M&S, New Look, Sainsbury's and Oxfam Join Forces to Boost the UK's Circular Textile Economy
London, UK – September 2026 – New Look, M&S, Sainsbury's, Oxfam and Circle-8 today announce The Circuit, a new collaborative model bringing together retailers, textile recovery partners, automated sorting, recyclers, digital innovators and manufacturers to build new circular textile value chains and transform UK generated post-consumer textiles into future circular raw materials.
The first phase will focus on testing, learning and developing the operational frameworks needed to support future scale-up.
In 2024, approximately 1.4 million tonnes of post-consumer textiles were generated across the UK, with nearly half classed as non-reusable, underlining the urgent need for infrastructure to recover, reuse and recycle these valuable resources.
Demand for recycled textile materials is growing, but the systems needed to create them from post-consumer textiles remain underdeveloped. The Circuit has been established to close that gap.
Circle-8, the development company behind The Circuit, is building the infrastructure, partnerships and commercial frameworks required to connect post-consumer textile recovery with future circular material supply, including Automated Textile Sorting and Pre-processing facilities.
Lynda Petherick, Chief Executive Officer at New Look, said: "Building a more circular fashion industry requires collaboration right across the value chain. The Circuit gives retailers an opportunity to play an active role in developing the systems that could turn non-reusable textiles already in circulation into the raw materials of the future."
Katharine Beacham, Head of Sustainability & Materials in Fashion, Home & Beauty at M&S, said: "The Circuit is an important step forward, bringing together organisations from across the retail industry to help create viable routes for non-reusable textiles and support a more circular future for fashion."
Ben Smith, Managing Director of Sainsbury's Tu Clothing, said: "The Circuit is an exciting opportunity to work alongside partners from across the value chain to explore how post-consumer textiles generated here in the UK can be given a new life as valuable raw materials."
Rachel Cosgrove-Pearce, Retail Director at Oxfam, said: "Developing the infrastructure to recover valuable fibres from end-of-use textiles is an important part of building a fashion system that uses fewer virgin resources and creates less environmental harm."
Cyndi Rhoades, CEO and Co-Founder of Circle-8 Textile Ecosystems, said: "No one organisation can create a circular textile value chain alone, and we look forward to welcoming others to The Circuit."
About The Circuit
The Circuit is a collaborative initiative designed to build circular textile value chains from UK-generated post-consumer textiles, bringing together retailers, recovery partners, sorters, recyclers, digital innovators and manufacturers.
Founding participants include M&S, New Look, Sainsbury's, Oxfam and Circle-8, alongside Development Partners Biffa and Ekman Group, and Recycling Partners Usha Yarns, Kipas, Reju and Worn Again Technologies
Colour Is Too Important to Leave to Chance
Print will always be the part of the garment people see first.
But the sum of all parts — the fabric, the trims, the fasteners, the finish — is what determines whether a design actually delivers on its promise. Brands that continue to treat colour as a single creative decision, rather than a coordinated technical discipline spanning their entire supply chain, will keep paying for it in re-dips, delays, and disappointed design teams.
A Century of Textiles, and an Ever-changing World
Few companies can trace their roots back more than a century and still count themselves among their industry's innovators. Texia, headquartered in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain, is one of them.
But the story of Texia is not simply one of longevity.
It is a story of continual reinvention. As the textile industry has grown more global and competitive, Texia has repeatedly reshaped its business, investing in technology, developing its own brands, and placing sustainability at the centre of its mission. In doing so, it offers a compelling example of how a heritage manufacturer can lead rather than follow through a period of profound industry change. Image Credit: Texia
What are we craving Ultimately?
The instinct to slow down while simultaneously optimising every measurable aspect of life isn't a passing curiosity. It's a structural response to a world that feels increasingly unstable, and it's reshaping what people expect from their homes, hotels, workplaces and healthcare environments alike.
For the design and manufacturing sectors, this means rethinking both product and process.
The Structual Shift is Real and its Already Here
Volumes are moving east, where digital production is accelerating rapidly. Consumer behaviour has shifted.
Demand is now driven by personalisation, shorter buying cycles, and an expectation of near-instant responsiveness. Regulatory pressure is intensifying, with supply chain transparency now a legal and commercial fact in many markets. And margins? They are under sustained, structural pressure.
This is not a temporary disruption. It is a fundamental reordering of how textile manufacturing must operate.
The Challenge: Standing Firm as the Industry Shifts
The wallpaper landscape has changed dramatically. Digital printing has lowered the barrier to entry, spawning countless direct-to-consumer brands and pushing much of the market towards faster, cheaper production.
At the same time, manufacturing in the UK has grown steadily harder - rising minimum wage, national insurance, energy and substrate costs all bear down on margins. Surface Print have embraced all of these challenges - and stand resolutely prepared for the future.
From Helsinki's printing mill to Paris's Le Marais, discover how Marimekko is scaling a design-led brand with purpose, craft, and bold innovation.
But what makes Marimekko's story compelling is not just its aesthetic legacy?
The word "toxic" carries weight. It conjures danger, harm, and things best avoided.
“Yet in the textile industry - Where between 3,000 and 10,000 chemicals move through the supply chain, a reflexive fear of the term is one of our biggest obstacles to progress.”
This article distils the key takeaways and what buyers, designers, and brands should be asking right now.
What Is the Digital Product Passport?
At its core, a Digital Product Passport is a digital record attached to a physical product - For a printed textile product, this means the DPP would capture data on the substrate, inks and dyes used, the printing process and technology, chemical compliance, environmental impact (including water and energy use), supply chain traceability, and end-of-life instructions.
The Market Gap that Changed Everything
Future Fashion was founded in 2019, timed deliberately to coincide with a pivotal moment in global textile technology: the commercial launch of the EFI Reggiani BOLT Single-Pass digital printing system.
The founders recognised that single-pass architecture had fundamentally changed what was industrially possible - and that Pakistan's domestic market had yet to catch up.
Leicestershire – September 2026– Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, a leading provider of laminating and print finishing systems, has announced its participation in The Print Show, where it will unveil its latest technologies to industry professionals.
The company will be located at Hall 1, Stand P460, welcoming both new and existing customers to experience its systems firsthand.
As exhibition preparations reach their final stages, Vivid is preparing to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and quality in the print finishing sector.
Las Vegas, NV – 25 September 2026 – PRINTING United Expo 2026, produced annually by PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, concluded today following three dynamic days at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Preliminary results point to another highly successful gathering of the global printing community, with 27,000 registered attendees from 100 countries and more than 850 exhibitors spanning approximately one million square feet of show floor space. PRINTING United Expo will return next year in Las Vegas from 14-16 September 2027.
London, UK – Septembder 2026 – The UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) has launched the latest edition of its Discover British Brands map, showcasing more than 100 British brands exhibiting across Paris Women's Fashion Week and the SS27 pre-collections from 28 September to 6 October 2026.
The initiative continues UKFT's commitment to strengthening the international standing of UK fashion businesses, giving global buyers and press a clear route into the depth and diversity of British design.
Birmingham, UK – September 2026 – China Print Supplies UK Ltd (CPS UK) has announced its participation in The Sign Show 2026, where the company will present one of its largest-ever line-ups of print and finishing equipment.
The event will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, with CPS UK exhibiting at stands S220 and S420.
Accrington, UK, September , 2026: Soyang Europe will showcase three core products from the Platinum Technologies LIYU range on its stand at The Sign Show 2026.
Following its debut in 2025, The Sign Show will return to NEC Birmingham this autumn, once again co-located with established print industry exhibition The Print Show.
This year, the two events will run from 29 September to 1 October, with thousands of visitors expected across the shows.
Soyang, which exhibited at several previous editions of The Print Show, will take the largest stand in The Sign Show section of the hall, with a focus on its new distribution partnership with Platinum Technologies LIYU
PRINTING United Alliance, the most comprehensive member-based printing and graphic arts association in North America, today announced its 2026–2027 Board of Directors.
The new Board was officially appointed during PRINTING United Expo 2026, held September 23–25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Birmingham, UK – September 2026 – Perfect Colours has announced its participation in The Print Show 2026, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 29th September to 1st October.
The company will be offering bespoke, hands-on demonstrations of the Canon UK Colorado M5W, giving visitors the opportunity to witness the technology firsthand and explore how it can transform their production capabilities.
Birmingham, UK – September 2026 – Roland DG will unveil five of its latest product launches together for the first time at a UK trade show, as the digital print technology leader brings its newest innovations to The Print Show 2026.
Taking place from 29 September to 1 October at the NEC Birmingham, visitors to Hall 1, Stand S210 will be among the first in the UK to see the new TrueVis VG4-640, TrueVis MG2-300, TrueVis AG-640, VersaObject IO-300 and VersaObject RC-300 in action.
Spanning eco-solvent, latex and UV printing technologies, the line-up reflects the pace at which digital print continues to evolve, opening new possibilities across sign and graphics production, personalisation and direct-to-object printing.
Anglesey – September 2026 – Nova Chrome UK, one of the UK's longest-standing suppliers of dye sublimation printing solutions, has announced it will exhibit at The Print Show, taking place at NEC Birmingham.
Visitors can find the company at Stand P240, Hall 1, where its specialists will showcase the latest sublimation products and equipment.
Warsaw, Poland – September 2026 – Antigro Designer, a company at the forefront of print-on-demand technology, took part in this week's Warsaw Print Tech Expo, contributing to a critical industry conversation on personalisation and its growing influence on the future of print.
Michał Sitkiewicz, representing Antigro Designer, joined the panel session "We Love Print – Personalizacja z wyobraźnią" to share the company's perspective on where the market is heading.
The session brought together key voices in the print industry to examine how personalisation is no longer a niche offering but a defining feature of modern commerce.
Birmingham, UK – September 2026 – Epson UK & Ireland will be exhibiting at The Print Show 2026, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October 2026.
Visitors can find Epson at Stand S130, where the company will present live demonstrations of its latest professional printing technologies across UV, Direct-to-Garment (DTG), Direct-to-Film (DTF), and flatbed printing.
Ashby de la Zouch – September 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies has unveiled its most ambitious innovation to date: the Veloblade Nexus 5x5, a cutting-edge solution engineered to finish materials up to five metres wide and five metres long.
Wrapped in a striking carbon fibre finish, the launch marks a step change in large-format cutting technology for the print, fabric, and textile industries.
The Veloblade Nexus 5x5 is designed to meet the growing industry demand for precision, speed, and scale.
New York - September 2026– NedGraphics, a global leader in textile design technology, has today announced the upcoming launch of NedGraphics 2027, a new generation of software set to redefine how designers bring their creative visions to life.
The countdown to the full reveal is now underway, with the company inviting the industry to follow along as details unfold.
Hanover, Germany – 24 September 2026 – CEMATEX has selected 20 emerging start-ups from nine countries to receive the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant and showcase their innovations at Start-Up Valley during ITMA 2027 in Hanover.
Their participation will be fully funded by CEMATEX, giving promising early-stage companies access to the world's leading textile and garment technology platform.
The selected start-ups span six product areas: Colourants & Chemicals, Fibres, Yarns & Fabrics, Garment Making, Recycling, Software & Automation, and Testing.
Crewe = Cheshire – UK – September 2026 Three new UV flatbed printers with updated automation and productivity capabilities, all equipped with next generation RasterLink workflow and RIP software will launch on the Hybrid stand at The Print Show
Mimaki has announced the introduction of three new UV flatbed printers: the large-format JFX220-2515, and the small-format UJF200 Series (UJF200-3042 and UJF200-6042).
Developed to make advanced UV printing easier to operate and more accessible to print service providers, the new products combine simplified workflows and increased automation to support more efficient, productive print operations.
Frankfurt am Main, 23 September 2026 – Even more young design talent and creative ideas: at the upcoming Heimtextil, the New Talent Area returns for its second edition with a stronger presence.
From 12 to 15 January 2027, the curated area will welcome more than 30 participants, many of whom are presenting on the international stage for the first time.
In Frankfurt, they will showcase exciting textile designs, surprising materials and market-ready products.
Leicester – UK – September 23rd 2026 – Pantone has today announced the addition of 224 new colours to its globally recognised Matching System, marking one of the most significant expansions in the standard's history.
The update reflects a wider industry shift towards bolder, more expressive colour choices in design, and the new shades are now available through VeriVide's latest Pantone Formula Guide, Colour Bridge, and Solid Chips.
Cape Town, South Africa – September 2026 – FESPA has concluded a successful General Assembly in Cape Town, bringing together the Presidents of its 37 National Associations alongside the FESPA Ltd team for a week of strategic discussion and collaboration.
The annual gathering serves as a cornerstone event for the global print and signage community, offering leadership a dedicated forum to address the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the industry's future
Upper Caldecote - September 2026 – Print-Spec, a Bedfordshire-based provider of industrial screen printing and safety signage solutions, has announced a new equipment partnership that will see the business adopt the VelobladeNexus cutting system.
The move follows a collaboration between Spandex UK and Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, aimed at identifying the right technology to support Print-Spec's continued growth.
Paris, September 2026 – Lectra today announced the launch of Apogy, its cloud-based solution dedicated to product development, the critical phase between garment design and production.
Nearly fifty years after establishing the global standard for CAD solutions dedicated to the fashion industry, Lectra is opening a new chapter with Apogy, combining artificial intelligence, industry-specific agents and product data to revolutionise the way products are designed and developed.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Sun Chemical today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23-25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
Visitors are invited to booth C2880, where the company will present its latest advances in digital ink, textile, industrial, and sustainability-focused printing solutions designed to help printers transform their businesses.
At the heart of Sun Chemical's presence is a commitment to helping customers improve print quality, enhance sustainability, and optimise productivity.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Agfa will return to PRINTING United Expo 2026, one of the printing industry's most important events, to connect with print professionals from across North America and beyond.
The company will exhibit at Booths 1149 and 1161 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from 23–25 September 2026.
At the show, Agfa will demonstrate how its latest inkjet solutions help businesses increase productivity, expand application possibilities, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving print market.
Groningen, Netherlands – September 2026– Klieverik, a recognised innovator in sublimation calendaring technology will bring live sublimation production to PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas.
Visitors are invited to witness the Klieverik GTC101-3500 in action at Booth C2015, where the company will demonstrate the machine's capabilities in real time
Las Vegas, NV – September 2026 – Barbieri Electronics, a leading innovator in colour measurement and management solutions, today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, where the company will unveil its latest advancements in colour technology for digital and textile printing.
Attendees can visit Barbieri Electronics at booth C-841 to experience live product demonstrations and engage directly with company leadership.
Las Vegas, NV – September 2026 – Caldera, a leading provider of print workflow software solutions, has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23–25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Visitors can find Caldera at Booth C1469, where the company will showcase its latest innovations in print workflow automation, colour management, and apparel decoration.
Aarhus, DK & Milwaukee, WI — September 2, 2026 — FASTSEWN will showcase the next generation of its flatbed automated textile finishing at PRINTING United 2026 with the U.S. debut demonstration of its innovative full 3.3M width StitchNCut™ flatbed sewing and laser cutting solution.
This solution is designed specifically for high-volume production of Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG), pillowcase graphics, and other grand-format and industrial textile applications.
The centerpiece of the launch will be live remote demonstrations from FASTSEWN’s headquarters, where attendees will see the company’s full-size StitchNCut 3.3-meter automated flatbed sewing and laser cutting system producing finished SEG graphics and pillow graphics under real market-based production conditions.
Ottawa, Ontario – September 2026 – Corel today announced the CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite September 2026 Update, delivering dramatically expanded AI capabilities, including Text-to-vector AI, giving customers total creative control as they work faster, explore a multitude of creative options, and generate high-quality vector artwork that's ready for any project.
CorelDRAW's new AI tools have been designed to accelerate workflows while keeping the user's inspiration at the centre of the creative process.
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – September, 2026 – Epson will showcase its latest digital printing solutions at PRINTING United Expo 2026, the annual event bringing together the print industry to explore the latest innovations in commercial, apparel, packaging, wide-format and specialty printing.
Taking place Sept. 23-25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Epson will introduce new solutions for textile applications and showcase its extensive portfolio of commercial, industrial and business inkjet solutions.
Brixen, 22 September 2026 – Durst Group, a leading manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, has reached a significant milestone with its P5 500 TEX iSUB.
50 systems have been sold worldwide since its market introduction at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025.
Blackpool, UK – September 2026– Standfast & Barracks has been named Global Business of the Year at the 2026 British Insurance Business Awards (BIBAs), recognising the company's sustained growth and impact across international markets, including its expanding presence in the United States.
The award was presented on Friday evening at a ceremony in Blackpool, where members of the Standfast team gathered to celebrate the achievement together.