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Industry News | 7/15/2026
- Jul 15
- 8 min read
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Macpi: 65 Years of Innovation in Industrial Garment Finishing
SPESA Member Feature | July 15, 2026
Macpi is celebrating 65 years of advancing industrial garment finishing through reliable, customizable pressing, ironing, and automation technologies used by manufacturers in more than 140 countries. Its broad portfolio helps apparel producers improve productivity, consistency, energy efficiency, and labor utilization while adapting to evolving fabrics and production demands.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | MACPI at EXPODETERGO INTERNATIONAL 2026, Integrated Automation Redefining Industrial Finishing
Detergo Magazine | July & August 2026 Issue
SPESA member Macpi will showcase a fully integrated, automated garment-finishing workflow at EXPODETERGO INTERNATIONAL 2026, connecting shirt ironing, hanger transport, and a new automatic bagging machine capable of processing up to 1,200 garments per hour. The company will also present its modular finishing tunnel and updated equipment range, highlighting how automation can help laundries improve productivity, consistency, and operating efficiency amid workforce and cost pressures.
Techtextil North America Returns to the Heart of U.S. Textile Innovation
Press Release | July 15, 2026
Techtextil North America returns to Raleigh, North Carolina, August 4–6, 2026, bringing together leaders in technical textiles, nonwovens, advanced materials, research, and manufacturing innovation. SPESA invites you to join us in Raleigh to explore emerging technologies, connect with industry experts, and help shape the future of the textile and sewn products industries.
Majority of Manufacturers Struggle To Scale Execution Systems: Rockwell
Manufacturing Dive | July 15, 2026
Although not specific to sewn products manufacturing, a Rockwell Automation survey highlights a challenge relevant across industrial sectors: while 93% of manufacturers use manufacturing execution systems (MES) at one or more facilities, only 23% have fully deployed them across all sites. Disconnected systems, underused data, and integration difficulties are limiting the value of MES, particularly as manufacturers prepare for greater use of AI, strengthen cybersecurity, and seek more consistent visibility across operations.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | New Seed to System Partnership To Deliver Made-in-America Sustainable Fabric
WhatTheyThink! | July 13, 2026
CreateMe Technologies CEO Cam Myers talks to WhatTheyThink about the company’s partnership with Avalo and Laguna Fabrics to launch Seed to System. An end-to-end U.S. apparel production network connecting Texas-grown cotton with California fabric and manufacturing capabilities, Seed to System aims to deliver more sustainable, domestically produced textiles while demonstrating how advanced materials, automation, and regional collaboration can strengthen the American apparel supply chain.
Webinar Announcement: How To Make It in America, Live Webinar
Vogue Business
Vogue Business will host a live webinar on July 23rd, examining the opportunities and challenges shaping the U.S. fashion market, including where brands should expand beyond New York and Los Angeles and how they can compete in a difficult retail environment. The discussion will also explore how domestic and international labels can connect with American consumers and position the United States as a long-term growth market.
YKK Develops Concept EXCELLA® Zipper Tape Using Nonwoven Fabric Partially Derived from Used Clothing — Adopted for the Latest Paris Couture Collection by YUIMA NAKAZATO
Press Release | July 13, 2026
YKK has developed a concept version of its premium EXCELLA® zipper featuring nonwoven tape partially made from fiberized used clothing through Epson’s Dry Fiber Technology. Created in collaboration with designer Yuima Nakazato and Epson, the zipper debuted in Nakazato’s “INFERNO” couture collection in Paris and demonstrates a new approach to upcycling textile waste for luxury fashion.
Dedicated Car Seat Model of SHIMA SEIKI’s P-CAM® R Cutting Machine Unveiled
Press Release | July 13, 2026
SHIMA SEIKI has unveiled a dedicated automotive-seat version of its P-CAM® R computerized cutting machine, featuring dual cutting and drilling heads, drill-dust removal and automatic suction adjustment for foam-backed materials. Designed to improve productivity, precision, and labor efficiency in car-seat production, the system is also slated for international sales.
The Infrastructure Gap: Why Fashion’s Tech Stalled on the Factory Floor
Sourcing Journal | July 12, 2026
PDS has partnered with Future Fashion Assembly to create a structured framework for evaluating, testing, and scaling emerging fashion technologies in real manufacturing environments. By connecting innovators with PDS’s global sourcing and production network, the initiative aims to help brands and factories move promising solutions beyond pilots and into practical factory-floor use.
Levi’s CEO: AI Is an ‘Amplifier’ for Our Workers, Not a Job-Taker
NBC News | July 10, 2026
Levi Strauss & Co. is using artificial intelligence to accelerate product design, personalize marketing, and improve operational efficiency while keeping its workforce relatively stable as sales grow. Sarah Krasley, CEO of Shimmy Technologies and member of the SPESA Board of Directors, is quoted in the article. Krasley notes that AI and automation could eventually disrupt the apparel industry’s long-standing pursuit of low-cost labor, even as Levi’s executives position the technology as an “amplifier” rather than a replacement for employees.
Startup Gets VC Funding To Bring AI to the Circular Economy
Sourcing Journal | July 10, 2026
Berlin-based startup reverse.fashion has secured a seven-figure investment from High-Tech Gründerfonds to expand its AI-powered textile sorting technology. Its systems classify used garments by condition, style, brand, size, and material composition, helping operators improve sorting efficiency and direct textiles toward resale or high-quality recycling.
Simplifyber Reduces Textile and Apparel Manufacturing to a Single Step
Sourcing Journal | July 10, 2026
We’re excited to share some news coming out of Raleigh! Simplifyber, which is based in Raleigh, North Carolina, is developing a single-step, additive manufacturing process that turns a liquid, FSC-certified cellulose formula directly into molded garments, footwear components, and other soft goods, eliminating traditional spinning, weaving, cutting, and sewing. The bio-based, paper-recyclable material is designed to reduce waste, water pollution, and production complexity while making sustainable manufacturing competitive with polyester at scale.
Burlington Commissions Modernized Raeford, N.C. Dyehouse, Reinforces Commitment to U.S. Military and Domestic Textile Manufacturing
eTextileCommunications | July 9, 2026
Burlington Industries has commissioned a modernized dyehouse at its Raeford, North Carolina facility, adding advanced equipment and process improvements to strengthen domestic textile production for the U.S. military and other customers. Burlington operates under Elevate Textiles alongside SPESA member American & Efird.
Click the link below to see Devin’s great photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony!
Before Smart Textiles, There Was North Carolina
Techtextil North America on LinkedIn Pulse | July 9, 2026
North Carolina’s textile legacy has evolved from its historic cotton mills into one of North America’s most advanced ecosystems for technical textiles, smart materials, nonwovens, and sustainable manufacturing. The article highlights the state’s strong collaboration among manufacturers, universities, researchers, and startups, positioning Raleigh as a fitting host for Techtextil North America, taking place August 4-6, 2026.
New Fabric Test Material Could Help Strengthen Domestic Supply Chain for Textiles and Clothing
Press Release | July 9, 2026
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a research-grade fabric test material designed to improve the accuracy and consistency of textile fiber identification, including AI-enabled and near-infrared sorting systems. By helping recyclers and manufacturers better classify fiber content, the new benchmark could increase textile recovery, reduce waste, and strengthen domestic circular supply chains.
New Fabric Test Material Could Help Strengthen Domestic Supply Chain for Textiles and Clothing
Press Release | July 9, 2026
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a research-grade fabric test material designed to improve the accuracy and consistency of textile fiber identification, including AI-enabled and near-infrared sorting systems. By helping recyclers and manufacturers better classify fiber content, the new benchmark could increase textile recovery, reduce waste, and strengthen domestic circular supply chains.
Duggal Visual Solutions and EFI Reggiani Announce North American Debut of the EFI Reggiani NEXT Plus
Press Release | July 9, 2026
Duggal Visual Solutions has installed North America’s first 8-color EFI Reggiani NEXT Plus at its New York production facility, expanding its high-volume dye-sublimation printing capabilities. The system offers sharper imaging, a broader color gamut and reduced energy consumption, helping Duggal improve speed to market and print quality while supporting customers’ sustainability goals.
AFFOA Launches a Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge Sponsored by CPE CBRND Through SPARK To Accelerate Next-Generation Protective Materials
Press Release | July 8, 2026
AFFOA has launched a nationwide Chemical Protective Textiles Challenge to identify advanced, commercially viable materials that improve protection against hydrofluoric acid, jet fuel, rocket fuel, and related hazards while maintaining comfort, flexibility, and durability. The initiative includes an Industry Day in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and will award funding and independent testing support to promising technologies aimed at strengthening next-generation protective systems for warfighters.
Data Shows 20,000 Bangladesh RMG Workers Laid Off in First Half 2026
Just Style | July 8, 2026
Nearly 20,000 workers, most employed in Bangladesh’s ready-made garment sector, lost their jobs through layoffs or retrenchment during the first half of 2026. Manufacturers attribute the cuts and factory closures to declining export orders, financial pressures, and limited access to bank financing, while many affected workers are reportedly still awaiting unpaid wages, benefits, or compensation.
Kornit Expands USColorworks' Digital Production Platform
Press Release | July 8, 2026
North Carolina-based USColorworks has expanded its Kornit digital production platform with Atlas MATRIX and Atlas MAX PLUS systems, enabling high-quality on-demand printing across cotton, blended fabrics, and polyester. The investment is expected to increase production capacity by 30% while shortening turnaround times, reducing labor and inventory requirements, and supporting orders ranging from a single garment to large-volume programs.
U.S. Textile, Apparel, and Retail Groups Unite Behind Innovative Textile and Apparel Trade Incentive Program To Strengthen U.S. Manufacturing
Press Release | July 7, 2026
Four U.S. textile and apparel trade groups — NCTO, AAFA, USFIA and USINFI — are jointly urging the Trump administration to adopt a new incentive program that would let brands and retailers earn tariff credits by purchasing U.S.-made textiles and qualifying apparel from Western Hemisphere trade partners. The groups say the proposal could offset Section 301 tariff costs while strengthening regional supply chains, doubling U.S. textile exports to $29 billion annually and creating more than 56,000 American jobs.
How Fashion Waste Could Become a Resource Through SME-led Circularity
Just Style | July 7, 2026
A new mini-review argues that transforming textile waste into resources requires stronger alignment among SME innovation, sustainability education, and community-based circular initiatives. While small businesses, emerging technologies, and local reuse programs are advancing repair, recycling, and upcycling, broader progress depends on better financing, infrastructure, policy coordination, and practical education that turns awareness into action.
Will Trump’s New Tariffs Wipe Out Importers’ IEEPA Refunds?
Supply Chain Brain | July 6, 2026
Importers expecting refunds after the Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under IEEPA may see much of that relief offset by a new wave of U.S. duties enacted under Sections 301, 232 and 122. The article notes that uncertainty remains over how much of the original IEEPA payments will actually be refunded, leaving companies facing continued tariff costs and supply chain disruption.
Reju Opens First U.S. Research & Development Center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
Press Release | July 1, 2026
Reju has opened its first North American research and development center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, to accelerate textile-to-textile recycling technologies and next-generation circular materials. The facility will focus on polyester recycling, mixed-fabric solutions, and new chemical pathways, helping move innovations from early testing toward industrial-scale deployment across Reju’s planned regeneration hubs.
Andre West To Step Down as Director of ZTE
Wilson College News | June 30, 2026
Andre West is stepping down as director of NC State’s Zeis Textiles Extension after seven years of leadership and will begin a phased retirement while continuing to teach part time. Associate Director Melissa Sharp became interim director on July 1st, building on her extensive work advancing textile research, sustainability, and workforce training.
SPESA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT | Fashion Trends 2026: Between Minimalism and Maximalism, Lectra Presents a Summer of Contrasts and Value
Press Release | June 25, 2026
Lectra’s Retviews data reveals that Spring/Summer 2026 fashion will balance understated, versatile staples with bold, expressive details, from premium basics and denim to sequins and fringe. The report also identifies a broader shift from volume to value, as brands emphasize quality, durability, and strategic pricing to appeal to increasingly selective consumers.
