Muchaneta: Let’s start with the big question: why does data seem so intimidating to people in the textile industry?
Traci: Data is such a small word with immense meaning, and everyone interprets it differently. If you don’t see yourself as a “numbers person,” it can feel overwhelming and even scary. A lot of the fear stems from misconceptions about what data is and how it can be used. But I’m determined to change that perspective and show that data can be accessible – and even exciting!

Muchaneta: That’s a great goal. Can you explain what TEXroad does with data to bridge these gaps?
Traci: At TEXroad, we work primarily in post-consumer textile flows. We partner with municipalities and their collection and sorting teams to gather data at every stage – collection, sorting, and processing. This data allows us to evaluate how systems are performing and measure the impact of changes over time. Additionally, we’re involved in EU-funded projects, like PESCO Up, where we develop minimum data requirements for textile recycling chains. Our goal is to make data a shared, standardized language that benefits the entire value chain.

Muchaneta: Speaking of EU-funded projects, what ensures the longevity of such initiatives after their official end?
Traci: EU-funded projects have defined start and end dates, but we strive to make their outcomes scalable and sustainable. For example, in PESCO Up, we’ve developed minimum data requirements for the recycling chain. These are shared across multiple projects to ensure consistency and long-term use. At TEXroad, we also focus on publishing non-sensitive datasets for open access, so the insights remain available to the industry even after the projects conclude.

Muchaneta: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in promoting data sharing and collaboration?
Traci: One major challenge is the lack of standardization in the industry. For instance, terms like “post-industrial waste” and “pre-consumer waste” are often used interchangeably, leading to confusion. Another hurdle is companies’ hesitancy to share data due to fears of exposing sensitive information. Building trust takes time – our sales cycles can span 12 to 24 months before concrete agreements are made.

Muchaneta: Do you think legislation could help push businesses to share and use data more effectively?
Traci: Legislation has potential, but it needs to be well-designed and adaptable to market realities. It’s crucial for businesses to align their data strategies with their priorities, whether it’s compliance with legislation or operational improvements. Taking small, strategic steps – like understanding what data you have and identifying gaps – can make navigating new policies manageable.

Muchaneta: Can you share a success story where data made a tangible impact?
Traci: Absolutely. I worked with a Dutch textile preprocessor that significantly reduced its material rejection rate – from 25–30% to under 5% – by using data to communicate clear expectations to suppliers. This kind of progress demonstrates how even small-scale data applications can lead to systemic improvements.

“At TEXroad, we aim to answer the “stupid” questions – like how much post-consumer textile waste exists – so businesses can focus on the smarter ones. By improving data quality and accessibility, we’re helping the industry take meaningful steps toward circularity and sustainability.” – Traci Kinden, TEXroad Director

Muchaneta: Transparency is a recurring theme. Why is it so important?
Traci: Transparency builds trust. For instance, many people hesitate to use textile collection bins because they don’t know where their clothing ends up. Data can illuminate these processes, giving people confidence in systems like extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. Transparency also enables companies to evaluate their impact and make informed decisions.

Muchaneta: What excites you most about the future of textile data?
Traci: The potential to transform the industry excites me. Better data can level the playing field for SMEs, drive innovation, and address global issues like waste mismanagement. The possibilities are endless if we can improve data quality, accessibility, and speed.

Muchaneta: Finally, what role does TEXroad play in this transformation?
Traci: At TEXroad, we aim to answer the “stupid” questions – like how much post-consumer textile waste exists – so businesses can focus on the smarter ones. By improving data quality and accessibility, we’re helping the industry take meaningful steps toward circularity and sustainability.

PAPERTALE TECHNOLOGIES

The textile and fashion industry stands on the brink of transformation. For years, it has faced criticism for lacking transparency, perpetuating greenwashing, and enabling exploitative practices. Today, the sector confronts a new era of accountability, driven by regulations like the Digital Product Passport (DPP), Forced Labour Regulation, Extended Producers Responsibility and the Green Claims Directive. These regulations seek to mend a broken system, yet they also challenge brands and suppliers to navigate the complexities of compliance.

PaperTale offers a revolutionary solution that allows us to adapt and excel in this new reality. We are excited to announce our presence at Munich Fabric Start, where we invite you to explore how PaperTale is shaping the future of fashion.

How PaperTale Makes a Difference

PaperTale is more than a technology platform; it’s a commitment to sustainability, fairness, and innovation. By harnessing blockchain and AI technologies, PaperTale creates a transparent ecosystem that builds trust while ensuring compliance. Our tools empower everyone in the supply chain—factory workers, suppliers, brands, and consumers—to collaborate in creating a more responsible fashion industry.

PaperTale’s Key Features:

Verified Data and Transparency: PaperTale uses a two-point verification system to ensure the accuracy and integrity of supply chain data. This includes creating digital twins of physical products, enabling brands to trace every step from raw materials to the end of life.

Empowering Social Sustainability: Through Social App (SAPP), PaperTale champions worker welfare by providing access to essential information about wages, contracts, and workplace safety, while adhering to GDPR standards. This approach promotes fairness and helps factories proactively address risks while ensuring compliance with regulations.

Smarter Communication and Consumer Engagement: The Consumer App (CAPP 3.0) offers unprecedented visibility for consumers, enabling them to explore the journey of their products. Additionally, PaperTale Network (PTN2.0) generates detailed reports tailored to communicate with regulatory bodies. This dual capability—educating consumers and meeting compliance demands—makes communication smarter by addressing diverse stakeholder needs efficiently and effectively.

Circularity and Future-Proof Compliance: PaperTale supports brands in achieving traceability in the take-back loop, facilitating second-hand market growth and conscious consumption. Additionally, its integrated tools—built on a value-based approach—address systemic challenges like forced labour and greenwashing, ensuring compliance that adapts to evolving regulations.

Turning Challenges Into Opportunities

The wave of new regulations demands unified solutions. Fragmented compliance systems create inefficiencies, particularly for Tier 1 suppliers working with multiple brands. PaperTale’s platform eliminates these inefficiencies by integrating diverse systems and automating data sharing. This ensures consistent, accurate reporting while saving time and resources.

Unlike platforms that rely on self-reported data, PaperTale gathers verified primary data directly from the supply chain. This approach addresses the root causes of issues like greenwashing and forced labour, delivering robust solutions that benefit every stakeholder.

Discover PaperTale at Munich Fabric Start

As one of Europe’s premier trade fairs for fashion and textile professionals, Munich Fabric Start offers a unique space to connect, innovate, and collaborate. At our booth, you’ll experience how PaperTale’s solutions empower brands to achieve transparency, embrace circular practices, and navigate the complexities of today’s regulatory environment. Specifically, you can scan a product using the PaperTale Consumer App and explore its entire lifecycle (DPP-ready set of data) and see the people who created it; hear more about our pilot project with Rifo for take-back loop and see how we enable circularity for brands; or find out how our platform integrates diverse systems to streamline reporting, save time, and reduce errors.

Whether you’re exploring product traceability, seeking to streamline compliance, or driving sustainability, PaperTale provides the tools to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of Fashion

The stakes for the fashion industry have never been higher. Transparency has become the foundation for trust and innovation, and PaperTale is here to transform compliance into a pathway for leadership and growth.

Visit us at Munich Fabric Start in Hall 7 to see how we can work together to build a sustainable, accountable, and thriving fashion industry. Let’s reshape the future of fashion, one transparent thread at a time.

Sweden – H7 KH | K 24

The Textile Revolution Begins Here – The faserkreislauf (fiber cycle) as the New Standard

The fashion industry is facing a major challenge: resource scarcity, increasing environmental impacts, growing amounts of waste, and new regulations. At faserkreislauf, they have a clear vision – combining innovation and sustainability. With their yarns and fabrics made from recycled old clothes, they are setting new benchmarks.

Recycled fibers – The new standard:
Their yarns and fabrics presented at the trade fair consist of 30% recycled fibers, sourced from discarded textiles such as old clothes and worn-out materials, all collected directly from Germany. Thanks to advanced recycling technologies, they transform these materials into high-quality fibers.

“At faserkreislauf, we have a clear vision – combining innovation and sustainability.”

What makes the fibres from faserkreislauf unique:

• no water usage: Unlike virgin fiber production, no resources are wasted.
• no land use: They rely on existing materials instead of cultivating new raw resources.
• reduced CO₂ footprint: By producing regionally within the EU, they keep emissions as low as possible.
• traceability: Their recycling process is transparent, and the fibre origin is 100% traceable.

Honest products for premium customers:
The yarns and fabrics they present are 100% made in the EU and meet the highest standards of quality and transparency.

Ready for the EU Green Deal:
Starting in 2025, textile manufacturers will be required to sustainably dispose of their products under extended producer responsibility. With their recycled products, they already offer a future-proof solution that meets the requirements of the EU Green Deal.

The right choice for every collection:
Their fabrics – from single jersey to sweat, french terry, and woven qualities – are highlights not only in texture but also in color. Whether classic shades or trendy tones like Pacific Petrol, Vanilla Yellow, or Port Red – they have the perfect selection for both basics and standout pieces.

Shaping the textile revolution together:
With their innovative approach, they are revolutionizing the textile cycle: turning old clothes into something new. Let’s work together to show how innovative solutions can work today.

Germany – H7 KH | K 21

WKS TEXTILVEREDLUNGS GMBH

WKS Sustainable Textile Solution has been the unique service provider along the entire textile supply chain for over 60 years.

WKS offers its services at 7 locations worldwide, ranging from laboratory tests and inspections of fabrics, trims and garments, raw materials- and trim logistics, washing and dyeing services to all repair services as well as e-commerce and – indispensable right now for the sustainable requirements of the green deal – recommerce & rent solutions as a one-stop shop (logistics / refurbishment / resale-software). Numerous certificates, including GOTS, document their sustainability concept.

Germany – H7 KH | K 06

What if data could be used as a common language to connect the public and private sectors and optimize the economics and carbon footprint of textile circulation? The Netherlands-based TEXroad Foundation is working on making this possible.

Their focus is on using data to improve textile management infrastructure, improve available data, statistics, and metrics for business and policy making and co-develop a network for B2G and B2B data exchanges.

TEXroad acts as a neutral party to network digital platforms and develop a flow of standardized data to match the flow of textiles through the reverse supply chain. This is used to produce statistics, metrics, best practices and reports that meet policy monitoring requirements, support impact assessments, highlight system inefficiencies and enable transparency.

TEXroad was founded by Traci Kinden, an innovator with over 10 years of experience in circular textiles.

“Good data helps companies in textiles and fashion be more efficient, identify new opportunities, and comply with regulations more easily. It should also be the basis for effective policy from the public sector. We’re not there yet, and everyone has a role to play in achieving good data.” – Traci Kinden, TEXroad Director

Credits: Humana Estonia 

Traci Kinden

TEXroad is currently developing a digital platform that aligns crucial textile data from different sources and makes it useful for public authorities, projects and circular value chains, due to go live in spring 2025.
Follow their Linkedin page for more information and updates on the launch.

“The Data Hub tackles challenges in the post-consumer value chain such as a lack of transparency in textile flows, inconsistent data shared between partners, and inefficient reporting to the public sector. It is currently being tested with municipalities and their textile partners and in projects addressing circular textiles, digitization, and data exchange,” Traci explains.

FELDE FIBRES

Felde Fibres revolutionizes Hemp Fibre Market with Superior Quality

Felde Fibres, a German bast fibre producer, is setting new standards with its premium elementary hemp fibres. This innovative quality offers unmatched fineness, handfeel, and appearance, unlocking new application possibilities and reviving the long-overlooked hemp plant.

Grown entirely in Germany with full traceability to the origin farms, Felde Fibres’ hemp is primarily cultivated as a secondary crop, providing farmers with additional income while ensuring top-quality fibres.

Certifications such as GOTS and OEKOTEX Standard100 confirm Felde Fibres’ commitment to the highest quality and sustainability in the textile industry.

Germany – H7 KH | K 08

“This innovative quality offers unmatched fineness, handfeel, and appearance, unlocking new application possibilities and reviving the long-overlooked hemp plant.”

Momentum.

What is fashion? Fashion is creativity and expressing yourself. That’s beautiful and it gives every one of us a certain identity. It’s made out of fabrics, so to say “resources”. These resources are finite. However, 30% of overproduced clothes are being dumped every year, equating to roughly 5 million tonnes, or 12 kg per person in the EU. To put it in simple terms: This is not beautiful anymore…

To limit these effects and to promote recycling & repair systems, the European Commission has imposed the “Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation” (ESPR), which sprung to life on July 18, 2024. This isn’t just another piece of legislation. It’s a game-changer for the European market, aimed squarely at making sustainable products the new norm. Think of it as the EU’s bold stride towards a greener future, wrapped up in a robust action plan that redefines how products are designed, used, and recycled.

Denmark – H7 KH | K 03 A

“This isn’t just another piece of legislation. It’s a game-changer for the European market, aimed squarely at making sustainable products the new norm. Think of it as the EU’s bold stride towards a greener future, wrapped up in a robust action plan that redefines how products are designed, used, and recycled.”

What’s the Buzz All About? Picture this: a regulation that goes beyond mere suggestions and instead puts firm rules into play. The ESPR replaces the older Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and shakes things up by establishing ecodesign requirements that span almost all physical goods. From your favorite sneakers to that nifty new blender, everything is covered!

Digital Product Passport – Your Product’s New ID One of the standout features of the ESPR is the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Imagine a digital ID card for products that holds all the relevant details like where it’s from, what it’s made of, and its environmental footprint. This isn’t just a win for transparency; it’s a revolutionary way to keep tabs on sustainability and make sure products play by the green rules.

No More Wasted Potential Here’s a kicker: the ESPR puts an end to the eyebrow-raising practice of destroying unsold textiles and footwear. Now, brands will need to think twice before tossing unsold goods, thanks to a ban that could extend to other products too. And yes, they’ll have to spill the beans on how much they’re discarding every year. Talk about airing your dirty laundry!

Green Public Procurement: Spending Green to Go Green With public authorities in the EU shelling out a cool €1.8 trillion annually, the ESPR steers these funds towards more sustainable choices. This isn’t just about buying green; it’s about fostering a market where sustainable products are the stars of the show.

What’s Next? The rollout of the ESPR isn’t a sprint but a marathon. Starting with a prioritization exercise and moving through stakeholder consultations and detailed planning, each step is about getting it right—ensuring that every product hitting the market is stepping up its green game.

“Momentum plays a crucial role by providing the technology to create and manage these digital passports for fashion brands & suppliers ensuring compliance and fostering circular product development.”

Which role does Momentum play? Momentum plays a crucial role by providing the technology to create and manage these digital passports for fashion brands & suppliers ensuring compliance and fostering circular product development. The EU DPP is basically “just” a digital tag that represents the origin & composition of fabrics, eco-footprint information, and repair, recycle, and disassembly options. This data needs to be collected somewhere. Otherwise, it cannot be analyzed and displayed in a validated way. Suppliers of brands are scattered all around the world and the communication takes mostly place through phone calls, Email contact, third parties, PLM systems, etc. Suppliers and brands need to speak the same language to not only comply with current and upcoming directives but also to upgrade their communication flow in a digitized and more efficient way. Momentum builds a self-enabling supplier network that collects ESG product data tied to the actual product. Depending on the data, we validate with twelve validation mechanisms to ensure the correctness of primary entries. In this way, we sensitize suppliers and reduce their operational overhead.

That’s the new beauty and future of fashion: self-expression through garments that are not only stylish but also sustainable. This shift towards accountability at every stage of production is set to transform the industry.

In the atmospheric industrial charm of KEYHOUSE in Hall 7, progressive suppliers and global players from cross-industry sectors will be showcasing their latest new developments and innovations. On over 1,000 square metres, you will find trend-setting future fabrics and new process technologies – be it in terms of sustainability, circular economy, digitalisation & AI, traceability, textile dyeing or finishing. Staged as an interactive think tank, future-oriented show cases will be in the spotlight alongside sustainable innovations.

KEYHOUSE is also home to the main lecture forum of MUNICH FABRIC START with exclusive keynotes, panel discussions, trend presentations, Q&A sessions & expert talks by international industry insiders. Be inspired by the wide range of events at KEYHOUSE.

Speed product development, increase profits & boost efficiency with Centric’s PLM designed for small & mid-sized businesses

Is your emerging fashion or retail brand poised for growth and are you looking for a backbone technology solution to streamline product concept to replenishment? Have you considered implementing a modern Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution but think it is out of reach and only for the major industry players?

Centric Software® is thrilled to offer growing fashion brands and retailers Centric SMB.  Centric SMB is our cloud-based PLM solution designed for small and mid-sized businesses and is proven to help speed product development, increase profits and boost efficiency. It gives you access to all the tools you need to gain a competitive advantage by improving your products and streamlining processes. Available on a subscription basis (SaaS), you can access the same technology and industry know-how as the large global brands.

Read on to explore the top 4 Benefits and Innovative Features of Centric SMB!

Benefit #1: Collapse Time to Market by 15% to 30%

With simplified business processes, improved supply chain collaboration and decision-making capabilities for teams, along with innovative applications like 3D proofing and review processes, brands and retailers can dramatically shorten the time frame from concept to replenishment.

Benefit #2: Increase Product Revenue by 5% to 10%

Design, product development, purchasing and buyer teams can assess key performance indicators in real time by using sales planning views, including product series portfolios, supplier performance, target sales and actual sales. This empowers them to make timely adjustments to their plans, improve the success rate of product launches and increase sales performance.

Benefit #3: Higher Profit Margins: Reduce Cost of Selling by 5% to 15%

Centric SMB can quickly and accurately calculate relationships between cost, profit and price changes according to set sales goals. Suppliers can be added to the supply chain collaboration process in advance, enabling unified global procurement. Product profitability can soar with informed, collaborative procurement plans.

Benefit #4: Increase Management and Development Efficiency by 10% to 50%

With Centric SMB, teams can reduce the number of emails, meetings and phone calls required, and dramatically reduce time wasted searching for, or updating information. PLM’s single source of real-time data powers efficiency, freeing teams to focus on value-added business critical functions.

“We needed a solution that was accessible from anywhere, available to us at all times and adaptable enough to grow as we did. Centric SMB was affordable, had everything we needed out of the box and the suite of additional modules made sure it would be scalable as our needs evolved.” – tentree

Innovative Feature #1: Mobile Apps

In today’s rapidly moving global apparel industry being able to conduct business from anywhere at any time if crucial for success. Centric SMB’s wide range of 15 mobile apps give users the power to capture data outside of the scope of traditional methods and let teams work with ease, on the move. Centric SMB apps include Capture It (to collect image inspiration), Product Notes, Sample Review, 3D Sample Review, Collection Book Fit Review, Retail Review and more!

Innovative Feature #2: Adobe® Connect

This powerful app enables designers to use Adobe® Illustrator within Centric SMB. This easy to use, class-leading link between PLM and designers’ tool of choice allows users to work 100% within the PLM environment. Empower designers to sketch and create colors and other product information, start building Bills of Material and seamlessly access textiles, fabrics and colors from within Centric SMB.

Innovative Feature #3: 3D Connect

Centric developed a 3D agnostic strategy so that information flows seamlessly between multiple 3D applications. With 3D Connect designers work in their native 3D environment while connected directly to PLM to harness the power of 3D at every stage of the product lifecycle. 3D Connect integrates with leading 3D apparel design and development CAD solutions including Browzwear, SOLIDWORKS, Optitex and CLO 3D.

Innovative Feature #4: AI Image Search

Creative teams in fashion and retail collect enormous amounts of digital and physical samples of materials, trims, colors and styles that serve both as inspiration for the future and as a record of the past. The challenge is finding what they need can be like searching for a needle in a haystack and hundreds of hours can be wasted. With Centric AI Image Search, designers can take a picture of a new fabric or trim inspiration and instantly search PLM image archives to find the closest match and if a similar item has been approved or used before, a designer can find out immediately. AI Image search can also connect designers to suppliers with a close match, saving teams massive amounts of time and improving design and development decisions.

“Having Centric in place saves everyone about 10-15 percent of their time on a day to day basis, mainly because people don’t have to spend time searching for the right answers, asking questions and re-confirming whether information is up to date.” – Marine Layer

Working towards a scalable solution for textile-to textile recycling: Introducing the T-REX Project

Today, only 2% of post-consumer textiles in the EU are diverted to fibre-to-fibre recycling. The T-REX (Textile Recycling Excellence) Project brings together 13 major players from the textile industry along with research institutions to create a harmonised EU blueprint for closed loop sorting, and recycling of household textile waste.

Drishti Masand, Senior Manager, Sustainability Direction – adidas

Across a three-year period, the EU-funded T-REX Project l is working to collect and sort household textile waste and demonstrate the full recycling process of polyester, polyamide 6, and cellulosic materials from textile waste into new garments.

“Circularity is a team sport, and we need to play together to win – this is the ethos of the circularity work at adidas. By bringing together major players across the whole value chain, the T-REX Project aims to demonstrate a new ecosystem approach, with harmonised methods and quality criteria.” – Drishti Masand

The project ultimately aims to develop systemic solutions to the problem of textile waste by identifying the infrastructure, technology, and policy needed to encourage the growth of circular value chains in the textile industry. At the same time, the consortium will also work on assessing how citizens can be empowered to actively contribute to the transition towards a circular textiles system.

“Currently, innovative materials like textile-to-textile recycled fibres constitute less than 1% of the fibre mix. A combination of brand commitment, legislation, and regulation can accelerate the adoption of next-gen materials.” – Jyotsna Gopinath

Jyotsna Gopinath, Innovation Analyst – Fashion for Good

Muchaneta ten Napel, Founder & CEO – Shape Innovate

In the atmospheric industrial charm of KEYHOUSE, Hall 7, progressive suppliers and global players from cross-industry sectors will be showcasing their latest new developments and innovations. On over 1,000 square metres, you will find trend-setting future fabrics and new process technologies – be it in terms of sustainability, circular economy, digitalisation & AI, traceability, textile dyeing or finishing. Staged as an interactive think tank, future-oriented show cases will be in the spotlight alongside sustainable innovations.

KEYHOUSE is also home to the main lecture forum of MUNICH FABRIC START with exclusive keynotes, panel discussions, trend presentations, Q&A sessions & expert talks by international industry insiders. Be inspired by the wide range of events at KEYHOUSE.

JOIN ARCHROMA AT THE KEYHOUSE:

Game-changing approach delivers planet conscious, trendy denim

In the fast-paced world of denim fashion, Archroma stands as a pioneering force, collaborating with global denim brands and mills to drive the industry towards a greater focus on sustainability, and cater to evolving consumer preferences.

Their latest innovation, DENIM HALO, represents a fresh approach to denim production, blending lower environmental impact with simplicity. This concept introduces an exclusive chemical technology alongside efficient pretreatment and dyeing processes. By superficially dyeing the yarn, DENIM HALO achieves the desired aesthetic while drastically reducing the environmental footprint of denim finishing. This approach eliminates the need for harmful processes such as manual scraping or potassium permanganate spraying. The end result? One of the industry’s most sustainable laser friendly and easy to wash denim, marking a significant stride towards denim that is more planet conscious.

For the classic blue jeans, Archroma’s aniline-free* (Typically more than 95% lower than current industry standard limits. For further information please refer to The Safe Edge portal.) DENISOL® PURE INDIGO 30 dyes, boasting up to 40% water savings compared to conventional dyeing and laundry finishing methods. Meanwhile, the DIRESUL® SMARTDENIM BLUE pre-reduced sulfur dye delivers savings of up to 70%, ensuring a distinctive blue denim look. For black denim enthusiasts, DIRESUL® EVOLUTION BLACK reduces water usage by up to 56% during dyeing and finishing processes, creating unique wash-down effects with a remarkable 57% reduction in overall environmental impact compared to standard sulfur black in synthesis (Life Cycle Analysis by Ecoterrae).

Figure 1: Light Sensitive Fabric

  Figure 2: Environmental Impact Measurement