“Think Taiwan for Textiles”

On the Road to Innovation, Fashion and Sustainability

Overall Background on Taiwan Textile Industry

Taiwan textile industry started out by processing products after importing raw materials from abroad in its early stage. Later, Taiwan evolved to become a supplier of textile materials derived from petrochemical processes while importing natural cotton and synthetic yarns. In the development process, Taiwan has now become fully integrated and consolidated resources into complete production networks that include production of synthetic fibers and yarns, fabric, dyeing and finishing, as well as apparels and accessories.

Starting in the 1950’s Taiwan textile industry has evolved and grown rapidly over the post five decades: in line with the growing demands by international markets, consistent product development, facility modernization, and market development turned the textile industry into structurally the most comprehensive industry sector in Taiwan. Taiwan textile products have now become one of the most important sources of textiles consumption market.

Facing the current market structure of oversupplies and the negative impact of high prices in petroleum, Taiwan’s textile industry now attempts to differentiate itself by developing more high-value materials. In recent years, the quality, added-values, and the image of Taiwan textiles has received high recognition, successfully distinguishing themselves from the products manufactured in competition countries. The industry has maintained a cautious attitude, being committed to develop functional and eco-friendly textiles and upgrade product quality. By now, Taiwan’s textile products have established a high-quality reputation in the global market.

Moving towards Fashion+Function and Sustainable Textiles

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Taiwan’s functional textiles not only emphasize on fashion trends, but also stress on ergonomic cuts and functional features to ensure comfort, safety and health.

In the aspect of sustainable textiles, manufacturers seek production processes with lower pollution, lower energy consumption and recycled materials to lower the impact on the environment. Technically, Taiwanese manufacturers have devoted heavy R&D efforts on improving production processes, enhancing equipment automation and maximizing production efficiency. Now, dozens of textile plants are also actively developing eco-friendly textiles. So far, they have already achieved significant results.

“The core competencies of Taiwan's textile industry lie in its R&D, technology and innovation.” says Justin Huang, secretary general of the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF). These features have supported the industry to survive difficult times and challenges and to remain one of the leading textiles players in the world.

“For Taiwan’s textile companies, trash can really mean cash while our planet becomes cleaner. With some creativity plus technology, used PET bottles can be turned into blankets and coffee grounds become sportswear. Now the industry is incessantly seeking to develop green textiles incorporating functionalinnovations with sustainable aesthetics in order to ameliorate ourdaily life.” says Justin Huang.

In order to verify the functions affixed on textiles, TTF set up a certification system, namely Taiwan Functional Textiles Certification System which is now in its thirteenth year, and provides quality assurance for functional textiles. The scheme includes certification for the following: antibacterial textiles for medical use, moisture transferring and quick drying textiles, water vapor permeable and liquid-water impermeable textiles, ultraviolet protective textiles brand, far infrared textiles, water repellent textiles, flame resistant textiles, deodorization textiles and cold feeling textiles.

With increasing demand for sports and leisurewear textiles,

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product testing and certification standards will become the necessary requirements for providing high quality functional textiles. Taiwan’s textile industry has key technologies to develop products that stand out in international sportswear markets. And the industry is now actively promoting and working to achieving more of these standards.

As more and more consumers seek to present themselves by individuality and sensitivity to fashion, the need for fashionable and functional textile products is also on the rise. Sports brands now utilize all their strategies to capture this mentality and demand, and Taiwan is the ideal partner to achieve these results.

Wide Application of Taiwan’s Textile Products on Sports Gear

Taiwan’s textile products can be widely applied in sportswear such as apparels, shoes, and other gears used in sports competitions. Sports apparels include aerobic outfits, athlete outfits, and outfits for soccer, cricket, tennis, yoga, bike and other sports. These apparels include shorts, gloves, jackets, pants, socks, sweatshirts, and swimming suits. Sports gears include sails, trampolines, camping gears, backpacks, cycling gears, racquets and more. Sport-related shoes include shoes for light sports, soccer, gymnastics, tennis, and travel shoes.

A report by Global Industry Analysts predicted that, by 2015, the overall global market for sportswear and fitness wears will reach approximately 126.3 billion US Dollars. As the population for sports and leisure activity increases, consumers have higher demands for sports-related textiles. Increasingly, consumers demand for apparel products with more functions such as thermal retention, aesthetically appealing designs, waterproof protection, eco-friendliness, lightness, and positive effects on health. Clearly, leisurewear and sportswear have now become an important sector in global apparel market. As leading brands presented high-quality, highly functional and fashionable textiles to appeal to the consumers, suppliers aggressively respond by creating added value features and actively present these features to the buyers to expand the market potentials. More and more, manufacturers in Taiwan seek multi-functional textiles with higher

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technical thresholds to maintain a leading edge in the arena of functional textiles.

Taiwan Functional Textiles Appeal to Sports and Leisurewear Brands

FIFA 2010, the competition that ignited the world’s passion for soccer, gathered teams from Brazil, The Netherlands, Portugal, United States, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Croatia, and Slovakia for the exciting events. The players wore uniforms manufactured in Taiwan, outfits that were made with high-tech polyester fabrics made from recycled PET bottles. These uniforms were not only 13% lighter, but were also excellent in ventilation and perspiration-absorption.

The achievements were possible because of the long collaborative relationships between Taiwan’s textile industry and international leading brands in sports and leisurewear. These achievements further proved the high recognition Taiwan’s functional fabrics received from the global leading brands. As the leading source of functional fabrics, Taiwan textile industry is always on close lookout for the latest development in the market, and hopes to continue playing a key role in supplying high-tech fabrics in the future.

TITAS Exhibition Cemented Taiwan as a Leading Destination for Functional and Ecological Innovation

The Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (or TITAS as it’s more commonly known) made its debut in 1997 with a remit of highlighting functional, eco-friendly and fashion textiles and is going toenter its17th year.

TITAS 2012 attracted an 18% increase in exhibitors from the previous edition of the show. There were333 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions travelled to the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall, attracting over 27,000 visitors.

In order to maximize the benefitsfrom the show, organizer Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) invited 80 internationalleading brands from 20 countries for the event's one-to-onebusiness meeting arrangement, which led to 151representatives attending

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the exhibition. Among the many first-time buyers invited by TTF was sports gear brand K-Swiss; high-performancecycling apparelbrand Castelli from the US; outdoor brand Norrona from Norway; mountaineering productbrand Salewa from Italy; and sportswearbrand Anta.

Some of the Highlights from the Show

Formosa Plastics Group showcased a variety offabrics made by Formosa Taffeta using rayon, polyamide, polypropylene, polyester, acrylic, carbon and elastic, supplied by affiliate companies within the group.

Far Eastern New Century (FENC) is one of the largest polyester producers in the world, with a capacity of 2 million tons per year.Topgreenfibre is a recycled PET fibre used by Nike, while TopCool is a mediumtenacitypolyester staple fibre that features a unique cross section to draw moisture away from the skin and transfer it to the outer layer.At TITAS, the main focus was a new breathable and waterproof TPEE film called FETretch, which is recyclable, stretchable and can be used for knitted fabrics.

Hi-tech eco-friendly textiles from Everest are popular among many international sportswear, outdoor and fashion brands. The company promoted its EverSmileapparelbrandat the show, which is positioned as "the innovative sustainable clothing expert for the whole family”.

Fabric King develops hi-tech textiles and its latest progress has been in the area of photoelectric fabrics. The company's green textile series D'dye adopts a solution dyed product process to reduce negative environmental impact.One of its core products is the ultra-lightweight 7 denier fabric which is said to have almost the same tensile and tearstrength as a 15 denier fabric.

G-Tex is said being the largest producer for breathable and waterproof fabrics in the world.Its customersinclude The North Face, Columbia, Jack Wolfskin, Nike and Adidas.The company launched the G-Fun clothing brand last year to meet the demand for high-end performance clothing buyers.

Formosa Taffeta (FTC) produces yarns, apparel textiles,

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tyre cords and high-density PE bags and has facility in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam and the USA.Some of the company’s well-known brands includeAbletex,Snuggtex,FoneWr Nano and Permadry.

In addition, 13 seminars were scheduled to provide the latest industry outlook at TITAS 2012. Topics included color forecasts for 2013/14, 2013 autumn/winter fabric trends, new developments in consumer protection regulations for textile products, marketing strategies for functional textiles in Europe, applications of Merino woolin sportswear/outdoor wear,internet marketing and mobile commerce technologies, developments in sustainable textile certification, and presentations on Taiwan's innovative textiles includingTopCool+, TopHeat+ and FETretch.

Think Taiwan for Textiles

Besides promoting Taiwan textile products in TITAS, another dynamic tool for displayingTaiwan functional and sustainable textiles istheTextile Export Promotion Project (TEPP). TEPP is uniquely designed to promote the Taiwan textile industry by attending international shows, organizing trade missions and match-making meetings between brands and Taiwan producers, and bringing the advantages of Taiwan textiles to the forefront.

This year the Project has selected 12 companies as the elite either in spheres of technology, fashion, or function through a prudent scheme. These companies are extensive in both product range and market end uses. This brief outline barely scratches the surface:

Taiwan Taffeta Fabricsproduces a broad array of products with a special collection of nylon/spandex stretch fabrics, performance fabrics, and jacquard fabrics.Itis specially equippedwith a highly advanced "computer aided design system". By which system, it may print out any pattern simulation in less than 40 minutes.

With high technique and efficient management, Delicacy is proficient in providing assorted fabrics in small quantity to meet the fashion and market demand. Its products cover fashion and

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functional fabrics, house furnishings, and environment friendly materials.

Singtexis well known for its functional and unique products. Their S Café ®, coffee based wicking and anti-bacterial products are special in their performance and environmental path to get there utilizing used coffee grinds.

Labtexis a well-established professional fabric supplier. Its major lines cover both the outdoor and fashion markets and sells tohigh level brands in multiple markets. With 30 year experience and knowledge, they are capable to develop best products in a high efficient package for customers.

In a totally different market Sheico produces the fabric and garments that dive to the ocean floor or surf the seas largest waves. Functional water sport garments and products are their niche. They have recently developed an innovative collection of performance running and yoga products.

Taiwan Paihohas the complete collection of accessories in hook and loop, reflective, laces, webbing and related products. If it closes or ties without a zipper, Taiwan Paiho gets it done with a flair for fashion and performance.

Eclatboasts an integrated production chain that includes knitting, dyeing, finishing and apparel.Eclat also promoted its Hyper UV protection, a bi-component polyestercomplex fiber which features titanium dioxide to improve fiber permeability resistance, and offers a high UPFvalue and heat insulating properties.

Zig Shengis one of the world's leading polyamide polymer suppliers. Its products include nylon6, polymers, filament yarn, nylon/PET and DTY. With vertical integration production it is capable to develop high value-added products, diverse products, differentiated products. Meanwhile, it also puts emphasis on reducing environmental burden by decrease use of organic chemicals.

Chia Heris a vertically integrated plant which are in control of their own goods. They provided high qualities materials from yarn

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to finishing goods. They will be launching a whole new range of environmental friendly functional wool textiles (Outlast ® / Wool, PP / Wool,Cordura ® / Wool) combined with technology for next season. This is bound to create a wave in the outdoor textiles industry. Moreover, Chia Her participated in the 2013 innovative ISPO Textrends Forum’s contest, and five Chia Her’s fabrics were selected on the Second Layer TOP 10. This excellent performance has made Chia Her the winner of the contest.

Acelonspecializes in producing nylon 6 yarn, polyester yarn, nylon/polyester conjugate yarn, functional yarn, cool yarn, polyester and antistatic yarn. Its products can be applied in swimwear, underwear, apparel, sportswear, work wears and medical textile.

Tai Yuen is an all in one, service led company. It operated from the upstream to the downstream vertically, with a series of products including yarn, fabric, functional/technical fabrics, and garments. Its Typhoon series fabric allow complete protection against extreme temperatures and wind. Another functional fabric AKWATEK with quick dry characteristic can be used in making T-shirt, jacket, under wear, and cycling.

As a leading supplier of high-tech textiles,Paltex’s main products are textiles for high-functional, outdoor and extreme sports purposes. Its assorted products meet customer requirements in every condition, such as water-repellent and ventilated jackets for polar regions, light weight and portable fabrics, fast-drying sport wear, windproof jackets, jackets for fierce sea activities, durable work wear and yoga clothes. Its supply chain is run with integrity by using eco-friendly products and shows its relentless efforts towards environmentalprotection.

The Future of Taiwan’s Textile Products – the Best Partner for International Buyers

In order to shake off the competition from other low cost countries, Taiwan textile industry is trying to develop all kinds of high value-added materials to attain the purpose of differentiation.

In recent years, Taiwan’s government has devoted budget in R&D for encouraging the development of functional fabrics for a

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better market niche. Concentrating on synthetic fibers as the basic elements, with the experience and capacity in developing fashionable fabrics, Taiwan textiles that combine “fashion”, “innovation” and “sustainability” issurely the comparative advantage to appeal to international buyers.

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TEPP at MAGICShow 2012 in Las Vegas, USA

TITAS 2012 in Taipei, Taiwan

TEPP at ispo2013 in Munich, Germany

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