Milan, Italy - Candiani SpA, renowned for its sustainable practices, has clinched the prestigious ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award for the second year running. The award recognizes their groundbreaking Candiani Custom project, featuring a cutting-edge micro-factory that produces tailor-made jeans on demand. The eco-conscious customers can choose from an array of Candiani Denim fabrics.
The ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award, initiated in 2015 by CEMATEX, celebrates collaborative endeavors between exhibitors and customers, highlighting industry excellence. This year's event, held in Milan, also witnessed the ITMA 2023 Research & Innovation Award, which encourages academic institutions to pioneer textile industry research.
Denim stole the spotlight at the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award 2023, showcasing concepts focused on sustainability, zero-waste production, and reduced water and energy consumption.
Candiani SpA secured the top accolade, thanks to their visionary Candiani Custom project and the bespoke cutting machine designed specifically for it. Their urban micro factory embodies sustainable practices, minimizing waste throughout the production process.
Denim Moda Srl and Limonta SpA were the other finalists in the Industry Excellence category. Denim Moda earned recognition for the establishment of the Denim Moda Urban Factory, equipped with cutting-edge technologies for sustainable denim and cotton production. Limonta impressed the judges with its Bio-Freed dyeing system, which drastically reduces water consumption by 90% and lowers energy usage by 67%.
The Industry Excellence Award judging panel comprised Amina Razvi, CEO of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC); Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of the European Apparel and Textile Confederation (EURATEX); Ernesto Maurer, President of CEMATEX; and John Mowbray, Founder & Director of MCL News & Media.
In the Research & Innovation Excellence Award category, Philipp Benjamin Weigel emerged as the winner for his thesis on the numerical simulation of parametrically generated profiled carbon polymer yarns. Eva Wingerath and Maryam Sodagar were the first and second runners-up, respectively, for their research on composite pressure vessel end-of-life recycling and the use of banana fiber as reinforcement for polylactic acid.
The ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award serves as a platform to promote research and innovation in the textile industry.
