US-based apparel retailer Levi Strauss & Co. has emerged as the winner of the first ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award at ITMA 2015. Franky Vangaever, R&D Product Researcher at Levi averred, “We are very excited to be the first winner of the ITMA award. The success is a testimony of the strong collaboration of two iconic brands – Tonello and ourselves – in pursuit of industry sustainability.”
Using the NoStone® garment washing technology from Tonello, Levi commenced initial development work in their Plock facility in Poland. The technology help Levi in solving an industry challenge in denim finishing – the use of pumice stones which have environmental, economic and mechanical disadvantages.
Also Read – Levi Strauss & Co. takes clothing recycling initiative across US
The Industry Excellence Award recognizes textile and garment manufacturers who have leveraged on technological innovations to advance business sustainability that benefit people, planet and profit. Other achiever was – in the R&I Excellence Award (Masters Category) – Jan Vincent Jordan, Institut Für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University. His Master’s Thesis: ‘Development & Assembly of a Test Bench for the Analysis of Magnetic Weft Insertion’ helped him win the award.
The European committee of textile machinery manufacturers – CEMATEX launched the ITMA Sustainable Innovation Award to inspire and acknowledge industry members for their contributions to the sustainable development of the global textile and garment industry. The two award categories are ITMA Industry Excellence Award for ITMA 2015 exhibitors and their clients, and the R&I Excellence Award for post-graduate students of institutions participating in the Research & Innovation Pavilion.
