Textile Innovation

Hosted by World Textile Information Network

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Episodes

160

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Join the World Textile Information Network (WTiN) as it welcomes a new special guest from the textile & apparel industry every two weeks. Tune in to hear the latest innovations and unmatched intelligence and insight on a global scale. From key manufacturers and textile technology hubs in Asia, the Americas, Europe and more, we speak with key opinion leaders, CEOs and start-ups – covering innovation across the entire textile & apparel value chain, plus external and influencing factors such as legislation, sustainability, digitalisation and trade. To discuss any of our topics, get in touch by following World Textile Information Network (WTiN) on LinkedIn, or email content@wtin.com or aturner@wtin.com . To explore sponsorship opportunities, please email sales@wtin.com . Stay in the know with daily updates from WTiN when you sign up to the site. You can find breaking stories, exclusive features and one-on-one interviews, long-form analysis, patents and event information all in one place. Intro music is a royalty free track from Music Unlimited on Pixabay.

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60 recent

October 27, 202645 min

Ep.160: Expectations for sustainable fashion

Livinguard Technologies is a Switzerland-based materials technology company that integrates specifically designed intelligent positive charges into materials for enhanced functionality. In this episode Hilger and Goloda speak about compliance and certification in regard to how brands and manufacturers can integrate sustainable technologies into their supply chain. They talk about some of the challenges and risks that face companies in the textile industry when it comes to preparing for compliance. Additionally, they touch upon Livinguard Technologies’ products such as BetterFresh and how the company positions itself to establish functional durability for brands and manufacturers. This all comes as brands can no longer make broad environmental claims without evidence, driving serious investment in certification and measurable impact data over marketing language. Hilger and Goloda offer practical solutions and insights into building traceable supply chains with solutions that not only work but comply with industry standards. For more information please visit livinguard.com .

October 13, 202620 min

Ep. 159: Redesigning for incoming compliance

WTiN speaks with Matthew Tipper, CEO at Nonwovens Innovation and Research Institute (NIRI). UK-based NIRI is an innovation consultancy specialising in polymers, fibres, nonwovens and advanced materials. In this episode Tipper speaks about how sustainability is shifting from a voluntary improvement to a mandatory product redesign challenge. Earlier this year in May 2026, Tipper spoke at leading nonwovens exhibition INDEX about shifting regulations in the nonwovens sector. He used the wipes sector to illustrate how the industry needs to stay ahead of regulation before it becomes an essential requirement. He also touches upon rising consumer expectations and how companies need to be ready to adapt quickly if they are to stay ahead. He delves into this and speaks about how innovation is essential in this area. Additionally, we talk about how bans and restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are going to present redesign opportunities and challenges. For more information please visit nirigroup.com .

September 15, 202629 min

Ep. 158: Navigating the impact of AI in textiles

WTiN speaks to Anna Triponel, CEO and founder of Human Level about how the fashion and textile industry are responding to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) across the supply chain. Human Level is an advisory firm that propels businesses to be human rights proactive in a rapidly changing climate. In the fashion and textile industry Human Level works with a wide range of companies to help design human rights and sustainability strategies that meet external and human rights expectations. In this episode, Triponel speaks about the role of AI and automation in textile sector. She delves into how digitalisation is driving change within the industry and what the biggest risks for workers and other actors in the supply chain are. We also touch upon the EU’s AI Act , which addresses the risks of AI and positions Europe to play a leading role globally. Triponel also speaks about where AI can improve work and create value and what business leaders should be doing now to keep up and stay ahead of this change. Throughout the episode Triponel references The United Nations (UN)’s Preliminary Report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI: Evidence-based assessment of opportunities, risks and impacts of AI . Learn more at wearehumanlevel.com .

September 1, 202637 min

Ep. 157: Building a textiles bioeconomy

WTiN speaks with Carla Silva, director of chemistry and biotechnology at the Technological Centre for the Portuguese Textile and Clothing Industry (CITEVE). CITEVE promotes innovation, sustainability, technological excellence and competitiveness across Europe’s textile and apparel sector. Based in Portugal the organisation has been running a project to shirt the textile and apparel sector toward sustainable, circular and biobased models. be@t (Bioeconomy for Textiles and Clothing) is a EU€138m Portuguese initiative running from July 2022 to the end of 2026 with backing from Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan and the European Union. In this episode Silva speaks about how Be@t brings together 56 entities in search of solutions for the conversion of the textile and clothing sectors on topics such as traceability and transparency, ecodesign and ecoengineering, impact and new sustainability metrics. She touches upon what the project has achieved and what this means for Portuguese manufacturing, and the wider European landscape. For more information please visit bioeconomy-at-textiles.com and citeve.pt .

August 18, 2026Episode 15648 min

Ep. 156: Ability of cross-industry collaboration

WTiN speaks with Priyanka Khanna, innovation director – scaling at Fashion For Good and Marianella Cervi, global head of programmes at The Fashion Pact about the organisations’ initiative, the Circular Fibre Collective. The Circular Fibre Collective is a first-of-its-kind cross-industry initiative designed to accelerate the adoption and scaling of textile-to-textile (T2T) recycled and next-generation fibres across the global fashion industry. Estimates suggest that, if fully mobilised across the sector, up to 2 million tonnes of T2T recycled and next-generation material capacity could be achieved, helping to unlock the share of these materials to grow from less than 1% towards 8% of global fibre production by 2030, according to the Boston Consulting Group and Fashion for Good report. Cervi and Khanna speak about how the initiative was formed and what it can offer the industry. By joining forces to support shared objectives and collectively drive demand signals for these materials, they are optimistic the industry can unlock investment and scale T2T recycled and next-generation fibres. They touch upon the challenges the industry faces when it comes to implementing and scaling T2T recycling technologies and the funding it requires. To learn more please visit thefashionpact.org .

August 4, 202637 min

Ep. 155: Can digitalisation derisk supply chains

WTiN speaks with Cam Myers, CEO and founder of CreateMe about how digitalisation can help protect global supply chains against geopolitical uncertainty. CreateMe is a US-based AI robotics company pioneering automated manufacturing for soft materials, starting with apparel. Myers speaks about how the company has advanced and developed digital solutions for global apparel supply chains and touches upon the benefits of this in an uncertain economic climate. We also touch upon how recent events such as Covid-19 and US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements have affected the apparel industry worldwide. Additionally, we speak about how digitalisation can go someway to enabling and aiding in de-risking apparel supply chains and what this risk looks like for different actors. Find out more at createme.com .

July 21, 2026Episode 15431 min

Ep. 154: Implementing T2T recycling worldwide

WTiN speaks to Kirsi Roine, senior director of business operations at Accelerating Circularity. Accelerating Circularity is a non-profit focused on textile-to-textile recycling systems at commercial scale through a collaborative stakeholder led approach. In this episode Roine speaks about scaling textile-to-textile recycling, and how it can be implemented worldwide. We also touch upon the challenges that different regions may face when it comes to integrating circular technologies. Roine also touches upon how difficult it can be for innovators in this space and the risks that the entire industry must consider when it comes to creating and integrating circular technologies. She also speaks about the importance of consumer education and how Accelerating Circularity is supporting the industry in this circular transition. Learn more at acceleratingcircularity.org .

July 7, 2026Episode 15328 min

Ep. 153 How to prepare for incoming ESPR

WTiN speaks with Aimee Campanella, development director for textile EPR at Reconomy about incoming ban of the destruction of unsold apparel clothing accessories and footwear on 19 July 2026. Reconomy is a UK-based circular economy specialist, supporting businesses in their compliance journey. The textile industry is approaching a period of significant regulatory and operational transformation. In this episode Campanella speaks about the incoming EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which includes a landmark ban on the destruction of unsold apparel clothing accessories and footwear to reduce textile waste and carbon emissions. The ban is coming into place on 19 July 2026. Campanella speaks through what brands and manufacturers need to know and how they can prepare for this regulation. We also touch upon Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and how Reconomy can support textiles businesses as they navigate this complex compliance landscape. Campanella delves into the resources Reconomy offers businesses such as its Redress programme, which offers services to help businesses understand legal obligations as the EU presses ahead with EPR legislation. Find out more at reconomy.com .

June 23, 202648 min

Ep. 152: Building circular business models

WTiN speaks to Patrik Frisk, CEO of textiles-to-textile regeneration company, Reju. WTiN speaks to the leaders in textile manufacturing about the trends and advancements shaping the textile industry. In this episode, WTiN’s managing director, Madelaine Thomas, speaks to Patrik Frist, CEO of Reju. Reju is a textiles-to-textile regeneration company focused on circular polyester manufacturing. Throughout his career, Frisk has led many major apparel and footwear brands. Throughout the episode he shares his knowledge and how his experience has shaped the way he leads circular textile business models and integrates textile-to-textile recycling into supply chains. Frisk also touches upon how Technip Energies, a leading engineering and technology company for the energy transition, and creator of Reju, works with Reju and other industry experts to turn waste polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into infinitely recyclable materials. Learn more at reju.com .

June 9, 202622 min

Ep. 151: Chemical bans in textile finishing

WTiN speaks with Begoña Garcia, environmental impact measurement director at Jeanologia, about chemical bans in the textile finishing sector. Jeanologia is a Spanish technology company specialising in sustainable, eco-efficient denim finishing technologies. Garcia speaks about how sustainability in the denim finishing sector has evolved. She delves into what brands and consumers are requiring and desiring from their garments. During the episode we discuss how chemical bans are changing the sector, with a particular focus on how the ZDHC Foundation has added potassium permanganate to its chemical watchlist. Garcia explains how Jeanologia has developed solutions to eliminate the harmful chemical from manufacturing processes. Additionally, Garcia touches upon what she believes governments should be prioritising when it comes to chemicals in the textile finishing sector and how departments such as environmental impact measurement can influence decision-making. Learn more at jeanologia.com .