A fusion of style and performance was on display from exhibitors in a special area organised by the Taiwan Textile Federation at Avantex. Jonathan Dyson reports from Paris.
As the demand for performance, not only in sports and activewear, but also fashion, continues to grow, many major global brands are turning to Taiwan for new textile developments.
‘Fashion plus function’ is the motto of the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), reflecting the importance of constant innovation for the country’s textile manufacturing sector.
At the most recent edition of Avantex, held on 17-20 September, seven companies from Taiwan exhibited in a special zone organised by TTF.
Avantex, held within the fashion fabric show Texworld Paris, showcases some of the latest high-tech textile innovations from around the world.
The fabrics on display in the TTF area in September illustrated Taiwan’s continuing innovation in textiles for sports and outdoor wear, as well as a diversification into the fashion and athleisure markets.
The country’s textile manufacturers are looking to meet the new consumer demands generated by the desire for a fusion of style and performance.
The exhibitors also showcased a strong commitment to sustainability with an array of new eco-friendly textiles.
Tung Ho Textile
Making its debut at Avantex, Tung Ho Textile specialises in functional yarns. It presented a variety of yarns from its own PearlTex brand in Paris, including the ‘drirelease’ high-performance range, which combines hydrophilic fibres with multi-denier and multi-staple length hydrophobic fibres.
Fabric from Tung Ho Textile created using Sea Wool fibre, made from oyster shells and recycled polyester
The range features yarns made from cotton, wool, silk, Modal, Tencel and nylon. Properties include moisture wicking, fast drying and odour control.
As well as performance, Tung Ho is increasingly focused on sustainability, and at Avantex it presented a range of new eco-friendly yarns.
These included yarn made from the Sea Wool fibre developed by Taiwanese company Creative Tech Textile.
Sea Wool is made from oyster shells and recycled polyester, and is designed to possess similar properties to wool, such as wrinkle free and quick drying.
Other sustainable fibres used by Tung Ho include the EcoVero and Refibra cellulose fibres from Lenzing; and Sorona, a corn-derived polymer fibre from DuPont.
“In addition to the continuous development of products based on organic cotton and recycled polyester, we have offered more new sustainable product lines this year,” says Rachel Lee, manager of Tung Ho Textile.
“We are seeing growing demand for sustainability, so we are developing more yarns made using eco-friendly fibres.”
She added that the company’s factory uses more than 10% of its electricity from solar power generation.
Based in Tainan City, Tung Ho supplies garment manufacturers and its main markets are Taiwan and Japan. It is now aiming to expand in Europe.
Ecolot Textile
Ecolot Textile manufactures fabrics for activewear, fashion and casual wear. The company is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for athleisure wear and presented a range of innovative fabrics in Paris.
The Ecolot Textile booth, featuring fabrics for activewear, fashion and casual wear
These included Eco Warm, designed to offer sustainability and performance. It features polypropylene on the inside of the fabric, and polyester on the outside. Recycled polyester is used in a number of the fabrics.
“Eco Warm gives the wearer added warmth and is also water and wind resistant,” says James Chang, Ecolot marketing and material R&D VP.
Also on display was the Hydro Comfy range of fabrics, which features Umorfil, a functional fibre created using collagen peptides from fish scales and developed in Taiwan. In the Hydro Comfy range Umorfil is used in different blends, with spandex, nylon and polyester.
“These fabrics provide moisture management, anti-odour and anti-static properties,” says Chang, adding that they can be used in a range of athleisure garments such as T-shirts and leggings.
Ecolot also presented its Coollot range, made using polyester and Spandex. “This reflects sunlight and infrared heat and therefore keeps the wearer cool,” says Chang.
In addition, a digitally-printed fabric made from polyester and Spandex, also targeted at the athleisure market, was on display.
The biggest market for Ecolot is the US, where its customers include Hanesbrands, Champion, Gap, Target and Spyder. “We are now trying to expand into Europe,” says Chang.
Ecolot is headquartered in Taipei and also has offices in China and Vietnam. In order to take advantage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the company plans to open further production facilities in Vietnam.
Texxar
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2018, Texxar specialises in knitted fabrics and is well-established in the sportswear market.
The company is now also expanding in the fashion market due to the growing demand for performance in that sector.
“Our customers are increasingly looking for this mix of fashion and functionality,” says Alex Chong, Texxar marketing manager. “Our activewear customers are focusing more and more on fashion and on the other side our fashion customers want greater performance.”
He added that at the same time Texxar is aiming to meet the increased demand for sustainability.
The company is developing a growing range of fabrics that meet these changing demands, including a 100% recycled polyester fabric which was featured on the Texxar booth in Paris in a lifestyle jacket.
“This fabric provides wicking and stretch but with no Spandex and no chemicals,” says Chong. “It is eco-friendly and also has a stylish design.”
Based in New Taipei City, around 70% of Texxar’s sales come from the US, where its customers include Tommy Hilfiger, Gap and Calvin Klein. Around 30% of Texxar’s sales are generated in Europe, according to Chong.
Glowtex
Glowtex, which specialises in functional fabrics, presented three key themes on its booth at Avantex: Eco Recycle, with fabrics that are water repellent and free of fluorine and its derivatives (PFOS and PFOA); Sports Function, showcasing fabrics with benefits such as wicking, UV protection, antimicrobial and odour deduction; and Performance Comfort, featuring fabrics that offer cooling and breathability properties.
Joseph Chang, director of Glowtex, with a display of the company’s fabrics
Most fabrics produced by Glowtex are made using polyester, with some featuring blends with nylon.
Joseph Chang, director of Glowtex, said that it is also using a growing range of eco-friendly finishes. “For example, we have a water-repellent fabric which is free of fluorine.”
Based in Taipei, Glowtex is well-established in the US market, where it supplies a mix of sports and fashion brands. Customers include Under Armour, New Balance, Ariat and Macy’s. It is also growing in the European market, where it has been present over the past five years.
Wit-Fit Enterprise
Making its debut at Avantex, Wit-Fit Enterprise showcased its wide range of sportswear fabrics at the show. These included a fabric with four-way stretch in polyester and nylon, designed particularly for leggings.
Mavis Lin, a manager at Wit-Fit Enterprise, with some of the company’s fabrics
Also on display was a range of eco-friendly textiles featuring sustainable fibres such as recycled polyester and Sorona from DuPont.
Wit-Fit Enterprise also highlighted its bluesign certification. The company supplies several major sportswear brands including Adidas and Reebok.
“We are now also aiming to grow in the fashion market as it is looking for more functionality,” says Mavis Lin, a manager at Wit-Fit Enterprise.
Avantex is the first trade fair in Europe the company has exhibited at.
Universal Textile
Founded 50 years ago and based in Taipei, Universal Textile has two weaving factories and two textured yarn plants.
The company presented its Reflect Print fabric at Avantex. The fabric lights up when a light is shone at the garment. It works by reflecting light, thanks to micro glasses embedded into the textile through a special printing technique.
Made using polyester with Spandex, the fabric can be woven or knitted, and is designed to enhance the safety of the wearer, especially when running, cycling or walking at night.
“The fabric lights up in front of car lights, so it makes it safer for running in the dark, for example,” says Byron Chen, sales manager at Universal Textile.
The fabric is also said to be waterproof, windproof and breathable, as well as providing thermal regulation.
Reflect Print is targeted primarily at the sportswear market, with Nike and Under Armour among the brands using it.
Other fabrics showcased by Universal in Paris included a 100% polyester bonded fabric. “This provides extra warmth for the wearer from the inside of the fabric and is suitable for running and other outdoor activities,” says Chen.
He adds that as well as the US, Universal is well-established in Europe. “We have been in the European market for around 30 years,” he says. The company supplies a number of major European brands, including Zara.
Handseltex Industrial Corp
Handseltex Industrial Corp, which is based in Taipei, presented its diverse range of fabrics at Avantex.
While the main market for Handseltex fabrics is sportswear, the company is also expanding into other sectors. Its products are divided into four key areas: Life wear; Sportswear; Fashion; and Classical.
Handseltex has developed a Night Glowing Yarn fabric, designed to offer extra safety for the wearer. After 20 minutes of exposure to sunlight or room light, the fabric emits light in the dark for 10 minutes, due to chemicals inserted into the fabric. The light-absorbing process can be repeated indefinitely, according to the company, which says that the fabric is non-toxic and eco-friendly.
Other textile products from Handseltex include a woven fabric for shirts and suits composed of 70% MicroModal Air, from Lenzing, and 30% wool. The fabric is said to offer extra comfort.
