ZÜRICH, Switzerland — September 21, 2026 — The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has announced the five winners of its prestigious ITMF Start-up Award 2026. These winning start-ups will have the opportunity to present their business models at the upcoming ITMF & IAF Conference 2026, scheduled to take place from 14 to 15 October 2026 in Fortaleza, Brazil. The conference is being co-hosted by ABIT, the Brazilian Textile & Apparel Industry Association.
The ITMF Start-up Awards are designed to provide emerging companies with a dedicated platform to showcase their innovative concepts while also enabling them to connect in person with well-established businesses from across the entire textile value chain. It is a meaningful opportunity for young ventures to gain visibility and forge relationships within a globally influential industry setting.
The Five Winners of the ITMF Start-up Award 2026
The following five companies have been selected as the winners of the ITMF Start-up Award 2026, listed here in alphabetical order.
Matereal — Switzerland
Business Concept: Biobased Polymers and AI for Textile Manufacturing
Matereal, based in Switzerland, is focused on charting new territory in textile innovation through the application of biobased polymers combined with artificial intelligence to advance textile manufacturing processes.
no.wasTee Soluções em Confecções Sustentáveis — Brazil
Business Concept: Zero-Waste Design for a Low-COâ‚‚ Textile Industry
Brazil-based no.wasTee is working towards a zero-waste textile future by applying sustainable design principles aimed at significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions across textile and apparel production.
Tellura Technologies — Brazil
Business Concept: 100% Natural Yarn — From Fashion to Aerospace Biocomposite
Also from Brazil, Tellura Technologies is developing 100% natural yarn solutions with applications spanning from fashion to aerospace-grade biocomposite materials, representing a wide-ranging approach to sustainable textile material innovation.
Unspun — USA
Business Concept: Automating Apparel Supply Chains with 3D Weaving
United States-based Unspun is addressing supply chain efficiency in the apparel sector through the automation of production using 3D weaving technology, bringing a new dimension to textile innovation in manufacturing.
Yuantian Biotechnology (Tianjin) — China
Business Concept: Enzymatic Recycling and Industrialization of Waste PET Plastic
China-based Yuantian Biotechnology is pursuing the enzymatic recycling and industrial-scale processing of waste PET plastic, offering a science-driven approach to material recovery within the sustainable textile and broader plastics recycling ecosystem.
ITMF & IAF Conference 2026: A Platform for Textile Industry Dialogue
The ITMF & IAF Conference 2026 in Fortaleza brings together key stakeholders from the global textile and apparel industry. The participation of the ITMF Start-up Award 2026 winners adds a forward-looking dimension to the event, with start-ups presenting alongside established industry players from across the full textile value chain.
The use of biobased polymers in textile manufacturing, as championed by Matereal, is one of several cutting-edge themes represented among this year’s winners, reflecting the broader industry momentum toward more responsible and technology-driven production methods.
