The biggest challenge for fiber manufacturers is to accompany emerging fashion directions and back up innovation, research & development and integrity products.  Machinery manufacturers need to partner with stylists to “push” the machine out of its boundaries, adapt and adjust to new strongly technical directions, and both fiber and machinery manufacturers need to be more proactive working with the industry.

SPINEXPO^TM encourages new initiatives that aim at linking all the chain of textile to achieve better creative products, while respecting environment and ethical issues.

DIMENSIONS: The theme for the upcoming trend directions at SPINEXPO Shanghai and New York

Key concepts for the trends presented at SPINEXPO show textures extending into ribbons, cords and compact looking novelties that are in fact as light as air.  Yarns are furry, diffused through surface hair, plush and velvety, matted and slightly felted, with subtle uses of shine.

This trend is accompanied by skillfully creating the unexpected, mixing it up and breaking the rules.  Yarns explore fluffy mohair, luxurious noble fibres, felted wools, tweeds with metallic, irregular and homespun appearances, silky chenilles and plush, suede finished and anything metallised.

Fibre producers join with spinners to Create New Products with Strong Market Appeal

Fibres are the foundation of textile.  This is where the end garment begins.  Not surprisingly, spinners are increasingly looking for new and innovative ways to play with fibre as they work to develop exciting new yarn collections.

Mohair has been riding high for several seasons as fashion trends have favored its hairy surface, silky hand and the fact that it is a natural fiber produced within a sustainable production environment.

“We collaborate with spinners to help develop specific products for different markets” said Deon Saayman, General Manager at Mohair South Africa. ‘Each market has its own unique preference;  for example, some prefer very fluffy yarns, while others like a smoother surface”, “our goal is to provide spinners, knitters and retailers with inspiration as to how they can use mohair in their collections”.

Mohair Makes its Mark. This year, Mohair South Africa has launched its new mohair label that can apply to any product that meets the mark’s term of use criteria.  Although Mohair South Africa developed and registered the mark, qualifying products can also contain mohair from other geographic locations. The focus is on granting the license for use to a trusted manufacturer or spinner that will also assist in protecting the integrity of the mark. “The Mohair mark enables spinners, knitters and retailers to call out the mohair content in their products, and differentiate the products as being of high quality” said Mr Saayman, noting that today consumers are interested in knowing the story behind the garment.

A traditional fibre with a modern point of view

Innovation plays a crucial role in The Woolmark Company’s operations, with the global authority on wool representing pioneering excellence in product development that meets the demands of the modern consumer.   Suitable for garments to wear year round, whatever the weather, Merino wool remains a premium, natural fibre and the ultimate ingredient in producing luxurious yarns.

“A lot of our product development is collaborative projects with Merino wool spinners,” said The Woolmark Company General Manager Product Development and Commercialisation Jimmy Jackson. “Nowadays, consumers prefer a product that has a more casual look. We work with spinners to develop yarns that meet what the market wants. Often this involves changing some of the current manufacturing processes.”    

The Woolmark Company works closely with spinners to provide them with technical support, such as advising how to work with machine-washable wool. The Tested by Nature, Tested by Us campaign - launched last year by The Woolmark Company to raise awareness with buyers and consumers about machine-washable wool - is aimed at helping spinners to market their products to buyers.

For SPINEXPO Shanghai, The Woolmark Company will be promoting three key pillars of innovation: Touch, Technique and Texture. Examples of the three directions will include Knitted Denim (Jersey from Shanghai Challenge and flat-bed) using Lantique yarns from Xinao; Merino Retract (boiled wool), Mottled Merino (felt-no-felt yarns) from Consinee (by Spinning) and from Sundeli (by space dyeing); warp knit fabrics from New HongJi and from Diyang using sirofil yarn from Suedwolle.

The Xinao Design Award garments will be presented at a display facing the main trend area; this is a new initiative in which The Woolmark Company is a contributing partner.

The Woolmark Company will also be conducting two seminars during the first two days of SPINEXPO. One seminar will be dedicated to The Wool Lab, showing the directions of research undertaken; and another seminar dedicated to product development, going into more detail on the development of the above mentioned products.

NTU presents Students Final Collections

NTU has had the exciting opportunity to be generously sponsored by the leading spinners exhibiting at SPINEXPO.  This sponsorship provided the final year Fashion Knitwear design students with the opportunity to use a range of exciting yarns from a number of leading spinning mills to produce their final collections which were showcased at their final year fashion show in May 2015.

Spinners backing up this project are exhibiting in both New York and Shanghai Exhibitions, and 16 of the best garments will be displayed at the shows.  Winning Textiles, Biella Yarn by Suedwolle, Topline and Consinee, Novetex, AA Global, Regal, Armonia/Sinfonia and UPW sponsored 16 finalists to create a superb collection full of new ideas.  

SPINEXPO^TM SHANGHAI

1-3 September 2015

The Shanghai World Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre

SPINEXPO Website: www.spinexpo.com  

SPINEXPO Blog: www.spinexplore.com  

Visitor can pre-register on the Web. The show is open to business professionals and the trade. Admission is free-of-charge.