing and embroidery thread manufacturer AMANN Group plans to expand its factory operations and make fresh investments in Bangladesh, the company's Chief Executive Officer Markus Nicolaus said at a meeting with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leaders in Dhaka.
Nicolaus said: "We are closely observing which other sectors here may attract new investment. There are major investment opportunities, especially in Bangladesh's high-tech textile sector."
