Building for the future at TITAS Virtual 2021 Ankit Sponsored

Sponsored by Taiwan Textile Federation


The year 2021 was ground-breaking for the Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS). The 25^th edition of the event was the first-ever virtual TITAS. A completely new virtual experience, the fresh format was the first of its kind in Taiwan’s textile industry.

TITAS Virtual 2021 was held for 30 days on 1-30 November 2021. The exhibition offered fully virtual business opportunities for Taiwan’s textile suppliers and global buyers. As a ‘one-stop-shop’ for the global textile industry, the platform provided Taiwan-based companies with the opportunity to showcase their latest innovations, and enabled networking and connections across the industry and the globe. The event reached out to a wide audience, permitting the development of far-reaching business opportunities. In fact, the event’s exhibition zones had over 70,000 views from 102 countries. The top 10 countries and regions with highest views included Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, the US, Germany, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the UK and Singapore.

More than just a virtual exhibition, TITAS Virtual 2021 also held educational seminars in its Seminars Zone. This virtual area provided visitors with the most current industry insights from Taiwan. A number of exhibitors presented their latest innovations at the Seminars Zone, through both pre-recorded and live-streamed seminars.

The exhibition’s Events Zone gave visitors the opportunity to visualise new product launches, and held a fashion show for exhibitors to present product highlights. Entitled ‘Dynamic • TITAS Virtual’, the fashion show presented collections from seven prominent companies – Far Eastern New Century, New Wide, Zig Sheng, Eclat, Taiwan Paiho, Singtex and Formosa Taffeta. Viewed virtually, the catwalk focused on sustainable and functional innovations that are also aesthetically pleasing.

With over 154 exhibitors, TITAS Virtual 2021 was organised by the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) and was supported by the Taiwan Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs. Twelve textile-related associations and research institutes also exhibited at the event.   

The Exhibitor Hall featured six categories:

• Fibres & Yarns
• Apparel/Industrial/Home Textiles
• Apparel
• Trimming & Accessories
• Textile Machinery & Sewing Equipment
• Other Relevant Services

Exhibitors

This year’s event was centred around three key themes: functional applications; sustainability; and PPE. These themes are all incredibly pertinent in the Covid-19 era and have spurred innovation in the textile industry.

Functional applications

Firstly, functional applications – applying multifunctional textiles to a modern lifestyle including in the sportswear, outdoor, fashion, fitness and wellness sectors – has been a growing trend over the last few years. However, nationwide lockdowns since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic have caused the demand for functional applications in textiles to surge. This is particularly true in the athleisure, wellness and outdoor areas of the industry.

Recognising this demand, designer, engineer and manufacturer of sports and athleisure material, Eclat Textile, showcased its new materials using flexuous yarns at TITAS Virtual 2021. The company’s most recent innovations include Softform, Primefit Zero, Aerojaq, Crossjaq and Graphworks. These high-performance materials were all on display at TITAS Virtual 2021. Eclat says its materials offer remarkable versatility with a growing range of active layers and technologies, compositions and tactility for a broad range of garments and use.

For example, at the event Eclat Textile introduced its Primefit Zero collection. Primefit Zero’s fine furrow structure is composed of highly compressed strands of flexuous yarns that maximise its stretch capabilities and inhibit the loss of elasticity for a longer life cycle. The material is also completely recyclable. A performance essential, according to the company, Primefit Zero is lightweight, moisture-wicking and has excellent airflow for rapid motion.

Additionally, woven fabric producer Singtex showcased its functional fabrics with a focus on sustainability and creating fabrics that fit with the lifestyle of the individual. For example, the company’s S Café brand of fabrics that has excellent odour control and UV resistance. And its STORMFLEECE^TM product is a patented technology that combines weaving and brushing techniques. The fabric is warmth-retaining in the inside and rain and wind-proof on the outside.

Elsewhere, Shin Kong Synthetic Fibers Corporation, part of Shin Kong Group, introduced SHIN Σ, a specialised polyester yarn with good stretch at TITAS Virtual 2021. The yarn’s structural stability, soft and bulky hand feel are ideal for blending with other functional fibres such as UV-cut, anti-transparency, quick-dry and moisture absorbing fibres, etc.

Functional textiles expert Grande Tex also exhibited at TITAS Virtual 2021. The company was founded in Taipei in 2010, specialising in functional textiles for the outdoor, urban and professional industrial clothing markets and showcased this offering at the event. In particular, Grande Tex expanded on its signature functional compound RICH-y^® yarn and dope dye yarns with colour master batch and RICH-y^®. These yarns not only effectively cut down the waste of energy, but are also embedded with anti-bacterial, anti-UV and energy saving properties.

What’s more, Hoyu Textile Co, established in 1964, labels itself as a textile technical solution provider. The company is a textile manufacturer with an inhouse R&D centre. At TITAS Virtual 2021, Hoyu showcased a large variety of products with functional applications from its lifejackets to FLIB (Full Light Blocking) tents.

Sustainability

Sustainability has always been a pressing issue in the textile industry. In recent years it has started to be taken more seriously, but the Covid-19 pandemic and consequent national lockdowns across the globe acted as a catalyst for more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and materials. Consumers, brands and retailers now demand sustainable products and production and companies in Taiwan are embracing this opportunity.

At TITAS Virtual 2021, the Sustainability theme emphasised how synthetic materials can be made in a more environmentally friendly way and that, to be synthetic, doesn’t necessarily mean they must be damaging to the environment. These materials, which usually have a longer life span than natural fibres, can bring added value to textile products – particularly when it comes to functionality, such as those previously mentioned.

The virtual event held a spotlight on smart manufacturing processes that have reduced negative impact on the environment, such as ecological dyeing practices and materials made from textile waste, recycled polyester and other materials and recycled gases. These innovative processes and products are made available through dedicated R&D, the optimisation of processes through agile manufacturing, IoT and the mindset growth of individual companies, people and consumers.

Polyester and textiles producer Far Eastern New Century (FENC), a global leader in sustainability, textile innovation and design, presented its newest materials and product solutions at this year’s TITAS Virtual 2021. FENC^® Knitting and Dyeing strategic business unit (SBU) integrated multiple resources and environmentally friendly products from its vertical chain, developing high-performance functional and sustainable fabrics for international brands. For example, FENC^® TOPGREEN^® rTEX Spun Yarn, transforms textile waste from the factory floor into a sustainable 100% recycled pre-consumer polyester and, using this same method, creates a 100% recycled pre-consumer cotton yarn without any chemical treatment.

Additionally, FENC^® TOPGREEN^® Bio3 PET utilises LanzaTech cutting-edge biotechnology that transforms industrial waste gas into low carbon MEG (Monoethylene glycol), which is then turned into brand new polyester. By capturing and reusing carbon emissions, FENC^® TOPGREEN^® Bio3 PET Filament and Textiles reduces the company’s carbon footprint and cuts down on pollution.

The company has also developed a bio-based material derived from sugarcane bagasse that can be used in the production of face masks. Far Eastern plans to team up with major domestic mask makers to use the material for making medium and high-end face masks. In addition to face masks, the biofibres can also be used to produce other products such as diapers and alcohol wipes.

Formosa Taffeta Co, a textile manufacturer with a focus on sustainable sports and outdoor textiles, exhibited its latest range of environmentally conscious textiles at TITAS Virtual 2021. For example, the company showcased its newly developed series of environmentally friendly materials. This includes OWASTEX™ – recycled and reused waste fabrics that use recycled fishnets and oyster shells, bio-based polyester and nylon fabrics, recycled marine waste polyester fabrics and fibres from recycled garments.

Formosa Taffeta also promoted its BOOMETEX^® recycled polyester and nylon. The fabric, created using recycled PET and nylon, was developed to reduce the company’s consumption of resources, energy and emissions. Among other products, Formosa presented its Solution Dyed fabric which, according to the company, reduces wastewater and emissions and limits energy consumption by using sustainable manufacturing processes.

Also understanding the importance of sustainability, Libolon (a brand of textile manufacturer’s Li Peng and LeaLea) uses two concepts in its textile development: ‘Producing More From Less’ and ‘Upgrading Resource Productivity’. At TITAS Virtual 2021, the company demonstrated its full range of eco-textiles, including its RePET^® recycled polyester fibre manufactured from recycled PET bottles. Using environmentally friendly recycling processes, RePET^® does not depend on petroleum. Thus, it effectively conserves natural resources and reduces environmental impact without compromising quality, the company says.

Meanwhile, Libolon’s Ecoya^® is the company’s solution dyed yarn offering. The dyeing process used reduces the use of water and chemicals, as well as decreasing the release of CO2. While a greener process, it also results in a superior finish, with great colour-fastness to light, water, washing and colour reproducibility.

Elsewhere, New Wide Group, a textile manufacturer with over 45 years of experience in the industry, prides itself on being a ‘pioneer of a greener and smarter supply chain’. The company showcased its new Eco New Wide offering at TITAS Virtual 2021. New Wide Group’s ‘ECO’ mantra puts Ecology, Conservation and Optimisation at the heart of the business. The company showcased its new bio-based products at the event, one of which feature antibacterial properties. Another was bio-nylon, made with castor oil extracted from non-food plants to replace non-renewable petroleum materials. These materials are comfortable, anti-pilling and low shrinkage, the company says. New Wide Group also introduced fabrics that blend bio-nylon with Tencel and wool.

Zig Sheng Industrial, a textile and fibre manufacturer, exhibited its recent innovations at TITAS Virtual 2021. One of these innovations is the company’s fishing net recycled nylon yarn, launched earlier this year. The product is said to be both innovative and sustainable. Zig Sheng Industrial also creates 100% pre-consumer recycled nylon, 100% post-consumer recycled polyester and recycled greige amongst other products.

Sunnytex, also known as Sunny Special Dyeing & Finishing Co, says it continues to invest resources into sustainable fabric production through improving production equipment and manufacturing processes that can effectively save electricity, heat, water and other energy sources. Thus, reducing CO2 emissions, in line with green production process. For example, Sunnytex produces PET Recycled fabrics that have used 100m PET bottles in the past year, reducing nearly 5m kg of carbon emissions.

Manufacturer Paiho Group was another exhibitor at TITAS Virtual 2021. The company showcased its trims derived from wood-fired pottery works that use environmentally friendly fibres.

And textile manufacturer Super Textile Corporation displayed its full range at TITAS Virtual 2021, including its eco-fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles. The company also has a pineapple knit range for the casualwear market.

As well as textile manufacturers, chemical companies were also looking towards a sustainable future at TITAS Virtual 2021. For example, chemical manufacturer Everlight Chemical showcased its range of more eco-friendly dyes and chemicals, such as its water-based reactive dye range.

Additionally, adhesive and chemical manufacturer Nanpao Resins displayed various non-toxic chemicals. These included a humidity reactive polyurethane (PU) for textile lamination, water and bio-based PU with great water resistance and a non-hazardous PFC-free water repellent for textile treatment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The third theme of TITAS Virtual 2021 was PPE. Similar to the demand for functional applications and sustainability, the necessity for PPE has grown as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The healthcare industry and worker’s safety, along with the surging demand for face masks for the public, have all resulted in unprecedented demand for PPE – so much so that many manufacturers have had to quickly scale up their capacity.

Ruentex Industries Ltd is a Taiwan-based company principally engaged in the manufacture of textile products. One of the company’s newest developments, showcased at TITAS Virtual 2021, is its Corpo X Protective Jacket, powered by Heiq Viroblock technology. The jacket is designed to protect frontline medical staff and has built in durable antibacterial and antiviral properties.

At the virtual show, Ruentex also introduced antibacterial fabrics with specialised SilverBac yarns, which offer antibacterial and anti-odour properties and can stand high temperature laundry and bleaching. These fabrics, the company says, are ideal for workwear and upholstery.

Garment machinery manufacturer and smart equipment supplier Oshima Co exhibited at TITAS Virtual 2021. Among its offering, the company showcased its intelligent manufacturing systems for the textile & apparel industry. This includes its heavy duty spreading machine – the J3 – which is designed with a ground-level fabric loading system that is ergonomic and user-friendly. It increases spreading efficiency for high volume multi-layer productions, such as isolation gowns and medical masks – vital for increasing capacity of PPE production throughout the pandemic.

The company has also created an entry control and disinfection gate, to be installed at the entrance of a facility. Before entrance the system measures an employee’s temperature and registers entry and exit times. Afterwards, the gate disinfects the employee from any contamination, bacteria or virus.

The company’s machines are IoT-enabled, making remote working simple for a factory, with automatic system control and monitoring and error detection and predictive maintenance technology embedded in the machines.

What’s more, Asiatic Fiber Corporation (AFC) showcased its wide range at TITAS Virtual 2021, including its PPE products. The company’s eco-friendly cleanroom fabrics come with robust antibacterial finishing technology and its medical garments, including antibacterial medical uniforms are developed using AFC’s certified fabrics.

Looking to the future, AFC is also innovating in the smart textiles sector. The company’s iQmax range of smart clothing focuses on blending fibres with light-emitting electronics to create bendable, soft, lightweight, waterproof and washable products from LED yarn that can be seen in the dark at up to 100 metres. This technology has been integrated into various products such as high-visibility jackets, shield vests and reflective safety vests for walking, cycling or running at night and for road maintenance workers.

Woven fabric manufacturer Honmyue presented several products at TITAS Virtual 2021. These included its LIFE-TECH PROTECTOR technology, launched as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The material has AAMI PB70 Level 2~3 protection level and is a single-layer high-density fabric that blocks virus droplets and lowers the risk of the time the virus stays on the surface of the material. The company adds that the product has excellent water repellence and air permeability.

As a medical equipment GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certified factory, Honmyue recently launched its high-density anti-static fabric for isolation gowns and surgical gowns, which can effectively improve barrier properties and reduce interference from electronic medical equipment, lightweight, and durability.

As well as these, TITAS Virtual 2021 also saw the promotion of the company’s HONYI™ Solution Dyed Outdoor Furnishing Fabric, HONYI™ Eco-Friendly PE Mesh Fabric and its NüCycle™ Polyester Cotton-Like Fabric. The latter uses recycled polyester yarn and cotton-like yarn to create a two-tone effect and cottony hand feels, providing customers with more options for eco-friendly products.

TITAS 2022

The 26^th Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS 2022) will be held on 12-14 October 2022.

Taking place at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taiwan, it is hoped the event will return to an in-person show, rather than a virtual event, so exhibitors and visitors can take full advantage of the innovations on show, networking and discover what Taipei has to offer. However, recognising the difficulties overseas companies may face if the pandemic uncertainty continues, next year’s show will leverage the benefits of both an in-person and online event, as a hybrid exhibition.

In this way, the event will allow a greater number of companies, large and small, to come together as part of one global platform. Live streaming will be available on the online version, while the physical show will allow companies to maximise their networking capabilities. On-site promotion can be arranged for exhibitors in a variety of formats, for example as a discussion forum or a runway show – similar to this year’s ‘Dynamic • TITAS Virtual’ fashion show.

The 26^th TITAS expects to see over 350 exhibitors from around the globe, not just domestic companies, with over 30,000 visitors. As Taiwan’s global influence in the global textile industry continues to grow, the upcoming edition of the event is expected to be truly international.

Among the show’s exhibits are – fibres, filaments and yarns, fabric, apparel, trims and accessories, sewing equipment, textile machinery, textile-related technology and services.

Venue: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1, No. 1, Jingmao 2^nd Rd, Nangang District, Taipei, Taiwan.

Building on this year’s success, the running themes at next year’s event will be:

• Functional applications
• Sustainability
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Smart textiles
• Intelligent manufacturing

With hopes of a return to in-person events in 2022, it is predicted that the 26th edition of TITAS will be among the largest yet, with the industry eager to meet in-person again.

To find out more visit: www.titas.tw

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