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Live at the fair, Interselection jumps ahead of current textile events thanks to a professional journalist who wanders the fair aisles seeking pertinent, up-to-the-minute information to put on line «hour-by-hour » on the Internet site.

ENCAJES prepares for the recovery
Determined to give itself the means to respond to constantly decreasing prices, Encajes has signed a subcontracting agreement in China. “The market is still difficult but it’s no longer declining. The demand exists, even though our clients tend to spread out their sourcing. The prevailing attitude is no longer negative. On the other hand, there’s still huge pressure on prices”, summed up Michel Machart, the company’s French agent. In 2009, Encajes has concentrated efforts on creation and now offers over 250 designs per season. These designs are created in Colombia and then sent on to the subcontractor. “This helps us offer a rapid response to demand from major retailers in the area”. A percentage of production remains based at the family company’s Bogota site, operating 80 machines. With a client list including M&S, Victoria’s Secret and Calvin Klein, Encajes made its entry into the French market just over a year ago.


HANDEL + DILLER launches ultrafine gauge
After several months of research, Händel + Diller has succeeded in producing a new 44-gauge jacquard machine with its knitting-machine supplier, Beck. The forthcoming collection will therefore feature a whole new line of ultrafine gauge jacquard knits. Since the German knit specialist is now capable of knitting any type of jacquard with any size of repeat, around half a dozen designs have been created to allow clients to judge the fine quality of motifs. A family-run company, employing 45 staff and exporting 40% of production, Händel + Diller supplies over a million metres of knitted fabric a year, all production being maintained in Germany, with dyeing carried out in Denmark and Austria.


WILLY HERMANN goes for recycled cotton
Having already introduced organic cotton to its collection, with a superfine 50-gauge version in particular, Willy Hermann is now opting for recycled cotton. This responsible approach allows the German knit specialist to launch two new knit versions, with or without elastane, created using a yarn consisting of 20% recycled cotton and 80% conventional cotton. By incorporating a majority of conventional cotton, the company can ensure that the quality and solidity of the product is comparable to a traditional knit. The welcome received by this new, partly recycled knit has been judged as satisfactory, since clients respond well to the ethical argument as well as the price, these two new versions being cheaper than conventional cotton knits.


UNION operates Asian factories at full speed
The first European embroiderer to move production to Asia as early as 1992, the Swiss embroiderer was one step ahead of the crowd. Today, Union’s two Asian units are operating at full speed with over 320 staff. While the creative side is still firmly maintained in Switzerland, these two factories handle the most basic qualities and are well-located to serve clients who have delocalized manufacturing to Asia. “We are under huge pressure with regard to prices and it’s mounting on a daily basis. However, Union has a fairly optimistic outlook for the end of 2009 thanks to the accompanying service that we are able to offer,” explains Marcel Dünner.
Henceforth, the company’s Asian factories are responsible for over half of production. The world’s oldest embroiderer, Union celebrated its 250th birthday in autumn.