texfash

Sweden’s secondhand clothing sector is growing, yet campaigners argue outdated VAT rules keep reuse expensive and fragile. Across Europe, governments are testing tax reforms to promote repairs and resale, while the EU readies wider sustainability regulations. The debate highlights whether fiscal design will entrench fast fashion or enable circular fashion to flourish.

Natural Fiber Welding’s dramatic collapse has rattled the fashion and automotive sectors that once celebrated it as a sustainability pioneer. Its failure reflects not only management missteps but also a deeper structural malaise: investors retreating, brands shirking responsibility, and an industry addicted to storytelling while refusing to absorb the real costs of transition.

Amsterdam-based Makers Unite places creativity at the centre of social transformation, repurposing materials into meaningful design while empowering diverse communities. Creative Commercial Manager Ambrose Jude shares how inclusive practices, sustainable craftsmanship, and storytelling can reshape fashion, shift perceptions of migration, and open new pathways for dignity, opportunity, and authentic connection across cultures.

At the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics - Autumn Edition starting tomorrow, industry players will be seen navigating shifting sourcing strategies, sustainability expectations, and digital transformation. Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, explains how themed zones, global exhibitors, and smart tools are helping buyers discover materials, evaluate suppliers, and make sourcing decisions in a changing market.

The denim industry’s sustainability discussions often exclude those closest to production, from farmers to mills, allowing misinformation and greenwashing to thrive. Fear keeps suppliers silent, while brands avoid confronting hard data. In this candid exchange with texfash.com, Andrew Olah, Co-Founder of Transformers Foundation unpacks the systemic silencing of suppliers and the urgent need for honest, inclusive dialogue.

A local Australian company, FanFirm, has won a landmark trademark case against the global retail giant, Fanatics. The dispute highlights the critical importance of a meticulous trademark strategy in Australia, as the court's final ruling powerfully affirmed that a local business's first-to-market presence and due diligence take precedence over an overseas brand's international reputation.

Seven denim manufacturers from Pakistan, Türkiye, Italy, and China recently collaborated on measuring and comparing water use in indigo dyeing, and wrent on to establish a shared benchmark. Andrew Olah, Founder of Transformers Foundation, and Rashid Iqbal, Executive Director at Naveena Denim, share experiences and ideas on the backdrop and the project's significance.

Industry leader Mahlo is celebrating 80 years of advancing textile manufacturing through precision control technologies. From fabric straightening to real-time quality monitoring, the German company has helped mills worldwide modernise operations without compromising accuracy. In this interview, Thomas Höpfl, Head of Sales, explains how Mahlo continues to lead textile innovation by adapting to industry demands while honouring its engineering roots.

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on Thursday, removes steep tariffs on Indian exports of textiles, apparel, leather and footwear. With duty-free access to 99% of Indian goods, the deal unlocks significant growth for manufacturers across sectors. Exporters expect major gains in UK market share, driven by price competitiveness and improved supply chain efficiency.

Lesotho has declared a national State of Disaster after a 50% tariff imposed by Donald Trump decimated its textile sector. The sudden collapse of its biggest employer has left tens of thousands jobless, exposing the country's economic fragility and raising alarm over the future of AGOA-supported trade across sub-Saharan Africa.