Manufacturers of yarns, hosiery, machinery, components and accessories - the hosiery supply chain met yesterday in Brescia for the opening of FIMAST, the Italian Exhibition Group’s (IEG) B2B event being staged at Brixia Forum until Friday, 22 October. Exhibitors and visitors from Germany, Spain and Portugal were also in attendance for an event showcasing the latest innovations for the hosiery industry, a sector whose companies are mainly located in the Italian manufacturing Italian districts of Brescia and Mantua.

The four days of FIMAST will offer moments of debate on the sector’s scenarios, outlined by international experts in a qualified panel of events - an opportunity to reflect on innovation, research, new business opportunities, emerging markets and sustainability, a central element for the sector’s development.

And sustainable and responsible innovation was the exact focus of the opening day's events which centred on best practices within the supply chain and on the state of the art of the textile industry’s circular economy, including eco-toxicological requirements and the importance of traceability.

“Design, innovation, responsibility and communication are the necessary dimensions for an approach to the kind of sustainability that creates a business with new-generation values,” said Giusy Bettoni, CEO and founder of C.L.A.S.S., the platform for integrating responsible innovation in textiles and fashion, and FIMAST partner, as she spoke at the opening event.

“With our commitment to this topic, we want to make it clear that not only is it possible, but companies are already doing it.”

The world of yarns is also becoming increasingly green. One example is Mantua-based Sina Filati Fashion Yarn, which enriches its hosiery products with materials that partly come from recovery, recycling and regeneration and sells eco-compatible polyamide yarns made from processing waste or polyester obtained by recycling plastic bottles or fishing nets.

Another example is TecnoYarn in Brescia, which dyes materials with respect for the environment and with particular attention to mass dyeing, which is said to lead to enormous savings in the consumption of chemicals, energy and water. Also, Yarn Solutions, based in Borgo San Giacomo, has for years has boasted Global Recycle Standard certification for recycling raw materials.

Attention to the environment can be seen throughout the supply chain at FIMAST. Beschi, for example, a company based in Castel Goffredo (MN), specializes in moulding plastic materials for tubes and cones for yarns using recycled plastic, has installed a photovoltaic system to cover 30% of the energy needed for its machinery. Solbiate Arno (VA) based Fadis, has been committed for many years to promoting solutions for mechanical-textile companies that put reducing the use of energy, water and chemical products at the centre of their production process.

Digital technology is also a valuable ally on the road to sustainability. One example is the innovative S1M circular knitting machine made by Brescia-based company, Cesare Colosio, which produces 3D inlay footwear with a solution that can make seamless uppers with holes, eyelets and laces in one single step without wasting raw material.

3D modelling has many advantages for the hosiery world thanks to software that can rapidly turn ideas into prototypes, thus optimising time and resources and, above all, raw materials. This will be discussed today, Wednesday 20 October, in a workshop organised by ADICI, the Hosiery and Lingerie Association, together with Machina Lonati Technical High School, which will present training courses for students and young professionals.

The complete programme of events is available on the exhibition website.

www.fimast.eu