Fabric news: what's new in materials, autumn 2026
PFAS-free performance, bio-based polyester, "Living Matter" at Première Vision and India's handloom numbers.
A round-up of the fabric news that matters for designers and brands this season, summarised from published sources.
Performance without PFAS
Water repellence is moving away from fluorinated chemistry. In October, Unifi launched Resist2O Pro, which builds water resistance into the yarn itself. At Techtextil in April, award winners included PFAS-free finishes based on plasma coating and on plant-based fatty acids.
New fibres
Techtextil also recognised Mariva, a biopolyester designed to be biodegradable and chemically recyclable, and AeoniQ Fil, a biodegradable cellulose sewing and embroidery thread that supports single-material garments.
The AW27-28 mood
Première Vision framed AW27-28 as "Living Matter": time and memory, and an organic, irregular materiality. For denim, it highlighted archive upholstery fabrics, denim in tailoring and regenerative cotton.
Handloom in India
On National Handloom Day (7 August), official figures cited more than 35 lakh weavers and allied workers, about 72% of them women, and 104 GI-registered handloom products.
Sources: Innovation in Textiles, Textile World, Première Vision, PW Only IAS.
