THE PERFORMANCE FORUM FABRICS

March 2023

Each season, the PERFORMANCE FORUM is carefully selected by a jury of experts from universities apparel brands, purchasing teams and fabric technologists from across the industry. Check out the 100% sustainable trend fabrics below and the accessories and special stories if you are interested.

 

FOCUS TOPIC

“The Journey to Carbon Neutrality”

In order to provide more transparency in the “jungle of fabrics”, manufacturers must state concrete values for CO2 savings in the “Focus Topic” category and also for the Higg Index. This data is intended to aid industry representatives in making ecologically sound decisions when selecting materials. In general, this year’s Focus Topics distinguish between three categories to help provide a more differentiated look at CO2 emissions in order to increase transparency and comparability:

Category 1: Synthetic fibers
This includes variants made of recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and polypropylene, which save up to 30-40% on CO2 emissions (compared to a classic fleece), virgin polyester boasts higher values than the recycled variants

Category 2: Cellulose fibers

This includes TencelTM, hemp, organic cotton, Naia-spun fibers or their recycled equivalents, natural fibers blended with cotton, Lyocells

TencelTM is CO2 neutral, but only in the undyed versions

Category 3: Animal fibers

This includes wool and recycled wool, RWS-certified, and wool blends with TencelTM

 

Utenos

Evertex

Utenos

Utenos

United Berry

Flying Textile

New Wide

United Berry

Bloomati

Bloomati

FuRui

Long Advance

Everest

Li Peng

Wisher

Sympatex

Flying Tex

Honmyue

Sheico

Everest

Long Advance

Penn Textile Solutions

Flying Tex

Long Advance

Bristex

Axroma

Axroma

Flying Textile

Baselayer

For the 2025 spring/summer season, the baselayer segment will showcase function in perfection on a higher level. The focus is on combinations of synthetic fibers with natural fabrics. However, the ratio of natural fabrics is generally very low with little hemp content visible in baselayers for summerwear. Nevertheless, it is noticeable that cotton fibers with a “cooling effect”, i.e. with a cooling function, such as those from Coolmax or brrr, set the tone. Blends of TencelTM, elastane and cotton are suitable, as are TencelTM/polyester blends. Further highlights: Wool blends with TencelTM, combinations of elastane, hemp and recycled polyester, and with the use of Refibra, the industry is contributing to the circular economy. Modal fabric appears in a new 3D structure and, as a chemically produced fiber with natural origins, ensures for especially high wearing comfort and a heightened feel-good factor, making it also ideal for baselayers in the yoga sector. Pastel shades are replaced by more summery colors for a more cheerful look.

Schoeller GmbH & Co

Evertex

LMA

Schoeller GmbH & Co

New Wide

A. Sampaio

Lurdes Sampaio S.A.

H-One

Coolcore

United Berry

Labtex

Polartec

Hung's Fortune

Hung's Fortune

Hung's Fortune

Grandetex

drirelease

Jiangsu Shenli

BYR (Solucell)

brrrº

Omniteksas

brrrº

Yuan Chan

Sheico

drirelease

Da Fon

Midlayer

The midlayer category clearly stands out in Spring/Summer 2025 with a variety of great innovations and fabric blends. Manufacturers can choose from a wide range of cotton fabrics in Summer 2025, some also blended with hemp or wool. A stretch fleece, made from a combination of high-tech nylon yarn and TencelTM on the inner side, opts for biodegradable nylon derived from old tires. The result is a fabric innovation from Pontetorto Spa, extremely soft to the touch and with extremely good performance qualities. The amount of post-consumer recycled nylon from BASF and carbon capture yarn has increased enormously. For the first time, nylon obtained from recycled car tires has been used in midlayers. Another noticeable factor is the new developments with regard to “fiber to fiber” in providing further support to the textile circular economy. With this in mind, more and more manufacturers are focusing on mono-component fibers. Blended fabrics are being reprocessed into mono-material – but often this development is at the expense of the technical properties and durability of a fabric.

Zeynar

Zeynar

Hemp Fortex

Jessia and Jean

Zeynar

LMA

Pontetorto

H-One

Lanificio Becagli

Pontetorto

H-One

Evertex

Evertex

Tessile Fiorentina

Lanificio Becagli

Thygesen & Birk

Utenos

Grand Textile

Far Eastern New Century

Hi-Tex

Crowning

Wisher

H-One

Brugnoli

Polartec

Polartec

Tessile Fiorentina

Jiangsu Shenli

Softshell & Outer Midlayer

In the classic softshell sector, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on new surface structures. The main focus is on jacquard weaves in a mélange look or on retro-reflective fabrics. Stormega is the name for a new technology that can produce a unique single-layer fabric. The new fabric from Singtex is made of 48% recycled polyester and 48% recycled S.Café polyester. The fabric is water-repellent, extremely durable, lightweight and also regulates body temperature. Stormega uncovers the fleece between two tightly woven pieces of fabric to prevent the loss of microfibers. Further highlights: recycled polyester from post-consumer fabric scraps, carbon capture yarn.

FuRui

New Wide

Trans-Textil

Trans-Textil

Thygesen & Birk

Tessile Fiorentina

Shanghai Jiuyu

Trueway

Shinkong

Singtex

Singtex

N-Stars Fashion

JRC

JRC

Super Textile

Jiangsu Shenli

2.5 & 3Layer

No less than three “Jury Likes” can be found in the 2.5/3-layer category. The jury was particularly impressed by the way in which new membrane technologies were used, such as Dimpora, made from 100% recycled polyamide or the Xpore fabric which is 100% nylon ocean waste recycle with whole new eco-friendly manufacturing process of the Xpore membrane. Jury Likes were given to a fabric from Flying Tex Co. Ltd., a manufacturer that has addressed the problem of leftover fishing nets in the ocean, spinning new yarn from the collected marine waste. A particularly striking feature is the matte surface of the solid material, which is deemed to be extremely waterproof and durable. Shin Han Industries presents a 2.5/3-layer fabric made from 100% polyester – a lightweight 3-layer fabric with a 7D membrane as the surface, made from recycled nylon. The same manufacturer also presents another 3-layer fabric made of 100% polyester as a lightweight, elastic nylon with an electro-spun membrane.

ECOSENSOR by AsahiKASEI

Shin Han

dimpora

Texstart Textile

Shin Han

Xpore

Retex

Trans-Textil

Green Threads

Century Eternity

Trans-Textil

Apex

WidePlus

Century Eternity

Hwa Fune

Jiangsu Sunfeng

Flying Textile

Hwa Fune

Carol

Synnix

Far Eastern New Century

Trueway

Flying Tex

Xpore

Xpore

Achievetex

Singtex

Achievetex

2Layer

The new 2-layer fabrics for Spring/Summer 2025 offer plenty of beautiful and lightweight fabrics in outstanding quality. The portfolio includes carbon capture yarn, biodegradable polyester, partially water-repellent polypropylene, as well as recycled polyester types or bio-based nylons. JSRtex is increasingly turning to the use of substitute fuels and alternative secondary materials (incl. recycled materials) as well as the capture and utilization or storage of CO2 (Carbon Capture Utilization). In general, many manufacturers are seeking solutions on conserving energy and water in the production of fabrics, including Shin Han Industries with their 100% recycled polyester yarn that can be recycled at a low temperature. The combination of polyester with Airmem Colorshell is also new, making use of a micro-porous membrane technology. It is not only windproof, waterproof and oil-repellent, but also allows for excellent water vapor permeability so that the wearer stays dry and does not freeze.

Merryson

JSRTEX Group

JSRTEX Group

Dry-tex

Hwa Fune

Tiara

Synnix

Grandetex

JSRTEX Group

Jiangsu Sunfeng

Sympatex

Century Eternity

Shin Han

Singtex

Erictex

Shanghai Jiuyu

Achievetex

ECOSENSOR by AsahiKASEI

New Wide

ECOSENSOR by AsahiKASEI

Lightweight & Downproof

The lightweight segment presents a variety of bio-based nylon items for the 2025 Spring/Summer season, often even castor oil-based. Recycled polyester fabrics alternate with exciting alternatives to recycled polyamide. Yet the fabrics are extremely lightweight – one innovation from Green Threads Inc.consists of 100% recycled polyamide. At an unbeatable 18 grams per square meter, the material is one of the lightest ripstop downproof qualities around. That’s also what makes it so special. Manufactured according to the latest technical standards, the fabric is made from 4 and 7 denier multi-fibers obtained from mechanically-recycled polyamide. The surface consists of a PFC-free, yet water-repellent layer. On the inside, a water-based acrylic coating is used, making the material resistant. The jury decided on a PERFORMANCE AWARD in this case.

Green Threads

Erictex

Bristex

Green Threads

Flying Tex

Li Peng

Green Threads

ASF

ASF

Liou Long Tai

Jiangsu Sunfeng

Hangzhou Delicacy

IdeaTex

MHTC

Grand Textile

Jiangsu Sunfeng

IdeaTex

Hangzhou Delicacy

Sunny Special

Achievetex

Shin Han

Li Peng

NILIT - SENSIL

Seojin

Shirts

Unfortunately, few innovative developments are visible in the area of shirts. The most striking features are the elaborate 3D structures alternating with small-scale structures. Recycled polyester fabrics provide a cooling factor for the wearer. Hemp, on the other hand, provides for durability, good performance and impresses increasingly with its soft feel, similar to cotton. Further highlights: Bio-based nylon with TencelTM, cotton, Biocell, pineapple fiber blends with TencelTM, Manila hemp or banana fibers. In Summer 2025, check patterns in all shapes, colors and variants celebrate a revival, partly in a cooler used look, piece- or yarn-dyed and brand new as a 4-piece dye. 

Chia Her

Shinkong

Hemp Fortex

Hemp Fortex

BYR (Solucell)

Hemetex

Chia Her

Hangzhou Delicacy

Burlington

drirelease

E. Boselli

Wisher

Merryson

Honmyue

Flying Textile

Tiara

Burlington

Hemetex

Carol

Burlington

Burlington

brrrº

Carol

Jersey Lomellina

Pants & Tights

Many recycled fabrics can be found in the pants segment. In addition to conventionally recycled fibers, manufacturers are increasingly turning to the use of new recycling methods. These include materials derived from old fishing nets or old car tires. Tire manufacturer Michelin is seeking a path to greater sustainability with its own production site for the processing of old tires. In cooperation with the company Enviro, Michelin plans to set up the first recycling plant of its kind worldwide.The planned site in the Chilean region of Antofagasta will recycle up to 30,000 tons of tires for earth-moving machines annually. This corresponds to almost 60% of tires discarded annually nationwide. Further highlights in this segment: Dry-Tex, recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and Ecovero.

ECOSENSOR by AsahiKASEI

Sitip

Brugnoli

FOV

WidePlus

IBQ

IBQ

N-Stars Fashion

Everest

Dry-tex

IBQ

Dry-tex

brrrº

Sapphire

Hi-Tex

Long Advance

Carol

LMA

Taiwan Functional Textiles

Chia Her

MHTC

Crowning

M.i.t.i.

Retex

Eurojersey

Coolcore

A. Sampaio

Yu Yuang

Function Meets Fashion

A great selection of stylish fabrics can be found in this lifestyle category. The fact that many sporting goods manufacturers now also present at fashion shows highlights further the enormous range of exciting performance fabrics. The focus is on 100% RWS wool qualities, as well as on stylish imitation leather, satin or 100% recycled polyester. The fabrics are not only convincing because of their look and extravagant structure, but also due to the fact that many also pledge to regulate body temperature when worn. FuRui Textiles Co. Ltd. showcases an especially functional fabric in 100% polyester quality. It is ultra-light, extremely thin and heat-regulating, with polyurethane processed as the main component. 3D constructions provide for new looks in yoga studios or for urban outdoor models. The colored reflectors that provide for better visibility and fashionable accents are especially striking.

Far Eastern New Century

Monotex

Liou Long Tai

Lurdes Sampaio S.A.

Omniteksas

Lanificio Becagli

Seojin

Schoeller GmbH & Co

Irabbit

Toung Loong

Coolcore

Cifra

Brugnoli

JRC

Merryson

FuRui

Hi-Tex

Synnix

Seojin

IdeaTex

AX Materials

Labtex

E. Boselli

Century Eternity

Omniteksas

Hemp Fortex

Safety, Health & Durability

Durability, abrasion protection, tear resistance, elasticity, breathability, wearing comfort – workwear fabrics must essentially have high technical performance values. For the 2025 Spring/Summer season, the focus is once again increasingly on robust denim structures. Fire-resistant materials, including those made of modacrylic yarn or as blends are in focus, along with recycled Cordura and exciting blended weaves, such as those with cotton and recycled polyester (ratio 35/65). Graphene fabrics are waterproof, breathable and anti-static.

 

Monotex

Texstart Textile

AX Materials

Labtex

FOV

FOV

Shanghai Jiuyu

dimpora

dimpora

Hemetex

LMA

Grandetex

Tough Knitting

Filltex

IBQ

Filltex

AX Materials

Filltex

Filltex

Hi-Tex

Sapphire

37.5 Technology / Cocona Labs.

Bags

Above all, what stands out immediately in the shoes and bags segment for Summer 2025 are the new recycling processes. More manufacturers are opting for the use of recycled polypropylene or bio-based nylon. Polypropylene is a thermoplastic that is conventionally made from petroleum and used in a variety of everyday applications. It is not biodegradable, but can be widely recycled. The characteristics of PP are similar to those of PE (polyethylene) plastic. It is particularly suitable for the production of bags and other types of packaging. PP bags are also known as fleece bags. The material can be spun-dyed. Taiwan Axroma Technical Textile Co.Ltd. presents a fabric made of 50% PP and 50% recycled polypropylene. In the footwear sector, manufacturers are opting for recycled rubber or fibers from pineapple leaves.  Also new is the recycling of industrial waste gases into new recycled yarn.

 

Super Textile

Fulltide

Super Textile

Honmyue

Fulltide

Taiwan Functional Textiles

Fulltide

Honmyue

AX Materials

Fulltide