Fibers are in high demand and doing more than they have ever done before. They provide functionality to garments while circulating in a closed loop cycle, being made from old to new again. The Global Fiber demand is projected to see a growth a little above the average GDP until 2020.
“Almost all regions are growing in technical textiles,” van de Kerkhof said, adding that China has seen the greatest growth of all. “It’s a very good industry to be in and a huge opportunity for us.”
There is only one drawback to all the growth: pollution.
“If we are not careful, all the innovation, all the work we are doing…we really can turn consumers off from buying our materials because they’re very concerned about the long-term future,” van de Kerkhof said. “It’s the brands and retailers that decide which fibers they put into their garments, which fibers they put on the shelves for consumers to buy.”
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Technical Textile Growth Set to Soar—But Can We Sustain the Eco Impact?