The Trend Forum Fabrics

"Colorization - Chemistry is Everywere"

No matter how much technical progress fabrics achieve - it is their aesthetic beauty that seals the deal. Although the virtual world is progressing fabrics still have the W-o-W ability in real life. Most of the visual effect comes from color. Finishes enhance the tactile effect. Being PERFORMANCE DAYS: with the Focus Topic we wanted to know about better practice to obtain this result. Chemistry is often regarded as ‘synthetic’ and attributed to coloring: what exciting aspects are there to this field?
Pigments can be extracted from soil, plants, food, food waste, and even fungi, which can also be used for textiles. There are already industrial solutions and technologies that build upon this traditional knowledge of dyes, making sustainable dyeing processes appealing for the industry—for example, Archroma's Earth Dyes. Dyeing or co-creating with living organisms such as bacteria, microorganisms, and algae is also an innovative way to obtain natural dyes. Other new approaches include printed or sprayed techniques, naturally grown cotton, undyed wool washed without chemicals, and waterless dyeing. Another great innovation is color recycling for sustainable dyeing.

The most important category for the Fall/Winter 2026 season is incredibly versatile. However, what stands out is the low proportion of natural fibers. On the other hand, there is a greater selection of wool blends. 100% wool qualities from Suedwolle are mixed with Seaqual, Tencel, and Naia, including its biodegradable version. New combinations are noticeable in winter, such as with ReFibra, Modal, recycled polyester, or textile recycling. Synthetics impress with a great tactile feel, as well as open and closed structures. Manufacturers also showcase reversible fabric variations that can be worn on both sides, each featuring different textures and functionalities. All fibers guarantee plenty of freedom of movement due to a high elastane content, often in recycled versions, and many manufacturers are also working with graphene. The fibers are characterized by highly efficient thermal management: while heat is dissipated in warm conditions, it is evenly distributed in cold temperatures. This is because graphene positively influences the properties of the material it is combined with. The goal is to achieve personalized comfort tailored to the individual. Additional highlights include bio-based polypropylene, oceansafe Nanea, Tencel, and Cupro.

True to the motto 'Wool rules,' the midlayer category is showcasing its cozy side. Wool is making a big comeback here. Wool is great for the environment because it’s a renewable resource and biodegradable. As a mono-material, wool is unbeatable and can be easily recycled. Many manufacturers are seeking solutions to avoid microplastics. The range is rounded off by many wonderful natural fiber blends, Tencel, organic cotton, and 100% natural fiber options, as well as upcycled cotton with polypropylene. Even in softshells, natural wool looks or fluffy Sherpas dominate, emphasizing the trendy casual look. Wool is paired with hemp and polyamide or woven fleece. The surfaces are technical, bio-based, and recycled.

True to the motto 'Wool rules,' the midlayer category is showcasing its cozy side. Wool is making a big comeback here. Wool is great for the environment because it’s a renewable resource and biodegradable. As a mono-material, wool is unbeatable and can be easily recycled. Many manufacturers are seeking solutions to avoid microplastics. The range is rounded off by many wonderful natural fiber blends, Tencel, organic cotton, and 100% natural fiber options, as well as upcycled cotton with polypropylene. Even in softshells, natural wool looks or fluffy Sherpas dominate, emphasizing the trendy casual look. Wool is paired with hemp and polyamide or woven fleece. The surfaces are technical, bio-based, and recycled.

Here, it also becomes evident that manufacturers are striving to offer meaningful and, above all, sustainably produced membrane alternatives, with a strong emphasis on the circular economy. Many polyester fabrics, mostly mono-component, are being used, alongside cotton combinations, nylon concepts, recycled fishing nets, and fabrics made from car tire waste. In the membrane sector, microporous membranes are making a comeback. Noteworthy is the wide range of polypropylene membranes, as well as extremely lightweight fabrics. Hitex Textile Co. Ltd. received a "Jury Like" for a fabric made of 10% elastane, 90% recycled polyester, with a weight of 160 g.The fabric made of SAYA renewal technologies combines recycled bottles, cutting scrap from garment manufacturing, and deadstock and overstock from the textile industry. Overall, it reduces energy consumption and lowers the amount of waste material. This is a three-layer and four-way stretch combination. Flying Tex Co. Ltd. surprises with  a fabric from 54% recycled polyester derived from plastic bottles and 46% recycled nylon from discarded fishnets. The lightweight 3-layer construction includes a 20D ripstop weave, ultra-thin DOT membrane (W/P 30,000 MVP 40,000 g/24h), and 7D nylon tricot backing.

In the 2-layer segment, a clear message is being sent to the industry: manufacturers are finally focusing on the circular economy in the production of their new products. As a result, this group features many mono-component fabrics, often using PET glue or bio-based materials. Particularly encouraging is the use of fully recycled PET membranes. To complement this, there are recycled nylons, bio-based materials with elastane, recycled Nylon 6.6, 100% recycled polyester, or virgin polyester, as well as good micro-porous membrane alternatives. This is also evident at Everest, where they showcase a laminated product that combines recycled fabrics with a bio-based, waterproof, and breathable membrane.The waterproof and breathable membrane of this product contains 30% bio-based content sourced from non-food applications, which helps to promote environmental friendliness and reduce carbon footprint. This 2-layer product can be applied for outdoor wear, casual wear or rainwear. Te Yi Textile Trade Co., Ltd shows a 2-layer fabric made entirely from 100% recycled polyester, from face to backing. Designed with stretch and crafted using textile waste yarn, it perfectly embodies the principles of mono-material design and the circular economy. Featuring a 2-layer TPEE membrane, this fabric offers sustainable, high-performance functionality for outdoor wear.

Unfortunately, this category offered only a few sustainable innovations this time around. The range includes unsurprising ultra-lightweight fabrics, fabrics made from recycled fishing nets, and recycled variants that are still extremely durable. A highlight comes from Takisada-Nagoya Co. Ltd., which received a "Jury Like" for their fabric “Micro-Rip3-TYS019AC0.” The use of Dyneema® was particularly impressive in this case., known as the world’s strongest fiber, made from ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. Dyneema® boasts about 15 times the strength of steel by weight and is so lightweight that it floats on water with a density of less than 1.0. It also offers exceptional durability and UV resistance, making it an innovative material with incredible potential. This product features a micro-ripstop fabric that combines 13D recycled nylon with 50D Dyneema®. Green Threads Inc. uses a from fishnets and ropes recycled polyamide for an ultra light weight downproof and windproof ripstop treated with PFAS free DWR.