Taiwan has emerged as an international player in the global textile and apparel industry. As one of the four Asian tigers, Taiwan is gaining recognition as a destination for producing high-quality textile products and developing cutting-edge technology to cater to the markets in the United States and Western Europe. The government's approach of promoting small and medium-scale textile industries, coupled with generous support programs from the European Union, has turned the Taiwanese textile industry into a lucrative manufacturing market.

Taiwan is increasingly focusing on the production of environmentally friendly and innovative textiles, opening up new opportunities for the nation. Taiwanese manufacturing companies are considered among the top innovators globally, offering textile products that reduce pollution, are made from recycled materials, and are sustainable. According to the Council for Economic Planning and Development in Taiwan, the country's manufacturers produce 70% of the global market for green textiles. The production of functional clothing is another area in which Taiwan's textile industry is making significant progress.

One of Taiwan's noteworthy achievements is the recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles to create yarns for various textile applications. Companies in Taiwan have been recycling PET bottles to produce yarns since 1989, but it was in 1995 that they began developing yarns from these plastic bottles and using them in textile materials. Advancements in technology have enabled the separation of clean PET bottles from less clean ones, thanks to optical sorting machines. Taiwan is the fourth country globally to produce yarn from PET bottles and plastic waste, following the United States, Germany, and Japan.

The process involves melting the bottles into small chips, which are then spun into yarns. High-quality chips are used to create longer fibers for apparel and clothing, while lower-purity chips are used in recycled products such as carpets, shopping bags, and fillers. The dyeing process for such fabrics consumes minimal water, and the overall textile production process reduces the carbon footprint by 30-40% compared to using virgin sources, making plastic bottle recycling an environmentally viable alternative.

Another groundbreaking innovation is the development of odorless fabrics using ground coffee beans. These fabrics are used in outdoor apparel and athletic wear to absorb body odor, adding value to such clothing. The company behind this technology supplies fabric to over 70 companies, including leading sportswear brands like North Face and Adidas.

Taiwan is also known for creating unique fabrics and pioneering concepts. For example, they have developed a material that keeps the body cool and dry even in intense heat. This fabric is made by incorporating jade stone particles with textile fibers, enabling the wearer to feel 1� to 5�C cooler. This comfortable material works by absorbing heat slowly and dispersing it rapidly.

Dyeing and textile wet processing being the least green process in the textile and garment industry, now, also has an eco-friendly alternative provided by a Taiwan based company. Many Taiwanese factories have opted for solution based dyeing technique, which is performed by mixing the dye with plastic polymers before knitting and webbing. The procedure reduces chemical use, greenhouse gases, and decreases the consumption of water to a large extent. Hence it saves 70-80 % water and energy.


Taiwan based knitwear companies have outsourced their manufacturing and established factories in Philippines, Cambodia, China, and Central America, but have not shifted their research and development centers from their own land of innovation. Many high-street labels like Zara, H&M, and Esprit, owing to the increasing gung-ho around Greenpeace, have rested their production under Taiwanese knitwear makers.


These knitwear companies in order to meet high quality and environment safety standards are also importing technologically advanced machineries from Germany, Italy, and Japan. Besides improved manufacturing facilities, the presence of research institutes like Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI) and Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) mentors yarn, knitwear, and garment manufacturers to improve their designs and helps market their products better. The knitting and garment companies are evaluated to meet parameters set by these research bodies, and are further liable to pay only 20% of the total cost for future research and development of the textile product. Government support from such initiatives provides impetus to the Taiwanese textile industry.


However, Taiwan's textile industry faces fierce competition from China and South Korea. The latter countries are constantly innovating to provide better outputs, and are trying hard to match standards set by Taiwan.


The island nation of Taiwan is adding value to textiles with cutting edge innovation supported by sustainable designs. Multi-functionality and bio-degradable textiles are two aspects the country's garment manufacturers are focusing on. State of the art textile products, supportive government initiatives, and efforts made by manufacturers to recycle, reduce, and reuse make Taiwan a buzzing place for advanced apparels and garments.


References:


1.      Taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw

2.      Taiwaninsights.com

3.      Ei.wtin.com

4.      Nytimes.com