Innovative technologies empower the garment interlining industry, making environmental protection and functionality the future trend

Introduction

With the rapid development of the clothing industry towards high performance and sustainability, the interlining technology, which serves as the "skeleton of clothing", is undergoing a new round of upgrades. Recently, many domestic interlining enterprises have launched new environmentally friendly and intelligent interlining products, promoting the industry's transformation towards functionalization and greenness, which has drawn widespread attention from the industrial chain.

First, eco-friendly interlinings have become mainstream, and bio-based materials are favored

Under the impetus of the "dual carbon" goals, the traditional production of interlinings mainly based on chemical fibers is accelerating its transformation towards environmentally friendly materials. Recently, a leading interlining enterprise in Zhejiang Province has released a biodegradable interlining made of corn fiber (PLA). Its carbon emissions are 40% lower than those of traditional products and it can decompose naturally. Currently, it has received orders from multiple fast fashion brands.

International brands such as H&M and Zara have also been requiring their suppliers to use non-toxic interlinings certified by OEKO-TEX®. According to data from the China Interlining Association, the market share of environmentally friendly interlinings reached 35% in 2023 and is expected to exceed 50% by 2025.

Second, the rise of smart functional interlinings and the empowerment of clothing experience by technology

In addition to its environmental protection attributes, the functional innovation of the interlining fabric has become another highlight:

Temperature-sensitive interlining: It regulates temperature through phase change material (PCM) and is suitable for outdoor clothing.

Antibacterial interlining: With silver ions or graphene added, it meets the health needs of the post-pandemic era.

Flexible electronic interlining: Embedded with conductive fibers, it works in conjunction with smart wearable devices to monitor data such as heart rate.

The person in charge of a certain technology clothing brand said, "Interlinings have evolved from mere supporting materials to key carriers for enhancing the performance of clothing."

Iii. Industry Challenges: Cost and technological barriers need to be overcome

Despite the broad prospects, new interlinings still face challenges. For instance, the price of bio-based interlinings is 20% to 30% higher than that of traditional products, and their wash resistance needs to be further optimized. In addition, the small-batch customization demands for functional interlinings place higher requirements on the response speed of the supply chain.