HighTex Award Winner’s Announced, Are You Ready To Embrace A Brave New World of Innovation?

The winners of the HighTex Award have been chosen. The innovation award of MUNICH FABRIC START was presented, for the 4th time, to companies recognised for their overall strategic commitment to resource–saving process solutions, innovative product development as well as process implementation and marketability. Frank Junker, Creative Director MUNICH FABRIC START said; “By presenting the HighTex Award MUNICH FABRIC START supports and recognises the extensive and often costly commitment of innovative and creative companies in cooperation with innovative brands to set novel and sustainable product impulses.”

First place went to the Italian jersey producer BRUGNOLI. With Br4tec5, Brugnoli launches a fabric created with Virgin Merino Wool, a bio-based polyamide/Evo by Fulgar and 3% spandex, as a novel piquet. Compared to conventional processes, Br4 technology by Brugnoli uses 20 per cent less water and energy, which means 2500 litres of water is saved, and 20Kg CO2 avoided for each 1000 meter fabric produced. The knitting specialist Brugnoli has been recently granted a double European patent for its Br4 technology: production process and fabric.

Frank Junker, Simon Angel, Stefano Vailati & Alex Vogt | Image Credit: Munich Fabric Start

On their innovation Stefano Vailati, Sales Manager Brugnoli said: “Our efforts are aimed at creating new textile technologies and translating them into performing and high fashion fabrics. We are pleased that this is paying off and that our efforts are being rewarded. We believe that there is a demand on the market for sporty fashion, especially in the form of high–quality fibres and manufacturing technology solutions. We cater to this demand with our processed elastic membranes, polyamides and sporty jacquards.”

COCCCON secured second place for their fair and environmentally conscious production of luxurious textiles and innovative silk denim. The silkworms hatch by piercing and trimming the cocoon and are not killed in hot water as in conventional silk production. The fabrics, which come with an anti-allergic finish, as a rule, are hand–woven at a fair price and dyed without toxic chemicals. For the first time, the Indian company presents PET2Silk in Munich, a silk-like fabric made of recycled PET bottles. The first GOTS–certified organic silk denim is also biodegradable.

Frank Junker & Chandra Prakash Jha | Image Credit: Munich Fabric Start 

Following their win Chandra Prakash Jha, Cocccon shared, “The award is of major importance to us because it confirms our product philosophy and at the same time helps us to communicate it even more widely. We have been the world’s largest producer of organic silk for two years. This motivates us, and we are constantly developing new products on this basis. Denim convinced the jury of the HighTex Award–look silk shirt that requires only a fraction of water compared to conventional denim production and foregoes chemical additives.”

The RECA GROUP was awarded 3rd place for its process of avoiding product copies. The Italian specialist for packaging, cards as well as plastic and metal labels currently focuses on high–frequency embossing and printing on polyurethane – a process called ALM06. Depending on the perspective, different logotypes and colours are created.

Alex Vogt, Sebastian Klinder, Marcello Tarabini Castellani and Frank Junker | Image Credit: Munich Fabric Start

“At Reca, we believe in progress and innovation through constant investment in research and development. That’s why every season we put a lot of energy not only into new designs but also into the further development of our products. This is reflected by constantly improving product quality and also by new solutions for consumers. The most recent examples are labels that develop new optics with different light incidence and applications that work on the basis of heat setting rather than stitching. The fact that we are among the winners of the HighTex Award of MUNICH FABRIC START confirms us in our efforts,” said Marcello Tarabini Castellani, Sales Area Manager Reca Group

Giving out the awards at the KEYHOUSE was Alex Vogt, Sebastian Klinder and Frank Junker.

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Founding editor-in-chief of FashNerd.com, Muchaneta is currently one of the leading influencers writing about the merger of fashion with technology and wearable technology. She has also given talks at Premiere Vision, Munich Fabric Start and Pure London, to name a few. Besides working as a fashion innovation consultant for various fashion companies like LVMH Atelier, Muchaneta has also contributed to Vogue Business, is a senior contributor at The Interline and an associate lecturer at London College of Fashion, UAL.