Global textile makers bring new tech to apparel fabrics show in Shanghai

The just-concluded Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics, one of the world's largest apparel fabric shows, has drawn more than 3,700 Chinese and international exhibitors, with a vast array of new technologies on show.

This event, which opened on Tuesday, wrapped up on Thursday in China's financial hub of Shanghai. During the show, textile makers from various countries demonstrated how they are applying cutting-edge technologies to the garment industry.

American fabric manufacturer Burlington Fabrics debuted its new technology at the show -- a denim shirt made from nylon. Although denim is typically produced from cotton, this manufacturing innovation makes the shirt at least 50 percent lighter.

"We could see cost benefits for sure, but we also were targeting the weights that typically aren't associated with denim or cellulose, so we were able to achieve lightweight products that give you a similar appearance both in wovens, as well as in knits," said Andrew Hicks, global sales and marketing director of Burlington Fabrics.

Innovations are not only happening on the production side. An AI-based assistant for fashion designers, capable of providing style suggestions based on designers' inspiration and sketches, also took the spotlight at this event.

"In the traditional fashion design process, designers need to spend from few weeks and even up to few months to edit, modify and finalize the fashion collection for the upcoming season based on the initial creative idea and also the mood board. It seems like AI can really help to speed up this process and also at the same time a generative AI can also inspire designers' creativity," said Calvin Wong, CEO of Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design, a research platform established by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Royal College of Art in the United Kingdom.

Innovation was a key focus among exhibitors. At the same time, the potential challenges that new technologies may pose to the traditional textile industry, which provides a large number of jobs, were also thoroughly discussed during the event.

Industry insiders believe that the rapid development of new technologies may bring certain challenges, but it will also deliver considerable benefits.

"Of course, there will be in change definitely also for the employees, but I see more chances than risk for this kind of industry. First I think there are two directions -- first in the textile processing industry for the production of garments and also of textiles, you have, for example, cloud solutions to produce smaller quantities on demand production. And in addition, for designers -- designers are able to create something new for the industry in a very, very short time," said Olaf Schmidt, vice president of Textiles and Textile Technologies.

Global textile makers bring new tech to apparel fabrics show in Shanghai

A 100-bed Ebola treatment center is expected to open this week in Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a rapidly expanding outbreak strains health services in a region already affected by conflict and displacement.

At the Kigonze displacement site in Bunia, International Medical Corps has set up an eight-bed transit center to identify suspected cases, isolate patients and refer confirmed cases for treatment.

"As you can see here behind me, there is a barrier; this is the red zone. When a case is triaged here and suspected of being Ebola, the patient is referred to one of the isolation rooms located behind me. We have a capacity of eight beds here. From that point, we take over their care -- collecting the initial samples for testing. If the test result is negative after 48 hours, we run a second test. If both tests are negative, the person is discharged and returns home, receiving treatment for any other conditions associated with the initial suspicion," said Dr. Francis Bigirimwami Chibanvunya, a doctor at the Kigonze transit center.

The outbreak has compounded a severe humanitarian crisis in Ituri Province, where conflict and violence have displaced nearly 1 million people, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA.

Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on the new treatment center, which is intended to ease pressure on existing facilities operating at full capacity.

"IMC (International Medical Corps) will inaugurate this week the biggest treatment center of the country with a capacity 100 beds. At OCHA, we coordinate partners on the ground on the humanitarian response, but also through the humanitarian fund. We make sure they receive funding quickly to scale up the response," said Ramatoulaye Moussa Mazou, communications officer for OCHA in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The facility will separate suspected and confirmed cases and is expected to employ more than 300 people, expanding the capacity to detect, isolate and treat patients as the outbreak spreads.

"So, the work is nearing completion. It is a 100-bed facility - with a capacity of 100 beds - comprising 60 beds for confirmed cases and 40 beds for suspected cases. More than 300 staff members will be working at the center, and we are counting on the community to help accelerate the process of identifying cases," said Dr. Sambo Sidikou of International Medical Corps.

As of July 30, the DRC had reported 3,605 confirmed cases of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, including 1,587 deaths, representing a case fatality rate of 44 percent, the WHO said in its latest disease outbreak report.

New Ebola treatment center set to open as outbreak strains DR Congo