New Fibers Era, Good Life 2021 International Sustainable Fashion Forum on Advanced Functional Fibers

Edited by Zhao Xinhua

On the occasion of 2021 Shengze Fashion Week and the 9th Jiangsu(Shengze) Textile Expo Cloud Exhibition, 2021 International Sustainable Fashion Forum on Advanced Functional Fibers was opened in Shengze Town,Wujiang District, Suzhou City. Focusing on the theme of “Better Life in the New Fiber Era”, the forum explored the innovative research, development,application and promotion of advanced functional fibers from four aspects:international, forward—looking, oriented and fashion, and discussed the new path of reshaping fashion pattern and enabling industrial upgrading from the source.

Secretary Shen Chunrong made a speech at the conference. He said that in recent years, Shengze has been making great achievements by tackling key core technologies, building an open and shared innovation platform, and unleashing innovation vitality through reform. He also pointed out that in the future, Shengze will strive to build a world—class high—end textile industry cluster by connecting the circular industrial chain of green technology and fashion, the cooperative innovation chain of government, industry, university and research, the high—end value chain of design, development, production and sales, the development chain of online and offline interconnection, and the integration chain of production,ecology, life, industry and city.

“Through the construction of new materials, new fibers and new systems, products can be designed,technology can be controlled, value can be recre—ated and life can be better.” Academician Zhu Meifang pointed out in her speech at the conference that the development of new functional fiber materials in China in the future should adhere to the “four aspects”,namely, facing the frontier of science and technology in the world, facing the economic and social development,facing the major strategic needs of China, and facing people’s life and health. Second, we should strengthen basic, frontier and original research and cultivate original talents. Third, we should break through the traditional linear model of industry—university—research cooperation, establish a new three—dimensional and symbiotic relationship,and shorten the distance from laboratory to industrialization. Fourth, we should adhere to international cooperation, establish international tech—nological and industrial cooperation alliance, and lead the development of international fiber discipline and industry.

President Sun Ruizhe said in his speech that as an important base of fibers manufacturing and application in China, Shengze has a complete industrial chain from fiber materials to end products. Fiber is becoming an important traction for Shengze to achieve high quality development in the new era. The “14th Five—Year Plan” Development Outline of Textile Industry puts forward the long—term goal of the industry in 2035, that is, when China basically realizes socialist modernization in 2035, China’s textile industry will become the main driver of the world’s textile science and technology, the important leader of global fashion, and the powerful propellant of sustainable development. As the source of industrial development and innovation, fibers are the core key to realize the new blueprint of the industry. In the future, the innovative development of fibers should support the high—quality develop—ment of the industry.

At the conference, international well—known experts and scholars from 10 countries, including the United States, Japan, Britain, Germany, Switzer—land, Spain, Ukraine, Iran, Indonesia, Peru, etc. expressed their best wishes and opinions on functional new fiber online.

“Petroleum—based fibers are moving towards biobased fibers. We need to focus on biopolymers and biodegradable fibers.” “In the world of sustain—able fashion, we should be looking for products that are renewable. Natural fibers are at the heart of the industry.” “Our 3DBiotex project uses 3D print—ing technology to create a zero—waste, zero—emission and environmentally friendly garment made from biodegradable fibers.” ...Adriana Marina (Spain), founder of sustainable fashion promotion agency HXN and expert on sustainable devel—opment of the United Nations; Patrick Gottelier (UK), di—rector of the Institute of Art and Design at Falmouth Uni—versity; Kenichi Tomiyoshi, executive vice president and director of the Japan Chemical Fiber Association; Rasha Alomar (USA), an expert on renewable raw materials and former vice president of Fabric Purchasing Department of KOMAR, and 12 other guests expounded the charac—teristics and development trend of functional new fibers from the aspects of carbon neutrality, environmental protection and sustainable fashion.

In the theme conference, Academician Wang Yu—zhong, Director Xiao Jinsong, Editor—in—chief Andreas W.Engelhardt and Chief Engineer Chen Baojian gave keynote speeches on the market demand, development path and development trend of the global fiber industry.Director Li Binhong presided over the forum.

Academician Wang Yuzhong discussed in his speech “Innovative Research on the Development of Multifunctional Fiber Fabrics” the development of mul—tifunctional fiber textiles through the design, synthesis and spinning of fibrous polymers and the design and preparation of multifunctional post—treatment agents for existing fiber fabrics, he said, the former is mainly aimed at the largest varieties of synthetic fiber polyester, while the latter would focus on the universality of the different base material, including cotton, linen, rayon, polyester,polyamide fiber, polypropylene fiber, aramid fiber, such as fabric, which can also give the surface a variety of functions, such as super hydrophobic and super hydro—phobic oil, self—cleaning, antibacterial, flame retardant,antistatic, freezing resistance, corrosion resistance, etc.,it is expected to be widely used in home textiles and in—dustrial textiles.

Andreas W. Engelhardt reviewed the economic per—formance of the global textile and apparel industry under the impact of the pandemic in his video presentation“Forecast of Market Demand and Development Trend of the Global Textile and Fiber Industry”. He said the econ—omy was still some way from a broad recovery and that global fiber production would be reduced to the level of two to three years ago. The temporary low level of retail development in the post—pandemic period will become normal, and the impact of the change in consumption patterns is still unknown. It also stressed that the pan—demic will accelerate industry investment in sustainable fiber, sustainable manufacturing, greenhouse gas emis—sion reduction and waste recycling.

“Functional fibers are an important part of the field of new fiber materials 2035.” In his speech “Sustainable Development Trend of Functional Fiber”, Chief Engineer Chen Baojian focused on the technical application and development trend of functional fiber based on diversi—fied application cases in the fields of clothing, home textile and industrial textiles. He said that in the new era,new textile fiber materials will focus on the development of basic fiber materials, strategic fiber materials and cut—ting—edge fiber materials, showing a new trend of func—tionalization of general—purpose fibers, intelligentization of functional fibers, green fiber processing, and high—end high—performance fibers.

Hot discussion on innovation: exploring multiple development of functional fiber

In the conference — parallel session — Advanced Functional Fiber Innovative Application Forum, experts from the industry focused on the hot topic of functional fiber application in the three terminal fields of clothing,industrial and home textile. Vice Director Li Bo chaired the forum.

With the title of "Functional Fiber Development and Industrialization", Chairman Mei Feng introduced the main business of Shenghong Holding Group, the main varieties of Guowang High—tech functional poly—ester and innovative functional polyester, as well as the construction of "Advanced Functional Fiber Public Service Platform" undertaken by National Advanced Functional Fiber Innovation Center and other related projects.

In the “New Fiber Dialogue” session, Chen Xiaoli,secretary—general of the Secretariat of the National Textile Development Base, discussed topics such as industrial chain cooperation mode, new fiber product development, functional fiber innovation practice, terminal field appli—cations, fiber product industrialization and consumer demand leadership, and has a professional exchange with corporate guests from the fields of fiber,yarn, home textiles, and clothing.

Focus on new fiber: explore new applications of functional nylon

Centered on the development and innovative application of functional nylon products, the forum launched a discussion from the fashion trend of textile fabrics in China, the development direction of nylon fabric products,Eversun Jinjiang functional nylon innovative products, as well as the develop—ment and application trend of functional products in underwear, fashion, lei—sure and sports fields. Topic sharing from industry experts, including popular trends, consumer big data and brand analysis, consumer interpretation and material focus of brands in the development of new products.

In the conference — parallel session — Eversun Jinjiang Functional Nylon Product Development and Application Forum, Director Qiao Yanjin and Vice President Chen Fei attended and delivered speeches at the conference. Chief Engineer Chen Baojian presided over the forum.

Centered on the development and innovative application of functional nylon products, the forum launched a discussion from the fashion trend of textile fabrics in China, the development direction of nylon fabric products,Eversun Jinjiang functional nylon innovative products, as well as the devel—opment and application trend of functional products in underwear, fashion,leisure and sports fields. Industry experts shared the theme, which covers popular trends, consumer big data and brand analysis, consumer interpreta—tion and material focus of brands in the development of new products and other wonderful content.

The signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation between the National Textile Development Center and Fujian Eversun Jinjiang Co., Ltd. and the li—censing ceremony of the National Textile Development Base were also held at the conference. Eversun Jinjiang formally became the National Functional Polyamide Fiber Product Development Base. President Sun Ruizhe awarded the license to the company.

During the conference, the organizer also organized participants to visit Eastern Silk Market China and the National Advanced Functional Fiber In—novation Center, which provided a platform for exchanges and cooperation between upstream and downstream enterprises and promoted win—win co—operation and coordinated development of the whole industrial chain.